5 − Mixer

Monitoring

Monitoring is a vital part of the whole recording and mastering process. The 2488MKII provides stereo monitoring facilities through an external amplifier/speakers combination, as well as headphones. The level for these two monitoring systems is set using the MONITOR LEVEL control. This monitoring level is affected by the level from the STEREO fader, but does not affect the level of the stereo bus.

Monitor selection

As well as the stereo bus, it is possible to monitor the sub mixer (see “Sub mixer” on page 35), the effect loop, and the two effect sends (one in each channel), which are all shown by indicators; as well as turning off the monitoring, when no indicator is lit.

Monitoring the loop and effect sends is useful when you want to check the exact mix (as created by the effect sends) of the signals being sent to the effects. Use the MONITOR SELECT key to cycle through the selections.

Mono monitoring

Typically monitoring is carried out in stereo, echoing the stereo bus. However, there may be times when you want to check what the mix sounds like in mono.

When you want to monitor in mono, press the MONITOR SOURCE (MONO) key while the SHIFT indicator is lit.

While the monitoring is in mono, the appropriate monitor selection indicator flashes. Use the MONITOR SOURCE key to turn off mono monitoring.

Record source monitoring

Using the 2488MKII, you can apply input channel EQ and insert effects as you record the input channel signal (recording source). The sound that you hear on your headphones or monitoring speakers, though, will ordinarily also have track mixer EQ and insert effects applied. This allows you to listen to the signal as it will sound during future playback (that is, with track mixer EQ and insert effects applied) while you are recording.

However, there may be times when you want to hear the signal that you are actually recording to the hard disk (the recording source).

If you turn the recording source monitor function ON, track mixer EQ and insert effects are not applied to the recording source during recording. This allows you to listen to the sound of just the input channel EQ and insert effects.

Moreover, to make it easy to monitor the recording source, you can always use the track mixer pan-pots and faders to change the stereo position and volume as needed (this will not affect the recorded signal).

NOTE

Even when the recording source monitoring function is ON, track mixer EQ and insert effects are applied to the playback signals of already recorded tracks.

To use this function, just press the RECORDING SOURCE MONITOR key. The indicator lights when recording source monitoring is in operation.

Monitor muting

Mute the monitor output by pressing the monitor section MUTE key so that indicator lights. The headphone output is not muted. This function is convenient when you want to silence the monitor speaker output temporarily because, for example, you want to listen with headphones for a moment or the phone rings.

36 TASCAM 2488MKII