I just recieved my VF160 this morning! I bought the Fostex to use for Remote and Live Remote recording. I had downloaded the Manual awhile back off the Fostex site and Downloaded the QuickStart Guide here at the VF16 site. As most have said, the Manual stinks.
I'm going to play with it some today to get the hang of the basics. Tomorrow, I hope to Record a Live Jam.
Here's the Setup:
Bass Either Direct or Line out on amp.
Electric Guitar 1 though V-Amp2 Direct
Electric Guitar 2 through RP2000 Direct
2 Vox through XLR's on the Fostex
Drums Submixed through a Mixer with 5 mics.
This is going to be for learning and the Jam is for fun.
It looks like I'm going to be using 7 Tracks. How do I proceed? What do I need to do to get all the tracks recording at once and what do I need to do to get a song saved and start another one?
First of all hook all the cables into the channels you are gonna be recording into before you boot up the Fostex.(it doesnt matter which channels you plug what into)Turn all of your faders down to 0.Turn all of the "line/mic" knobs to 0.
You'll wanna record in "Direct Recording" Mode.It's easier than any 4 track recording ever was.
Just press the Direct Recording Button and then press the "Channel Status" buttons above each channel you are recording on.They will flash Red.(remember that you can record to any of tracks 9-16 also.Just press the Channel Status button above the Channel you wish to record to.)
To keep things simple I would suggest recording on channels 1-7 if all you need is 7 tracks to start with.
Push the "Exit/No" button and you are ready to record.
Press the Record Button and you will now be able to go into rehearse mode.This is where you will bring your Channel faders and line/mic knobs up for each individual channel to get your signals up to where you need them.You'll be able to hear the instruments as you bring the faders up while the record button is pressed.The Record button will be flashing in Rehearse Mode.
Once you get the levels where you want them you are ready to Record.
Just press the Record and Play Buttons at the same time and away you go.
After you have finished laying the tracks you can Press the REWIND and STOP Buttons at the same time to return to 0 and playback your tracks from the start.
[edit to add]
To turn the record status OFF on all of the channels or as many as you want,just press "direct Rec trk" button and press each flashing Red Channel status button and that will turn them off.
Press "Exit/No" and they are clear.
On playback you can press the GREEN status channel light above each channel to turn that track ON or OFF.This helps when you need to solo just a track or 2 by itself.
each song will save itself and will assisgn itself a #.
When you get ready to record a new tune just press the "Pgm Sel" button(Program Select) and it will bring up the program select menu in the window....just scroll your Jog Wheel to the right a little and you will see "New PRG?" and it will ask if you are sure?......press the "Enter/Yes" button and it will open a new program with a new # assisgned to it.You are now ready to record another tune.
Another cool thing about this recorder is the ability to save your mix settings/EQ/PAN/EFFECTS ETC.....When you've got a song mixed you just press the "Store" button and it will bring up a menu in the window and defaults to "init mix".Thats a flat mix.You DONT wont to select that as your new mix setting and save.You want to leave it flat to enable you to always have the ability to go back to the intial flat mix and start from scratch.
Just scroll your Jog wheel to the right a little and it will scroll down below "init Mix'.
Press the "Enter/Yes" button and your selection in the window will start flashing.Use the Jog wheel to scroll through the alpha/numeric/symbols to name your saved mix.Use the FORWARD and REWIND buttons to move the cursor over to the next letter.
After you name it Press Enter/Yes again and it is saved.You can save over 100 mix scenes.Now when ever you boot the Fostex up you can press the "RECALL" button and select your previous mix(es).It helps a lot when you have the mix honed in and you dont wanna have to start from scratch every time you boot the machine up.
If Im not being clear enough about things feel free to ask questions.Im probably more confusing than the Fostex manual itself.
Not confusing at all, Bro! I'm starting to get the hang of this thing. As far as the recording and playback functions go anyway. Even burned some tracks to CD and transfered em to the puter. I have a long way to go but I'm starting to get there!
I think everything will be cool tomorrow. Thanks alot for the tips!
Reading manuals before you actually get a piece of equipment does help out.