It comes down to one
simple, unavoidable fact:
Every note you play
that’s not recorded is
lost forever. Whether it’s
a new song idea, a hot
riff or just a phrase that
you need to practice over
and over, record it and
it’s yours. To hear again.
To share. To develop. To
improve on. All it takes
Develop your skills by
recording your own music.
to capture your art is a
multitrack recorder from
TASCAM.
Getting started in the
world of multitrack
recording.
2
Page 3
with the magical combination of
the other parts or lyrics that make a
Need help putting your
without a band, take heart. Today’s
tools have become so advanced and
like having a songwriting partner.
You can start simply, and work your
way up in technical and musical skill,
A lot of great musicians and
tools since they were introduced, and
become better artists without getting
tool for any musician or songwriter
because it lets you build up a
without having to organize a band
tracks like this:
when an idea for a new pattern of
your guitar into Track 1, hit record,
track 1 of the drawing below). This is
we’re talking about here are multi-
tracks, not just stereo recorders, you
This
capability lets
you change or add any track at any
time, without affecting the others.
You can’t just give a multitrack
tape or disk to someone to play back,
however; you must rst perform the
last stage of the multitrack process, a
lyrics to music?
MF-P01
Ô Simple 4-track cassette recorder
Ô One W" jack mic / line input for vocals and
instruments
Ô Four track level, four pan and one master
level control
Ô Master fader with 4-LED level display
Ô Headphone output
PORTA02 mkII
Tracking, overdubbing, and
mixdown.
Ô 4-track cassette recorder with 2-track
simultaneous recording
Ô Two W" jack mic / line inputs for vocals
and instruments; Hi-Z guitar input
(assignable to both mic/line inputs)
Ô Easy-to-use 4-channel mixer section with
pan and level controls for mixing down
Ô Headphone output with separate level
control
Ô Dual faders with four-LED level meters
3
Page 4
5
the volume, EQ, effects, and stereo
buy, the basic process of tracking/
The differences between equipment
The number of tracks
The
that the tracks
how many effect sends, what
kind of inputs, and whether the
)
ó
such as
that add reverb
time, without
system
Whether it
MIDI
sequencer
which can play syn-
thesizers and drum machines
yet...it will become clear when we
TASCAM pioneered the concept
4-track recorders in the 1970s. It
your needs:
with a mixer (the features of
TASCAM’s various models are
428
tion to nding out about the gear,
you need to answer a few questions
you?
What kind of music will
you be producing? Do you need
vocalist singing over someone else’s
tracks?
ó
Differences in multitrack
equipment.
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
4
What route should you
take?
Page 5
?
want to make?
Trading MP3s with friends on the
you comfortable with computer
world of cassette tape more your
As we noted, each of the TASCAM
the colored boxes on the right-hand
www.tascam.com
or ask
the dealer from whom you got this
booklet.
MIXER
EFFECTS (R
EVERB,
CHORUS, ECHO)
INST
RUMENTS
MICROPHONES
MONI
TOR SPEAKERS/HEADPHONES
(OPT
IONAL)
MIDI
SEQUENCER
CASSETTE DECK
OR CD BURNER
MULTITRACK
RECO
RDER
The mixer and
multitrack are
usually combined
into one unit
?
The six components of a complete multitrack studio
Recording starts with the sources
you want to record, for example, microphones and electronic instruments.
These are plugged into a mixer, which
sends the signals to the multitrack.
The multitrack plays the signals back
through the mixer, which is usually connected to effects processors that add
reverb, distortion, echo, etc.
In order to hear everything, you need
speakers and an amp (which can be your
home stereo to start out with).
Finally, you need to mix down to a
2-track CD or cassette, to share your work
with other people.
These six components are often
combined. TASCAM Portastudios
combine the mixer and multitrack in a
single unit. A Pocketstudio adds MIDI
instruments and a microphone, plus
effects processors. Computer systems
may add a built-in CD recorder.
Even though elements are combined, it helps to understand them as
separate blocks.
414 mkII
Ô 4-track simultaneous recording
Ô 8-input mixer section
Ô 2-band high/low equalizer on 4 main
input channels
Ô Two dedicated W" stereo inputs
Ô Two XLR balanced mic inputs assignable
to Channels 1 through 4
Ô One W" dedicated Guitar input
Ô RCA unbalanced stereo SUB inputs
Ô Separate main and monitor outputs
Ô Headphone output with level control
Ô Two effect sends, one of which is switch-
able to Tape Cue
Ô 3-3/4 i.p.s. high tape speed
Ô dbx® noise reduction
Ô Optional RC-30P punch-in pedal
424 mkIII
Ô 4-track simultaneous recording with logic-
controlled 4-track tape transport and dbx®
noise reduction.
