Having trouble bouncing on a 4 track

[deepsleeper]

I've got a Tascam Portastudio 414 MK11

So I've made the beginner's mistake of recording all 4 tracks thinking i could just bounce one track to another. I've tried the external bounce to a tape deck and recorded it back to the 4 track. But the audio just isn't that great.

I'd like to just bounce track 1 and track 2 to track 3 over a bass part but it's not working. I've noticed that most manuals and forums say bounce tracks 1, 2 and 3 to track 4. So you can't just bounce tracks 1 and 2 to track 3? I've got a great drum take on track 4 and don't really want to lose it.

What's the best thing to do here?

Chris

 

[mjbphotos]

What other gear do you have?

 

[grimtraveller]

So you can't just bounce tracks 1 and 2 to track 3? I've got a great drum take on track 4 and don't really want to lose it.

What's the best thing to do here?

There must be a way to bounce one track, two tracks or three tracks. It just does not make sense to not be able to, unless the 414 mk2 was a one off experimental project. I've never heard of a machine on which any number of bounces couldn't be done.
What exactly does the manual say ? When the manuals talk about bouncing tracks 1,2 and 3 to 4, they're just trying to show that with a 4 track, you could actually have at least 7 tracks {1-3 to 4, new 1-2 to 3, then new 1 and new 2}. Actually, in theory, you could have lots more tracks but your quality would really begin to suffer.
But have you actually tried to bounce tracks 1 and 2 to 3 ? You don't say in your post if you have.

 

[david42]

I have used the 414 MarkII before and there should be no reason that you can't bounce 1 and 2 to track 3. they just say bounce to track 4 as an example.

Keep in mind, since this is a tape deck each time you bounce you are gonna lose sound quality. I wouldn't bounce a track more than once.

 

[deepsleeper]

yea, i have tried bouncing tracks 1 and 2 to track 3 but it didn't work. i put both tracks to tape, montor l-r is on, others are off, panned both knobs to the right, master fader to shaded area and switched track 3 to record and hit record. there's still nothing playing on track 3 and tracks 1 and 2 are still the same. not sure what's wrong. does track 3 have to be panned to the left? i kept it in the center.

 

[grimtraveller]

panned both knobs to the right, master fader to shaded area and switched track 3 to record and hit record.

Try panning the knobs left if you want to go onto an odd numbered track.
As an experiment, try a bounce from tracks 1 and 2 to 4 and see if it works.
Also, give the heads a good demagnetizing and cleaning if you haven't already.

 

[deepsleeper]

i don't want to lose my drum track on track 4, that's the problem. i just want the guitars on tracks 1 and 2 bounced onto track 3.

 

[heatmiser]

Hey - just looking at the online manual for the MKII. I think maybe you need to pan tracks 1 & 2 to the left to bounce to track 3. The example in the manual has you panning tracks 1,2 & 3 to the right because they have you bouncing to track 4. I don't think the panning on the destination track (3, in your case) matters.

Not sure, as I have a tascam 688 with electronic routing, so I don't have to worry about using pan knobs for anything other than panning (never understood why they use those for dual purposes like that?).

Anyway, try doing everything the same, except pan your source tracks (1 & 2) to the left instead. I think this should work...good luck!

 

[miroslav]

Apart from getting the Sel-Rep and panning stuff right...as you've found out, you can NOT playback from AND record to the same track.
Soooo...you will never be able to record tracks 1, 2 & 3....to 3.

Pick the worst track of the four....bounce the other three to that track, and just re-record that track when you have some free tracks again.

 

[grimtraveller]

As an experiment, try a bounce from tracks 1 and 2 to 4 and see if it works.

i don't want to lose my drum track on track 4, that's the problem. i just want the guitars on tracks 1 and 2 bounced onto track 3.

I didn't actually mean the specific tracks that you mentioned. I should have been more clear, my apololgies. I meant experiment in the sense of just record something new on tracks 1 and 2 of a blank tape and see if you can bounce to 4.