Connecting a Teac A440S to a Model 2 mixer with MB-20

[vampireontitus]

Explain to me like a 4 year old: Connecting a Teac A440S to a Model 2 mixer with MB-20? I've tried everything. How do I hook everything up? I would think there would be something in a manual about this, at it's the tape deck and mixer were manufactured for each other, but no cigar. Thanks!

 

[RRuskin]

Do you have the Model 2 manual? It has all the info you need for connecting any tape deck.

 

[vampireontitus]

Do you have the Model 2 manual? It has all the info you need for connecting any tape deck.

I do have the manual, although it doesn't really explain how to hook it up to the MB-20.

 

[RFR]

What’s the MB-20?

 

[ecc83]

Do or you mean the A3440S? I ask because I have one. The best view I can immediately find of the mixer shows it is equipped with RCA phono unbalanced input and output connectors for line* in and output signals. Mic inputs are on 1/4" jacks. (ask again if you want to get XLR mics into the mixer or indeed the tape deck)
So, assuming both pieces of gear are working properly AND you have a handful of RCA to RCA cables I cannot for the life of me understand why you cannot exchange audio between the two devices! Line outs back of tape deck go to line ins on the mixer. Line outs of the mixer go to line INs on the deck. I assume you listen on headphones plugged into the mixer?
I shall have a search but if you can find a link to a manual for the mixer that would help. I know the A3440s like the back of my hand.

*These will be at the "prosumer" operating level of -10dBV, or 0.316 volts rms (if you don't know what "rms" means, boy you have a lot to learn! "Professional" op level is usually +4dBu, about 1V rms. Pro systems have a wider dynamic range because +4dBu is well above noise but since this is tape that is by far (like 30dB!) the limiting factor.

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

I have only managed to find a picture of the rear of the mixer (peeps want money for a book!) but then I see that the mixer only has a 2 core mains cable? I assume it is "double insulated" what we limeys call "class ll insulation" and does not require an earth connection...BUT! Due to the age of the mixer and the fact that you might have got it 2nd hand (or n hand) I strongly advise you to get it safety tested what we call a "PAT".

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

I have only managed to find a picture of the rear of the mixer (peeps want money for a book!) but then I see that the mixer only has a 2 core mains cable? I assume it is "double insulated" what we limeys call "class ll insulation" and does not require an earth connection...BUT! Due to the age of the mixer and the fact that you might have got it 2nd hand (or n hand) I strongly advise you to get it safety tested what we call a "PAT".

Dave.

I have since discovered that the A 440s is a cassette deck which means hook up is even simpler ! Just two outs, two ins and no sel-sync to think about.

 

[vampireontitus]

I'm sorry guys I have an A3440S Major typo....

I have since discovered that the A 440s is a cassette deck which means hook up is even simpler ! Just two outs, two ins and no sel-sync to think about.

 

[ecc83]

I'm sorry guys I have an A3440S Major typo....

Right, well be careful because online remote advice is a tough enough job without being given the wrong model numbers! I have tried to find a manual for that mixer but had no joy. You really need that unless someone here has one . On thing I CAN assure you about...no matter how you hook up de ck and mixer you can do no harm i.e. no smoke! Wrong connections can just not make a sound or hum like **** or give you screaming feedback. Try a setup then advance final fader (to headphones?) slowly from zero. Rinse and repeat.

Much depends upon what your recording ideas are. Typically people record a track at a time, guitar chords say then vocals, bit of bass then maybe sort out some drums? You then need to mix those 4 tracks down to two tracks and the best* way to do that IMHO is to dump the mix to a computer via a modest Audio Interface. That mix will be essentially "perfect" in that it will lose nothing in the transfer back to the tape deck if that is the way you are going.

*That might incur the rage of some of the analogue chaps but I am certain that had George Martin had a way to bounce tracks with no loss of quality he would have killed Ringo for it!

Dave.