Ô ±12% pitch control
Ô RTZ and 2 locate points, repeat function,
auto punch I/O with rehearsal function
and more
Ô 6 full-function input channels with MID
sweepable 3-band EQ, 2 aux sends for
effects processing
Ô Four assignable XLR Microphone inputs
Ô Dedicated W" stereo inputs (channel 7-8)
Ô Separate main L-R and monitor outputs
Ô Dedicated W" tape outputs
Ô Sync output
5
567
Page 6
Getting started
ASCAM’s Portastudios® are the
ASCAM’sPortastudios®arethe
way to get started in multitrack
mkII
414
mkII
424
mkIII
are
4-track tape decks complete with
buy anywhere and connect to all
tape speed), the sound quality is very
you can record up to four separate
tracks or channels on a cassette tape.
The biggest differences are
the mixers. For example, on the
two inputs, so you can’t record
XLR inputs for low-impedance micro-
the larger Portastudios have better
with friends to record several
mkIII is probably your best
can do the trick.
the overdubbing process you come
the new bridge over it) and re-record
the other multitrack systems we’ll
talk about later are nonlinear, which
without having to re-record anything.
with multitrack
recording: cassette
tape Portastudios
Number of tracks: 4
Number of mixer
channels: 1 to 6
Recording medium:
analog cassette tapes
Mixdown to: external
cassette or CD recorder
Extras: none
What are the differences
between the Portastudios?
Linear or nonlinear?
PORTA02 mkII
Pan Controls (four)
Output Level Controls (four)
These knobs control the
playback levels of the tracks you’ve
already recorded during
overdubbing and mixdown.
Input Level Faders (two) These faders
set the level of the microphone or instrument as you’re recording them.
Level Indicators (two)
424 mkIII
3-band (high, mid, low) equalization
Midrange EQ gives you more control over
the tone of each track in a mix.
The two EFFECTS knobs on each channel determine how much signal goes to
an external effect device like a reverb, so
each track can have the right amount of
effect (a lot on a vocal,
not so much on a guitar).
Pan Controls (six)
Level Controls (six) adjust
both input and output levels
Level Indicators (six)
Page 7
Make the
hat if you’re beginning to
hatifyou’rebeginningto
have ideas for your own
but don’t know how to get them out
You could wait until you’ve learned
how to write and play every instru-
want to express musical ideas, but
The Pocketstudio
is a perfect
be musical in a fun framework that’s
exible enough to start writing your
there is a lot of potential built into
this little under-$500 device.
what like a small 4-track recorder,
but it also contains a “band-in-a-
box” or auto-accompaniment device.
This means that the Pocketstudio
has electronic instruments (such as
keyboards, bass, and drums) built
Arranger, giving you backing tracks
your knowledge and let you grow
POCKETSTUDIO 5
Pocketstudio
5
your own private
backup band
Number of tracks:
4 plus up to 16
“virtual” tracks
Number of mixer
channels: 2 inputs,
4 faders
Recording medium:
Compact Flash
memory cards
Mixdown to: MP3 les
(internal), external
cassette, CD-R
(via computer)
Extras: 3 effect processors,
MIDI arranger, 16-voice
General MIDI tone
generator with MIDI IN
Ô 4-track digital
Pocketstudio
Ô Up to 9 songs per card
Ô Mac OS 10.1 and higher support
Ô Record four digital audio tracks on
Compact Flash media
Ô Internal synthesizer module for playback
of MIDI sequence files
Ô Over 100 built-in high-quality effects for
vocals, guitars and other instruments
Ô Audio/MIDI editing: copy/paste to exact
bars/beats, bounce tracks, automate
punch-in/out
Ô USB port for interfacing your music with
Mac® and Windows® computers
Ô Mix down to MP3 format for putting
your music on web sites and emailing to
friends
Ô Playback MP3 audio files
Ô Includes 100 song styles that can be
re-arranged to create original music
Ô Built-in condenser mic included
Ô Headset mic included
Ô AC power supply included
Ô 32MB Compact Flash card included
up to 256k cards optional)
7
Page 8
9
Pocketstudio the power of an 8-track
tal audio tracks open to record live
vocals, guitars, or anything you want.
lets you select a background style
that’s not a speci c song. This ac-
keyboards and other instruments in
thesizer. It’s not quite a “sequencer”
help them with songwriting and
having a drum beat to play with can
be a big help. Add a bass part and a
keyboard part playing open, general
you jotted down on a napkin last
even pro-
vides a headset mic and can run on
batteries so you can work on lyrics
harmonies and structure
you. As long as you
ference between a C
than what came in the “standard”
The Pocketstudio records its au-
you can double or quadruple that
time with larger cards available at
The sound quality is very good,
There are built-in effects (like reverb,
tuner!
