Tascam 488 PORTASTUDIO User manual

TASCAM
TEACProfessionalDivision
488
5700123804

TableOfContents
SafetyInstructions3
Introduction4
TheRecordingSystem5-6
Thethreestepstomultitrack6
UnderstandingtheMixer7-8
Signalflowinthe488mixer7
Cuemonitorsystem7
MultitrackCassetteRecorder9
TrackFormatandTapeRecommendations9-10
BlockDiagram11
BriefGuide12-15
Step-By-StepOperationsGuide16-24
Let'straythe488mixer16
Howtorecordontrack1 18
Howtomakeanoverdubontrack2 20
Howtorecordallothertracks20
Howtorecordmanysources
ontoa singletrack22
Howtorecordmultipletracks
simultaneously22
Howtomixdown23
UsingMemoryLocationPoints25-26
LoadingMEMOpoints25
Locatingthetape26
RepeatPlay27
PUNCH-INorINSERTRecording28-30
REHEARSEfunction28
Punch-in/outprocedure28
Punch-in/outwithRECORD29
UsingRECORDFUNCTIONswitch30
Usingtheremotefootswitch(RC-30P)30
BouncingTracks(Ping-Pong)31-32
Ping-pongprocedure31
Ping-ponginstereoprocedure32
UsingEffectswiththePORTASTUDIO48833-34
Settingeffectsendlevels33
Settingtheoutputlevelofeffectdevices33
Settingthemix/balancecontrol
oneffectdevices33
Howtoconnectyoureffectsdevices34
RecordingwithTAPESYNC35
FeaturesandControls36-43
488Mixer
Inputsection36
Tapemonitorsection37
Channelcontrols37
Channelassignmentsection• 37
Effectsendsection38
Stereoinputsection38
Groupmastersection40
Monitorsection40
488Recorder
Cassetteloadinganddbxsystem41
Transport-controls41
Trackcontrols42
Displays42
Autolocators3
Syncfeatures43
CareandMaintenance44-45
Cleaning44
Degaussing(demagnetizing)45
HowthedbxWorks45
Troubleshooting46
Specifications46-48
LevelDiagrams49-50
OptionalAccessories51

