Tascam 414MKII manual

» 41 4 @ # O WNER'S MANU AL 3D0028100A[...]

2 T able Of Contents Safety Instructions 3 The PORT ASTUDIO 414 MKII is... 4 The Recording System 5 The Three Steps to Multitrack 5 Understanding the Mixer 6-7 Signal Flow in the 414 MKII Mix er 6 T ape Cue Monitor System 7 Multitrack Cassette Recor der 8 T rac k Format and T ape Recommendations 8-9 Optional Accessories 10 PORT ASTUDIO 414 MKII Bri[...]

3 Safety Instructions CA UTION: • Read all of these Instructions. • Save these Instructions f or later use. • Follow all W arnings and Instructions marked on the audio equipment. 1) Read Instructions — All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated. 2) Retain Instructions — The safety and operating[...]

4 The POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII is... The POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII is a 4-track "Multi- track Master" cassette tape recorder and a full- function mixer with 8 inputs/stereo outputs including a balanced microphone input and a dedicated guitar input combined into a single workstation. Its high audio quality and creative flexibility reflect the e[...]

5 The Recor ding System The POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII is a complete audio production facility in a single box. It is divided into two major sections: a full-function mixer and a 4- channel, multitrack cassette recorder . T o complete the recording system, you'll additionally need these: input devices (microphones, instruments), output devices (he[...]

6 Understanding the Mix er Signal Flow in the 414 MKII Mix er The illustration below shows how input signals pass through the 414 MKII Mixer section. After the MASTER fader they go to the L/R LINE OUT jacks. This is the most important signal route in the mixer and is called "Main Mix".[...]

7 Understanding the Mix er T ape Cue Monitor System The T APE CUE mix and MONITOR switches are also crucial for successful multitrack recording, because they control what you hear in the headphones. This CUE mix is totally independent from the Main Mix going to tape. If you don't use the CUE mix, you run the risk of accidentally "bouncing[...]

8 Multitrac k Cassette Recor der The 414 MKII records on readily available standard (Philips) Compact Cassette tape, high bias T ype II. The recorder has 4 tracks while the mixer has a stereo output; however , using the Direct Recording feature you can record on any or all of the 4 tracks at one time. For more details, see "Recording on More T[...]

9 T rac k Format and T ape Recommendations T ape T ype The Portastudio 414 MKII is internally adjusted for HIGH BIAS T ype II tape. This means that for best results, you should only use tapes of this type. TDK SA, Maxell XL-II or equivalent formulations are recommended. W e strongly suggest that you select one good quality brand and use it exclusiv[...]

10 Optional Accessories RC-30P Remote Footswitc h Head Demagnetizer TZ-261 Cleaning Kit (Except U .S.) MIDI-T ape Synchronizer PW -2Y/PW-4Y Insertion Cable HC-1 Head Cleaner & RC-1 Rubber Cleaner (U .S.only)[...]

12 11 POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII Brief Guide For detailed inf or mation on each feature , see "Features and Controls", pp . 31-35. ✂ Channels 1 thr ough 4 EQ HIGH : Cuts or boosts treb le frequencies. Shelving point is at 10 kHz. EQ LO W : Cuts or boosts bass frequencies. Shelving point is at 100 Hz. EFFECT 1 and 2 : These control how m uch[...]

13 14 POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII Brief Guide DBX switch : Nor mally , leav e this switch at ON. When you use track 4 to record and pla y bac k MIDI sync tones or time code, set to SYNC then the dbx is on f or tracks 1-3, and off on trac k 4. T ape counter : Shows the distance the tape has mov ed from a zero ref erence point. Counter reset button : Pres[...]

15 Let's T ry the 414 MKII Mixer T o learn how the mixer works, we ’ ll use a microphone as the source. If your dynamic microphone cable has a balanced XLR-type connector , we ’ ll use the rear-panel XLR-type INPUT (L, R) connector . If it is fitted with an unbalanced 1/4" connector , we ’ ll use the front-panel MIC/LINE IN jack. If[...]

16 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 9 Monitor selection Press the MONITOR "L-R" switch on. 10 Monitor level T urn the MONITOR level control up to the 12 o'clock position. 11 TRIM adjustment While speaking into the microphone, slowly push the TRIM control in channel 1. Y ou will hear your voice on the left side in the headphones. When usi[...]