Basic Pocketstudio 5 connections.
Growing into songwriting.
Digital recording with no
moving parts.
8
Page 9
Building creative networks
The Pocketstudio’s mixdown for-
them to friends, collaborators and
the Internet.
As you grow as a songwriter
the capabilities of the Pocketstudio.
You’ll want to control the speci c
written from scratch in most MIDI
you, in real time. The Pocketstudio
will still be great as a writing tool,
but with only two inputs “live” for
The time has come to look at the
you need? Perhaps you need some-
thing more elaborate than the units
we’ve described so far. This depends
what you nd inspiring:
you’ll probably be happiest
with a computer-based digital
whose best ideas spring from
the moment, or if you’re just
turned off by computers, you’ll
be happiest with a top-quality
instruments
song styles
via your computer.
Taking it beyond the box.
The next step.
788
Ô 8-channel digital mixer with 7.5 gigabyte-
built-in hard disk for nearly two hours of
8-track recording
Ô 8 track, 24-bit or 16-bit linear recording
with 250 virtual tracks per song, 999 levels
of undo/redo and more
Ô Non-destructive editing (copy, paste,
insert, move, cut, clone track, more)
Ô Two advanced internal effects proces-
sors with compression, reverb, distortion,
chorus and much more
Ô Four W" mic/line inputs with 4th input
switchable to Guitar Level with processing
Ô Two W" AUX outputs
Ô RCA stereo aux inputs, stereo outputs and
monitor outputs
Ô W" headphone output
Ô MIDI in and out
Ô SCSI port for connection to external hard
disk or…
Ô Optional CD-RW788 rewriteable CD
recorder for stereo mixdown to CD and
data backup
The Pocketstudio has 100 built-in preset
backing arrangements, selectable by
category (in this case, “Rock 1”) and style
(“60s Hrock”, an abbreviation of “1960s
hard rock”). You can change the tempo
and key of each arrangement, and make
them your own.
US-122
Ô USB audio/MIDI
computer interfacing
Ô Mac® and Windows®
compatible
Ô Two XLR-fed phantom-powered mic inputs
with inserts
Ô Two line level inputs (switchable to guitar
level)
Ô 16 channels of MIDI I/O
Ô Adjustable zero-latency direct monitoring
Ô Two line outputs with level control
Ô Headphone output with level control
Ô Self-powered via USB: perfect for both
studio and location recording
Ô Includes ASIO, WDM, GSIF and Apple Core
Audio (OS X) drivers
Ô Includes audio recording/MIDI sequencing
software
Ô Includes GigaStudio 24 sampling
workstation software
Ô Compact and rugged steel construction
9
Page 10
11
Ultimate 8-track:
TASCAM invented the Portastudio
transport controls work the same way
they do on a cassette Portastudio.
can be intimidating when you
rst look at it, especially if you’ve
— the
leads the pack in sound
but the
that the
ter-than-CD sound quality. Essen-
tially, what you plug into the
is
The
has 8 faders and 4 trim
knobs, but you don’t see any other
knobsforEQandeffectssends.That
the 788 Digital
Portastudio
Number of tracks: 8
(6 recordable at once)
Number of mixer
channels: 8
Recording medium:
internal hard disk (over
3 hours of 8-track at
16-bit, capable of 24-bit),
expandable with
external SCSI drives
Mixdown to: optional
CD recorder or external
cassette
Source selection (Inputs A-D,
Aux inputs, Track or stereo
Input trim controls (four)
(inside) hard disk
Track Assign (seven buttons
serve eight channels)
Record Ready buttons
Channel faders (seven)
Effects 1 and 2 buttons
EQ, Send and Fader/Pan buttons
work with LCD screen
Jog/Shuttle wheel
Editing controls
Transport controls
Cursor controls
Master fader
Extras: two effects
processors, mixer
automation, MIDI sync,
internal tempo map/
metronome
When you need no-compromise sound quality.
Hidden features of the
788’s digital mixer.
788 back panel showing audio, MIDI and SCSI
connections.
10
Page 11
be commanded from the LCD screen.
has the equivalent of
by losing knobs, you gain by having
snapshot automation
that stores
your favorite “knob setups” for all
the channels at once in computer
ten snapshots, so you can change the
MIDI compatible.
