Hey Stodge:
I can see that you have been getting much advice. Let me tell you what I do and maybe it will have some bearing. You're right. Whoever wrote the manual for the MD-8, after the "get started pages," should be put in the Bastille forever.
I run a 1/4 inch cable from my drum machine, Boss 770, into Channel 8 of my MD-8. This is my drum track. I operate the MD-8 in the non-group mode because it's easier at the moment.
I usually reherse the drum track and then lay it down and just play chords with it for whatever tune I'm doing. [I don't record the chords at this time; sometimes I don't play any chords; just hum the tune and punch in additional drum chops to get away from the rut of repetition.
When the drum track is done, I switch channel 8 from record mode to CUE mode. In this mode there is no need to mess with EQ or the fader - in the CUE mode, the fader does not input volume; you get the volume by using the CUE dial and you need to punch the CUE buttons on the MD. If you don't put a recorded track into the CUE mode, all kinds of weird things will happen; you may even lose the data on the track.
Next I record the chords on another track; then I put that track into the CUE mode and record a horn or strings or steel drums from my DX-7 as I build the song via overdubbing.
With 8 tracks, I usually have plenty of space for me without bouncing.
Then, when all of the tracks are done, all of the channels must be put into the play back mode and CUE must be turned off. Now your faders will control the input/volume and now you can EQ any channel you want and now you can move a channel a bit left or right. Then, I play back and mix down to tape. Then, I fiddle with reverb rooms for a while and I might lay down three or four mixes of one tune. Then I realize I've been in my studio for 5 hours and it's time for a Coors!!!
I don't know exactly what your equipment is but I thought if I gave you a picture of what I do, it might help you figure out another page of that MD-8 manual of logorrhea.
Keep twiddling the dials,
Green Hornet
[This message has been edited by The Green Hornet (edited 01-13-2000).]