Yamaha MT120S User manual

YAMAHA
MULTITRACK CASSETTE RECORDER ` `
ENREGISTREUR DE CASSETTES MULTIPISTE
MEHRSPUR-KASSETTENDECK
DAT
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OPERATION MANUAL =
MANUEL D'INSTRUCTIONS
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MICALINE 1 МІСЛІМЕ 2 MIC/LINE 3 MIC/LINE 4 PHONES PUNCH YO REMOTE CONTROL

€ Explanation of Graphical Symbols
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE
COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE
+ PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING ТО
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL
The
exclamation
point
within
an
equilateral
triangle
is
intended
to
alert
the
user
to
the
presence
of
important
operating
and
maintenace
(servicing)
instructions
in
the
literature
accompanying
the
product.
The
lightning
flash
with
arrowhead
symbol
within
an
equilateral
triangle
is
intended
to
alert
the
user
of
the
presence
of
uninsulated
“dangerous
voltage"
within
the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient mag. _
nitude
to
constitute
a
risk
of
electric
shock
to
persons.
SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
(PREPARED
IN
ACCORDANCE
WITH
UL
STANDARD
1270)
О
үгіп
UL
STANDARD
12440)
`
6A.
Read
Instructions—All
the
safety
and
operating
instructions
should
be
read
before
the
appliance
is
operated.
Retain
Instructions—The
safety
and
operating
instructions
should
be
retained
for
future
reference.
Heed Warnings—All warnings on the appliance and in the
operating instructions should be adhered to.
Follow Instructions—All operating and use instructions should
be followed.
Water
and
Moisture—The
appliance
should
not
be
used
near
water—for
example,
near
a
bathtub,
or
near
a
swimming
pool,
and
the
like.
Carts and Stands—The appliance
should be used only with a cart or
stand that is recommended by the
manufacturer.
An appliance and cart combination
should be moved with care. Quick
stops, excessive force, and uneven LA
surfaces may cause the appliance
and cart combination to overturn.
Ns
Wall or Ceiling Mounting— The appliance should be mounted
to
a
wall
or
ceiling
only
as
recommended
by
the
manufac-
turer,
Ventilation—The appliance should be situated so that its
location or position does not interfere with its proper venti-
lation. For example, the appliance should not be situated on
a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block the ven-
tilation openings; or placed in a built-in installation, such
as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the flow of air
through the ventilation openings.
Heat—The appliance should be situated away from heat
sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
appliances (including,amplifiers) that produce heat.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Power
Sources—The
appliance
should
be
connected
to
a
power
supply
only
of
the
type
described
in
the
operating
instructions
or
as
marked
on
the
appliance.
Grounding
or
Polarization—The
precautions
that
should
be
taken
so
that
the
grounding
or
polarization
means
of
an
appliance
is
not
defeated.
Power-Cord
Protection—Power-supply
cords
should
be
routed
so
that
they
are
not
likely
to
be
walked
on
or
pinched
by
items
placed
upon
or
against
them,
paying
particular
atten-
tion
to
cords
at
plugs,
convenience
receptacles,
and
the
point
where
they
exit
from
the
appliance.
Cleaning—The
appliance
should
be
cleaned
only
as
recom-
mended
by
the
manufacturer.
Nonuse
Periods—The
power
cord
of
the
appliance
should
be
unplugged
from
the
outlet
when
left
unused
for
a
long
period
of
time.
Object
and
Liquid
Entry—Care
should
be
taken
so
that
ob-
jects
do
not
fall
and
liquids
are
not
spilled
into
the
enclo-
sure
through
openings.
Damage Requiring Service—The appliance should be serv-
iced by qualified service personnel when:
A.
The
power-supply
cord
or
the
plug
has
been
damaged;
or
B.
Objects
have
fallen,
or
liquid
has
been
spilled
into
the
appliance;
or
C.
The
appliance
has
been
exposed
to
rain;
or
D.
The
appliance
does
not
appear
to
operate
normally
or
exhibits
a
marked
change
in
performance;
or
E.
The
appliance
has
been
dropped,
or
the
enclosure
dam-
aged.
Servicing—The
user
should
not
attempt
service
the
appli-
ance
beyond
that
described
in
the
operating
instructions.

FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.)
1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT MODIFY THIS UNIT!
This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modifications not expressly approved by
Yamaha may void your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product.
2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/or another product use only high quality shielded cables. Cable/s supplied with this
product MUST be used. Follow all installation instructions. Failure to follow instructions could void your FCC authorization to use this product in the USA.
3. NOTE: This product has been tested and found to comply with the requirements listed in FCC Regulations, Part 15 for Class "B” digital devices.
Compliance with these requirements provides a reasonable level of assurance that your use of this product in a residential environment will not result in
harmful interference with other electronic devices. This equipment generates/uses radio frequencies and, if not installed and used according to the
instructions found in the users manual, may cause interference harmful to the operation of other electronic devices. Compliance with FCC regulations
does not guarantee that interference will not occur in all installations. If this product is found to be the source of interference, which can be determined
by turning the unit “OFF” and “ON”, please try to eliminate the problem by using one of the following measures:
Relocate either this product or the device that is being affected by the interference.
Utilize power outlets that are on different branch (circuit breaker or fuse) circuits or install AC line filter/s.
In the case of radio or TV interference, relocate/reorient the antenna. If the antenna lead-in is 300 ohm ribbon lead, change the lead-in to co-axial type
cable.
If these corrective measures do not produce satisfactory results, please contact the local retailer authorized to distribute this type of product. If you can
not locate the appropriate, please contact Yamaha Corporation of America, Electronic Service Division, 6600 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620
* This applies only to products distributed by YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA. |
Б
CANADA
THIS DIGITAL APPARATUS DOES NOT EXCEED THE “CLASS B” LIMITS FOR RADIO NOISE EMISSIONS FROM DIGITAL APPARATUS SET OUT IN
THE RADIO INTERFERENCE REGULATION OF THE CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS.
LE PRESENT APPAREIL NUMERIQUE N'EMET PAS DE BRUITS RADIOELECTRIQUES DEPASSANT LES LIMITES APPLICABLES AUX APPAREILS
NUMERIQUES DE LA "CLASSE B” PRESCRITES DANS LE REGLEMENT SUR LE BROUILLAGE RADIOELECTRIQUE EDICTE PAR LE MINISTERE
DES COMMUNICATIONS DU CANADA.
* This applies only to products distributed by YAMAHA CANADA MUSIC LTD.
Dette apparat overholder det gaeldende EF-direktiv
vedrørende radiostej.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM
Cet appareil est conforme aux prescriptions de la
directive communautaire 87/308/CEE. Connecting ihe Plug and Cord
IMPORTANT. The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following
code:
BLUE : NEUTRAL
BROWN : LIVE
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the
coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug proceed as follows:
Diese Geráte entsprechen der EG-Richtlinie 82/
499/EWG und/oder 87/308/EWG.
This product complies with the radio frequency
interference requirements of the Council Direc-
tive 82/499/EEC and/or 87/308/EEC.
Questo apparecchio é conforme al D.M.13 aprile
1989 (Direttiva CEE/87/308) sulla soppressione
dei radiodisturbi.
Este producto está de acuerdo con los requisitos
Sobre interferencias de radio frequencia fijados
por el Consejo Directivo 87/308/СЕЕ.
YAMAHA CORPORATION
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with
the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked
with the letter L or coloured RED.
Making sure that neither core is connected to the earth terminal of the three pin plug.
* This applies only to products distributed by YAMAHA - KEMBLE MUSIC (U.K.) LTD.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your MT120S Multitrack Cassette Recorder is a powerful recording tool that will enable you
to work with sound in many ways. No other multitrack cassette recorder offers the straightforward
simplicity and ease-of-use of the MT120S. Whether you need to record acoustic instruments
or voice using microphones, electronic instruments and line-level sources, or a creative
blend of the two, the MT120S makes the process of building tracks extraordinarily smooth
and simple. You can simply record and remix four tracks, or use the multitrack “ping-pong” .
recording technique to individually record up to ten independent parts — adding sound layer
by layer until you create exactly the arrangement and texture your imagination demands.