The
doesn’t have a MIDI se-
fast forward, etc.) from an external
MIDI Machine
). This division of labor be-
tween audio and MIDI is perfect for
those who already have hardware
you’ll probably want to get an exter-
board-based, and you have com-
the next category of TASCAM gear
Not only is the 788 easy to use, but it’s quite
powerful. The built-in editing capabilities
could be used to cut out a cough or phone
ring in the middle of a great take, loop a
drum beat, or duplicate well-sung chorus
vocals. The wave form screen with audio
scrubbing offers a simple visual reference.
US-224
Ô USB audio and MIDI interface for
Mac and PC
Ô Compatible with many popular audio
multitrack software applications; includes
version of Steinberg Cubasis VST for Mac
and Windows
Ô 24-bit A/D/A resolution; 44.1 or 48 kHz
sampling rates
Ô Four channel strips plus master fader
control surface
Ô Two analog inputs (1/4”); S/PDIF digital
input & output; Stereo RCA analog
outputs; MIDI In / MIDI out
Ô Transport controls, Data/Shuttle Wheel,
Solo/mute switches, Headphone jack
Ô Self-powered via USB...no external power
supply required
This LCD screen shows how you change
the EQ (tone) on a channel of the 788.
There are 3 bands of EQ (Low, Mid, and
High), each with adjustable frequencies
(shown set to 80 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz).
Currently all of the bands are at (no
cut or boost). The Low Gain (bass boost)
is selected and can be increased or
decreased by moving the large JOG/DATA
wheel. If you wanted to change the Mid
EQ gain, you’d simply press the right
CURSOR key until it was highlighted and
change it with the DATA wheel as well.
Pushing the envelope
US-428
Ô USB audio and MIDI interface for
Mac and PC
Ô Compatible with many popular audio
multitrack software applications; includes
version of Steinberg Cubasis VST for Mac
and Windows
Ô 24-bit A/D/A resolution; 44.1 or 48 kHz
sampling rates
Ô 8 channel strips plus master fader control
surface
Ô 4-band EQ control, Transport controls,
Data/Shuttle Wheel, Solo/mute switches,
Headphone jack
Ô Four analog inputs (XLR, balanced line and
Hi-Z); S/PDIF digital input & output; Stereo
RCA analog outputs; 2x MIDI In / 2x MIDI
out
Ô Four analog or two analog and two digital
inputs can be recorded at once
11
Page 12
EFFECTS (REVERB,
CHORUS,ECHO)
US-224
INST
RUMENTS
MICROPHONES
MONI
TOR SPEAKERS/HEADPHONES
CASSETTEDEC
K
OR CD BURNER
MULTITRACK
RECO
RDER&MIXER
BUILT INT
O
DAW SOFTW
ARE
DAW SOFTW
ARE
MIDI SEQUENCER
13
Getting your music
where today...they’re incredibly pow-
there’s a lot of great music software
the “orchestra” as they write.
The software program that writes
sequencer
the sequencer.
This might be a little confusing,
but keep in mind: a MIDI sequencer
board. Instead, the computer is tell-
like “virtual ngers” on the keyboard.
The sound is generated directly from
the keyboard itself, “live.”
but you do understand basic harmo-
you want them. It will then play
back the sequence of notes, and let
you make changes on the computer
you enter the data by placing notes
ture a “grid” of notes that many mu-
play keyboards, a se-
tions you couldn’t make with a
wrong note inside a chord. Sequenc-
beat, the computer can “pull” your
the speed or tempo of the music,
without changing the key (some-
thing you couldn’t do with an analog
tape recorder).
A MIDI sequence can be a great
basic track to a song, and may be
track. But not everything can be se-
That’s where the marriage between
A human being singing into a
into and out of a
computer with the
US-224, US-428 and
US-122
Number of tracks:
8-24 depending on
your computer
Number of inputs:
2 to 4
Recording medium:
computer hard drive,
back-up by CD-R or
DVD-R
Mixdown to: computer
CD-R or DVD-R drive
.
How a computer sequencer
helps you write and record
your music.
Going beyond sequencers:
Digital audio workstations.
Same six components but now some
of the functions are being handled by
the computer.
Multitrack recording is now a function of the Digital Audio Workstation
(DAW) program and your computer’s
12
Page 13
EFFECTS (REVERB,
CHORUS, ECHO)
US-224
CASSETTE DEC
K
OR CD BURNER
MULTITRACK
RECO
RDER & MIXER
BUILT INT
O
DAW SOFTW
ARE
DAW SOFTW
ARE
MIDI SEQUENCER
has a lot of advantages, especially
when you’re experimenting with
the chorus? Simply copy and paste
between two sections? Don’t start
from scratch—simply create new
with new ideas all the time but don’t
want to re-do tracks over and over
have a microphone, but they’re usu-
want to use a computer as a digital
Think of an
things. Need to get audio into or out
from a computer sequencer? You
because that’s where you “connect”
with the software. The computer
with a USB interface, or to a hard
TASCAM makes three multipur-
because they act as an audio inter-
face, a MIDI interface, and a fader
hard disk. MIDI sequencing is also
controlled through the computer.