SafetyInstructions
CAUTION:
•Readalloftheseinstructions.
•Savetheseinstructionsforlateruse.
•Followallwarningsandinstructionsmarkedonthe
audioequipment.
1.ReadInstructions— Allthesafetyandoperatinginstructions
shouldbereadbeforetheapplianceisoperated.
2.RetainInstructions— Thesafetyandoperatinginstructions
shouldberetainedforfuturereference.
3.HeedWarnings— Allwarningsontheapplianceandinthe
operatinginstructionsshouldbeadheredto.
4.FollowInstructions— Alloperatinganduseinstructions
shouldbefollowed.
5.WaterandMoisture— Theapplianceshouldnotbeused
nearwater—forexample,nearabathtub,washbowl,kitchen
sink,laundrytub,ina wetbasement,orneara swimming
pool,etc.
6.CartsandStands— Theapplianceshouldbeusedonlywith
acartorstandthatisrecommendedbythemanufacturer.
6A.Anapplianceandcartcombinationshouldbemovedwith
care.Quickstops,excessiveforce,andunevensurfacesmay
causetheapplianceandcartcombinationtooverturn.
7.WallorCeilingMounting- Theapplianceshouldbemount¬
edtoa wallorceilingonlyasrecommendedbythemanu¬
facturer.
8.Ventilation— Theapplianceshouldbesituatedsothatits
locationorpositiondoesnotinterferewithitsproperventi¬
lation.Forexample,theapplianceshouldnotbesituated
ona bed,sofa,rug,orsimilarsurfacethatmayblockthe
ventilationopenings;or,placedina built-ininstallation,
suchasa bookcaseorcabinetthatmayimpedetheflowof
airthroughtheventilationopenings.
9.Heat— Theapplianceshouldbesituatedawayfromheat
sourcessuchasradiators,heatregisters,stoves,orother
appliances(includingamplifiers)thatproduceheat.
10.PowerSources— Theapplianceshouldbeconnectedtoa
powersupplyonlyofthetypedescribedintheoperatingin¬
structionsorasmarkedontheappliance.
11.GroundingorPolarization— Theprecautionsthatshould
betakensothatthegroundingorpolarizationmeansofan
applianceisnotdefeated.
12.Power-CordProtection— Power-supplycordsshouldbe
routedsothattheyarenotlikelytobewalkedonorpinch¬
edbyitemsplaceduponoragainstthem,payingparticular
attentiontocordsatplugs,conveniencereceptacles,and
thepointwheretheyexitfromtheappliance.
13.Cleaning— Theapplianceshouldbecleanedonlyasrecom¬
mendedbythemanufacturer.
14.PowerLines— Anoutdoorantennashouldbelocatedaway
frompowerlines.
15.OutdoorAntennaGrounding— Ifanoutsideantennais
connectedtothereceiver,besuretheantennasystemis
groundedsoastoprovidesomeprotectionagainstvoltage
surgesandbuiltupstaticcharges.Section810ofthe
NationalElectricalCode,ANSI/NFPANo.70- 1984,pro¬
videsinformationwithrespecttopropergroundingofthe
mastandsupportingstructure,groundingofthelead-in
wiretoanantennadischargeunit,sizeofgroundingcon¬
ductors,locationofantenna-dischargeunit,connectionto
groundingelectrodes,andrequirementsforthegrounding
electrode.SeeFigurebelow.
EXAMPLEOFANTENNAGROUNDING
ASPERNATIONAL
ELECTRICALCODE
NEC- NATIONALELECTRICALCODE
(DISCHARGEUNIT
(NECSECTION810-20)
GROUNDINGCONDUCTORS
(NECSECTION610-21)
GROUNDCLAMPS
POWERSERVICEGROUNDING
ELECTRODESYSTEM
(NECART250.PARTH)
16.NonusePeriods— Thepowercordoftheapplianceshould
beunpluggedfromtheoutletwhenleftunusedfora long
periodoftime.
17.ObjectandLiquidEntry— Careshouldbetakensothat
objectsdonotfallandliquidsarenotspilledintotheen¬
closurethroughopenings.
18.DamageRequiringService- Theapplianceshouldbeser¬
vicedbyqualifiedservicepersonnelwhen:
A.Thepower-supplycordortheplughasbeendamaged;or
B.Objectshavefallen,orliquidhasbeenspilledintothe
appliance;or
C.Theappliancehasbeenexposedtorain;or
D.Theappliancedoesnotappeartooperatenormallyor
exhibitsa markedchangeinperformance;or
E.Theappliancehasbeendropped,ortheenclosuredam¬
aged.
19.Servicing— Theusershouldnotattempttoservicethe
appliancebeyondthatdescribedintheoperatinginstruc¬
tions.Allotherservicingshouldbereferredtoqualified
servicepersonnel.
3

