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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

864.0. "Overdubbing vs. Pingpong on Teac Tascam Porta-One" by SALSA::MOELLER (Co. confidential acronyms..) Tue Jul 14 1987 14:33

    Look, if this was covered in another note, point me there. I'll
    go quietly.. did a dir/title="porta" and got something about 
    outside sanitary facilities.
    
    A friend of mine came over a few days ago bearing his new TASCAM 
    Porta-One 4track cassette deck. Seems he'd been doing some taping 
    with someone, and wanted me to add a couple of tracks. The quality 
    of the recording was quite good. However, it seems he is missing 
    something major regarding this unit:
    
    Whenever he added a new track, all previously recorded tracks were
    'pingponged' into the new track, in the exact proportion to the
    audible mix while recording. Now, he is using the stereo outs, not
    the four line outs, as he has no mixer aside from the unit itself.

    The pingpong process uses the track assignment switch in conjunction
    with the stereo pan controls, and that is where I believe the problem
    lies. In one case, I added a string bass track, and then we wished
    to pingpong this bass in as I added some bluesy Hammond, and then
    clear the bass track for guitar. However, both tracks received a 
    copy of all previous tracks.
    
    The manual, as usual, worked like a dictionary, telling the purpose 
    of each control without describing how to construct a sentence.
    Or something like that.
    
    Can anyone give some hints regarding overdubbing discrete tracks
    versus pingponging in this unit ?
    
    thanks. karl moeller
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864.1Porta-one questionsDARTS::OPERWed Jul 15 1987 11:0425
    
    	No need to use stereo outs, the internal mixers are adequate.
    
    	Use CUE mode to record individual tracks. You contol the volume
    	during cue mode with the round faders on the top right.
    
    	To pingpong or overdub, use remix mode and push up the faders
    	only on the tracks that you want to pingpong.
    
    	Example:  Track 1 has drums, track 2 has organ.  Track 3 has
        bass and track 4 is open.  You wish to put drums and bass onto
    	track 4. Push up the faders of tracks 1 and 3 and turn the pan
    	control to R.  Leave the fader of track 2 down or else the organ
    	will end up on track 4 with the bass and drums. Now press record
    	and drums and bass will be on 4, and you can record over tracks
    	1 and 3.
    
    	I'm writing this from memory as I don't use my Porta-one
    	much.  Send me mail if have more questions.
    
    	Guy Novello
    
    
    
    	4 are open.  You wish to record
864.2SALSA::MOELLER115�F.,but it's a DRY heat..(thud)Thu Jul 16 1987 14:1116
    Guy, 
    
    I conveyed your message to my friend, who did some experiments with
    the Porta-One last night.. he called back late at night to tell
    me it works fine now.
    
    You were right, the 'tape cue' controls do it.. although I find
    it bizarre that you can only use the stereo headphone jack while
    recording ! .. or are the four 'line out' jacks active ? Of course
    that implies a way to gang four channels to two.
    
    Next, are the voltage levels on headphone jacks in any way compatible
    with line level signal? In other words, with adapters, could one
    patch from the headphones into a stereo preamplifier ?
    
    thanks, karl m.
864.3More PORTA-ONEJAWS::OPERMon Jul 20 1987 13:5726
    
    	Karl,
    
    	I can use the headphone jack during record AND playback.  When
    I first got my machine, I always forgot to flip some switch or push
    up some fader.  
    
    	I use the machine mostly now for privately jamming with tapes.
    Not to be too remedial but heres what I do. In REMIX mode, I push
    up faders 1 and 2 and pan them Left and Right and the selector switchs
    are set to tape. I plug myself into channel 3, pan it to the center
    and set the selector to line and adjust the channel 3 fader for
    volume.  Both the master volume and the headphone volume must be
    turned up.  Using this configuration, I get a signal at the headphone
    jack, the stereo outputs, and the individual 1-4 outputs.
    
    As an aside, the FIRST thing I did when I got my machine was to
    play some Beatles stuff backwards to see what it really sounded
    like.  I didn't think that "Number 9" sounds like "Turn me on dead
    man", but it was neat to hear John Lennon singing "RAIN" with the
    instruments playing backwards. 
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Guy Novello
    
864.4Porta effects??WLDWST::JENSENFri Nov 20 1987 15:5917
    Hey guys, I've got another Porta-One question.
    How do I interface it with a Midiverb or any other signal processor?
    Here's how I think it can be done, tell me if this right.
    
    
    Take the signal on all four tracks out of the unit, not going through
    the Porta's mixer to the effects box. Then take the output of the
    effects back into the porta's input,but this time through the mixer
    then back out of the sterio L and R to a 2 track deck.
                                                          
    
    Mark
    
      
                        
                        
                        
864.5SALSA::MOELLERpers.lic.plate equivalentFri Nov 20 1987 18:2516
>Take the signal on all four tracks out of the unit, not going through
>the Porta's mixer to the effects box. Then take the output of the
>effects back into the porta's input,but this time through the mixer
>then back out of the sterio L and R to a 2 track deck.

    .. too complicated. I take it that all the tracks on the Teac were
    recorded 'dry', no reverb. Go ahead and, using the individual tracks'
    Pan controls and volume sliders (using the 'mixer'), set up your 
    stereo mix. The left and right line outputs should go into the two 
    inputs of the MIDIverb.
    
    .. now set up an appropriate sound using the MIDIverb's own wet-dry 
    mix knob, and select a 'room size'. The output then should go to
    a stereo mixdown deck.
    
    karl
864.6Both ways???WLDWST::JENSENSun Nov 22 1987 21:0919
    Athough this approch will work, ti will only work on all 4 tracks
    as a whole. I need to apply the MIDIverb to at least two of the
    4 dry outputs from the Porta One.
    
    I attended a Porta One class yesterday (put on by Tascam) and the
    Tascam Rep said that the approch I stated in .4 would work but only
    for two output lines, not all four.
    
    After the class I bought a MIDIverb. I have not tried all the 
    combinations as yet (it's on order, be in this week) but will
    let you know how this works.
    
    I agree with your "BUILD YOUR OWN HOME STUDIO" side the the
    battle in the music::notes file. I own a PC, Porta One, and now,
    a MIDIverb. I plan to buid on as $$$ becomes available.
    
    Thanks for all the help,
    
    Mark
864.7GIBSON::DICKENSDistributed System ManglementFri Dec 04 1987 15:445
    This is why the porta-2 exists.  It has a aux. send, which is what
    we really need. (a porta-one owner)
    
    							-Jeff
    
864.8Me tooWLDWST::JENSENFri Dec 04 1987 16:166
    I agree. I was to impatient and should have done more homework
    before I bought my Porta One. I am concidering adding an effects
    buss myself, that is if I am sure I know what I am doing and have
    enough BALLS in my paints.
    
    Mark