TASCAM M-520

[Jimi Shelter]

It is a good board and maybe more than you need for 8 track…. But I’d rather have more rather than less options.

But it seems you’re still having problems with the board. Either there’s something wrong or there’s operator error.

On us helping…… it’s kind of crucial to have a two way conversation going on.

I understand what it’s like to get busy but jumping on the forum for 5 minutes isn’t gonna kill anyone.

You still haven’t answered the question about the jumpers. Do you, or do you not have jumpers in your insert jacks?

As @sweetbeats pointed out, lack of them could cause the exact symptoms you described.

Please help us help you by answering questions.

Yes. The jumpers are in. In good.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

Why did you use the 350 when recording? Why not just use the M-520 for everything? It’s a better signal path than the 350.

I used the Fostex because I know how to use it and I wanted to at least get music on the tape machine. Then, switch back to the 520 and get it to at least play back. And then figure it out from there.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

I got an electric guitar plugged into Channel 1. I'm hearing it. From several places. I got it so the fader and EQ is working. The pan isn't working yet and I don't see any needle but I'm slowly getting something. I need to see that needle on the tape machine. It's not sending to Ch. 1 on the machine. Working on that and trying to read this PhD level manual.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

 

[sweetbeats]

I got an electric guitar plugged into Channel 1. I'm hearing it. From several places. I got it so the fader and EQ is working. The pan isn't working yet and I don't see any needle but I'm slowly getting something. I need to see that needle on the tape machine. It's not sending to Ch. 1 on the machine. Working on that and trying to read this PhD level manual.

So here is where we need you to be specific and detailed if you want help. 20 questions can be a fun game, but not here IMO. That’s just me. I want to help. But you need to help me.

“I’m hearing it from several places…” WHAT places. Be specific.

And walk me through in detail how each of the controls (knobs, switches) are set on channel 1.

 

[Papanate]

If yours are missing, you’ll have to get some. But they’re hard to find….or get some short RCA cables, or hook the inserts up to a 20 input NORMALIZED patchbay.

Maybe @sweetbeats will chime in as to where exactly in the signal chain the effects insert points are.

You can also use wire hangers clips to 2 1/2 inch pieces and bent to a u-shape.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

So here is where we need you to be specific and detailed if you want help. 20 questions can be a fun game, but not here IMO. That’s just me. I want to help. But you need to help me.

“I’m hearing it from several places…” WHAT places. Be specific.

And walk me through in detail how each of the controls (knobs, switches) are set on channel 1.

I guess what I mean by "hearing it from several places" , I'm hearing what I recorded through the monitor section. I'm confused by so many "busses", is probably the main issue. I am finally hearing an electric guitar through channel one and the fader and EQ is responding... I think I need to know how much of this board I DON"t need to worry about for 8 track purposes, maybe? Might make it easier for solo home recording?

 

[Jimi Shelter]

I guess what I mean by "hearing it from several places" , I'm hearing what I recorded through the monitor section. I'm confused by so many "busses", is probably the main issue. I am finally hearing an electric guitar through channel one and the fader and EQ is responding... I think I need to know how much of this board I DON"t need to worry about for 8 track purposes, maybe? Might make it easier for solo home recording?

I have the guitar plugged in the INS in. on Ch. 1, Mic Att - 0, Phase - Norm, below that, AUX 1/2 and AUX 3/4 is where I get confused. They seem to do with how I'm hearing it through the Monitor buttons. EQ I understand. The assign switches are familiar from the 388. If I want to record this guitar onto Track 4 but I'm inputting at Ch. 1, I'm pretty sure those assign switches is how that's done.

 

[RFR]

I have the guitar plugged in the INS in. on Ch. 1, Mic Att - 0, Phase - Norm, below that, AUX 1/2 and AUX 3/4 is where I get confused. They seem to do with how I'm hearing it through the Monitor buttons. EQ I understand. The assign switches are familiar from the 388. If I want to record this guitar onto Track 4 but I'm inputting at Ch. 1, I'm pretty sure those assign switches is how that's done.

Forget about the aux for now.
If you’re inputting the guitar into channel one instrument input and are going from the mixer direct out to your tape machine input one, you should get get signal onto track one of tape.

Edit: mic att and phase mean nothing. You’re not using a mic. Directly below those switches you have input. That switch should be on inst

 

[Jimi Shelter]

Forget about the aux for now.
If you’re inputting the guitar into channel one instrument input and are going from the mixer direct out to your tape machine input one, you should get get signal onto track one of tape.

Edit: mic att and phase mean nothing. You’re not using a mic. Directly below those switches you have input. That switch should be on inst

 

[sweetbeats]

You’ve got signal to the PGM 1 buss, but now you have to set the monitor section of the console to listen to it. Okay?

