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Posted by Bolts on July 14, 2000 at 10:04:04:

In Reply to: Need advice on Tascam 424 MkIII posted by Jim on July 13, 2000 at 17:53:46:

The six input channels means you can run six signals (the first four channels, plus the next two stereo channels--which you can also use for mono inputs), from six different mics if you like, into the machine. However, since there are only four tracks to work with, you'll need to assign at least three of those channels to one track (or four channels to two). So you could have two separate tracks for your vocal and sax, and two tracks containing the other instruments. Since you say you want to record these live, this is probably how you might do it. But it means those other four instruments must mix together well before you record your song, because you won't be able to make adjustments later when you're mixing down. I believe you may also need to record in "direct" mode, so that each channel goes to its assigned track (remember, track and channel are not the same thing). Check the manual about this.

There's also the possibility of simply picking a spot in the room where the instruments sound best together and put a mic (or two, for stereo) there. But since it sounds like sax and vocals are important to you, you may mic those individually, and have a couple mics picking up the rest of the band. You can even put the singer in a closet and the sax in the hall (or whatever) so that there's less bleed from the band and their tracks are easier to control and play with during mixdown.

If you've recorded on all four tracks, then you won't have room to overdub anything. So plan your tracks wisely. As Ally says, you may need to record a couple tracks and bounce them, building your mix with overdubs.

So it all depends on constructing a strategy for your priorities and going from there, and also on how many mics and what other eqpt. you have. Lots of possibilities. You're right, the machine doesn't have effects, but does have a few options for routing outside effects in. You can even use guitar stompboxes as effects, though proper multieffects units like the Lexicon MPX 100 are affordable and give you lots of uses. Once you get the hang of that, it's easy.

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