Yamaha MD4 Mixdown

16 The First Session

MD4—Owner’s Manual

and what you are recording now.

15. Press the [STOP] button to stop recording (or Rehearsal).

16. Press the LAST REC SEARCH [IN] button.

This returns to the point at which recording (or Rehearsal) started.

17. Press the [PLAY] button to play back what you‘ve recorded.

If you just rehearsed the overdub, there won’t be anything to play back yet.

18. Use the CUE level controls to adjust the monitor level of each track.

Repeat this procedure until you’ve recorded all tracks. Then you’re ready for mixdown.

Mixdown

Mixdown is the ﬁnal technique in multitrack recording. Here you mix the sounds from all four

tracks, with EQ and effects, into a balanced stereo mix and record it to a stereo master recorder,

such as a DAT, MiniDisc, or cassette tape machine.

1. Make sure that all [GROUP ASSIGN] switches are off, including the

MONITOR SELECT [GROUP] switches.

2. Set the input select switch on each input channel to PB.

3. Set the PAN control on each input channel to its center position.

4. Set the fader on each input channel and the STEREO fader to the 7–8 mark.

5. Press the MONITOR SELECT [STEREO] switch and set the MONITOR LEVEL

control midway.

6. Use the Song Search buttons to locate the start of the song.

If the LAST REC IN point is still 00:00, you can use the LAST REC SEARCH [IN] button. Alter-

natively, you can use the MARK SEARCH buttons.

7. Press the [PLAY] button to start playback.

You should now be able to hear all four tracks playback. If you don’t hear anything, recheck the

preceding steps.

8. Mix and reﬁne your music as follows:

Balancing Levels—Use the input channel faders to balance the levels of the four tracks.

Pan—Use the PAN controls to position sounds between the left and right speakers.

EQ—Use the three-band EQ to shape the tone of each track.

Applying Effects—Use the AUX SEND and AUX RETURN functions to patch in an external

effects processor. See Applying Effects on page 34 for more information.

See Mixdown on page 63 for a more detailed look at mixdown techniques.

9. Record the Final Mix to your stereo master recorder.

That’s it! You’ve completed your ﬁrst session with MD4.

