Fostex FD-4 owner manual Recording, Hint

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MIDI Synchronization

If the FD-4 does not chase and lock correctly, check the connecting cables and settings.

Recording

You can record data on the FD-4 while the FD-4 is chasing and locking to the sequence software signals.

<Hint>

About the option “Vari” in the “Setting the Slave type” in SETUP mode:

If the FD-4 chases and locks to only an incoming MTC, Vari Pitch is applied all the time. Under this condition, if the FD-4 outputs digital signals to a connected digital device, the device may not be able to accommodate the FD-4’s speed variation (MTC speed variation of the master device), resulting in interrupted signal input at the digital device.

To solve this problem, set the “Setting the Slave type” menu to “Free.” This will cause the FD-4 to follow its internal clock after it finishes the chase and lock operation, supplying stable digital sig- nals to the external digital device.

With the “Free” setting, if the MTC offset between the master and slave devices exceeds “10 frames,” the slave device interprets this as out of lock, and tries to chase and lock again (re-chase opera- tion). During the re-chase operation, the audio output will be muted and digital signal transmission is also interrupted. If the offset is within 10 frames, the slave device will continue running while rec- ognizing the offset.

<Note>

If you set the “Setting the Slave type” menu to “Vari,” the FD-4 applies Vari Pitch all the time to chase MTC.

However, if a digital input track is assigned in the “Setting digital input tracks” in SETUP mode, the FD-4 will sync to incoming digital signals (external wordclock sync). This means that the FD-4 will not apply Vari Pitch during chasing even with the “Vari” setting.

The FD-4 will sync to incoming digital signals after it locks MTC.

