M300 owners need tips on mixing/effects

[eeieeio]

Remember this is still all new to me! VERY NEW! so please dumb it down for me.

Ok, I need help when it comes to mixing on my Tascam M308. I finished my first complete demo and I'm now at the mixing and adding effects stage. I'm confused at why there is a pan control on the Mixer for effects? I'm trying to ad some reverb to various instruments and I'm not quite sure what the relevence is of only one pan control when the effect goes to every channel on the mixer. As soon as you pan the effect then all channels are effected and panned the same so what is the point? Also should the effect be panned away from the main sound? in the middle, hard left or right or postioned with the main sound?

I'm also confused about using my effects in stereo. I have a Zoom 2000 multi effects stereo unit, but I'm confused what that really means? If I want to apply reverb to a mono guitar track how do I add the reverb or delay etc in stereo? Or if I have two drum tracks how does a stereo effects unit help me? I only see one effects knob and send/receive on the M308.

Ps. I know my questions may seem lame and I thank you all for taking the time.

 

[Dr ZEE]

also I don't have tascam M-mixer nor ever had one nor know it... so I can't be specific...

I'm confused at why there is a pan control on the Mixer for effects?.

I assume you are talking about effect(s) returns (?). Pan control there is simply for you to be able to pan the signal/sound coming from your effect processor and place it in the stereo-field of your mix as you wish (think of effect-return as a mixer's input channel). You don't have to touch the pan if you don't need to pan ... but if you need to pan - you have that option.

should the effect be panned away from the main sound? in the middle, hard left or right or postioned with the main sound?
.

that's all up to you, really ...

I'm also confused about using my effects in stereo. I have a Zoom 2000 multi effects stereo unit, but I'm confused what that really means? If I want to apply reverb to a mono guitar track how do I add the reverb or delay etc in stereo? .

In general, you send the mono signal (from mono instrument/single track) to mono input of your processor ... usually it is the left input (L/MONO).... and you take stereo effect out (what ever the effect it is : reverb or delay or what ever) and send two channels (stereo output of your processor) to stereo-return of your mixer (I don't know what's the deal there in m308).... ( in mixers, that have "stereo returns" usually there is "balance" control), maybe in your mixer you have "mono returns" and each return channel has its pan-control (?). So you get stereo effect from you processor into your mix, by using two of those return inputs, adjust the effect return amount and pan one hard left and the other - hard right (or pan them any way it sounds the best )
now, is this your ZOOM ?

 

[SteveMac]

In all honesty , I am terrible with understanding the routing system myself. Especially with the 308, it confused the shit out of me and I even have the manual. For someone else it's probably simple but it is a bitch for me. I'm still trying to figure out how I can add effects to a buss out or to a channel out without using an insert. It seems the only way to send it to a buss is to run it to another channel and THEN to a buss out, which I don't like doing. Apparently the effects route only goes out the main left and right channels. Not out the busses or the direct outs.


Anyone who can knows the 308 and can give us some tips I'd appreciate it too.

 

[mixsit]

If you can, post a copy of the block diagram. It's all there.
I used to have the 312 but it's been too long to wing it.

Wayne

 

[Muckelroy]

Given that you're through tracking, and you're JUST mixing down, and given that you're using channels 1-8, and NOT using the buss section of your console, you COULD feasibly use the tape-return inputs on the buss side of the console as effects returns, if you needed more than one effects return. They're basically inputs, so why not?