What are "tape monitor returns"???

[Dan Woods]

Hi All,

I'm new to this scene, and studying it at college. I have an assignment that has to be in Monday, though I'm trying to get it out of the way before the weekend. I'm trying to find out what "tape monitor returns"are, and what they do, you know, in laymans terms. I would also appreciate any small (5 or so) items in a list that you would want as effects. I.e. reverb unit, delay unit..... What else is there and what do they do. I hope you don't mind helping with my homework.

Best wishes,


dan

 

[TexRoadkill]

Let's break it down.

Tape = tape or digital recorder or whatever unit is recording the sound.

monitor = to listen to something

return = this is where something is 'returned' to the board after being somewhere else. In this case it is being returned after going to the recorder.

I want you to meditate on these definitions and see if the light bulb turns on. After that maybe we can help with effects suggestions.

 

[Dan Woods]

Hello again,

Thanks for that, I knew when I wrote it that it sounded silly, but I'm still not sure on a couple of points.: Do these returns from the tape machine come in onto any channel, or just the channel that is being returned. I have been asked to "demonstrate the operation of different sections of the desk. I have done "channel strips", "group outputs" and master outputs", and I've still got tape monitor returns and monitors to go. I'm assuming that for monitors all I need put is...

"These are the UV meters, and they only give a correct reading on the ouput side of the console, or when just one SOLO button is down"

Thanks

Dan

 

[TexRoadkill]

Each track on the recorder will be returned to an individual channel on the mixer.

It's VU meters not UV.

Monitors are the speakers you to use to listen to the music.

Don't they give you a book or something to get the info?

 

[ChristopherM]

Well, my only experience with "studio equipment" has been a Yamaha 4-track and then on to software, BUT...

I remember from my childhood cassette-making days, using my dad's expensive and complicated stereo system, there were "tape monitor returns." He had a "three head" tapedeck, so I could actually listen to the tape as it was being recorded. If I set the switch to "source" I was listening to the album, if I set it to "monitor" I was listening to the tape. I believe this function on a board is the same.

As a side note. I so related to John Cusack's character in "High Fidelity." It used to take me all day to make one tape of mixed artists.
My friends all thought I was obsessive-compulsive, but they liked my tapes!