Signal Flow - Boss BR-1180 User Manual

Recording Direct
For instruments such as electric keyboards synthesizers, drum machines, samplers and
even guitars and basses you will get the cleanest single recording directly through the
BR-1180's inputs. For guitars and basses use the GTR/BASS input. For Keyboards and
modules and drum machines use the stereo line inputs as most of these instruments are
stereo. Always use good quality cables. Most likely the cables that you need will have a
¼" for the end that connects to your keyboard and an RCA type connection to connect to
the line inputs. Use separate cables for each of the left and right connections.
Now that we have an idea as to how to input sound to our BR-1180s lets discuss two
important recording concepts-signal flow and gain structure.

Signal Flow.

Signal flow refers to exactly that. How and where a signal travels. An audio signal is
captured from a live source through a microphone or it is generated from a keyboard or
guitar directly plugged into inputs on the BR-1180. The signal reaches the recorder's
preamps and then is converted from an analog signal into a digital signal.
All incoming signals as well as all recorded signals are bussed to the MASTER so that
they can be sent to the LINE OUT for monitoring as well as to the DIGITAL OUT and
HEADPHONE outputs. Keeping that in mind know that you will need to have your
MASTER FADER turned up in order to hear anything.
Signals can also be sent to tracks for recording and to effects for processing. We use a
combination of INPUT SELECT, REC MODE select and REC TRACK select buttons to
route signals to tracks for recording.
• INPUT SELECT selects where the initial signal is coming from.
• The REC MODE buttons determine whether the signal is being routed from an
INPUT to a track to record or from an existing track (BOUNCE) to another track
or pair of tracks to record.
• The MASTERING button is a special button for routing your final mixed tracks
to Master tracks.
• The individual REC TRACK buttons that are located beneath each fader in the
AUDIO TRACK MIXER section can be used to determine the track or tracks that
a signal will be recorded on to. Pressing a REC TRACK button will cause it to
flash. This will let you know that this is your destination track. To record to 2
tracks press adjacent buttons.
NOTE: There will always be at least one or two buttons flashing at all times.
To send signals to loop effects we will be using effect sends. We can also manipulate the
signal with EQ, PAN and COSM. We will discuss that in detail when we get into effects.
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