Setting the recording level
Music recordings sound especially lively if the dynamic range is wide. The dynamic range is the difference in level between the very quiet and the very loud passages.
For this reason the recording level must be adjusted so that the loudest passages are within the dynamic range of the tape material, otherwise the result will be distortion.
On the other hand the recording level must not be set too low, otherwise tape hiss will be obtrusive in very quiet passages.
The CC 820 M can display the peak input level on the screen, and you can alter it over a range of 40 increments (0 ... 39).
After selecting the Recording Level process the display shows the current level (0 ... 39) in place of the digital tape counter.
You can now set the record level using the and
buttons, continuing to make adjustments until the peak display on the VU meter only exceeds the 0 dB mark now and then.
Once you have set the optimum recording level, press the button briefly again to call up the Balance process.
Note:
The optimum recording level will vary slightly depending on the programme source and the tape material. If you are not sure, make a test recording before recording the whole work.
Balance adjustment
The volume of the left and right record channels can be set to different values to compensate for unequal input signal levels.
The CC 820 M provides a means of showing the average input level values on the screen, so that you can balance them out at different volume.
Call up the manual balance process; in place of the digital tape counter the display now shows the current balance setting:
'L+nn' | The stereo centre is offset to the left by | |
| 'nn' | steps. |
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'BAL' | The stereo centre is at neutral. | |
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'R+nn' | The stereo centre is offset to the right by | |
| 'nn' | steps. |
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The channels can be set to the same level on the VU meter using the and buttons while the balance display is on the screen.
After you have set the channels to equal levels, press the button again briefly to call up the 'Manual Bias Correction' process.
Manual BIAS correction
The automatic calibrator adjusts the tape deck to the optimum value for tape bias, matching the type of tape in the machine.
If the music source is deficient in high frequencies, the
CC820 M allows you to adjust the high frequency range to suit your individual preference. This is done by making a manual adjustment to the bias setting.
Select the Manual Bias Correction process, and the display will show the current bias setting as a numerical
value between 'BIAS
After you have set the bias to the desired value you can press the button again briefly to switch back to "record ready" mode.
Notes:
The smaller the selected value, the lower the bias current, which equates to a higher proportion of high- frequency signal for the recording.
If you encounter distortion on playback you should increase the value again.
Before you alter the bias setting please be sure to note the bias value which the tape calibrator has chosen. This allows you to reset it if the recording results are worse after you have made a change.
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