Tascam CD-RW4U 4 RecordingBasic recording

4 – Recording—Basic recording

22 TASCAM CD-RW4U

Basic recording

NOTE

According to the “Red Book” (the specification for audio

CDs), a track cannot be less than four seconds in length,

and there can be a maximum of 99 tracks on an audio CD.

Bear these limitations in mind when recording.

If you press either the

STOP

or the

PLAY/PAUSE

PAUSE

key within four seconds of starting recording, the

unit will continue recording until four seconds have elapsed

(since the start of recording) and then stop or pause as

appropriate.

After selecting the input source (“Input selection” on

page 19), it is possible to start recording.

The basic record procedure is as follows:

1Load a recordable disc is into the unit. As the

disc is loaded, the display shows TOC

Reading.

When the disc has been loaded, the display

indicators show

CD-R

NO TOC

, or

CD-RW

TOC

, as appropriate.

2Press the RECORD key (5 or E). The unit

enters record ready mode, as shown by the

REC

and pause indicators on the display. As

the unit enters record ready mode, the dis-

play shows Now OPC (Optimum Power

Control), as the unit prepares to record on

the disc.

If the digital source has been selected (see

“Input selection” on page 19) and is not con-

nected properly, or is not powered up, the

message D-IN UNLOCK! (digital

input is unlocked) will be displayed to show

that the system is not ready to record.

3Adjust the level of the source (“Level adjust-

ment” on page 20).

NOTE

The red

OVER

indicators on the meters should never light.

Unlike analog equipment, digital audio units produce

extremely unpleasant sounds when distorted, and there is

no “headroom” after the

mark. If recording digitally from a

commercially-produced CD, the volume set in the menu

should be

0dB

. This will maintain all the dynamic range

of the source CD without clipping. Only boost the signal if

the source is exceptionally quiet.

An analog signal input at nominal level, with no cut

or boost from the volume controls (that is, with the

INPUT control between the “1 o’clock” and “2

o’clock” positions, is equivalent to a reading of

between –20dB and –12dB on the meters (in other

words, 0 is equivalent to 16 dBFS).

4Press the PLAY/PAUSE 6 or PLAY key L to

start recording.

Note that there is no need to “cue up” the

recording position—the unit always finds the

next available location on the disc and start

recording to it.

5Press the PLAY/PAUSE 6 or PAUSE key K

to pause recording temporarily. The pause

indicator on the display shows this. Pressing

PLAY again restarts recording with a new

track number.

Alternatively, press STOP (7 or J) to stop

recording. When recording stops, the display

shows PMA Writing (Program Mem-

ory Area) and the

REC

indicator flashes for a

few seconds as the unit writes to the disc.

NOTE

While the “PMA Writing” message is displayed, all keys are

disabled, and the unit is actually writing to disc. Do not dis-

connect the power or subject the unit to severe vibration or

shocks at this time, as this will prevent proper recording of

the information.

When this message disappears, you must

press the RECORD key (step 2) before

restarting the recording. Recording restarts

with a new track number.

NOTE

Remember that every time recording is paused or stopped,

when recording is restarted, a new track will always be

started. It is not possible to record in two “stages” within

one track.

Playing back tracks

Although an unfinalized disc cannot be played back

on an ordinary CD player, the CD-RW4U can play

back tracks that have been recorded.

Use the MULTI DIAL control B or the SKIP keys I

to select a track for playback.