Getting Yamaha MD4S to record 4 separate tracks

4

4 acres

New member
I am a MiniDisc fan, and I have a Yamaha MD4S which seems to be in good working order.
I want to record some acoustic guitar/vocal tracks in 3 or 4 track format so I can mix down the relative volume levels before making the final recording.
(I have obtained a Sony MD data disc so I can record 4 tracks.)
I have 4 mics plugged into inputs 1,2,3 and 4, all of which are working when tested through through a monitor.
When I record tracks 1 and 2, (selecting first "record select 1", then "2") the orange indicator light comes on and they record fine, but when I try to select channel 3 or 4,
there doesn't seem to be a light for those, so I don't know how to select those.
Any suggestions, please?
 
I have an MD4, but not the MD4S. I’ve got no idea what the S stands for.

It’s not been in use for a while and is currently packed up. I’ll have to open it up and get familiar with it again.

Do you have a manual? Tracks 3 and 4 should arm the same as 1 and 2.
Possibly the bulbs are burnt out?

I’ll check mine when I get a chance and get back to you.
 
RFR said:
I have an MD4, but not the MD4S. I’ve got no idea what the S stands for.

It’s not been in use for a while and is currently packed up. I’ll have to open it up and get familiar with it again.

Do you have a manual? Tracks 3 and 4 should arm the same as 1 and 2.
Possibly the bulbs are burnt out?

I’ll check mine when I get a chance and get back to you.
Click to expand...
Hi RFR,
The MD4 AND MD4S have a slightly different switch layout.
I found an image of one like mine, and all four track indicators are lit up.
Looks like you are right, the bulbs are out! It wasn't just me being hopeless at following instructions after all.
I am going to see if I can try using those channels "blind", i.e. by selecting them as if they are illuminated to see if the function still works.
If not, I suppose I will need to try to find a repairer (I'm in SW UK). Or get a more modern recorder.
Anyway, you have definitely put me on the right "track" :LOL:
Thank you.
 
It's very difficult to get repairs to old gear done - I used to do repairs, but got fed up with people kicking off over the prices. Taking something to bits, diagnosing it, putting together a quote, getting it rejected, putting it back together again is all wasted time. The firm locally I worked for years ago now charges £80 for an estimate. That's a reflection of the time to work out what is wrong. Add a few parts and the price for a repair could easily be a couple of hundred quid. I stopped when I read on Facebook a comment saying he was ripping me off. He, of course, was me! Four hours of work for somebody to say they don't want it done. Stripping your down to get to the lamps is necessary to work out if they are even available. Some of the old grain of wheat lamps are long gone now, so an LED bodge might be needed - but many would consider that unacceptable. So difficult.
 
Whenever something on any of my Akai DPS12is goes wrong, there's a guy I take it to in Shepherd's Bush. I pay whatever he asks for 2 reasons ¬> I don't know anyone else that can do what he does, and I put myself in his shoes; would I want someone quibbling over money for the work I'm going to do which is worth what I'm charging ? No I would not. I don't think he overcharges me, and he always does a sterling job. I am not going to go through the rigmarole of trying to find someone else to repair the machines for the sake of a few quid off.
 
I just tried something else - when I switch the recorder off and back on, the display cycles through all the lights, including the ones for tracks 3 and 4. These illuminate for a moment.so the bulbs can't be burnt out, can they?
 
4 acres said:
When I record tracks 1 and 2, (selecting first "record select 1", then "2") the orange indicator light comes on and they record fine, but when I try to select channel 3 or 4,
there doesn't seem to be a light for those, so I don't know how to select those.
Any suggestions, please?
Click to expand...
Can you actually record on tracks 3 and 4 ?
 
spantini said:
We're not allowed to ask that.
Click to expand...
Not yet, but I,m going to do some tests today to try to get them working. I noticed that when you first switch the machine on, 1 and 2 are not lit until you select them, so I will assume that one press of button 3 or 4 after switch on could be "on", even if the light is not illuminated.
Fingers crossed.(y)
 
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