Introduction
ThePORTASTUDIO488is...
ThePORTASTUDIO488isan8-track"Multitrack
Master"cassettetaperecorderanda full-function
mixerwith12inputs/4outputscombinedintoa
singleworkstation.
Itshighaudioqualityandcreativeflexibility
reflecttheexperienceandinnovationthathave
allowedTASCAMtoearnitsreputationin
professionalaudioproductionfields,andits
user-friendlydesignmakesthe488suitablefor
anyone,fromexperttonovice.
Usingthismanual: Togetthemostoutofyour
488,pleasetakethetimetoreadthroughthis
manual.Sometimespentnowwillkeepyou
fromoverlookingsomeofthefeaturesthatmake
the488a morecreativetool.Youmaydiscover
somenewtricksyouhaven'ttriedbefore.
Useofcapitalletters: Ingeneral,weuseall
uppercasetypetodesignatea particularswitch,
control,jacknameorlabel(likePAN).Transport
modesandsomefeaturesaredescribedwithan
uppercasefirstletter(likeRecordmode).
NOTEFORU.K.CUSTOMERS
U.K.CustomersOnly:
Duetothevarietyofplugsbeingusedinthe
U.K.;thisunitissoldwithoutanACplug.Please
requestyourdealertoinstallthecorrectplugto
matchthemainspoweroutletwhereyourunit
willbeusedaspertheseinstructions.
IMPORTANT
Thewiresinthismainsleadcoloredin
accordancewiththefollowingcode:
BLUE:NEUTRAL
BROWN:LIVE
in
Asthecoloursofthewiresinthemainslead
ofthisapparatusmaynotcorrespondwith
thecolouredmarkingsidentifyingthe
terminalsofyourplug,proceedasfollows:
ThewireWhichiscolouredBLUEmustbe
connectedtotheterminalwhichismarked
withtheletterN orcolouredBLACK.The
wirewhichiscolouredBROWNmustbe
connectedtotheterminalwhichismarked
withtheletterL orcolouredRED.
Thisproductismanufacturedtocomplywiththe
radiointerferenceofEECdirective"82/499/EEC."
THISDIGITALAPPARATUSDOESNOTEX-
CEEDTHECLASSB LIMITSFORRADIO
NOISEEMISSIONSFROMDIGITALAPPARA-
TUSASSETOUTINTHERADIOINTER-
FERENCEREGULATIONSOFTHECANADIAN
DEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNICATIONS.
4

TheRecordingSystem
ThePORTASTUDIO488isa completeaudio
productionfacilityina singlebox.Itisdivided
intotwomajorsections:a full-functionmixerand
an8-channel,multitrackcassetterecorder.To
completetherecordingsystem,you'll
additionallyneedthese:Inputdevices
(microphones,instruments).Outputdevices
(headphones),2-trackrecorder,Effects
processors,etc.
5

TheThreeStepstoMultitrack
Thediagrambelowdepictshowsignalsfrom
equipmentconnectedtothe488canberouted.
InTRACKINGandOverdubbing,themixerinputs
areusuallymicrophonesorinstruments,going
IC.differenttracksoftherecorder.In
OVERDUBBING,theMONITORsectionandTAPE
CUEofthemixermustbeusedtolistento
previoustrackswhileyourecordnewones,so
thereisa two-wayflowthroughtheconsole.In
MIXDOWN,signalcomesfromthemultitrack
andissenttoanexternal2-trackrecorder.
6

UnderstandingtheMixer
SignalFlowinthe488mixer
Theillustrationbelowshowshowtheinput
signalpassesthroughthe488Mixersection.
AftertheMASTERfaderstheygototheGROUP
OUTjacksandthemultitrackrecorder(not
shown).Thisisthemostimportantsignalroute
inthemixerandiscalled"MainMix".
ToTape
(RECORDFUNCTIONswitches)

CueMonitorSystem
TheCUEmixandMONITORswitchesarealso
crucialforsuccessfulmultitrackrecording,
becausetheycontrolwhatyouhearinthe
headphones.ThisCUEmixistotallyindependent
fromtheMainMixgoingtotape.Ifyou don't use
the CUE mix, you run the risk of accidentally
"bouncing tracks" every time you record new
material.
TheTAPEcontrolineachofthefirst8 channels
getsitssignalfromthemultitrackrecorder,and
sendsplaybacktoeithertheMainMix,orthe
CUEMonitor.WhenalloftheseTAPEcontrols
areturnedtotheright(CUE),andCUEispressed
intheMONITORswitch,youcanheartape
playbackintheheadphones.Youcanadjustthe
monitorlevelofeachtrackbyadjustingitsTAPE
control.ThechannelsoftheMainMixremain
freetohandleexternalinputsforrecording.
ThefiveMONITORSourceswitcheschoose
whichmix(es)youcanhearinthePHONES- the
CUEmix,andanyofthefourGROUPS.Youpress
theapplicableGROUPswitchtohearwhatyou
arerecording:forexample,GROUP4 while
recordingontoTrack4.
IfyouneedtoaddexternalsourcestotheCUE
mix(forexample,a MIDI-synchronizeddrum
machinethatyoudon'twanttorecordontape),
theINPUTASSIGNswitchesforchannels5 to8
havea CUEposition.ThissendstheLINEINjack
signaldirectlytotheCUEmix.(Inthiscase,the
LINEINsignalisdisconnectedfromthemixer
channelcontrols,sotheremustbea volume
controlonthesourcedevice.)
8

