8 − Mastering and CD recorder

Mixdown is the mixing of the audio from every track in a recording into a stereo pair. On the 2488MKII, writing this mix- down signal to a master stereo recorder is called ”mastering.”

You can make an audio CD using the CD-R/CD-RW recorder built into the 2488MKII.

However, before mastering (burning) a CD, the stereo mix must first be recorded to an internal stereo master track.

You can also send your mixdown signal directly to the STEREO OUTPUT jacks to record your song on an attached MD, DAT, cassette or other recording device.

In this case, you do not need to conduct pre-mastering.

NOTE

These operations all deal with songs on the currently- selected partition. If the song you want is on another partition, you must select that disk partition as the active partition before proceeding (see “Selecting the active partition” on page 13).

The procedures for burning a CD using the internal CD-R/ CD-RW recorder after recording the stereo mix to an internal stereo master track are explained below.

Pre-mastering

As previously mentioned, before burning a CD, the stereo mix signal must first be recorded to an internal master track.

The start of the pre-mastered material is always the 00:00:00:00 point, and the end of the pre-mastered material is the OUT point.

Before starting the pre-mastering process, make sure that if you are using the sub-mixer, it is assigned to the stereo bus.

The modes related to pre-mastering include the “pre- mastering mode” for recording the master track and the “master check mode” for checking the recorded master track. Press the MASTER key to cycle through normal, pre-mastering, and master check modes.

1Set the OUT point at the end of the material that you intend to pre-master.

2Press the MASTER key to enter pre-mastering mode (PreMasteringappears at the upper left of the home screen).

If any REC indicators are on, they are turned off, and they cannot be turned on again while pre-mastering is being carried out.

While pre-mastering, transport controls work in the usual way, except that:

•Playback and fast forward will stop at the OUT point, and the playback position cannot move past this point.

•Auto punch operations are disabled.

•Jog and trim are disabled.

•Pitch control and SSA are disabled.

•Direct location and repeat playback are disabled.

•Recording is carried out as explained below.

Recording the master track

To record the master track, press and hold the RECORD key, and then press the PLAY key. Both the PLAY and the RECORD indicators light.

Recording always starts (regardless of the current position) at 00:00:00:00.

The mastering records the effects of all mixer settings and effect settings, etc.

If you stop the recording before the OUT point is reached, the master recording ends there, and the length of the master track is from the 00:00:00:00 point to the point where you stopped the recording

NOTE

The minimum length for a CD track is four seconds. Be sure that all master tracks are at least this long.

The maximum length for a CD track recorded from the 2488MKII is 80 minutes. Master tracks made with the 2488MKII should not exceed this length.

During the mastering operation, all channel operations (EQ, send, fader/pan) can be carried out, either from the 2488MKII’s controls, or by means of MIDI commands.

T I P

While you are recording the master, synchronization and the sub-mixer can be used to add synchronized MIDI sound sources to the stereo master mix.

You can set and edit effect parameters and recall effects from the effect libraries in pre-mastering mode.

It is also possible for you to make assignments while mas- tering, and recall scene memories.

After recording the master track, you can play back the master track to check it

When you have mastered the recording, you can either re-master the recording (simply press and hold the RECORD key and press the PLAY key again). Therefore, you can record the master track several times and then use UNDO to choose one of the earlier recordings. Or proceed to the master check operation.

Exiting pre-mastering mode

Press the MASTER key once to enter the master check mode where you can play back and check the master track. Press the MASTER key again to return to the home screen.

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