488mkII - effects loops

[QuakerOat]

hey everyone. long time reader, first time poster.
i recently bought a 488 off ebay, unfortunately without the manual. most of my early problems i was able to bluff my way through, thanks to reading past posts on this board. but where im still really in the dark is when it comes to FX.

beyond the fact that i dont know how to set up my unit to hear effects, im not even really sure how theyre typically used. i mean do you usually record something clean onto one track, then add the effect and bounce it onto another? if you couldnt already tell, im pretty confused here.

im working with two old rockman FX boxes (compressor, distortion, delay, +chorus) from the 80's. (what can i say, they were free). i'd really appreciate your help

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Ralston-Purina:]

I have a 488 mk11 resting in my storage area. There are effects in/out on the box and you can hear the effects while you record but the effects are not recorded in the normal recording mode. There is a set-up where you can record effects during the performance but most folks don't do that because once you record the effects, you're stuck with whatever got through and most of the time you want to adjust and experiment with delays and effects when you are mixing the song.

Let me see if I find a quote from the manual....

"Effects sends 1/2: Connect these to the inputs of effect devices."

In otherwords, you can hook up two effects boxes or whatever to your unit. These effect sends are on the top of the unit [I'm sure you knew that] right next to "Line Outputs and Monitor l/r outputs."

Send/return mix processing:

"This is the most common method of effect processing for reverb & delay. It allows a number of different channels to use the same effect, while allowing you to control how much effect is mixed with each channel. Each of the lower 8 mixxer channels can send signals to the EFFECT SENDS 1 OR 2 OUTPUTS ON THE UPPER TOP PANEL. tHESE OUTPUTS CAN THEN BE CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF EFFECT DEVICES. tHE PROCESSED SIGNALS FROM THE DEVICES COME BACK INTO THE MIX VIA THE stereo inputs. fINALLY, THE effect is mixed onto one of the groups with ASSIGN switch on the stereo channels 9/10/11/12. This whole path from the EFFECT SENDS to the reverb and back into STEREO inputs -- is called an effects loop. The EFFECT SEND MASTERS CONTROL HOW MUCH SIGNAL GOES TO THE REVERB UNIT; THE level CONTROL ON THE STEREO CHANNELS DETERMINE HOW MUCH RETURNS FROM THE REVERB UNIT. iN THIS METHOD, the stereo inputs function as "effect returns."

If you would like a copy of these pages from the manual, you can post me and I'll make a copy and send them via snail mail.

There is too much information for me to post here.



Green Hornet

PS Quaker/man: You can punch in Tascam 488 mkII manual and then with a couple of clicks you can buy the entire manual. The one I just saw was $28.00. But, if you're going to keep the 488 a while, it would be worth it. GH

 

[QuakerOat]

eureka!

ah, i see my mistake now. i didnt recognize how important the faders were when dealing with effects. id been working with them down the whole time. thanks for your help , i really appreciate the time you put into helping me out

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Q-Oats:

Glad that the info helped out.

As I recall, there are two sets of little knobs at the bottom of each fader. These knobs control input of FX #1 and, if you use a second unit, FX #2.

I remember that I had two FX units hooked into my 488 which allowed me to use one for a vocal and the other for "special" effects on other channels. And, you can turn one up for a part of a song and then turn it off when not needed.

Have fun,

Green Hornet