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drumgrrl60
New member
Hello. I'm new and have a very detailed problem with my Tascam I bought recently from EBAY.
I just got a Tascam 424 MKIII 4-Track Analog Cassette Recorder/Mixer.
I start the recorder going, lay down the tracks, and stop the recorder all by myself with no help from anyone. As a solo artist with no band, I prefer it that way only because I don't have the money to go into a professional studio and am lucky to have a basic knowledge of how to play drums, guitar, bass, and vocals. Unfortunately, because it is only I at the recording helm, it is difficult to get to the instruments (mostly drums) in time to sync up my playing with the timing of the recording process. That, is my biggest problem. Here are some others after a rundown on how I do things (which are probably incorrect).
I plug my instruments directly into the Tascam, including the portable electronic drum pads. The EQ's are set at 12 o'clock. I have guitar effects hooked from the guitar to the effects to the Tascam mic input. Have not tried 'Direct'.
Don't know how to get the effect loop on Tascam set-up to work with the guitars.
The faders in use are put at 7. Have tried both
Mono and L/R track with the Pan all the way to the left on 1 and 3; all the way right on 2 and 4
from Line Out. Effect/Cue on Effect 1. Tape Cue.
Tracks not in use are OFF. Tracks to be played are set to Tape. I record one track at a time which is set to Mic/Line and trimmed to a setting that will avoid clipping and bleed-through; then Buss; then Record/Play. Try to get to the instrument and start playing when the song starts.
First, how do you set up a click track without losing any of the available tracks?
Then, how do you sync the click track with the second track to start recording the same time the 1st track is playing? (And so on with subsequent tracks)? It's hard to get to the instrument in time to begin playing when the tape starts rolling (even at 'Return to Zero').
I have a footpedal, but there again, how do I sync in time to start playing? Haven't quite figured out how to use it properly without making blank spots or altering the volume and/or EQ where it doesn't match.
Mixing down to make available tracks is also difficult. Just when I think I had everything EQ'ed how I wanted it, I put all three tracks onto one track and the sound is muddy.
For doing cover tunes, how would I hook up a CD deck or tape recorder to the Tascam and sync up the playing of the media with my playing and recording on a track?
Would a digital multitrack recorder/mixer be easier? Or more difficult for a layman type of computer person, as I, to understand?
Please help me figure all this out. I am so new to all this.
Thank You.
I just got a Tascam 424 MKIII 4-Track Analog Cassette Recorder/Mixer.
I start the recorder going, lay down the tracks, and stop the recorder all by myself with no help from anyone. As a solo artist with no band, I prefer it that way only because I don't have the money to go into a professional studio and am lucky to have a basic knowledge of how to play drums, guitar, bass, and vocals. Unfortunately, because it is only I at the recording helm, it is difficult to get to the instruments (mostly drums) in time to sync up my playing with the timing of the recording process. That, is my biggest problem. Here are some others after a rundown on how I do things (which are probably incorrect).
I plug my instruments directly into the Tascam, including the portable electronic drum pads. The EQ's are set at 12 o'clock. I have guitar effects hooked from the guitar to the effects to the Tascam mic input. Have not tried 'Direct'.
Don't know how to get the effect loop on Tascam set-up to work with the guitars.
The faders in use are put at 7. Have tried both
Mono and L/R track with the Pan all the way to the left on 1 and 3; all the way right on 2 and 4
from Line Out. Effect/Cue on Effect 1. Tape Cue.
Tracks not in use are OFF. Tracks to be played are set to Tape. I record one track at a time which is set to Mic/Line and trimmed to a setting that will avoid clipping and bleed-through; then Buss; then Record/Play. Try to get to the instrument and start playing when the song starts.
First, how do you set up a click track without losing any of the available tracks?
Then, how do you sync the click track with the second track to start recording the same time the 1st track is playing? (And so on with subsequent tracks)? It's hard to get to the instrument in time to begin playing when the tape starts rolling (even at 'Return to Zero').
I have a footpedal, but there again, how do I sync in time to start playing? Haven't quite figured out how to use it properly without making blank spots or altering the volume and/or EQ where it doesn't match.
Mixing down to make available tracks is also difficult. Just when I think I had everything EQ'ed how I wanted it, I put all three tracks onto one track and the sound is muddy.
For doing cover tunes, how would I hook up a CD deck or tape recorder to the Tascam and sync up the playing of the media with my playing and recording on a track?
Would a digital multitrack recorder/mixer be easier? Or more difficult for a layman type of computer person, as I, to understand?
Please help me figure all this out. I am so new to all this.
Thank You.