17 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 6 Mic level adjustment Speak into the microphone. Y ou will see meter 1 move. Slowly push the channel 1 TRIM control until the meter peaks at no more than "+6". 7 Beginning recording Hold RECORD and press PLA Y to initiate recording. The REC indicator that was blinking will turn on solid, indicating the tra[...]

18 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 6 Routing tape signals to T APE CUE Locate the EFFECT 2/T APE CUE level control on channel 1 and slowly turn it to the right. Y ou'll hear, in center mono, what you have recorded on track 1. 7 Stopping playback Press STOP to stop playing. ‘ How to Make an Over dub on T rack 2 Overdubbing entails recording one [...]

19 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 6 Locating tape to zero Making sure that the ZERO RETURN switch is ON, press REW and the tape will rewind to the beginning of the track 1 recording. 7 T rack selection Set the RECORD FUNCTION switch for track 2 to its R position. The track's REC indicator will start blinking. 8 Record level adjustment (TRIM) Spe[...]

20 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide How to Recor d T racks 3 and 4 T racks 3 and 4 can be recorded using almost the same procedure just shown for tracks 1 and 2. Just use the applicable RECORD FUNCTION switches, and the P AN controls should be rotated to the LEFT for recording on T rack 3 and to the RIGHT for T rack 4. How to Recor d Many Sour ces onto[...]

21 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide How to Recor d a Mix onto T wo T racks Sim ultaneously If you want to record multiple sources onto two tracks, you use the channel P AN controls to send them to LEFT or RIGHT (or anywhere in between, if you're making a stereo mix). The track RECORD FUNCTION switches choose what track the Left and Right mixes wil[...]

22 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide Recording on More than T wo T racks Simultaneousl y : Direct Recording It is possible to record on three or four tracks at the same time by setting the respective RECORD FUNCTION switches to their numbered (1-4) position. In this Direct recording, each track gets its signal from a single mixer channel only — track [...]

23 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 5 Playback level Press PLA Y and, while listening to the tape play , tentatively set the channel faders. 6 Adjust the P AN controls to set each track's left-to- right position for the desired stereo image. Y ou may also want to use the EQ controls to adjust the individual tracks for the desired tonality . (For u[...]

24 PUNCH-IN or INSER T Recor ding "Punching in" or "insert recording" is recording over a small section of previously recorded track to correct or improve a performance, while keeping the rest of the track intact. The mixer settings should be exactly the same as they were during the original recording. In the following, we'[...]

25 PUNCH-IN or INSER T Recor ding Punch-in Pr ocedure There are 2 ways to initiate the punch-in recording. The first is with the transport RECORD button, and the second is with the optional footswitch. Perform the "Preliminary" on the previous page, if you haven't yet done so. Punching-in/out with RECORD 1 Check to see that the track[...]

26 Bouncing T rac ks (Ping-P ong) The recording capability of the POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII is not limited to four tracks. Y ou can "bounce" or combine tracks you have recorded to an empty track, and then replace the original tracks with new material. A bounce is like a mixdown, except you are recording to one of the tracks of the 414 MKII i[...]

27 Using Effects with the POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII Effects and signal processing are areas where you can really start to have fun customizing your sound, and develop your own unique recording style. Because there are so many possibilities, it also can be confusing. There are many dif ferent ef fect units on the market, all with different controls, ty[...]

28 Using Effects with the POR T ASTUDIO 414 MKII Setting the Mix/Balance Control on Effect De vices When it's being used in a send-return mix, set the mix/balance of your effect device all the way to "wet" or full processing with no direct original signal. In send/receive processing, the dry signal goes down the 414 MKII's chann[...]

30 29 Syncing MIDI-T ape — Using the T ASCAM MTS-30 T r oubleshooting Prob lem P ossible Cause Pla yback sounds dull Dir ty heads Pla yback le vel is too low Dir ty heads T ranspor t ke ys not eff ective P ow er turned off, or tape not loaded No recording RECORD FUNCTION set to SAFE, or cassette tab broken Wrong trac ks recorded P AN improperly s[...]

