How To Connect Your Effects Devices - Tascam 488 PORTASTUDIO Owner's Manual

How to connect your effects devices

There is no absolute "right" or "wrong" way to do
this-there are several ways, each with its own
consequences.
Mono returns: A special feature of the STEREO
INPUTS allows continuously variable control
between left and right if desired: a mono
effect connected to L/MONO will go to both
the "9-10" and "11-12" LEVEL controls if
nothing is plugged into the R jack. In this
mono mode, the "9-10" LEVEL control
adjusts how loud the mono effect will be on
the Left side (Odd-numbered groups), and
the "11-12" LEVEL controls how loud it will
be on the Right side (Even-numbered
groups). You can vary the two controls to
send signal anywhere between the two
groups, similar to using a PAN control.
Patching effects to an input channel: There's no
law that says the output of an effects device
must be plugged into a STEREO INPUT,
either. They can also be plugged into LINE
INs just like any other source, if you are
cautious about one thing: make sure the
EFFECT controls of those channels are set to
the center (off) position. Otherwise, you will
be sending the output of the effect device
back to itself, which is a kind of feedback. If
the effect device is a digital delay, feedback
has the same effect as a regeneration
(number of echoes) control. An advantage
of returning effects to a main channel is that
you can EQ the effect return.
This is the most common method. EFF 1 feeds a
reverb unit, which has a synthesized stereo
output patched into STEREO INPUTS 9-10. EFF 2
feeds a chorus device with a stereo output
patched into STEREO INPUTS 11-12.
To record reverb onto a track: Simply assign the
return to the proper GROUP for the track
being recorded and adjust the controls for
the sound you want. Remember the stereo
effects must be recorded onto two tracks, or
mixed to mono.
To hear reverb in the headphones but not record
the reverb: Assign the effect return
channel(s) to a group that's not being
recorded (for example, assign it to group 4
while you're recording on tracks 1 and 2). By
pressing the Group 4 switch in the monitor
and turning up its LEVEL control, you'll hear
the reverb, but the recording will be "dry".
An alternate method, which leaves all four
groups free but offers less control, is:
1. Patch the output of the effect device to
any LINE IN 5 through 8.
2. Switch the INPUT ASSIGN of this channel
to the right (CUE).
The effect return can now be heard in the
CUE mix. Since all level controls of the
channel are bypassed, you will have to make
output level adjustments on the effect device
itself.
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