question about usage of tracks (MR-8)

[kesterdevine]

Is there a way to use tracks 5/6 and 7/8 as if they are separate tracks like 1-4, so that when mixing down they can be controlled individually? Or is the only way to use more than four tracks by bouncing before the final mix? If you cannot do this, then
the MR-8 is just the same as a basic four track recorder, right?

Sorry this is such a remedial question, but I've had my head stuck in the owner's manual for far too long now.

Any suggestions for being able to record at least 5 or 6 tracks without bouncing? Is this possible or am I still living in four track land??

O'K , I promise no more stupid questions..for at least 24 hours...ha,ha...

Thanks

 

[Ed Dixon]

You can record on the first 6 tracks, and then mix the result to 7/8. That gives you 6 tracks.

I use a PC for the mix process, so I can iteration as needed to produce as many tracks as needed. That way all final tracks are first generation.

Ed

 

[kesterdevine]

thanx

Thanks, looks like i'll be learning to mix on PC, if I wanna use the MR-8 most effectively! I appreciate the help.

 

[radiorickm]

i may have misunderstood you question....but here is an answer

you can certainly use tracks 5/6 as a STEREO PAIR of tracks, and you may also use 7/8 as a STEREO PAIR of tracks, especially if you are moving everythin onto pc anyway

You can record directly onto either 5/6 or 7/8, by simply arming the recording on these channels. Note that these channels are hard panned already. You may also record onto 1/2 (or 3/4) and via digital editing move those recordings into either 5/6 or 7/8 with out bouncing.

i personnaly record on all 8 tracks on my MR-8. I put stereo drums on 7/8, stereo guitar effects on 5/6, bass guitar on 4, rythm guitar on 3., bg vocal on 2 and lead vocal on 1. I dont use the PC method so i don't need the converted stereo wave file, but i can stilll move all 8 track wave files into the computer if i wish to via "wave manager" program.

hope this helps.

 

[kesterdevine]

thanx

That helps a little. I know I'm being kinda thick about this concept. I've done all of my home recording in the past on a four track cassette and I'm not used to bouncing. I just record onto the four tracks and mix. So the fact that I can record onto 5/6 and 7/8, but that I can't pan/mix them like the other channels is a little strange for me. I think the term "stereo pair" might be confusing me for some reason, but I need to consider what you are saying about moving tracks using digital editing. When I've tried to experiment so far using the 128MB card, I've been running out of space, which is frustrating. I wish I could just watch somebody work on this machine. I'm much beter that way than with a user's manual. But, I've only had the MR-8 for about ten days and so far I've had fun and learned a lot. Just a lot more to learn. Thanks for the tips. Very much appreciated.

 

[radiorickm]

maybe i am missing something here,....
but you DO have a fader for 5/6, and you DO have a fader for 7/8. SO you can mix them. As for panning, they are just pre-panned hard l/r. You dont HAVE to use them as bounce track...UNLESS you want to.

by a "stereo pair" i mean an input source that has two sides. a left, and a right. They MIX on one fader control, because they are a pair. An example of this would be a KEYBORD, that has a L/R output, ( a stereo output, like even a headphone) or a drum module.

Even though there is one fader, it is essentially controlling two channels.

Here is how i set up my MR-8 If it helps.
(Note that i do NOT do the conversion to a stereo file)

I record my stereo drum machine, an Alesis SR-16, into tracks 7/8, left to A, right to B input .

i then record my guitar from my Digi-Tech effects pedal into 5/6, again left to A, right to B. cabinet voiced, sounds great

I record a Bass guitar track, in MONO on channel 4. I usually pan to 11:00, just barely off center

I record a rythm guitar track, in MONO on track 3. I pan it about 3:00, which puts it on the right side of the "sound stage"

I put my harmony/bg vocal on track 2, panned oppisite...9:00 on the left side of the "sound stage", and a little reverb to set it back.

I put my Lead Vocal on track 1, again, near center .

I then mix ALL 8 TRACKS to a STEREO output....in my case the difital SP/DIF
and burn to CD once i get my mix happy and my mastering applied.


But if i wanted to, i could (by using wave manager) take each wave file,
tr01.wav, tr02.wav etc and import them into the computer for further editing.
Would have 8 wave files that way.

Now, what if i want even more tracks. i want to record 4 or 5 singers individually. When you do this in the TAPE world, you loose quality QUICKLY...but in the digital world, it works great

i could record the 2 drum tracks onto 1/2, bass guitar onto 3, and rythm guitar onto 4. and the lead guitar stereo pair onto 5/6.

MIX it carefully, 'cause you cant go back. Then bounce 1 thru 6 to 7/8

erase the unused stuff, and start again.
2 stage mikes on a piano into 1/2,
a mike for a violin,into 3, and a crash symbol into 4.

once again, mix carefully and bounce 1 thru 4 into 5/6. erase 1-4,

start over and record your 4 singers individually

Track 7/8 has 6 tracks, 5/6 has 4, that's 10, + 1thru 4 again, thats 14 track recorded

you can do really neat stuff in the digital world this way

hope this clears up some fuzzy edges for you

 

[kesterdevine]

that helps a lot!

I'm starting to put all this stuff together. The stereo pair thing was confusing to me, because I don't use a drum module (i use acoustic drums) or other stereo sources. But I probably will in the future. I knew that 5/6, 7/8 had faders. It was the inability to pan them that was throwing me off. With my 4-track, I just mixdown to stereo on a free standing CD burner, and I'm attempting at this point to use the MR-8 in a similar fashion. So, I just have to consider in advance that whatever I would record onto 5/6, 7/8 will be pre-panned. I'm going to attempt to transfer wav files to PC for mixing soon. I can see where the possibilities are endless. Thanks alot, radiorickm, for taking time to post your method. Very helpful!