Chapter 1: Laying A Foundation; Introduction To Multitrack Recording; Multitrack Tape Recording (Linear); Tracking Session - Roland VXpanded VS-880 Application Manual

Chapter 1: Laying a Foundation

Introduction to Multitrack Recording

In order to maximize the usefulness of your VS-880, a basic understanding of the typical recording process
is very helpful. Since there are many books available covering the history of recording, we will not discuss
it here. We will, however, review a few modern recording techniques that you might find helpful when
planning your next recording session with the VS-880.

Multitrack Tape Recording (Linear)

Modern multitrack recording techniques allow the recording engineer an increased level of creative control
beyond the direct to mono or stereo recording of the past. In the early days of recording, every musician
and singer had to all assemble in a studio at the same time. Every part of the song was recorded
simultaneously, directly to a mono or stereo recording. One major problem of this technique was that if
any individual musician made a mistake, everyone had to do the recording over again from the beginning.
The entire recording process changed dramatically with the introduction of multitrack recorders. These
recorders provided 'multiple tracks' on a single piece of recording tape. For example, a 4 track recorder
was just like having 4 mono recorders stacked on top of each other. Each track was distinct from the others.
This allowed for recording different instruments on different tracks, even recorded at different times.
With this technique, a mistake in the piano part could be re-recorded on its individual track without
affecting the other instruments. Probably the most famous recording using the early 4 track analog
recorders was "Sergeant Pepper" by the Beatles in 1967. George Martin actually used two, 4 track analog
recorders. All the music was recorded on the four tracks of the first machine. These four tracks were
combined together into a final stereo music recording on the first two tracks of the second recorder. That
left two tracks open on the second recorder for the vocal parts. The vocals were recorded on the second 4
track machine, long after the orchestra musicians had left the studio. The stereo music tracks and the
vocals were then combined into the final stereo recording that is still popular today.
Modern digital tape recorders are available in configurations of up to 48 individual tracks on a single piece
of recording tape. Synchronization techniques provide the ability to lock multiple recorders together
providing for a relatively unlimited number of available tracks.

Tracking Session

Modern recording sessions are usually broken down into three basic components:
1. Tracking (original recording).
2. Overdubbing (adding of additional instruments and vocals).
3. Mixing (combining of all the recorded tracks into a final mono or stereo format).
The tracking session is first. In a music session, this usually means recording the basic rhythm instruments.
For example, bass, drums, piano, guitars, and maybe a scratch vocal track. The scratch vocal is recorded
along with the rhythm instruments to allow the musicians to hear something similar to the final vocal
track. This scratch track is usually erased when final vocals are recorded.

Overdub Session

Once original tracking has been completed, the overdub process begins. Additional instruments,
background singers, and vocals are added to the multitrack tape by overdubbing. The originally recorded
rhythm tracks are played back through a cue system (usually headphones) to the overdubbing musician.
Their musical part is recorded in sync with the original tracking instruments.
Chapter 1: Important Information
7