8 Track or a 6 Track in disquise

[IanPM]

Hi
I just bought a Compact Digital 8 Track recorder from Roland/Boss (BR600).
Tracks 1 to 4 are standard mono, tracks 5/6 and 7/8 are stereo. Does anyone know how i can record two (four) individual mono tracks onto the stereo tracks? Or is this 8 track really just a 6 track, in other words am i always going to lose 2 tracks to a stereo take? I´d really prefer the extra tracks!

Thanx
Ian

 

[daav]

Hi
I just bought a Compact Digital 8 Track recorder from Roland/Boss (BR600).
Tracks 1 to 4 are standard mono, tracks 5/6 and 7/8 are stereo. Does anyone know how i can record two (four) individual mono tracks onto the stereo tracks? Or is this 8 track really just a 6 track, in other words am i always going to lose 2 tracks to a stereo take? I´d really prefer the extra tracks!

Thanx
Ian

Generally, you can use some sort of adaptor or cable splitter (a 'Y' cable) to put two seperate mono signals onto one stereo input. They are usaully controilled by on set of faders, eq or whatever though, so you want to have simliliar levels going.

Daav

 

[Rokket]

I don't think you can record individually on the stereo tracks. They are designed for stereo input, and if you put a mono signal into it, you will get a doubled mono track. I have the Fostex MR-8, which has the same set up. Basically, the stereo tracks are there for bouncing the other 4 tracks to a stereo mix, giving you 4 more tracks to record on after you bounce and delete the old tracks.

 

[zacanger]

I don't think you can record individually on the stereo tracks. They are designed for stereo input, and if you put a mono signal into it, you will get a doubled mono track. I have the Fostex MR-8, which has the same set up. Basically, the stereo tracks are there for bouncing the other 4 tracks to a stereo mix, giving you 4 more tracks to record on after you bounce and delete the old tracks.

Yeah, I've got the MR-8 too, and that's how it works. You bounce the first four to 5/6, record on 1-4 again, then bounce 1-6 to 7/8. Then if you don't care about how crappy it sounds and want a ton of tracks and they can be mono, you can continue thusly indefinitely.

 

[Dumby]

Hi
I just bought a Compact Digital 8 Track recorder from Roland/Boss (BR600).
Tracks 1 to 4 are standard mono, tracks 5/6 and 7/8 are stereo. Does anyone know how i can record two (four) individual mono tracks onto the stereo tracks? Or is this 8 track really just a 6 track, in other words am i always going to lose 2 tracks to a stereo take? I´d really prefer the extra tracks!

Thanx
Ian

It's not wasted, as I used two tracks all the time to record my drums. If was using your machine I would use the double track 5/6 to record my drums or vocals, something that needs or you want to be in stereo. The eight track really is just a six yes. Just like the BR-1180 is an 8 track, the 9/10 is the master track onto which everything is bounced onto to make a CD, so that your tune can be in stereo when you play it in your car or whatever.

So I would think that you would want to save 7/8 on the BR600 as your master track.