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Contents Model Safety Instructions Recording Preparation Introduction Main featuresRecorder section Mixer sectionAbout copyrights Connecting a Scsi driveRecording Preparation About damagesPress the EXECUTE/YES key Recording modeFormatting a new disk Insert a disk into the Scsi drivePress the Stop button or the EXIT/NO key Turn the JOG dial to select a recording modeWhen you format a disk, a Program is named temporary title Removing a disk from the Scsi drivePress the EXECUTE/YES key again Press the Setup keyUse the JOG dial to select a recording mode Formatting the disk againFront panel Names and FunctionsRear panel Control panelMonitor panpot knobs PAN MON L/MON R Input select switches Input SEL INPUT/OFF/TRKInput faders Panpot knobs PAN L/RAUX send knobs AUX AUX 1/AUX Input level switches Level H/M/LMonitor level control knob MON INPUT/TRK Equalizer control knobs EQ HIGH/MID/LOWLCD Contrast adjustment knobTime Base select key Setup key SetupAccess LED Access Display indication select keyShift key Shift Play button PlayStop button Stop Record button RECORD/ Auto PunchHold/ key Hold Auto Return/Auto Play mode on/off keyVari Pitch key Vari PITCH/ P.EDIT Locate key LOCATE/ LOC MEMAuto Return Start key Store key StoreUndo/Redo key UNDO/REDO Edit key EditClipboard In key Clipboard IN/ Preview Auto Return End key Auto RTN END/ PreviewAuto Punch In key Auto Punch IN/ Preview Auto Punch Out keyHeadphone jack Phones Connector stereo TRS phone Input jacks 1, 2, 3, 4 Connector phoneMonitor Out jacks MON OUT L, R Connector RCA pin Stereo Out jacks ST. OUT L, R Connector RCA pinAUX Send jacks 1, 2 AUX Send 1 Balanced input connectors 3, 4 Input 3Midi OUT jack Midi OUT Connector DIN 5-pin Midi in jack Midi in Connector DIN 5-pinPower switch Power Data output jack Data OUT Connector OpticalData input jack Data in Connector Optical Power cableTime Base is ABS Time Base is BAR/BEAT/CLKTime Base is MTC Disk recordable remaining Time is displayed Time Base is MTCTime Base is ABS Time Base is BAR/BEAT/CLKTrack unselected message Void Data messageAction to take Void Out messageTime Base Before StartingRemain indicator Recording methodArea actually used on the disk Real track and Additional track Input monitoringPlayback monitoring PAN knobs and stereo bus REC SEL switchInitial settings FD-4 initial settingsSetting the disk Connecting the guitar and the monitoring head- phonesStarting recording Setting the switch and knobAdjusting the recording level Monitoring the recording signalRecording onto the additional track Undo/Redo recordingUndo/redo subsequent to exchange Checking the recording soundPlaying track Playback of the additional track soundOverdubbing the bass to track Connecting a sound sourceBasic Multitrack Recording Recording a drum machine to trackUndo/redo overdubbing Listening to the overdubbed soundAUX SEND2 and AUX RTN2 of the FD-4 respectively Settings for overdubbing the electric guitar to trackSettings for overdubbing the vocal to track MixdownMixdown Setting the switch and knob on the FD-4Setting the output level and the master recorder Settings for the effect unitsHandling Programs Creating a new ProgramTo enter a title Using the Program Change function Deleting a Program Press the Setup key while the FD-4 is stoppedAfter you enter the title, press the EXECUTE/YES key Editing a Program titlePlayback in Vari Pitch Mode Set the desired pitch data using the JOG dialAfter you set the pitch data, press the EXIT/NO key Turning the Metronome function on Connecting a sound source and a effect unitRecording to a Metronome Sound Creating a Tempo MapPress the Stop button to stop the recorder Checking the metronome soundQuitting recording Checking the recorded soundStoring the edit points What is Punch In/Out recording?Punch In/Out Recording Auto Punch In/OutTips for rehearsal Connecting the instrumentSetting the mixer section PreparationPress the Record Track select key 3/L to set track 3 to Control panel settings are the same as those for rehearsalAuto Punch In/Out Take Hint Quick and easy operation for repeated rehearsalManual Punch In/Out Connecting the instrument and a foot switchHint Cancelling Rehearsal modeRehearsing Punch In/Out recording Manual Punch In/Out takeUndo/Redo Manual Punch In/Out recording Connecting effect units Adjusting the recording level/rehearsalPing-Pong Recording Checking the ping-pong recording results Undo/Redo ping-pong recordingPerforming ping-pong recording Quitting ping-pong recordingSet the channel 1-4 Input SEL switches to TRK Checking the result of ping-pong recordingConnect effect units to Aux sends/returns Selecting a Program to record Setting a recording trackConnecting an external digital device Digital RecordingYou cannot assign the same track to L and R Setting a digital output trackAssigning output tracks Digital mixdownHow to use the Recorder in jack Copy & Paste Editing TracksCopy & Paste and Move & Paste Edit functionsExecuting Paste Checking and adjusting the edit pointsChecking the clipboard data Executing Copy or MoveErasing a specified part of the data between ABS 0 EraseUndo/Redo Paste Press the Stop button or the EXIT/NO keyExecuting Erase Swapping data between Real tracks mono track data Point is passed in the Play or Record modeTrack Exchange Undo/Redo EraseSelect the tracks to swap data Executing Track ExchangeSwapping mono track data Selecting Additional tracks L-R and Real tracksCue & Review function using the Rewind and F FWD buttons Digital scrubbing using the JOG dialCue & Review Function Press the desired memory key Storing a Locate Point Edit PointStoring in real-time Press the Store keyPress the memory key that you pressed in again Editing and storing locate dataEditing and storing data Press the HOLD/ key while the FD-4 is stoppedEditing the data stored in the Locate key Executing the Auto Play function Locate FunctionDirect Locate Auto PlayStore the Auto RTN Start and Auto RTN END points Auto ReturnExecuting the Auto Return function Press the Locate keyStart playback a little before the Auto RTN Start point Auto RepeatExecuting the Auto Repeat function Auto Repeat operationPreview Function Previewing the rise of the sound fadePreviewing the fall of the sound fade out Trim the position at the selected unit digit Time BaseCLK BAR Midi clock sync system Midi SynchronizationSee page 92 for more information Connecting an external deviceRefer to page 86 for more information on Setup mode MTC sync/Machine Control systemChecking synchronization and Machine Control Setting MTC OffsetSetting a frame rate Setting the device ID numberChecking the chase and lock operation Sync system in Slave modeSetting up the external device Setting the FD-4Recording Saving from FD-4 to DAT Loading from DAT to FD-4 Connecting a DAT machineSaving and Loading Song Data Outline of the save/load operationOperation on the FD-4 Remember thisSaving song data Preparing a DAT machineSelect the tracks to save using the JOG dial Use the JOG dial to display Save PGM ?Use the JOG dial to select the desired Program Press the Setup key when the FD-4 is stopped Select tracks to load using the JOG dialLoading song data Start playing the DAT machine You can monitor the data using the following methodsSelecting Setup mode Changing the initial settings menusExecution menu Select a Program for which to set a time signature Setting a time signatureStoring a time signature Modifying or deleting stored time signaturesStoring a tempo value Setting a tempoClearing all time signature and tempo settings Checking the stored tempo settingRepeat steps 3-5 to store necessary tempo data Modifying or deleting stored tempo settingsSetting a preroll time Setting the Metronome functionSetting a preroll value Setting the Metronome functionInitial setting CLK clock & Song Position Pointer Setting Midi sync output signalSetting Midi sync signal Turn the JOG dial to select the desired Midi sync signalSetting an MTC offset Setting an MTC frame rateSetting an MTC offset value Setting an MTC frame rateUse the JOG dial to select the desired Offset mode Setting Offset modeSetting the Slave mode Setting MTC Offset modeUse the JOG dial to turn Slave mode on and off Setting the Slave typeTurning Slave mode on and off Setting the Slave type external sync signalSetting the Record Protect function Recording enabled/disabledUse the JOG dial to enable or disable recording Setting digital input tracks Setting digital input tracksSetting BAR/BEAT resolution mode Setting digital output tracksSetting BAR/BEAT resolution mode Setting digital output tracksUse the JOG dial to set the desired Midi device ID number Setting the Midi device numberSetting the Midi device ID Use the JOG dial to turn the mode on or offDate Version Function Midi Implementation ChartRefer to MMC Response/Information Field List MMC Command ListMaintenance SpecificationsCleaning the exterior Block Diagram Declaration of EC Directive Index Fostex Corporation

