Korg CR-4 owner manual Introduction, About multitrack recording, About the Ampworks effects

•Avoid smoking, eating or drinking over the CR-4. Smoke particles, food crumbs and spilled liquids are the enemies of fine audio gear.

•Use the best possible new cassettes (Type II) wherever possible, for high quality results.

•Use shorter tapes whenever you can. Avoid C-90 (or longer) tapes if possible because the tapes are thin, and may stretch or even break. Because the CR-4 only plays tapes in one direction, you will get half the stated recording time on a tape.

•Keep the listening levels low. High levels

...............can destroy hearing (and you never get it

back!)

About multitrack recording

As we mentioned earlier, the CR-4 allows you to perform multitrack recording. Multitrack- ing allows you to record the different parts of a piece of music separately, meaning that if you play a perfect guitar solo, but make a mess of the vocals, you don’t have to record everything again—just the vocals.

There are three basic phases to multitrack recording: tracking, overdubbing and mix- down. We’ll explain a sample session in this manual (→p.9) and also give tips on more advanced recording you can do with your CR- 4 (→p.13).

In tracking, the basic foundations of the song are recorded.

Most people find it easiest to record the rhythm parts (for example, drums and per- cussion, bass and rhythm guitar first, and then add the lead and vocal lines).

When overdubbing, you add other parts on top of the basic parts you recorded earlier.

And when you mix down, you adjust the level of the individual parts and their position in the stereo field (their “pan” position) and make a stereo recording on a separate “master” cas- sette, MD or CD recorder.

Note that if you try play back the CR-4 tapes in an ordinary stereo cassette deck (or the other way round), on an ordinary ste- reo cassette two tracks (left and right of side A) are played back with the tape trav- eling in one direction and the other two

Introduction

(left and right of side B) are played back with the tape traveling in the other direc- tion. With the CR-4, all four tracks play in

...............the same direction Also, the CR-4 does not

feature noise reduction

About the Ampworks effects

When you play an electric guitar or bass, part of the total sound comes from the instrument itself, and a significant part comes from the amplifier and speakers.

Although you may love the sound of your favorite guitarist, you know that it’s going to be difficult to set up a massive stack of tube amplifiers and speakers in your home to sound just like him.

The Ampworks effects in your CR-4 simulate some of the world’s most famous and best- loved amplifier/speaker combinations, allow- ing you to get just the sound you want without the large heavyweight stacks.

In addition, there is a digital effects unit allow- ing you to add reverb, delay and so on, giving that extra professional touch to your playing.

Full tone controls, and gain and volume con- trols, just like on a full-sized guitar amplifier, give you complete control.

When you use an acoustic guitar, the two microphone models and the “acoustic” setting provide you with added flexibility and control. Full instructions on how to make the most of this feature are provided in this manual (→p.14).

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