Mixing down tracks

Mixdown

1)Make sure that no REC indicator is lit.

To release the "record-ready" track (to make all tracks "record-off"), press a REC FUNCTION switch whose REC indicator is not lit lightly.

2)Set the INPUT LEVEL fader to minimum.

This will stop any extra unwanted noise from the MIC/LINE input appearing in the final mix.

3)Make sure the master recorder is ready to record, and put it into record pause mode.

4)Press the PLAY button on the MF-P01 to play back recorded tracks.

5)Adjust the LEVEL and PAN controls for each track on the MF-P01 to get the proper level balance and positioning of the sounds.

6)Adjust the recording level of the master recorder. You can adjust it by:

using the MASTER control of the MF-P01 to adjust the output level, or

using the input level control of the master recorder.

7)Press the REW button to rewind to the start of the recording ("000") on the MF-P01.

8)Start recording on the master recorder, and start playback on the MF-P01.

9)When mixdown recording is completed, stop both units.

NOTE:

There are special methods to add more sound to the mixdown sound. See "Record- ing more than four tracks" on page 14 for details

This section gives a few hints and tips which may be useful to you when you make recordings using the MF-P01.

Recording techniques

Learning how to record is an art, not a science. One of the best teachers is experience. However, there are a few things mentioned here which may be useful to you, and there are several good books on the subject which can explain the theory of recording and some of the techniques.

Recording electric guitars

Much of the sound of an electric guitar (and also bass) is due to the effects, amplifier and speakers, as well as the guitar and style of playing. If you plug the

Hints and advanced tips

guitar straight into the MF-P01, you will, of course, be able to record it, but the sound will probably not be what you are used to.

Plugging effects units between the guitar and the MF- P01 will certainly help to produce a fuller sound. The sound which will come closest to a live sound, though, will be provided by the amplifier itself.

You can adopt one of two approaches:

either put a microphone in front of the guitar speaker and record this, or connect the output of the pre- amplifier to the MF-P01 and record this.

WARNING

Do not connect the speaker output of the amplifier to the MF-P01. This will almost certainly damage the

PORTASTUDIO MF-P01 13

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Motorola MF-P01 Hints and advanced tips, Mixing down tracks, Recording techniques, Mixdown, Recording electric guitars