Track Operation; Recording - The First Tracks - SoundCraft Series 200 User Manual

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8 TRACK OPERATION
The Series 200 is particularly suited to 8 track recording, since it has
a full 8-track monitoring section, 4 auxiliary sends and a lot of
flexibility.
Firstly, there are some suggestions for methods of operation, and
then a section outlining the recommended way(s) to plug-up your
equipment and general wiring information.
Monitoring
The console was designed with headphone monitoring in mind, but it
is perfectly feasible to monitor over a Hi-Fi system or similar, thus
simulating a Control Room environment.
To do this, you simply connect the output from the headphone socket
(stereo jackrtip left, ring right, sleeve common ground) to the auxiliary
inputs of your Hi-fi amplifier. It may be necessary to turn the Phones
level control right down to avoid overloading the input to your
amplifier, and in some cases it may be necessary to fit a stereo
attenuator in the lead between the two systems. Be sure to take care
with earthing.
Try wherever possible to have only one earth point for your entire
system, and NOT to have all your pieces of equipment earthed in
seperate places. This is almost guaranteed to give you mains hum;
either 50 or 60 Hz depending upon where you live-see wiring.
Recording - the first tracks
When laying the first tracks, you will normally have microphones
plugged into the Input modules and then in turn you will want to route
these to the 8-track machine. The routing switches may be used to
send to up to 4 tracks at one time. This is usually enough, but you
are not doomed if you want to record more than 4 tracks in one go.
For instance you may need only to record 4 tracks, but would like to
put the guide vocal on tape for reference.
To send more than 4 signals or groups of signals to the 8-track, you
have 2 options: You may either use the auxiliary buses, if you are nof
currently using them for echo etc.; or you may take the signals direct
from the insert points.
Using the auxiliary buses is the best option, since the auxiliary
system is a very similar one to the groups. The circuitry is the same
and there is an overall level control for each auxiliary bus, so that you
could easily sum several signals and then have overall level control to
tape. Effects and echo etc. are best added via the insert points if they
are required, thus keeping the auxiliary sends free for recording
groups.
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