From: soh@gdstech.grumman.com (Scott O'Hare)
Subject: Re: Tascam 424/Basic 4 track tips
Keywords: Tascam, 4 track
Reply-To: soh@gdstech.UUCP (Scott O'Hare)
Organization: Grumman Data Systems-Woodbury
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 15:20:35 GMT

In article <1993Jan9.022502.24949@athena.mit.edu> krtamura@athena.mit.edu (Kohichi R Tamura) writes:
>
>A few friends and I are trying to do some recording on a newly bought
>Tascam 424 4 track.  We're new to this type of thing and were looking
>for advice/suggestions.

You are about to learn what everyone who's been doing this awhile knows, 
namely: four tracks is not enough! But if you adhere to basic principals 
you should do OK.

>
>1. What is the best way to do effects?  Is it normal to record them onto
>a track?  We're trying to mix together 2 vocal parts, 2 guitar parts, and
>bass.
>

You really shouldn't record with effects, since (1) it takes away your
mixdown options, and (2) you are pretty much constrained to recording mono,
and your effects most likely produce stereo. So put a nice general purpose 
reverb (and maybe a delay) in the monitor mix, so you can hear it while you 
record, and still record dry.  This will also help you set up for the mix-
down.

If you are limited in the number of effects units you have (and who isn't?),
there are times you might want to "print" (i.e. record) your effect. For 
example, use your digital delay to record a chorused guitar part, which will
allow you to re-use the delay for echo at mixdown time. Yes, the chorus 
would have sounded better at mixdown, in stereo, but not that much better, 
and the echo is a better "general purpose" effect. 

>2. Is there any good way to get stereo recording?  We used two tracks for
>right and left, but it doesn't leave much room left for everything else.
>Do most people just do mono?  
>

The basic rule of good sound quality is: assign individual tracks wherever 
possible. Since you are only talking five tracks, your problems are not 
too severe. Put your rhythm guitar and bass on a single track - use a com-
pressor on the bass, and "man the faders" while doing the take. Do this in 
synch with a scratch track (entire song in mono in correct temp) on a 
second track, and repeat until you get it sounding real good - make sure the 
bottom is nice and solid. After that you can dub your lead vocal, lead 
guitar, and background vocal(s) on the remaining tracks - one track each.

>3. How much is lost every time you bounce tracks.  Any specific things to
>keep in mind when bouncing?
>

Yeah - don't do it. Especially on a cassette deck. There are at least forty 
good reasons for this, which I haven't got time to list. One thing you can
do is buy (or borrow) a DAT. Then you can record four tracks on the 424, 
and mixdown to the DAT, and return them (in stereo) to two tracks of the 424.
You can even mix in live tracks at each step, provided you have the patience
to get things right - you will also have to print your FX at this stage, too. 
That will give you piles of layers, plus you'll still have two fresh tracks  
on the four-track. 


soh

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- Scott O'Hare (soh@gdstech.grumman.com)                            -
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Newsgroups: rec.music.makers