Advertisement
SECTION 5
PING PONG (COMBINING TWO
OR THREE TRACKS TO ONE)
"Ping-Pong" describes the transfer of program
material from one place on the tape to another so
that additional tracks can be recorded. in its most
common form, the ping-pong involves the mixing
together of two or
three
previously
recorded
tracks and the
simultaneous
re-recording
of
that
mix onto another
"open"
(unused)
track;
the original two or three tracks may then bé
erased or used for subsequent overdubs.
In a
variation
of the
ping-pong technique, one or
more
"live" sources are mixed with up to three
existing tracks, and this combined program is re-
recorded onto a single "open" track; once again,
the original track(s) can thenbe erased.
j
med
2
°
om
eo}
(a)
Au
Figure 13 - Typical Setup for Ping-Pong
1. Place the Portastudio in cue mode (press the
Cue button).
2. Set
these
Tape
Cue
level
controls
at
minimum (zero):
a. The track(s) being combined, and
b, On the track to which the signal is being
transferred.
NOTE: If you are adding a "live" source, and you
wish to hear an existing track which is not part of
the ping-pong,
you can monitor that track by
bringing up the corresponding
Tape Cue level
control.)
3. Press
down
the
Mic/Line-Tape
switches
("tape" mode) on those channels corresponding
to the tracks from
which
signal
is being
transferred. This brings the pre-recorded track(s)
through the input channel(s). Remember that
Tracks 1 through 4 will appear on input channels
A through D respectively when the buttons are
down.
4, If you are also mixing in a "live" source(s)
during the ping-pong, bring it to any available
input channel(s) and leave that channel's
Mic/Line-Tape
switch up ("Mic/Line" mode).
Remember to set the Trim control in accordance
with the basic techniques outlined earlier in
Section 2 of this manual.
5. Set the Pan controls of all channels being
transferred
fully to the Left or the Right, as
required to assign signal to the track onto which
you are recording (see the chart preceeding these
instructions).
6. Engage the appropriate Record Select button
for the track onto which you are recording.
7. Play the tape and adjust the channel faders
on the tracks being combined (and on any new
inputs) for the desired program balance. If the
overall balance is OK, you still may have to bring
down
the L-Master-R
Fader a bit to keep the
illuminated VU meter in the nominal range.
8. Rewind the cassette, and you're ready forthe
ping-pong.
9. Simultaneously press Play and Record to
make the transfer.
10. To evaluate the recording, rewind the tape,
pull down the L-Master-R fader, and bring up the
Tape Cue level control for the track onto which
the transfer was made. If you're not satisfied with
the transfer, you can rewind, make any necessary
adjustments, and re-record over the same track.
CAUTION:
When making ping-pong recordings
from one track to an adjacent track, from track
3 to track 2 or 4, for example, do not set the
channel faders set higher than the shaded zone
and
avoid
setting
the treble
controls to an
excessively high position.
If such extreme settings are unavoidable when
making ping-pong transfers, do not use adjacent
tracks, otherwise feedback/oscillation is likely to
result.
13
Advertisement
