Simple question about 4 track recording...

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SleepAlocet

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Im a beginner so go easy on me. I am using a Tascam 424 MKII 4 track and am having trouble overdubbing. I lay down a guitar track on 1 and then try to put down a bass line but when i take it out and play it in a regular stereo I can only hear the guitar. I tried putting it on the bus and direct lines. Please help!!! I have tried everything.

Maria.
 
You can't play 4 track tapes on a STEREO (2 track)!!!

Your stereo cassette plays only 2 tracks in either direction, the 4 track uses the other two tracks as well. If you flip it over you will hear the other two parts BACKWARDS!


Dom :rolleyes:
 
So....

You will have to mix down your 4track master to a stereo recorder to be able to play your creations on a standard cassette.

Dom :p
 
Ok.... I have two mix down tracks tracks 5 and 6 on my tascam. can i do anything with that and how much is a stereo recorder???
 
The casette runs 4 tracks in one direction. If you want to play back just a guitar and bass part, and listen to them on a reg. stereo you have to record on tracks 1 & 3, or 2 & 4. Because a tape playes in stereo on both sides, it uses 2 tracks per side, 2 going one way - flip tape - 2 going the other. when you record 4 tracks on the prota-studio it records four tracks going ONE way.
 
Smurf said:
If you want to play back just a guitar and bass part, and listen to them on a reg. stereo you have to record on tracks 1 & 3, or 2 & 4.
Well that's not really a practical solution, is it.......... someone already pointed out that the 4-tracks must be "mixed down" to another machine (cassette, minidisc, Hi-Fi VHS, DAT, CD, etc....) - that's the step he's missing.

SleepAlocet - in very general terms, the basic steps in the recording process are:

1) tracking - recording the instruments/vocals/other sound sources to individual tracks on a multitrack recorder

2) mixing - combining/blending/layering of the multiple tracks (possibly with effects and other processing) to a 2-track (ie, stereo) format, playable on regular sound systems.

3) mastering - the final preparation of the 2-track mix for general release
 
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