With its ability to record on all four tracks at once, or іп any combination, MT120S is the
ideal choice for recording bands or layering tracks at home. And, because it’s a YAMAHA,
you know that the MT120S will give you the very finest sound quality and overall perform-
ance available. |
In order to make use of the MT120S’s many features and obtain maximum performance, we
urge you to read this operation manual thoroughly — and keep it in a safe place for later
reference.
CONTENTS
PRECAUTIONS .......... РУОР 3
THE CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS .................... 4
MT120S CONTROLS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS ............... 5
CONNECTION EXAMPLES ............................. 10
ABOUT CASSETTE TAPES ............................ 11
THE RECORDING PROCESS ........................... 12
- RECORDING THE FIRST TRACK .............. ERC 13
STEP 1: CHANNEL-TO-TRACK ASSIGNMENT ............... 13
STEP 2: MONITOR БЕТОР/................................ 14
STEP 3: SETTING RECORDING LEVELS .................... 15
STEP 4: RECORD .......««.«... en ht eee ee nn 15
OVERDUBBING ................... Зиг DUT Rote We 16
PING-PONG ВЕСОВПІМО.............................. 17
A PING-PONG RECORDING EXAMPLE ..................... 18
MIX DOWN: ne лан Баланс жа Ree wield жабы йн алга 19
USING THE GRAPHIC EQUALIZER ..................... 20
USING THE TAPE OUT JACKS ......................... 21
USING THE AUX SEND/RETURN LOOP ................. 22
PUNCH-IN/OUT RECORDING ........................... 23
MAINTENANCE "ie goss IR xime ARR dessus 24
SPECIFICATIONS ..................................... 25
BLOCK DIAGRAM .................................... 79

_PRECAUTIONS
1. AVOID EXCESSIVE HEAT, HUMIDITY, DUST
AND VIBRATION
Keep the unit away from locations where it is likely to
be exposed to high temperatures or humidity — such
as near radiators, stoves, etc. Also avoid locations
which are subject to excessive dust accumulation or
Vibration which could cause mechanical damage.
2. AVOID PHYSICAL SHOCKS
Strong physical shocks to the unit can cause damage.
Handle it with care.
3. DO NOT OPEN THE CASE OR ATTEMPT
REPAIRS OR MODIFICATION YOURSELF
This product contains no user-serviceable parts. For
other than routine cleaning, refer maintenance to qualified
BY AMAHA personnel. Opening the case and/or tamper-
ing with the internal circuitry will void the warranty.
4. MAKE SURE POWER IS OFF BEFORE MAK-
ING OR REMOVING CONNECTIONS |
Always turn the power OFF prior to connecting or dis-
connecting cables. This is important to prevent damage
to the unit itself as well as other connected equipment.
5. HANDLE CABLES CAREFULLY
Always plug and unplug cables — including the AC
cord — by gripping the connector, not the cord.
6. CLEAN WITH A SOFT DRY CLOTH
Never use solvents such as benzine or thinner to clean
the unit. Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.
7. ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT POWER SUP-
PLY
The МТ120$ is sold with the appropriate power speci-
fications for the local area (power supply voltage and
power consumption are listed on the bottom panel). 11
you move to a different area that might have a different
AC mains voltage, however, be sure to check with your
nearest YAMAHA dealer before using your MT120S.
. KEEP THE HEADS AND TAPE PATH CLEAN
To ensure consistent high performance and sound quality
from your МТ1205, it is important to clean the head
. and tape path regularly (ideally before each. recording
session). To do this, use a cleaning kit specifically
designed for use with cassette tape equipment.
. USE ONLY HIGH-QUALITY CHROME CAS-
SETTE TAPE
The MT120S.is designed for use with CrO2 (chrome)
formulation tape, and will not provide proper performance
with any other type of tape. Always choose cassette
tapes from a reliable manufacturer.

THE CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS `
— CONTROL PANEL —
L(MONO) Ak A 1 г з wem L
AUX SEND AUX RETURN STEREO SUB IN TAPE OUT: st
MGNITOR/PHONE:!
| 4
|
5
`
=
= =
CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH
WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY
INSERT.
4 МТ1205 MULTITRACK CASSETTE RECORDER

MT120S CONTROLS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
[Note] The terms “channel” and “track”: In this owner's manual, the term “channel” refers to the circuitry and
controls required to process one input source. MT120S's mixer section has four “channels.” The term
“track” refers to the magnetic bands on tape used to store signals recorded by MT120S's recorder section.
