Fostex 280 - Page 17

Adjust monitor level of
each track 1 ~4 outputs.
guitar
<STEP 3: OVERDUBBING THE ELECTRIC GUITAR (TRACK 3) AND
VOCAL (TRACK 4) >
<STEP 4: ADD REVERB AS YOU MIXDOWN.>
WHAT IS MIXDOWN?
It is the process of playing several tracks of pre-recorded
program material (four in our case) and blending them into
a composite signal {stereo in our case). Mixdown is the final
balancing of the individual tracks in terms of level (gain),
placement (pan), and depth (reverb).
Mixdown is the final coming-together of all the parts and
pieces. It is the process whereby the finished product is
produced and copied (master recorder). Many people con¬
sider mixing an art in itself.
1. Patch the STEREO OUT jacks (31) to the line inputs of the
master recorder {standard cassette deck)—make sure
that the L and R designations on both machines match.
Now patch AUX 1 and AUX 2 send jacks (33) to the input
of the reverb, and patch the output of the reverb to the
AUX RTN jacks (34).
NOTE: If the reverb is monaural, use AUX 1 Send and
AUX RTN L.
2. Switch OFF all four RECORD TRACK selectors (24). Set
the INPUT selectors of channels 1 ~4 (1) to TAPE.
3. Set all four MIX/TRK selectors (6) to MIX, thus sending
track outputs 1 ~4 to the stereo bus via PAN (5).
4. Select only the STEREO signal in the MONITOR SELECT
(16).
5. Press PLAY and adjust the overall stereo output level with
the MASTER fader (15). Individual tracks are adjusted for
level {INPUT faders (2)), PAN (5) and tone (EQ controls
(7)).
NOTE: Tape output does not go through the TRIM (3)
controls.
6 . Now we’ll add reverb. Set all AUX 1 selectors (9) to POST
This sends the signal present after the fader setting to the
AUX 1 send control. (AUX 2 is always the post-fader
signal.)
7. Set the AUX 1 master (12) and the AUX 2 master (13) to
0 and set the AUX RTN controls, GAIN and PAN (14), to
their center positions. These are reference settings. The
AUX 1 and AUX 2 signals are sent to the reverb,
processed, and then returned to the 280's stereo bus
where they are mixed with the original “dry” sound.
NOTE: The reverb unit itself will probably have input and
output level controls which should be adjusted in conjunc¬
tion with the 280’s send and return controls.
8 . The AUX 1 (10) and AUX 2 (8) gain controls of channels
1 ~4 determine how much signal from each individual
channel will be sent to the reverb. As in all matters of mix¬
ing, taste and judgment will determine how much of any
given effect is appropriate.
NOTE: If a stereo reverb is used, balance is obtained by
adjusting AUX 1 and AUX 2 separately; if a monaural
reverb is used, adjust AUX 1 only.