You’ve got your inputs (channels 1-20), and those can be summed (combined) to any or all of 8 mono summing busses (PGM groups 1-8)…great…but now you have to set the monitor mixer to monitor or listen to those PGM groups…that’s how you hear stuff…the monitor mixer is directly above the PGM faders…those 16 sets of PAN and LEVEL knobs with a TAPE | BUSS source select switch. If you want to source PGM group 1 in the monitor mixer, set monitor mixer channel 1 or 9 to BUSS. NOW you have to source the monitor mixer to the headphones and your control room out busses. STEREO A is essentially your control room out…the outputs you connect to your monitor speakers. To hear the monitor mixer in that buss (the STEREO A buss outputs where you should have your monitor speakers or amp connected), as well as the headphones, you need to source the monitor mixer as the source, which you do by selecting MON as the source in the MONITOR SELECT switchrack…that vertical row of switches above the PGM 3 fader. Select MON. You are now monitoring or “listening” to the monitor mixer, where you set channel 1 or 9 to BUSS and turned up the LEVEL knob to listen to the PGM 1 buss where you have the fader up because you sent your input channel 1 signal with your guitar to PGM 1 using the ASSIGN switch. So do all that and turn up your PHONES level knob and put the cans on your head and see if you can hear your guitar.

To repeat: you have to assign input channels to program groups 1-8, then set the monitor mixer appropriately to listen to the program group or groups you want to hear, then set your monitor system to listen to the monitor mixer. Please don’t come back with some statement about how that is too complicated. It takes some getting used to, but that’s on you, not the console. If it’s too complicated then by all means stick to what works for you like your Fostex 350…no judgment…I get it…this is about making music and having a good time, but if you want to level up on your mixing center you’re going to have to invest the time to make friends with it.

 

[RFR]

Hmm, kind of what I was gonna say but yours was much more elaborate in the explanation.

May I suggest something simpler?

Don't use the buss at all.
Just guitar input into channel one of the mixer.
Direct out of channel one into the tape machine. Track 4 input. (Seeing that’s where you want the guitar)
See if you have meter activity on the tape machine.

Monitor via the monitor mixer

 

[sweetbeats]

Thanks, @RFR…that’s much better to get him going. Sometimes I’m too detailed.

 

[RFR]

Thanks, @RFR…that’s much better to get him going. Sometimes I’m too detailed.

Detailed is good. It contributes to the information archive.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

Hmm, kind of what I was gonna say but yours was much more elaborate in the explanation.

May I suggest something simpler?

Don't use the buss at all.
Just guitar input into channel one of the mixer.
Direct out of channel one into the tape machine. Track 4 input. (Seeing that’s where you want the guitar)
See if you have meter activity on the tape machine.

Monitor via the monitor mixer

Elec. guitar-INS input C1 - Set to INS - EQ on - Assign #1 pressed.
Very faint through headphones. No meter.
If I crank the trim and EQ all the way up and push the fader all the way up, the meters are at 1/2 way on the board and deck. very distorted.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

@Jimi Shelter
Do you have your jumpers on the insert jacks?? (The very top set of jacks)

Without those it won’t work. Unlike other mixers with a TRS insert jack, you have separate phono jacks for the in and outs of the effects lnserts. They need to be physically connected with the jumpers.
Often times people run those to a normalized patchbay which makes the needed connections, then they lose or misplace the jumpers, and the signal now won’t flow.

That’s it. The jumpers. They’re in place on the busses but not on the channels! I didn’t get that they were supposed to be on the channels as well!
That has to be it.

 

[RFR]

That’s it. The jumpers. They’re in place on the busses but not on the channels! I didn’t get that they were supposed to be on the channels as well!
That has to be it.

The means the former owner most likely had the insert jacks hooked to a normalized patch bay which would act as a jumper, then lost the jumpers.

‘Borrow’ a jumper, put it in channel 1.
Forget about pressing assign switches.

Just use the direct out, plug it into your desired track on the tape machine. You’ll probably get plenty of clean undistorted guitar.

Take another jumper and plug it into another mixer channel. For simplicity use channel 4 seeing how that’s your desired location for a guitar track.

Take your tape output and plug that into channel 4. Flip the switch on ch4 to Tape to monitor.

 

[Jimi Shelter]

Yeah. That’s what probably happened. He said he’s going to bring them. Probably come out of another mixer . I can see the runway, now. Just breaking through the cloud cover. Should be on the ground real soon.
I’m fortunate to have a vintage audio dealer right across the road. Didn’t know what the guy was doing in the building until he started showing up with 24 track 2” machines and monitors, etc. Madness. Voorslag Audio in Providence - eBay or by appointment

 

[RFR]

‘Borrow’ a jumper, put it in channel 1.
Forget about pressing assign switches.

Just use the direct out, plug it into your desired track on the tape machine. You’ll probably get plenty of clean undistorted guitar.

Take another jumper and plug it into another mixer channel. For simplicity use channel 4 seeing how that’s your desired location for a guitar track.

Take your tape output and plug that into channel 4. Flip the switch on ch4 to Tape to monitor.

I hope that you at least try the above to ensure it’s working. And get back to us. It would be nice to have some resolution

 

[Jimi Shelter]