Since MT120S records four separate bands of audio on tape, it is a four-“track” recorder.
© INPUT SELECT Switches
The INPUT SELECT switches are used to select the
input source for each of the four channels. |
TAPE: Select this position to play back already re-
corded material. When selected, mixer channel 1
will receive playback from track 1; channels 2, 3,
& 4 will receive tracks 2, 8, & 4 respectively.
OFF: In this position, the channel receives no input
Ё signal.
MIC/LINE: In this position, the channel can receive a
microphone, keyboard, or other line-level signal
which is connected to the input jack.
[Note] All channels which are not in use should be set
to “OFF” position.
Ө MIC/LINE Gain Controls
The gain controls adjust the sensitivity of the channel
inputs to accept a wide range of signal levels — from
line to microphone. The gain controls are used in con-
junction for the input faders to set the optimum record-
ing level with a wide range of sources (see “SETTING
RECORDING LEVELS” on page 15).
[Note] A gain control only affects the level of the signal
connected to the input jack.
8... Faders
The input faders are used to adjust the level (volume)
of the corresponding mixer channel’s signal, whether it
comes from a source plugged into an input jack or from
the MT120S's recorder section. (The INPUT SELECT
switches are used to choose between the two.) The
faders are used to set up the optimum levels when
recording, and to balance (mix) the sound from the
recorder's tracks when playing back a recording.
Noise and distortion are at their lowest at input fader
level “7”.
Ө REC SELECT Switches
The REC SELECT switches are used when recording
to assign (send) the signal from each mixer channel
either directly to the corresponding track of the re-
corder or to a different track via the PAN controls (see
"CHANNEL-TO-TRACK ASSIGNMENT" on page 13).
[Note] When any of the REC SELECT switches are set
to a position other than OFF, the red indicator
LED of the transport REC/PAUSE button will flash,
indicating that the MT120S is set up to record.
Recording will commence when the PLAY button `
is pressed after pressing the REC/PAUSE but-
ton. If all REC SELECT switches are set to OFF,
the unit will not record even if the REC/PAUSE
and PLAY buttons are pressed.
Ө PAN Controls
The PAN controls assign the signal from the corre-
sponding mixer channel to any desired position in the
“stereo sound field". If a PAN control is set to the
maximum "LEFT" position, the signal from that channel
will appear only. at. the left-channel MT120S output
(STEREO OUT L). If the PAN control is set fully RIGHT,
the signal will appear only at the STEREO OUT R
output jack. If a PAN control is set to its center posi-
tion, then the signal from that channel will appear equally
at both the left- and right-channel outputs, and the
sound will appear to come from the center of the stereo
sound field, a point midway between the two stereo
speakers. By varying the level of the signal sent to the
left-and right-channel outputs, the PAN contro! can be
used to position the sound at any point in the stereo
spectrum. The PAN controls can also be used during
recording to assign the signal from several channels to
a single track of the recorder section, or to assign a
channel to a differently-numbered recorder track (see
“CHANNEL-TO-TRACK ASSIGNMENT" on page 13).
RIGHT
LEFT
SPEAKER SPEAKER

@ AUX SEND Controls
The
AUX
SEND
controls
are
used
primarily
when
add-
ing
effects
such
as
reverberation
or
echo
to
the
sound
of
a
channel
or
track.
The
AUX
SEND
control
on
each
mixer
channel
determines
the
amount
of
signal
from
that
channel
sent
to
the
AUX
SEND
jack.
The
AUX
SEND
jack
must
be
connected
to
the
input
of
an
exter-
nal
signal
processor
such
as
the
YAMAHA
EMP100
Multi-effect
Processor
(see
“USING
THE
AUX
SEND/
RETURN
LOOP”
on
page
22).
@ AUX RETURN Control
The
AUX
RETURN
control
determines
the
level
at
which
the
signal
from
an
external
signal
processor
is
re-
turned
and
mixed
in
with
the
MT120S's
main
stereo
output
signal.
The
output
from
an
external
signal
proc-
essor
fed
by
the
AUX
SEND
jack
must
be
connected
to
the
AUX
RETURN
jack(s)
(see
“USING
THE
AUX
SEND/
RETURN
LOOP”
on
page
22).
