Tascam 788 manual Punch IN/OUT & Auto Punch, Virtual Tracks

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Recording & Editing Functions

PUNCH IN/OUT & AUTO PUNCH

One-Button Punch

Punching in and out of record on the fly is commonly done to allow the performers the chance to fix just a small part of their performance. The single button punch feature makes this function easy to use. If you are playing, you can just press REC to go into record; pressing PLAY when recording punches out of record. No button combinations necessary!

Footswitch (TASCAM RC-30P)

There is a 1/4" port on the back labeled REMOTE that can accept a TASCAM RC-30P for using a footswitch for punch in/out. Using your feet to engage and disengage record keeps your hands on your instrument, making punches on complex parts much easier and more reliable.

Auto Punch

Auto Punch allows you to have the 788 automatically do the punch in/out for you. This offers more precision on the punch location, plus it allows you to shift your focus back to being the musician, rather than focusing on being the engineer.

Pressing the AUTO PUNCH button (just above F FWD) will show you the two modes of Auto-Punch:

and . The only difference between them

is what the 788 will use for the punch in and punch out points. Aside from that, all other features are identical.

- The 788 will punch in and out at the same points as the last recording made. So, you can manually perform the first punch in, then have the 788 perform the rest.

- The 788 will use the time stored in the IN and OUT locate point registers. This allows you to fine tune these locate points, and you'll be able to punch in as tightly and precisely as needed.

Once you've selected the Auto Punch mode, the LED above the AUTO PUNCH button should be lit. Pressing PLAY will allow you to practice the punch-in, without actually recording anything. This is great for making sure the points are where you want. Pressing PLAY and RECORD together will engage the 788 in Auto Punch and record the punch. Press STOP to finish your auto-punch session.

(Continued) Section III

The 788 will now let you audition your takes. Use the CURSOR keys to select which take you want to listen to, and press PLAY. When you've decided on which one you want to keep, highlight it with the CURSOR and press ENTER/YES. If you don't like any of them, select ORIGINAL.

Last Take Load

If you start mixing, and don't like the take you selected from the last Auto Punch session, you can go back and recall that entire list of takes (so long as nothing else has been recorded yet). To do this, press AUTO PUNCH

and select . You will be able to choose from all the takes in that AUTO PUNCH session again.

Pre Roll & Post Roll

The other issues related to the Auto Punch functions are Pre Roll and Post Roll settings. Pre Roll determines

how far ahead of the punch in point the 788 will begin playing, allowing you to get a feel for the song and allowing time for externally synchronized devices to lock together. The Post Roll determines how long after

the punch out the 788 will continue playing so you can hear if the punch out worked well or not.

To get to the settings for Pre Roll and Post Roll:

1)Press MENU.

2)Select with the JOG/DATA wheel and press ENTER/YES.

3)Select with the JOG/DATA wheel and press ENTER/YES.

VIRTUAL TRACKS

What is a Virtual Track?

Think of a virtual track as a reel of tape that only holds one track. On the 788, you can have 250 virtual tracks per song. In our example, that is 250 reels of one track tapes for you to choose from. A physical track would be like a tape machine for that reel of tape. In the case of the 788, there would be 8 machines capable of accepting those reels of tape. So, while there are 250 reels of tape on the shelf, there are only 8 tape machines available to play at a time.

Virtual Tracks are valuable for keeping extra takes of a part, so they can be edited together later.

Recording & Editing Functions TASCAM 788 Operational Tutorial • 8/2000 Edition