how do i combine tracks on a 4 track recorder

[quietasdust]

I have an old yamaha 4 track & i lost the manual, but i remember it saying that you can combine tracks so that in the end it's as if it's an 8 track recorder. For example, after having the first 3 tracks recorded separately i can then record all of them onto track four, leaving tracks 1-3 free again. How do i do this? What do i put the settings on?? Please help!!! thanks!

 

[clay0511]

Try this link for the user manual

Try this link. I think you'll be able to find the user manual for your model.

http://www.yamaha.com/proaudio/products/manual_library.htm

FWIW, be aware that when you do this technique, which I've heard called "Ping-ponging", the first three tracks' sound can seriously degrade by the time you mix down. Even if you mix to a computer hard drive, it's still going to be 2nd generation.

I use an old Fostex 4-track and I quit trying to combine tracks on it. I used to do it, but my orginal three tracks would always get buried under hiss and the other "fresher" tracks. Don't mean to rain on your parade -- Just my 2 cents. Hopefully you'll have better luck with it than I did. Give it a try and see what you think.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

You can bounce internally, but you might get better results bouncing externally (especially if you have access to a 1/4" reel-to-reel 2 track machine). You can also bounce to a VCR (see Dragon's article on this) What are you mixing the final result to?
If you don't have a R to R, do this: record on tracks 1,2 and 3. Record enable track 4, place tracks 1,2,3 in playback mode, and record 1,2,& 3 onto track 4. It takes a lot of trial and error to get a good bounce, but if you avoid overuse of EQ (they are usually pretty lousy on the cheapy units), it can be done.

Bob

 

[DaveO]

Quietasdust,

Buffalo Bob's suggestion about doing an external bounce to a VCR might strange but it works pretty well. When I was still using my Tascam 414 I began doing that and found the sound didn't seem as badly degraded as when I did an internal bounce.

I considered buying a minidisc player/recorder to do the external bounces but I eventually bought a PC and began using that to record, so I can't say how well that would have worked.