Tascam 688 Midistudio Owner's Manual page 8

Scene
Assign
I
Assign
Input
Input •
Dual
MAIN EfF MAIN DUAL
Unk
01 GROUP 1
MIC
LINE GRP 1-2
02
GRP 2
· ·
•
03
GRP 3
· ·
GRP 3-4
04
GRP
4
· · ·
06 GRP6
·
·
GRP 6-6
oe
GRP
6
·
· ·
07 GRP 7
·
·
GRP 7-8
08
GRP 8
·
·
·
I
Scene
I
Assign
I
Assign
Input Input
Dual
MAIN
EFF
MAIN
DUAL Unit
I
12
I
GROUP 1-2 TAPE LINE
GRP 1-2
Factory Presets
The first 12 scenes come from the factory with. settings
that will help you get started. You can see this data in
more detail in the charts on pages 66-60.
Scene
12 is
the MIXDOWN scene. Here, the TAPE be-
comes the source of the main channels, and everything is
assigned in stereo to Groups 1 and 2:
These scenes are identical except for their ASSIGNments.
All Inputs are
8ct~ve-the
mics through the MAIN
channels 1-10, and the lines though DUAL channels 11-
20, with LINKS ON.
Scenes 1-8 are dedicated to tracking or overdubbing onto
the eight tracks of the recorder, one at a time:
Note that while the XLR jacks are labeled MIC on the
scene display, they can accept line-level inputs (from
synthesizers, etc.) if the TRIM Is turned down. This makes
it possible to have 20 line sources at once with the 688.
A simple XLR-to-phone adapter is all that Is needed-this
is why the jacks are labeled MIC (LINE
A).
These factory presets are just a suggestion, and there are
87
blank scenes available so you'can build scenes that fit
your own studio. (Even the first 12 can be erased or
changed at any time.)
For example, if you want a synthesizer plugged Into a
1/4" LINE (B) Jack to go through a MAIN channel instead
of the DUAL, you just have to make a scene with LINE as
the main channel source. LINE can be selected as the
input for the MAIN channel, the DUAL channel, or both
channels simultaneously. The same is true for MIC, and
the eight TAPE tracks.
Tractcing
Mixdown
The Three Steps to Multitrack
Why ~He all these scenes and INPUT and ASSIGN
switches necessary] Because there are three basic steps
to multitrack recording. In each step, the signal flow
through the mixer has to change direction:
{[;J
Overdubbing!
:Ia
'V
;;i\~MonilorSection~
M. i n
Saction
3
E=§
-'~
----~
4ue::J~
~o,~,,~
L-688
----.J
2 Track
Notice how the arrows in the pictures above change di-
rection.
In TRACKING and OVERDUBBING, the mixer Inputs are
usually microphones or Instruments, goIng to different
tracks of the recorder. In OVERDUBBING, part of the
mixer must be used to monitor previous tracks while you
record new ones, so there is a two-way flow through the
console. In MIXDOWN, signal comes from the m...ltltrack
and is sent to an external 2-track recorder.
On a mixer with mechanical switches, you have to press
dozens of separate switches to go from overdub to mix-
down modes. But because of the 688's scene dIsplay, all
you have to do is change scenes (by pressing UP, DOWN,
or the number keys, then RECALL), and everything
changes for you. '
-8-