@ MONITOR SELECT Switch
MONITOR:
This
position
is
selected
to
listen
to
the
four
tape
tracks.
In
this
position.
a
mix
from
the
four
MONITOR
controls
is
sent
to
the
PHONES
jack
and
the
MONITOR
OUT
jack.
MIX:
This
position
is
selected
to
hear
a
combination
of
|
the
four
tape
tracks
and
input
sources
connected
to
the
input
jacks.
The
mix
from
the
MONITOR
controls
is
combined
with
the
stereo
output
from
the
mixer
section
and
sent
to
the
PHONES
Э
А8
апа
MONITOR
OUT
Jack.
STEREO:
This
position
is
selected
to
monitor
the
stereo
output
from
the
mixer
section.
In
this
position,
the
mix
sent
to
the
MONITOR
OUT
jack
and
PHONES
jack
is
the
same
mix
that
is
sent
to
the
STEREO
OUT
jacks.
© MONITOR Controls 1 — 4
The
four
MONITOR
controls
determine
the
level
of
the
signal
from
the
corresponding
recorder
tracks
which
is
sent
to
the
PHONES
jack
and
MONITOR
OUT
jacks
when
the
MONITOR
SELECT
switch
is
set
to
either
“MONITOR?”
or
“MIX.”
The
MONITOR
controls
are
pri-
marily
used
to
set
up
the
optimum
levels
for
monitoring
recorded
tracks
while
recording
new
material
(overdubbing).
@ MONITOR/PHONES Control
This
control
is
used
to
set
headphone
and
control
room
listening
level.
It
adjusts
the
level
of
signal
sent
to
the
PHONES
jack
and
MONITOR
OUT
jacks
with
out
af-
fecting
the
signal
level
appearing
at
the
STEREO
OUT
jacks.
6
МТ1205
MULTITRACK
CASSETTE
RECORDER
® MASTER Fader
The MASTER fader sets the overall output level of the
MT120S mixer section, and thus the level of the output
signal appearing at the STEREO OUT jacks. The MAS-
TER fader also affects recording level when any of the
mixer section’s channels are assigned to the record-
er’s tracks via the PAN controls (see “SETTING RE-
CORDING LEVELS” on page 15).
® LED Peak Meters
The four LED peak meters еш display ойр
levels from the MT120S's four recorder tracks when
the METER switch is set to “АТВ”, or meters 1 and 2
display the level of signals appearing at the mixer
section's stereo outputs (the STEREO OUT jacks) when
the METER switch is set to *ST."
The LED peak meters are a guide for setting up те);
optimum recording levels. (see “SETTING RECORD
ING LEVELS” on page 15).
(B METER Switch
When the METER switch is set to "ST," meters 1 and 2
display the level of signals appearing at the mixer
section's stereo outputs (the STEREO OUT jacks). When
set to “4TR,” the four LED peak meters display the
level of the corresponding recorder track signals.
(D dbx ON/OFF Switch
The dbx switch determines whether the MT120S 's
internal dbx noise reduction system is ON or OFF. For
normal recording and playback using the MT120S, the
dbx switch should be turned ON. This provides a sig-
nificantly improved signal-to-noise ratio (as much as
. 85 dB) so your recordings will sound cleaner and have
much less tape hiss.
If dbx noise reduction is to be activated during 6),
recording, set the switch to “SYNC”.
For dbx noise reduction to be effective, it must be
turned ON both during recording and playback.
The dbx switch may be turned OFF when playing back
tapes that were recorded on other equipment and which
are not dbx-encoded.
“For Error-free SYNC Recording"
€
When
recording
the
FSK
signal,
set
the
Track
4
re-
cording
level
between
0
and
«3dB.
€
For
recording
and
playback
of
the
FSK
signal
on
Track
4,
set
the
dbx
switch
to
the
"SYNC"
position.
*
When
the
dbx
switch
is
setto
"SYNC",
Tracks
1
to
3
are
set
to
dbx
ON.
€
Do
not
record
signals
(music,
etc.)
other
than
the
FSK
signal
on
Track
4,
when
the
dbx
switch
i
is
set
to
the
"SYNC"
position.
e
if
other
signals
(music,
etc.)
are
recorded
during
re-
cording
of
the
FSK
signal,
avoid
using
adjacent
tracks,
`
if
possible.

