Dbx

[Razzgospel]

I recently dug out my Tascam 4 track recorder, but can't find my manual. This question is so simple, it's almost embarassing, but I don't remember the recommendations for using DBX. I have a switch that gives me the choice of "Sync", DBX or Off.

Can someone please recommend what the advantages are of using DBX when recording (or playback). Listening to tapes I've made, I seem to lose a lot of the high end with DBX on.

I want to burn some tapes on to CD, with Easy CD Creater 8 and wonder if I should feed the lines in with or without the DBX on. "Sync" seems to give a wider range on the high end, too.

Any help will be appreciated. I've tried the Tascam website but so far haven't gotten any good advice.

Jerry

 

[Raw-Tracks]

Here's a link to a bunch of Tascam manuals. Maybe you can find your manual here.
http://tascam.com/Manuals_And_Tech_Docs.html

 

[Razzgospel]

E-manual Sellers

Thanks, Eric:

I've checked that site and I guess my 4 track is old enough that they don't list it. But, I've gotten some additional information out of a book I dug out: The Musicians Guide To Home Recording. It has some good information on Tascam 4 track machines. They recommend not using DBX when you are sending a tape out for someone to hear. I'm only wondering whether I should use DBX on my tapes when I feed them into my computer, or whether it would be better to use noise reduction in my computer software.

I appreciate your response...

Jerry

 

[Raw-Tracks]

If your model's manual is not listed, try downloading one of the other tascam 4-tracker's manuals. I bet they talk about how DBX is implemented in those manuals as well. I would not expect than anything is different between the other Tascam models, with respect to the DBX noise reduction.

 

[Farview]

If you record with DBX, you have to play it back with DBX. It does get rid of a lot of noise, but if you play it back in another machine, even one with DBX, it might not sound right.

So, if you are tracking and this is the only machine you will play the tapes back on, use DBX. If you are recording on a tape that you want to play somewhere else, don't use it.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

If it's an old enough Portastudio, the type or dbx system they're using is actually a form of compression/expansion. If so, the way it works is that the dbx system actually records a compressed signal onto tape. Then when played back through the dbx again, it re-expands the signal. This expansion puts the music back to "normal" but expands the tape hiss to lower, virtually inaudable volume levels.

Therefore, you definitely do not want to record with dbx on unless you plan on playing back through the same dbx decoder. Otherwise, if you play back the dbx "encoded" tape on another machine or with the dbx turned off, you'll get a double-whammy; the signal will be artifically compressed and the tape hiss will be there in it's full glory.

On the other side of the coin, you also do not want to play back a non-dbx-encoded tape with the dbx turned on, because the dbx circuit will artifically expand the dynamics of the recording, knocking much of the low-energy stuff below audibility. It would be like listening only to the top 20 or 30 dB or so of the signal.

G.

 

[bigtoe]

when i had my 4 track the dbx really made stuff "pump"...it wasn't pleasing...i remember it being particularly in the low end.

a good trick is recording with it on and then playing back with it off. it can be noisy but it's a good way to get some nifty acoustic sounds.

Mike

 

[kid klash]

If you record with DBX, you have to play it back with DBX. It does get rid of a lot of noise, but if you play it back in another machine, even one with DBX, it might not sound right.

So, if you are tracking and this is the only machine you will play the tapes back on, use DBX. If you are recording on a tape that you want to play somewhere else, don't use it.

+1

If your tapes were originally dbx encoded, play them back with the dbx noise reduction turned on and engaged. There were several types of dbx noise reduction (type I and type II come to mind), and they had different characteristics... be sure that the decoding dbx type is the same that was used to encode your multitrack masters, and you'll wind up with very good results (especially if it is being played back on the same recorder/dbx combination that was used to record the tracks in the first place).