MultitrackCassetteRecorder
The488recordsonreadilyavailablestandard
(Philips)CompactCassettetape,highbiasType
II.Therecorderhas8 trackswhilethemixerhas
4groupouts;youcanrecorda maximumof4
tracksatonetime.Formoredetails,see"Howto
RecordMultipleTracksSimultaneously",page
22.
The488'sdbxNoiseReductionvirtually
eliminatesunwantedtapenoise.A specialSYNC
featureturnsoffthedbxontrack8 separately,
makingitpossibletorecordandplaybackthe
MIDIsynctonesorSMPTE/EBUtimecode
withoutbeingaffectedbythedbx
encode/decode.Thisensuresthatthesync
tones/codearerecordedandplayedbackwithout
unnecessaryprocessing.Withproperoperating
techniques,itisnotnecessarytoleavea guard
bandbetweenmusicandsynctonetracks
becauseofthelowcrosstalkoftheTASCAM
heads.
reliablefunctionsthatmaketheuniteasierto
use:
•A threepositionautolocator(MEMO1 and2
andZero)allowskeypositionstobelocated
automatically.
•REPEATallowsa sectiontobeplayedover
andoverbetweentheMEM01andMEM02
pointsforrehearsal.
•RHSL(rehearsal)allowsyouto"preview"
whatyourrecordingwillsoundlikeandrepeat
therecordpunchin/outsequenceasmany
timesasyouwishbeforeactuallyexecutingit
ontape.
•Thetapespeedcanbeincreasedordecreased
withthePITCHCONTROLdialinboth
playbackandrecord,tomatchpitchorfor
specialeffects.
Thetransportcontrolsofthe488are
microprocessoroperated,allowinghighly •Punch-inandPunch-outcanbeengagedusing
theoptionalRC-30Pfootswitch,whichgives
youan"extrahand"intherecordingprocess.
TrackFormatandTapeRecommendations
ThePortastudio488usesa basicspeedof9.5
cm/sec.(3-3/4ips)whichistwotimes(2X)the
normalspeedofa standardaudiocassette.It
alsoemploysa discrete8-channelformathead
developedespeciallybyTEACforTASCAM
multitrackcassetterecorders.Hereisa
comparisionofvariouscassetteformats:
9

