Please Help with Porta5!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alembic5
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Alembic5

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Hello Tascam users, I need your help! I bought a used Porta5 on Ebay and I did not receive a manual with the unit. I didn't think it would be a problem, as I have had some experience with Fostex units in the past. However, I can't seem to fully utilize the 4 tracks with my mic and my acoustic guitars. The first two tracks are clearly labeled "Mic/Line inputs." And tracks 3&4 are labeled "Line inputs." I have figured out that the first two tracks work fine with the mic, but the only way to get a decent signal from the last two tracks is if I plug my electric guitar directly into those lines. The problem is that I want to record all four tracks using my mic, and I'm thinking that I can free up tracks 1 and 2 if I use the ping pong technique (which I am trying to figure out) but I suspect there must be an easier way. I have figured out how to mix down, but it doesn't seem to be a relevant avenue as it pertains to mic-ing all four tracks. I have tried to contact Tascam for a replacement manual, but they don't have any. Please If there is anyone who knows the troubles I've seen, or kind of knows and wants more details, please please help. Thank You in advance, Donovan in Iowa.
alembic5@aol.com
 
I just read some stuff on the net and I think that I should record some stuff on (my Tascam) tracks 1 and 2 and then take that tape and send it back to tracks 3 and 4 via my stereo and then I can record tracks 1 and 2 again, and lastly. Does this seem like a solution? Will it give terrible sound quality? I am a desperate and poor classical musician and a solution to this dilemma would really make my day....... help!!!
 
Alembic,
Yeah, you are on the right track (pun intended) I don't have the porta05, but I swear, when I had my porta one, I never plugged into anything but channel one.
You won't lose sound quality because it is not bouncing. In your mind, separate channels and tracks - You can use channel 1 of the mixer to send a signal to track 1 of the recorder - and then use channel 1 again to send the signal to track 2 and so on and so on... you don't need to start by recording on tracks 3 & 4.
However, it will only work if the p05 has the has the ability to do this. (does it have track select switches and pan controls?)

Here is how I used to do it on my p1, maybe it will help.
I would plug my drum machine into channel 1, select track 1 and pan hard left. That signal is going to trk 1. Then I unplug the DM and stick my bass signal into ch 1, select track 2 and pan hard right. (This all has to do with "bus" functions - think of it literally as each signal into channel 1 and being driven by a bus to it's destination.) so now I have drums and bass on trks 1 & 2. Now I can plug my guitar into channel one, pan it hard left again and select track 3. (tracks 1 & 3 [odd-pan left] tracks 2 & 4 [even-pan right]) Now I can plug my mic into channel 1 and select track 4 and pan hard right. Don't let the pan thing confuse you, it is only to ensure the "bus" is "driving" to the correct bus stop. When you are ready to mix down, you will have the ability to pan everything the way you want.

I hope this makes sense. I'm trying not to be confusing.

Brad
 
Brad, I appreciate your help. I completely understand what you are saying, and yes, the Porta05 has Track switches and pan controls. I am going to give it a shot. It never occurred to me that you could send everything to the four seperate tracks all from the same channel. I just figured that if you were plugged into Line 2 that you had to use track 2, and if you were plugged into line 3 that you had to use track 3 and so forth. Thank you very much and I will update this BB again on Sunday to see if everything went well. Donovan
 
I see now exactly what you mean, except my Porta05 is slightly different than the Porta01. I have a two switches for my track selections: One switch lets me record on track 1, track 3 or to keep those tracks safe, and the other switch lets me record track 2,track 4 or to keep those tracks safe. So now i can use tracks 1&3 to record from my Mic/Line #1 and use tracks 2&4 to record from Mic/Line #2. And I will incorporate the panning as you mentioned. It makes complete sense now, and enables me to now record all four tracks with a microphone, which is what I originally wanted! Thanks Brad!
 
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