Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Brad,
    
    I use my 8track to record parts in several categories..
    
    o	part requires totally unique effect/EQ that would be otherwise
    	used in final mixdown (used for something else)
    
    o	part requires stereo
    
    o	part uses SO much sampler memory that it can't coexist with
    	other instruments in the sampler
    
    o	similarly, part uses so much polyphony that no other voices
    	will sound
    
    o	part COULD be played 'live' via MIDI during mixdown, but
    	a part that MUST be crisp (like drums) needs its own EQ/FX
    
    o	background parts - sweetener tracks, with low playback levels
    
    o	bass - most of the time it's just mono with no reverb/FX
    
    < Note 2062.0 by GLORY::SCHAFER "Brad - banished to Michigan." >

>Should FX be applied during the take or at mixdown?  
    
    Yes.. no rules.  If required (see above) I'll effect a part on its
    way to 8track... or sometimes (see above) record a part to 8track
    because I DON'T want any effect on it..
    
>    Is track-bouncing to be avoided?  
    
    Depends on your goal - creating a CD ?  No track bounce for you!
    
>    Is it a good or bad idea to record several instruments at a time?

    Once again, no rules.  I will certainly record several virtual
    instruments to one or two (for stereo) tracks, assuming that they
    work as a unit - remember, final mixdown fader motion affects them    
    all equally.

>Is it proper to apply a 'generic' effect (such as reverb)
    at mixdown time over and above other FX that may already be on tape? 

    Yes, I do it all the time.  Individual tracks and virtual MIDI
    instruments might have their own effects, and then I'll run everything
    (except bass) thru a common stereo reverb.
>        For example, let's assume I've recorded a snare using a gated reverb
>    (no comments, please).  Will applying a reverb to the mixdown screw up
>    the sound of the gated snare?  Are there tricks to 'mixing down'?

    Sometimes if I've applied a subtle echo to a track, I'll find that
    the echo disappears if I run the composite original-with-echo thru
    a reverb. 
    
    final note - I rarely put my basic tracks (except bass) onto 8track.
    I'd much rather have piano/drums etc. come directly off of the SGU's
    driven by the sequencer.. so once again, I put sweetener tracks
    on tape, and run rhythm/lead parts live.
    
    karl

    Another thought - your Tascam 238 prolly has separate record/playback
    heads.  If you have an FSK sync track on track 8, and you do some
    bouncing, you have to take the aggregate time lag into account and
    do the bounce while in 'simul-sync' mode.  Else of course your newly
    recorded composite tracks now lag the FSK sync by 1/2 second.
    
    Sorry, I don't know what the Tascam folks call using the record
    head to monitor is called...
    
    karl

    Actually, the 238 has 1 head for record/pb ... kind of a hybrid thing
    (looks like two heads in one). 

    But thanx for the info anyway.  What's the buzz on patchbays?  Looks
    like I'm gonna have to pick one up (sigh - more money down the drain).
    I got quoted a Symmetrix 32 point bay (20 RCA, 12 �"phone pin) for
    $135.  Is that about standard?

    And what in blazes does 'normalized' mean?  The deeper I get into
    this, the dumber I feel.

-b

PS - I hooked up the unit last night and diddled a bit ... the transport
    is fabulously fast, auto punch in/out work like a dream, and the
    thing is *dead* quiet.  I noticed no dropout, no crosstalk, no noise,
    and exceptional high end for a cassette.  Needless to say, I'm quite
    happy with it.

    Patchbay - made my studio LOTS friendlier.
    Normalized inputs :  If a signal from an SGU is normally going to
    go to a track in your mixer, you can wire it this way:
    
                     Side View
       BACK         +------------+     FRONT (outside of rack)
    Signal fr SGU>  =--          =  
                    |  |         |
                    |  |         |
    Signal to MIX<  =<-          =
                    +------------+
    
    .. and without plugging any cables in the front jacks, the SGU 
    signal will just go back out to your mixer channel.  but when you
    plug in patch cables in the front, it works like this :
                     Side View
       BACK         +------------+     FRONT (outside of rack)
    Signal fr SGU>  =----------->= > signal to effect unit 
                    |            |
                    |            |
    Signal to MIX<  =<---------- = < signal from effect unit
                    +------------+   interrupts normalled circ path
    
    .. so it interrupts the normal in-to-out connection on the back.
    Of course you can also just patch OUT on the front and take the
    signal somewhere else, in which case it is ALSO available at the
    normallized BACK OUT ("signal to mixer")..
    
    Clear, right ?
    
    karl

    Well, actually, no.

    What I have is this: a 16 in, 2 out mixer.  Since I'm on a limited
    budget, I had hoped to use the mixer (which has a prefader FX send) for
    both input mixing and monitoring, as follows: 

	Chans 1-8	Chans 8-16 (all �" phone pins)
	+---------------+-----------------+
	|input from SGUs| output from 238 |....> to monitor amp
	+---------------+-----------------+
	    |			|
    	    v			^
    	    +------- 238 -------+
	    8 ins	 8 outs  (all RCA connections)

    Since I have only 2 outs on the mixer, I'll be stuck plugging and
    unplugging from the tape machine every time I want a new track. I had
    hoped to be able to use a patchbay to keep the plugging above board and
    limited to � pins, which are more durable than RCAs.

    Basically, what I want is this (I=in):

    	PATCHBAY
    +-----------------+-----------------+
    | i i i i i i i i | i i i i i i i i |
    +-----------------+-----------------+
      to tape inputs	from tape outs to mixer channels 8-16

    Obviously, with a 32 point bay, I should have some left over.  Is a 32
    point bay (20 RCA, 12 �"pin) going to let me do what I want? 

    The reason I'm doing this is because I use the rack live more than
    I record, and want to make setup/teardown a very simple process.

-b

    And here I was going to nominate Karl for an award for on-line ASCII
    graphics (really clear, Karl!), but before I get to it, Brad has
    responded in kind!
    
    	Eirikur
    

  pairs 1-8	  pairs 8-16         pairs 17-24      L  R
+---------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----+
|input from SGUs| output from 238 |outputs to 238   | o  o|from mixer
+---------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----+
	    |			|   ^^frontpatchcablesv v
    	    v			^   ||________________| |
    	    +------- 238 -------+   +-------------------+

    re .4 - I was only addressing your 'what is "normalled"' question.
    
    karl

    Thanks muchly.  I've got one on order now as we speak.

-b