4
5
?
What is the end product you
want to make?
Rehearsal tapes? Demo CDs?
Trading MP3s with friends on the
Internet? A fully-produced CD for
sale at gigs?
?
What’s your attitude towards
computers
, and what computer
skills do you have? Do you have
a computer or are you planning on
getting one? What kind is it? What
operating system does it use? Does
it have USB ports or PCI slots? Are
you comfortable with computer
operations, such as connecting hard
disks and optimizing them? Is the
world of cassette tape more your
style, or are you somewhere in the
middle?
As we noted, each of the TASCAM
products mentioned is covered in
the colored boxes on the right-hand
pages of this booklet. For more infor-
mation visit
www.tascam.com
or ask
the dealer from whom you got this
booklet.
Recording starts with the sources
you want to record, for example, micro-
phones and electronic instruments.
These are plugged into a mixer, which
sends the signals to the multitrack.
The multitrack plays the signals back
through the mixer, which is usually con-
nected to effects processors that add
reverb, distortion, echo, etc.
In order to hear everything, you need
speakers and an amp (which can be your
home stereo to start out with).
Finally, you need to mix down to a
2-track CD or cassette, to share your work
with other people.
These six components are often
combined. TASCAM Portastudios
combine the mixer and multitrack in a
single unit. A Pocketstudio adds MIDI
instruments and a microphone, plus
effects processors. Computer systems
may add a built-in CD recorder.
Even though elements are com-
bined, it helps to understand them as
separate blocks.
The six components of a complete multitrack studio
MIXER
EFFECTS (REVERB,
CHORUS, ECHO)
INSTRUMENTS
MICROPHONES
MONITOR SPEAKERS/HEADPHONES
(OPTIONAL)
MIDI
SEQUENCER
CASSETTE DECK
OR CD BURNER
MULTITRACK
RECORDER
The mixer and
multitrack are
usually combined
into one unit
text continues on next page
˘
414
mkII
Ô
4-track simultaneous recording
Ô
8-input mixer section
Ô
2-band high/low equalizer on 4 main
input channels
Ô
Two dedicated
W
" stereo inputs
Ô
Two XLR balanced mic inputs assignable
to Channels 1 through 4
Ô
One
W
" dedicated Guitar input
Ô
RCA unbalanced stereo SUB inputs
Ô
Separate main and monitor outputs
Ô
Headphone output with level control
Ô
Two effect sends, one of which is switch-
able to Tape Cue
Ô
3-3/4 i.p.s. high tape speed
Ô
dbx® noise reduction
Ô
Optional RC-
30
P punch-in pedal
424
mkIII
Ô
4-track simultaneous recording with logic-
controlled 4-track tape transport and dbx®
noise reduction.
Ô
±12% pitch control
Ô
RTZ and 2 locate points, repeat function,
auto punch I/O with rehearsal function
and more
Ô
6 full-function input channels with MID
sweepable 3-band EQ, 2 aux sends for
effects processing
Ô
Four assignable XLR Microphone inputs
Ô
Dedicated
W
" stereo inputs (channel 7-8)
Ô
Separate main L-R and monitor outputs
Ô
Dedicated
W
" tape outputs
Ô
Sync output
5