® ZERO STOP Switch
When the transport is in rewind, the ZERO STOP func-
tion automatically stops the tape at a specified loca-
tion. To set the ZERO STOP point, play the tape to the
desired location and reset the tape counter to ZERO
by pressing the counter reset button. in rewind, with
the ZERO STOP switch “ON”, the transport will stop
when the tape counter reaches the vicinity of “999” (may
deviate due to tape slack). This is particularly handy in
the multitrack “overdub” process when it is necessary
to repeatedly rewind the tape and play from the same
point.
(D TAPE SPEED Switch
The TAPE SPEED switch selects either the standard
4.8-cm/sec cassette tape speed, or the MT120S's spe-
cial 9.5-cm/sec high tape speed. Use the standard
(4.8) speed when replaying tapes recorded on stand-
ard cassette recorders, or to obtain maximum tape
economy. When you want maximum sound quality, use
the high (9.5) tape speed. The improvement in sound
quality provided by the high tape speed is significant,
and we recommend that you use the high speed for all
important recordings. `
[Note] Never change the TAPE SPEED setting while
the tape is running.
Ф PITCH Control
The PITCH control varies tape speed by approx. 10%,
making it possible to “tune” material recorded on the
MT120S to match the pitch of musical instruments, or
to slightly lengthen ог shorten the running time of а
recording to meet specific timing requirements. Tape
speed is normal when the PITCH control is set to its
center click-stop position. Tape speed is increased by
e sliding the control towards the “+” end of the scale, and
decreased by sliding the control towards the “—” end of
the scale.
(D EQ Switch `
This switch turns the graphic equalizer on and off.
(D Graphic Equalizer .
An equalizer is used to tailor the signal to help it stand
out or integrate into a mix. MT120S's graphic equalizer
is a powerful signal shaping tool which allows you to
augment or attenuate signal components up to approx.
10 dB in five frequency bands. The graphic equalizer
can be switched ON to enhance signals as they are
recorded on tape, and again in playback.
[Note] When switched ON, the graphic equalizer can
affect signals being routed to tape via the PAN
controls when the REC SELECT switches which
are set to “L” or “R”. The graphic equalizer will not
affect signals being routed to tape via REC SE-
LECT switches which are set to “1 — 4”.
@ Transport Controls
These light touch electronic transport controls provide
smooth, sure control of the tape transport functions. .
REC/PAUSE Button: When this button is pressed during
tape stop, the unit goes into record-ready mode. If
pressed during recording, (first press REC/PAUSE, .
then PLAY), the recording can be interrupted temporar-
ily. To resume recording, press PLAY.
It is also used to enter/exit rehearsal mode, where you
can practise a recording or punch-in/out point without
actually recording. To enter/exit rehearsal mode, press
and hold REC/PAUSE, then press PLAY.
REC/PAUSE Indicator: According to its color, and its state
(lit, slow/fast/double blinking, and unlit), the indicator
indicates one of five modes, while either in record mode
(red color) or rehearsal mode (yellow color). The five
modes are: |
* Indicator lit: At least one track has been set to REC
mode, and REC/PAUSE has been Ge (record-
ready mode).
Or, if the PLAY indicator is also lit, recording (or
rehearsal recording) is underway.
* Indicator slowly blinking: At least one track is set to
REC mode, and REC/PAUSE has not been pressed.
_ If PLAY is pressed, the unit will enter playback mode,
not recording mode.
Indicator fast blinking: Indicates punch-in standby
mode.
¢ Indicator double-blinking: The footswitch is con-
nected to the PUNCH I/O jack, all of the REC SELECT
switches are set to OFF, and REC/PAUSE has been
pressed.
° Indicator unlit: None of the tracks are set to REC
mode.
[Note] If rehearsal mode has been entered (REC/PAUSE
indicator is yellow), the operation of all functions is
` exactly the same, except that no actual recording will
take place.
[Note] The RECORD mode cannot be activated if the record-
prevention tab has been removed from the cassette.
[Note] Only tracks where the REC SELECT switch is set to a
recording position will be recorded when the record
mode is activated.