Tapesrecordedonstereocassetterecorderswill
notplaybackproperlyonthe488becauseofthe
differencesinthetrackformatandtapespeed.
Forthesamereasons,tapesrecordedonthe
Portastudio488willnotplaybackproperlyon
stereocassetterecorders.Materialrecordedon
the488mustbemixeddowntostereoforfinal
distribution.
The488needstheentirewidthofthetapeto
recorditseighttracks,eliminatingtheoptionof
recordingonbothsides(actually,it'sboth
directions).Therefore,youshoulddecidewhich
side(side-"A"orside"B")youwanttouseand
usethatsideexclusively.It'sa goodideatoget
intohabitofconsistentlyusingthesamesideon
allmultitracktapes.
TapeType
ThePortastudio488isinternallyadjustedfor
HIGHBIAS"TypeII"tape.Forbestresults,you
shouldonlyusetapesofthistype.TDKSA,
MaxellXL-IIorequivalentformulationsare
recommended.Westronglysuggestthatyou
selectonegoodqualitybrandanduseit
exclusively.Thetimeyouspendcreatingyour
multitrackmasterismuchmorevaluablethan
themoneyyousavebybuyinginferiortape.The
cassetteshellessentiallybecomesa partof the
488'stransport.Poorqualityshellscancause
wrinkles,snarlsandshreddingoftheedgesof
thetapewithuse.Evensmallscratchesonthe
tapeoxidecancause"dropouts"(temporaryloss
ofsignal)ononeormoretracks.Highquality
tapesarelesslikelytocauseproblemsinthe
longrun.
AccidentalErase/RecordProtection
Toprotecta finishedmastertape,itisnecessary
topunchoutbothrecordprotecttabs.Even
thoughyouarerecordinginonlyonedirection,
the488usestheentirewidthofthetape,as
mentionedabove.If,forexample,youremove
onlyoneofthetabs,youcouldaccidentally
insertthecassetteintothe488backwardsand
erasealleighttracksofthemaster.
TapeLength
Usetheshortestpossibletapefora givenwork.
Itisnotunusualtoplaya tape100timesbefore
youarefinished,soselecta cassettelengththat
isascloseaspossibletothelengthofthe
programyouplantorecord.CassettesC-60
lengthandshorterareoftenmadefromthicker
stockthanlongercassettes.
ThetapeusedinC-120cassettesisextremely
thinandcancausewindingproblems,crimping,
wrinkling,andotherdamagetotheoxidecoating
ofthetapewhichwilldestroyyourwork.Don't
useC-120sinthe488.
Rememberthatat2Xnormalspeed,andthe
"one-side-only"8-tracksingledirectionformat
meansthatyouhaveonly1/4Xnormalplaytime:
(approx.)
C-30 7.5min
C-46 11.5min
C-60
15 min
C-90 22.5min
SideB
safetytab
SideA
safetytab
10

SlidersandControls

BriefGuide
Inputselectionandadjustment
MIC/LINEIN(Ch.1-2)orLINEIN(Ch.3-8):Thesearetheinputjacksforthemixer
channels.Connectline-levelsignalstoanychannel;connectlower-level
signals(frommicrophonesandsomeguitarpickups)totheMIC/LINEINs
(channel1 or2).
TRIM(Ch.1-2only):Setshowmuchpreamplificationwillbeaddedtothe
MIC/LINEINjack.Turntotherightifthesignalneedsamplification,totheleft
ifthesignalissolouditisdistortingthemixerelectronics.
•INPUTASSIGN:DetermineswheretheINjacksignalwillgoto.
MIXsendsitthroughthemixerchannel,andisthenormalsetting.
OFFisusedduringatypicalmixdown.
GRP1-4.orCUEsendstheinputsignaldirectlytoa GROUPortheCUEmix,
bypassingthechannelcontrols- thismakestheINjackworkasa "buss
input",forusewithexternalmixersorotherlineinputsthatdon'tneed
channelcontrol.
•IfyouareusingMIDI-sequenced"virtualtracks",connectthemtochannels
5-8,sotheycanbesentdirectlytotheCUEmixwithoutbeingrecorded.
TapeMix/Cue
Thisactsasa combinationlevelandassignmentcontrolforthe
correspondingtapetrack.
•Atcenter(12o'clock),thetapesignalisoffandcantbeheard.
•Turnittotheleftofcenter(MIX)tosendthetapesignalthroughthemixer
channel.
-IfINPUTASSIGNisalsoinitsMIXposition,thetapereturnandtheinput
signalwillbothgothroughthemixerchannelsimultaneously.
-TurnitallthewaytotheleftandturnINPUTASSIGNofftomaketape
theonlysourceofthechannelatmixdown.
•Turnittotherightofcenter(CUE)tosendthetapesignaltotheCUEmix
formonitoringthroughheadphones.
EqualizationandEffectsend
•EQHIGH:Cutsorbooststreblefrequencies.Itsshelvingpointis10kHz;itcan
affectfrequenciesdownto2 kHz.
EQLOW:Cutsorboostsbassfrequencies.Shelvingtype,100Hz,canaffect
frequenciesupto500Hz.
•EFFECT:A post-fadereffectsendfromthechannel.ThecenterpositionisOFF.
TurntothelefttosendsignaltoEffectSendMaster1,andtotherighttosend
signaltoEffectSendMaster2.
ChannelOutputsection
-ASSIGNswitches:Presstosendtheoutputofthechanneltoany(orall)offour
outputgroupsforrecordingontothemultitrack.Worksincooperationwith
PAN.
•PAN:Setsthepanposition(left-rightbalance)ofthechannelbetweenodd/even
groups(leftfor1 &3,rightfor2 & 4,centerforall).
-Channelfader:Setsthevolumeofthechannelfeedingthegroupmasterfaders.
12