Contents

Main 1234 L R L R L R 1234 Owners Manual E (Note) Klassmrkning fr Finland. FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.) IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM Connecting the Plug and Cord Explanation of Graphical Symbols SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAUTION iii Important Cautions Warnings Read the Following Before Operating MD4 Keep This Manual For Future Reference v Contents 1. Welcome to MD4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4. Recording & Mixing Techniques . . . . . . . 19 3. The First Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. Touring MD4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5. Quick Search Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 8. MD4 & MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 7. Editing Songs & Tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 6. Repeat, Cue List & Program Play . . . . . . 40 Page 1 Welcome to MD4 Recorder Mixer MD4 Features Buying Discs for MD4 MD4 TOC Touring MD4 1234 L R 1234 Topside View Input Channels Fader Input source selector switch PAN control Master Section 8 2 7 8 MD4 Song 1 MEMO BPUNCHAUTOMEMO AREPEAT 4 5 6 8 9 C BA 6 7 8 9 0 Disc Transport Section EFG A B C 9 0 A B C Topside Connectors 65 7 1 2 3 Front Connectors Rear 1 2 3 12 3 Guitar Processor Headphones Synthesizer Quick-Start System The following illustration shows the basic equipment necessary to start recording with MD4. Connecting the Power Cord Turning On MD4 Loading a Disc Recording the First Track 14 Listening to the First Track Overdubbing 16 Mixdown An Overview of Multitrack Recording Basic Multitracking Advanced Multitracking 18 About Monitoring 4 Recording a New Song Searching for the Blank Top Setting the Recording Mode 20 Titling Discs & Songs Manual Punch In/Out Using the REC Button 2. Press the [REC SELECT] button of the track that you want to record. 3. Press the [PLAY] button to start playback. 4. At the point where you want to punch in, press the [REC] button. 22 Using the REC SELECT buttons 2. Make sure that all track indicators are off (i.e., no tracks selected). 4. Press the [PLAY] button to start playback. 5. At the point where you want to punch in, press a [REC SELECT] button. Using a Footswitch 24 Auto Punch In/Out Setting the In/Out Points On-the-Fly 2. Press the [REC SELECT] button of the track that you want to record. 3. Press the [PLAY] button to start playback. 4. At the point where you want to set the IN point, press the [REHE] button. Rehearsing Auto Punch 3. Press the [PLAY] button to start the Auto Punch In/Out sequence. 26 Performing Auto Punch for Real 4. Press the [PLAY] button to start the Auto Punch In/Out sequence. Auto Punch with a Footswitch 4. Press the footswitch to start the Auto Punch In/Out sequence. 28 Setting the Pre-Roll & Post-Roll Times Ping-Pong Recording 29 Ping-Pong Recording Source Tracks 30 Preparing for Ping-Pong Rehearsing the Ping-Pong Performing the Ping-Pong for Real Ping-Pong with Overdub 31 Ping-Pong with Overdub During rehearsal, balance the level of the new source with the existing tracks. Source Tracks Overdub Source 32 Pitch Adjusting the Pitch Resetting the Pitch Using a Footswitch 34 Applying Effects Applying Effects at Mixdown The input channel signal is sent to the effects processor and the Stereo bus. Effects Processor InputStereo Outputs Applying Effects when Recording Applying Effects with Ping-Pong 36 5 Searching for Songs Searching by Time 1. In Stop or Pause mode, press the [] and [+] DATA buttons together. 2. Use the [] and [+] DATA buttons to enter a time. Inserting Markers 1. To insert a marker, press the [MARK] button during recording or playback. MARK X 2. When youve nished, press the [TOC WRITE] button to update the TOC. Marker Indicators 38 Adjusting Markers Erasing Markers 40 6 One Song Repeat All Song Repeat AB Repeat 42 Cue List Playback & Copy Program Playback 44 7 Copying a Song Dividing a Song 46 Combining Songs Track-to-Track Copy 48 Erasing Tracks Erasing Songs 8 Using MD4 in a Synchronized MIDI System About Tempo Maps 50 Setting Up a Synchronized MIDI System YAMAHA Synthesizer 1 Synthesizer 2 (MIDI Master) Drum Box Using MTC Setting MD4 for MTC Operation Setting the MIDI Sequencer MTC Cabling Note 52 Using MIDI Clock Setting the MIDI Sequencer Adding Meter Changes to a Tempo Map Adding Tempo Changes to a Tempo Map 54 Inserting Steps in a Tempo Map Deleting Steps in a Tempo Map Saving a Tempo Map Loading a Tempo Map 56 Tempo Map Chart MD4 Applications 57 9 Drums Headphones This chapter shows how MD4 can be used for various applications. One-Take Recording MIDI Home Studio Microphone Footswitch Headphones 1234 Using MD4 with a Sub-Mixer 1234 L R 1234 YAMAHA Recording a Stereo Source Monitors Headphones Monitor Amp Microphones 10 AUX RETURN EQ Markers 62 Pitch Monitoring Mixdown 64 11 Page 66 Troubleshooting Symptom Advice Appendix MD4 Transport Modes 68 Display Messages Signal Flow Chart 69 Signal Flow Chart 140MB 1234 L R L R MIC/LINE INPUT Specications General Recorder Mixer 0 dB is referenced to 0.775 V r.m.s. Block Diagram H:72.3 W:376 STEREO AUX CUE Glossary Page 74 Index A B C D G H I J L N O P Q R S T U V W Page VU39780 R2 1 IP YAMAHA CORPORATION P.O.Box 1, Hamamatsu, Japan 96 09 5000 CP Printed in Japan Source: Source: Source: Source: Source: Source: Tracking Sheet Section Repeat Title Marker Log Step Session Info