PLAY Button: Using this button, you can select the 3 func-
tions playback start, recording start, and punch-in/out
start. f
e Playback start: Starts the playback of the track setto
PLAY mode (REC SELECT switch set to OFF).

* Recording start: If the REC/PAUSE indicator is
solidly lit, pressing PLAY will start recording any tracks
set to REC mode (REC SELECT switches not set to
OFF position). if rehearsal mode has been entered
(REC/PAUSE indicator is yellow), actual recording
will not take place, allowing you to rehearse the
operation.
* Punch-in/cut mode start: If the REC/PAUSE indica-
` tor is flashing, pressing PLAY will start punch-in/out
mode. The actual punch-in does not begin until you
use one of the methods on page 23.
PLAY Indicator: According to its state (lit, slow/fast
blinking), this indicator indicates one of the fol-
lowing 3 modes: |
"e Indicator lit: PLAY button has been pressed.
* Indicator fast blinking: FF button or REW but-
ton has been pressed during playback (CUE/
REVIEW mode).
* Indicator slowly blinking: Continues blinking for
approximately 4 seconds after the POWER switch
has been turned on. (During this period the but-
tons are inoperative.) |
REW (REWIND): Press this button to rewind the tape. If
the ZERO STOP switch is ON, the tape will stop
rewinding when the counter reaches the vicinity of
“999. ”
FF (FAST FORWARD): Press this button to wind the
tape ahead at high speed. When this button is
pressed while in the PLAY mode, the audio will be
heard as the tape winds ahead at high speed.
STOP: Immediately stops the transport and/or defeats
the RECORD mode.
@ Tape Counter and RESET Button
This three-digit tape counter provides a handy index of
tape position. It’s a good idea to write down the coun-
ter readings for important points of a recording, so you
can locate them easily afterwards. The RESET button
resets the counter to “000” at the current tape position.
This is a useful function when used in conjunction with
the ZERO STOP switch to identify specific positions on
the tape.
@ Cassette Compartment
Your cassette tape is loaded here. Use only high-quai-
ity chrome (CrO2) formula cassette tape. Other tape
formulations will not provide optimum frequency response
and signal-to-noise performance.
A “lifter-tab” is provided at the right side of the cassette
compartment cover. Lift the cover using this tab. Hold
the cassette with the open end (the end at which you
8 MT120S MULTITRACK CASSETTE RECORDER
can see tape) facing the transport controls. First, press
the rear edge of the cassette DOWN and UNDER the
central retaining finger at the rear of the cassette com-
partment. Then gently press the front of the cassette
DOWN to seat the cassette in place. (SEE DIAGRAM)
[Note] Since the MT120S uses the entire width of the cas-
sette tape to record four tracks, the cassette can only
be recorded on one side. Never change the TAPE
SPEED setting while the tape is running.
® MIC/LINE Input Jacks 1 — 4
These four input jacks accept signals from microphones, or
from line-level sources including, electronic keyboards, electric
guitars and basses and tape players. The four channel
inputs are standard monaural 1/4" phone jacks. When a
source is plugged into one of these jacks, its signal is sent
to the corresponding channel of the MT120S's mixer.
@ PHONES Jack
Any pair of stereo monitor headphones with an imped-
ance of between approximately 8 and 40 ohms can be
plugged into this jack. Headphone monitoring is the
most convenient way to listen to the MT120S's various
signals. High-quality headphones such as the YAMAHA
RH5M or MH100 are ideal for this purpose.
@ PUNCH I/O Footswitch Jack
An optional YAMAHA FC4 or FC5 Footswitch can be
connected to this jack to permit foot-controlled punch-in
and punch-out recording (see "PUNCH-IN/OUT RE-
CORDING" on page 23).
@ AUX SEND Jack
@ AUX RETURN R and L(MONO) Jacks
The AUX SEND and RETURN jacks make it simple to
use an external signal processor (such as the YAMAHA
EMP100 Multi-effect Processor) to add effects to MT120S
signals. The AUX SEND jack should be connected to
the input of your signal processor, and the output from
your signal processor shouid be connected to the AUX
RETURN jack. If your signal processor produces only
monaural output, it should be connected to the L (MONO)
AUX RETURN jack (see "USING THE AUX SEND/RE-
TURN LOOP" on page 22).