STEREOINPUTS(Channel9-12)
STEREOINPUTS:Connectanyline-levelsignal(suchas
aneffectreturn,orelectronicinstrument)here.They
canoperateinthreedifferentways.
•FourSources:Byusinga special3-conductorTip-
Ring-Sleeve(TRS)cable,eachjackcanaccepttwo
signalsatonce(Tiptotheleft.Ringtotherighton
Channel9/10,viceversaonChannel11/12).
•TwoSources:IfTRS"stereosplitter"cablesarenot
available,standardmono1/4"cablescanbe
connectedtothesejacks.Inthiscase,theleft(9/10)
jackcanbeassignedonlytothe"left"groups(1&
3),andtheright(11/12)jackcanonlyreachthe
rightgroups(2&4).
•Onesource:Pluga monocableintotheleft(9/10)
jackandleavetheright(11/12)jackempty.The
signalautomaticallyconnectstobothchannels,
makingassignmenttoallfourgroupspossible.
ASSIGNswitches:PresstosendtheoutputoftheStereo
channeltoany(orall)ofthefouroutputgroupsfor
recordingontothemultitrack.
-LEVEL:Controlsthevolumeofthestereochannels
feedingtheGROUPMASTERS.
MasterSection
-EFFECTSENDMASTERS:Thesearethemastercontrols
forthetwoeffectsendoutputs.
-CUEMASTER:ThiscontrolstheoverallleveloftheTAPE
CUEmix.(CUEmustbepressedintheMONITOR
sectionforthistohaveanyeffectonyourheadphone
mix.)
-MONITORswitches:Theseselectwhatsignalsyouwill
hearinthePHONES,andseedisplayedonthe
MONITORL/Rmeter.Youcanhearanyorallofthe
fouroutputgroupsofthemixer,plusthetapecue
mix,dependingonwhatispresseddown.
•PHONES:Thisisthevolumecontrolforthebuilt-in
headphoneamp.
3

Recordercontrols
-METERS:Theseshowtherecordedlevelofthe
respectivetapetracks.Theaveragelevel
shouldbeinthecenter(0),butpeaksupto
+6areacceptable.
•TheMONITORL/Rmetersshowthelevel
ofmixesselectedbytheMONITOR
switches.
COUNTER:A four-digitdisplaythatshowsthe
currenttapeposition,usedforautolocation
functions.
•COUNTERRESET:Presstochangethecounter
to"0000".
RTZ:Return-To-Zero- presstofastwindthe
transporttothe"0000"position.
REPEAT:Presstosetupa continuousplay-
rewindloopbetweenthetwoMEMOpoints.
LOC1 and2:Presstofastwind(LOCate)the
transporttoeitherMEMOpoint.
MEMO:HoldandpressLOC1 orLOC2 toenter
thecurrentcounterlocationasa newMEMO
point.
RHSL:Rehearsal.Inthismode,recordingisnot
possible.Pressingthepunchinpedal,orthe
RECORDkey,willautomaticallymutethe
tapeplaybackofanytracks'inRecReady
mode.
TRANSPORTKEYS:Theseworkthesameason
anycassetterecorder.
RECORDFUNCTIONswitches1-8:Itispossible
torecordonuptofourtracksatonce.Each
Groupofthemixerconnectstotwotracks;
forexample.Group1 connectstotracks1
and5.Youcannotrecordontrack1 and5
simultaneously.Whena trackisinREC
READY,itsindicatorwillflashaboveinthe
meterpanel.InRecordmode,theindicator
willturnsolid.
PITCHCONTROL:Increasesordecreasesthe
speedofthetransportinbothRecordorPlay
mode,overa12%range.
14

