Mixing Down And Mastering Tracks; Mixing Down Tracks; Levels And Balance; Stereo Position (Panning) - Tascam Digital Portastudio DP-03SD Owner's Manual

9 – Mixing down and mastering tracks

Mixing down tracks

Mixing down tracks is the process of adjusting the volumes and
stereo positions of each recorded track and mixing them into a
well-balanced stereo track.

Levels and balance

Use the TRACK 1-8 faders to adjust the relative balance of the
tracks. Then use the MASTER fader to adjust the overall level.
Watching the L and R meters on the display, adjust the level
until it is suitable.
If the volume is too loud, the sound will be distorted.
NOTE
The track meters on the display show the recorded signal
levels of the tracks. Therefore, these meters do not change
when the TRACK faders are adjusted.
TIP
You do not need to keep the entire song at the same volume.
For example, you could gradually increase the volume
during a guitar solo.

Stereo position (panning)

Use the PAN knobs of the tracks to adjust the stereo positions of
their signals.

Track EQ (equalizer)

Each track has a 2-band equalizer (EQ).
Set the track EQ using the EQ SETTING screen.
1 Press the EQ button to open the EQ SETTING screen.
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TASCAM DP-03SD
2 Set the track EQ (equalizer).
The track equalizer has the following parameters.
GAIN
High-frequency gain
Hi
Setting range: ±12 dB
(Default value: 0.0 dB)
Low-frequency gain
Lo
Setting range: ±12 dB
(Default value: 0.0 dB)
Use the REC button to select the track.
Use the EQ HIGH knob to adjust the Hi gain and the EQ
LOW knob to adjust the Lo gain.
Use the F3 (§) and F4 (¶) buttons to select Hi or Lo, and
use the DATA wheel to set the FREQ value.
Press the F1 (INPUT) button to make INPUT EQ
settings. (See "Using input EQ (equalizer)" on page 34.)
3 After making the setting, press the HOME button to return
to the Home Screen.
NOTE
When track EQ is applied to a track, the track is shown on
the Home Screen as in the illustration below.
TRACK EQ is ON
Track EQ is used on all tracks in the example above.

Reverb

This unit has six types of reverb effects.
Adjust the level of the signal sent to the reverb effect from each
track by using their REVERB knobs.
NOTE
Both reverb and track EQ (equalization) can be used the
same time. The reverb is applied after the track EQ.
FREQ
High-frequency value
Setting range: 1.7–18 kHz
(Default value: 5 kHz)
Low-frequency value
Setting range: 32 Hz–1.6
kHz
(Default value: 350 Hz)