On the other hand, the US-224
Interface provides the functions of
the mixer in our rst drawing, as
well as better access to DAW functions
such as transport controls.
Steinberg’s Cubasis, a basic digital audio
workstation/sequencer program that
ships free with the TASCAM US-122,
US-224 and US-428. Note the “virtual”
mixer that can be mapped to US-224
What’s an interface?
or US-428 faders for hands-on control.
TASCAM computer interfaces can also be
used with more complex DAW programs
such as Nuendo, Digital Performer, Logic
Audio, etc.
Making a computer into a
digital audio workstation
with TASCAM interfaces.
13
Page 14
15
428
and
connect
to a computer via its USB port. See
The US-
and US-
look very
we talked about before. Like the
the US-
and US-
is primarily
trols. Both of them come with a free
version of Steinberg’s
berg and other companies.
The great thing about these inter-
faces is that you don’t need to pur-
has 4 audio inputs complete with
which change the
ware and
has 2
to external digital devices like CD-Rs),
headphone outputs, and transport
About virtual audio
and US-
has only 8 physical faders
has
to control any of the channels in the
The faders don’t actually control
the audio level directly—instead,
they act as controllers sending mes-
just a detail...as far as you’re con-
to change the level of a track, just
computerized studio.
This expandability is one of the
big pluses of going the computer
top, while it’s controlling 48 tracks
way to record several different al-
ternate “takes” in one track, and (for
track. If you record 10 tracks for
400 MB. Luckily, large hard drives
REVERB,CHORUS,
ECHO ETC.
VIA
DAW PLUG-INS
INST
RUMENTS
TASCAM US-
122
MICROPHONES
MONI
TOR SPEAKERS/HEADPHONES
INTERNAL OR
EXTERNAL
CD BURNER
VIRT
UAL MIXER
BUILT INTO
DAW SOFTWARE
MULTITRACK
RECO
RDER
BUILT INTO
DAW SOFTWARE
DAW SOFTW
ARE
MIDI SEQUENCER
channels.
Basic US-428 connections.
What the computer needs
to record audio on the hard
disk.
14
A USB cable specimen
(QuickusConnectus ComputerInterfaceae).
When you get to the US-122, the
majority of our “six components”
are now living inside your computer. The US-122 provides analog
to digital conversion, inputs including mic preamps and monitoring.
Page 15
knowledgeable friends can connect
the drives for you.
thing to back up with, since you can’t
keep your music on the hard drive
forever. Most musicians use record-
TEAC makes CD-Rs and DVD-R drives
that work well with any PC or Mac.
The US-122.
foregoes faders,
As one of the only small computer
to place hard-
ware devices (compressors, etc.) into
the recording signal chain. Two line-
level inputs on balanced
the US-
gives you 16 channels of
They give you virtually unlimited
your original.
just nd a non-computer recording
true if you only record occasionally;
technologies TASCAM has developed,
level. The next step is to narrow your
focus to the products that seem right
for you, and to try them out at your
TASCAM dealer. You might want
to prepare by downloading more
from
www.tascam.com.
You can
want. But there’s no substitute for
having a knowledgeable salesperson
have gone through special training
help you.
REVERB, CHORUS,
ECHO ETC.
VIA
DAW PLUG-INS
INTERNAL OR
EXTERNAL
CD BURNER
VIRT
UAL MIXER
BUILT INTO
DAW SOFTWARE
MULTITRACK
RECO
RDER
BUILT INTO
DAW SOFTWARE
DAW SOFTW
ARE
MIDI SEQUENCER
Need more information?
Computer-based DAWs
have incredible potential.
No matter what your
level of expertise musically
or technically, no matter what
kind of music you play, we know
that multitrack recording can be a
valuable artistic tool. We hope
we’ve helped
you nd the right
equipment for
you. Good luck
with your music!
15
Page 16
www.tascam.com
TEAC CORPORATION
3-7-3 Nakacho • Musashino-shi • Tokyo
180-8550 JAPAN • +81-422-52-5082
www.tascam.com
TEAC AMERICA, INC.
7733 Telegraph Road• Montebello
CA 90640 USA • +1-323-726 -0303
www.tascam.com