OUTPUTJACKS:Rearpanel
EFFECTSENDS1 and2:Connecttheseto
theinputsofeffectdevices.
-GROUPOUTs1-4:Connect1/Land2/Rto
theinputsofyourmixdowndeck.The
GROUPOUTjackscanalsobe
connectedtotheinputsofexternal
mixers,etc.
•Note:SincetheTAPECUEsection
doesnotcometothesejacks,
GROUPOUTsarenotintendedfor
connectiontoa monitoringsystem.
UsethePHONESjackforthis
purpose.
•DBXNR:Thisturnsthedbxnoisereduction
onandoffforalleighttracks.Normally,
leaveiton.
•SYNCON/OFF:Thisdisconnectstheinput
andoutputoftrack8 fromthemixer,
andconnectsittotheSYNCjacks.For
normalrecording,leavethisoff.When
usingTrack8 torecordandplayback
MIDIsynctonesortimecode,turniton.
•SYNCINjack:Connecttheoutputofa MIDI
syncorSMPTEtimecodegeneratorto
thisjack.
•SYNCOUTjack:Connectthistotheinputof
aMIDIsyncorSMPTEtimecodereader.
15

Step-By-StepOperationsGuide
Let'strythe488mixer
Beforeconnections
Inputconnections
Poweringon
Headphoneconnection
Routinginputs
Panning
Tolearnhowthemixerworks,firstyouneedtopluga signalsource
intooneoftheten1/4"jackslocatedatuppertopofthe488,inyour
easyreach.
Asanexample,we'llusea microphoneasthesource.
•TurnalltheTRIMcontrolsallthewaytotheleft/LINEposition.
•TurnalltheotherlevelandEQcontrolstotheircenter"0"position;
bringallthefadersdown;andsetalltheswitchestoOFForto
theirUpposition.
1.Haveinhanda dynamicmicrophoneanda setofstereo
headphones.
2.Plugthe1/4"plugonyourmicrophonecableintotheleftmost
MIC/LINEINJackforchannel1.
3.Turnthe488on.(ThePOWERswitchislocatedontheback,
besidethepowercable.)
4.PlugyourheadphonesintothefrontPHONESjack,soyoucan
heartheinputsignalgoingtothemixersectionofthe488.
5.Setthechannel11NPUTASSIGNswitchtotheleft/MIXposition.
6.Turnthechannel1 PANcontrolallthewaytotheleft/ODD
position.

Assigningtogroups
Channellevel
Grouplevel
Monitorselection
Listeninglevel
TRIMadjustment
17
7.Pressthechannel1 ASSIGN"1/L-2/R"switch.
8.Raisethechannelfaderto"7"onthescale.
9.RaisetheMASTER"1/L-2/R"faderto"7".
10.PresstheMONITOR"GROUP1"switch.
11.TurnthePHONESlevelcontroluptothe12o'clockposition.
12.Whilespeakingintothemic,slowlyturntheTRIMcontrolin
channel1 totheright.Youwillhearyourvoiceinthe
headphones.
Whenusinga linelevelsource{suchaselectronicinstruments)
insteadofthemic,theTRIMdoesnotneedtobeturnedupvery
far,ifatall.