31 32 Features and Contr ols 414 MKII MIXER 1. PO WER switch (on the rear panel): Turns the 414 MKII on and off. 2. DC IN 12 V connector (on the rear panel): This is for connection of the provided T ASCAM PS-P414 AC adaptor only . 3. MIC/LINE IN jacks (Channels 1-4): These 1/4" jacks accept unbalanced signals ranging from – 50 dBV (3 mV) to [...]

33 Features and Contr ols 14. Channel faders: These linear controls vary the level feeding the Master section. The nominal setting position is between 7 and 8 (shaded area). 15. STEREO INPUTS (Ch.5-6/7-8): Connect the outputs of your effects devices to these 1/4" jacks. These jacks can also be used as additional line inputs. Nominal input leve[...]

34 Features and Contr ols 414 MKII RECORDER 27. Cassette compar tment door: T o insert or remove a cassette, pull the door open. Once a cassette is inserted, be sure to close the door to prevent objects, dust or liquids from falling into the tape path. T ape path components 28. DBX switch : When this switch is set to its ON position, the built-in d[...]

35 Features and Contr ols Care and Maintenance 38. REMOTE PUNCH IN/OUT jac k (on the front panel): For connection to an optional RC-30P remote footswitch. 39. RECORD FUNCTION switches 1-4: These switches put the respective tracks into Record Ready . Recording starts when RECORD is pressed together with PLA Y . In the center position (SAFE) no recor[...]

36 Care and Maintenance How the dbx W orks Cleaning the Pinch Roller Clean the pinch roller at least once each day the deck is used. Use a good rubber cleaner . 1. Clean the pinch roller with a cotton swab moistened with rubber cleaner , until there is no visible residue on the pinch roller . 2. Using a clean cotton swab, wipe off all excess rubber[...]

38 37 Specifications MECHANICAL CHARA CTERISTICS T ape: Compact Cassette (C-60 to 90), High-Bias (CrO2) T rack Format: 4-track/4-channel Head Configuration: 4-channel record/pla y (permalloy) x 1 4-channel erase (f err ite) x 1 Motor: DC ser vo motor x 1 T ape Speed: 9.5 cm/sec. (3-3/4 ips) Pitch Contr ol: ± 10 % (appro x.) W ow and Flutter: 0.2% [...]

39 40 Bloc k Diagram LINE OUT (-10dBV) L R MONITOR (-10dBV) (-10dBV) EFFECT 1 SEND EFFECT 2 SEND /TAPE CUE OUT ATT PHONES (60mW+60mW) MONITOR OUT (-10dBV) L/R EFFECT 1 L SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE 1 R 2 L TRK1 TRK2 EFFECTF 2 /TAPE CUE L R LED METER 3 R 4 TRK3 TRK4 RECORD FUNCTION 4TRK 4CH R/P AMP DBX TYPE 2 NR TRK1 TRK2 TRK3 TRK4 TAPE1 TAPE2 TAPE3 TAPE4 D[...]

41 Level Dia gram 1 2 10 9 3 7 8 4 5 6 TRK 2 TRK 3 TRK 4 TRK 1 REPRO EQ AMP REC/REPRO HEAD REC REPRO REC EQ AMP BIAS ADJ. ERASE HEAD TRAP BIAS AMP REC MUTE REC LEVEL 85kHz OSC ENC OUT IN DEC OUT PLAY MUTE dbx NR REPRO LEVEL EQ LPF REC IN TAPE OUT REC IN TAPE OUT REC IN TAPE OUT REC IN TAPE OUT 5 ( dBV ) 0 dBV = 1.0 Vrms +10 0 – 10 – 20 – 30 ?[...]

TEA C CORPORA TION Phone: (0422) 52-5082 3-7-3, Nakacho , Musashino-shi, T okyo 180-8550, Japan TEA C AMERICA, INC . Phone: (323) 726-0303 7733 T elegraph Road, Montebello , California 90640 TEA C CANAD A L TD . Phone: 905-890-8008 Facsimile: 905-890-9888 5939 W allace Street, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1Z8, Canada TEA C MEXICO , S.A. De C.V Phone: 5[...]