 

[TalismanRich]

The MB20 should be fed from the Aux outs on the back of the Model 2. Aux out of mixer to Input of the MB20 using 4 short RCA jumpers. You can feed the individual channels of the 3440 from the line out of the Model 2 or from the Line outputs of the MB20.

You can send the outputs of the 3440 to the Tape Inputs of the MB20, and use the Foldback to feed the mixer for playback/mixing.

Yeah, it becomes a bit of a convoluted mess with over a dozen cables.

Model 2a Mixer manual is available at HiFi Engine https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/teac/m-2a.shtml or at Archive.org https://archive.org/details/manual_MODEL2A_SM_TEAC_EN
The Meter Bridge manual is available at ManualsLib. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/4265043/Teac-Mb-20.html?page=7#manual
The Service Manual is here: https://archive.org/details/manual_MB20_SM_TEAC_EN

Now, how are you fixed for tape? You probably need about a dozen reels$$$$.

 

[RFR]

What’s the MB-20?

Never mind, figured it out. MB20 = Meter Bridge

 

[vampireontitus]

The MB20 should be fed from the Aux outs on the back of the Model 2. Aux out of mixer to Input of the MB20 using 4 short RCA jumpers. You can feed the individual channels of the 3440 from the line out of the Model 2 or from the Line outputs of the MB20.

You can send the outputs of the 3440 to the Tape Inputs of the MB20, and use the Foldback to feed the mixer for playback/mixing.

Yeah, it becomes a bit of a convoluted mess with over a dozen cables.

Model 2a Mixer manual is available at HiFi Engine https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/teac/m-2a.shtml or at Archive.org https://archive.org/details/manual_MODEL2A_SM_TEAC_EN
The Meter Bridge manual is available at ManualsLib. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/4265043/Teac-Mb-20.html?page=7#manual
The Service Manual is here: https://archive.org/details/manual_MB20_SM_TEAC_EN

Now, how are you fixed for tape? You probably need about a dozen reels$$$$.

So, essentially:
A3440S Outputs into 1-4 Line Inputs of the Model 2
Model 2 Aux Outputs into Tape Inputs of the MB-20
But what is the "foldback"?

 

[RRuskin]

So, essentially:
A3440S Outputs into 1-4 Line Inputs of the Model 2
Model 2 Aux Outputs into Tape Inputs of the MB-20
But what is the "foldback"?

No. The machine outs go to the MB-20 tape ins. The foldbacks go to the Model 2 line ins.
The Model 2 line outs go to the MB-20 Buss ins. (The aux outs redundant to the corresponding line outs and can either be ignored or sent to another device if desired.) The MB-20’s line outs go to the tape machine’s line inputs.

 

[vampireontitus]

No. The machine outs go to the MB-20 tape ins. The foldbacks go to the Model 2 line ins.
The Model 2 line outs go to the MB-20 Buss ins. (The aux outs redundant to the corresponding line outs and can either be ignored or sent to another device if desired.) The MB-20’s line outs go to the tape machine’s line inputs.

Ok, sorry to ask again but still learning, what do you mean by foldbacks?

 

[TalismanRich]

Have you read any of the manual that I referenced? There's an old saying.... RTFM!

 

[Papanate]

Ok, sorry to ask again but still learning, what do you mean by foldbacks?

Foldbacks are the monitors - how you hear what you are recording and so forth

 

[RRuskin]

Foldbacks are the monitors - how you hear what you are recording and so forth

Foldbacks are "pass-throughs" that allow the incoming signals to be sent to wherever they are needed.

 

[Papanate]

Foldbacks are "pass-throughs" that allow the incoming signals to be sent to wherever they are needed.

Foldbacks refer to monitors usually - curious though what do you use them for?

 

[TalismanRich]

Page 6 of the MB20 manual...

 

[RRuskin]

You can send the foldbacks anywhere you want but if all I had was a 4-track machine, Model 2, & MB-20, I'd use the MB-20 foldbacks to bring the machine abouts into the Model 2 line ins. A more complete setup would include a line level mixer such as the TASCAM Model 1 and a patch bay for improved flexibility and convenience.