Howtorecordontrack1
Loadinga cassette
Gettingpasttheleader
tape
Resettingthecounter
Selectingtracks
Micleveladjustment
Beginningtorecord
Asatrial,let'srecordyourvoiceontape.
1.Haveinhanda newcassettetape(TypeII,C-90lengthorshorter).
2.Pressonthecassettedoor'slowerrighthandcorner,anditwill
springopen.Insertyourcassettetape.Closethedoor.
3.PressPLAYandallowthetapetorunforabout10seconds.This
willrunthetapeleaderontothetakeupreel,andputthe
beginningofthetapeinfrontoftheheads.
4.PresstheCOUNTERRESETswitch,soyoucanusetheRTZ
(Return-To-Zero)functiontogetbacktothispoint.
5.PresstheRECORDFUNCTION"1".TheREC"1"indicatorwillstart
blinkingintheTRACKlevelmeter,indicatingtrack1 isinRec
Readymode.
6.Speakintothemic.Youwillseemeter1 move.Ifnolevelortoo
lowa levelisshown,continuetospeakintothemicandslowly
turnthechannel1 TRIMcontroltotheright/MICuntilthemeter
peaksatnomorethan"+6".
7.HoldRECORDandpressPLAYtoinitiaterecording.TheREC"1"
indicatorthatwasblinkinginthemeterwillturnonsolid,
indicatingtrack1 isinRecordmode.
8.Speakintothemic.

Stoppingtorecord
Puttingtrackinto"Safe"
9.PressSTOPtostopthetapeandterminaterecording.
10.TheREC"1"indicatorinthemetershouldnowbeblinkingas
before.PresstheRECORDFUNCTION"1"switchtoturnthat
indicatoroff.
Track1 playbackthroughCUEMONITOR
Locatingtapeto0000
Routinginputs
Routingtapesignalsto
CUE
Monitorselection
CUEMASTERlevel
adjustment
Stopinplay
19
1.PresstheRTZkey.Thetapewillrewind,automaticallystoppingat
counterzeropoint
2.Setthechannel1 INPUTASSIGNswitchtothecenterOFF
position.
3.Turnthechannel'sTAPEcontrolallthewaytotheright/CUE
position.
4.PressCUEintheMONITORselectswitches,soyoucanhearthe
tape.
5.PressPLAY.
6.SlowlyturntheCUEMASTERcontroltotherightYouwillhear
whatyouhaverecordedontrack1 inyourheadphones.
7.PressSTOPtostopplay.
Begintoplay

Howtomakeanoverdubontrack2
Routinginput
Panning
Assigningtogroup
Channel1 level
Channel2 level
Monitorselection
Locatingtapeto0000
Recordleveladjustment
(TRIM)
Overdubbingisrecordingoneormoreadditionaltracksonthesame
tape,whilelisteningtopreviouslyrecordedtracksusingCUE.
Leavethemicrophoneconnectedtothechannel1 input.Thereisno
needtorepatchittochannel2 torecordontrack2.Youcancontinue
tousechannel1 becausethechannel'sASSIGNmakesitpossibleto
sendanymixerinputtoanytrackoftherecorder.
1.Setthechannel1 INPUTASSIGNswitchtotheleft/MIXposition.
2.Turnthechannel1 PANcontrolallthewaytotheright/EVEN
position.
3.Checktoseethatthechannel1 ASSIGN1/L-2/Rswitchisstillon
(downposition).
4.Bringthechannel1faderto7.
5.BringtheMASTER1/L-2/Rfaderto7.
6.PresstheMONITORselectswitchGROUP2 toturniton.Press
theGROUP1 switch,turningitoff(Upposition).
7.PresstheRTZkey,sothetapewillrewindtothebeginningofthe
track1 recording.
8.PresstheRECORDFUNCTION"2"switch.TheREC2 indicatorwill
startblinkinginthemeter.
9.Speakintothemictochecktoseemeter2 move.Ifnolevelortoo
lowa levelisshown,continuetospeakintothemicandslowly
turnthechannel1 TRIMcontroltotherightuntilthemeterpeaks
atnomorethan+6.
Trackselection
20