FD-4 specifications

The Fostex FD-4 is a cutting-edge digital multi-track recorder that combines innovative technology with user-friendly features, making it a preferred choice for musicians, audio engineers, and content creators. This portable device brings studio-quality recording capabilities in a compact format, ensuring versatility and ease of use.

One of the standout features of the FD-4 is its ability to record up to eight tracks simultaneously, allowing for complex layering and arrangements. The device supports a variety of audio formats including WAV and MP3, making it suitable for both high-fidelity recordings and efficient file storage. The high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz recording capabilities ensure that the depth and clarity of sound are preserved, regardless of the genre or style being recorded.

The FD-4 is equipped with a user-friendly interface, featuring a large, bright LCD display that provides an overview of tracks, levels, and settings. The intuitive navigation simplifies the process of creating, editing, and mixing audio. Users can easily maneuver through menus, making adjustments on-the-fly without disrupting the creative flow.

Additionally, the FD-4 utilizes advanced digital signal processing (DSP) to enhance audio quality. Built-in effects such as reverb, compression, and EQ provide users with an array of tools to shape their sound before mixing. The flexibility offered by these effects, coupled with the device's capability to handle external effects processors, further expands its creative possibilities.

The FD-4 also features an extensive connectivity range, including multiple microphone inputs that support both XLR and TRS jacks, allowing for versatile recording configurations. This lets users connect various types of microphones and instruments seamlessly. With USB connectivity, users can easily transfer their recorded tracks to a computer for further editing and mixing in digital audio workstations (DAWs).

Moreover, the FD-4 is designed for portability, making it ideal for on-the-go musicians and producers. Its robust construction ensures durability, while the lightweight design allows it to fit easily into a travel bag.

In conclusion, the Fostex FD-4 stands out as a powerful digital multi-track recorder packed with features that cater to both professional and aspiring audio creators. Its combination of high-quality recording, user-friendly interface, and extensive connectivity options positions it as an essential tool for anyone looking to capture high-quality audio in any setting. Whether in a studio or out in the field, the FD-4 delivers the reliability and sound fidelity that users demand.