Fostex 280 - Master and Monitoring Controls; Transport, Metering, and Memory Functions

15. STEREO MASTER FADER (MASTER FADER (15))
This ganged slide control adjusts the overall output level
of the stereo bus—the signals present at the STEREO
OUT jacks (31).
16. MONITOR SELECTOR (MONITOR SELECT (16))
These selector buttons determine the status of the sig¬
nals present at the MON OUT jacks (30) and the
PHONES jacks (28), which are wired in parallel but
have independent level controls.
STEREO: The stereo mix present at the STEREO OUT
jacks (31) is heard.
AUX 1: The mono mix present at the Aux 1 Send jack
(33) is heard.
AUX 2: The mono mix present at the Aux 2 Send jack
(33) is heard.
NOTE: Typically, you’ll want to monitor only one bus at
a time—STEREO for mixdown, AUX 1 for recording and
AUX 2 for overall effects send. But special circumstances
may call for the ability to hear two or even ail three sig¬
nals simultaneously—which you can do with the 280.
17. MONITOR LEVEL CONTROL (MONITOR (17))
Adjusts the overall output level of the selected signal(s)
on the monitor bus, present at the MON OUT jacks (30).
NOTE: Do not confuse the monitor level with the record
level. You can set the monitor level almost wherever you
wish, depending on the size of your room, the efficiency
of your loudspeakers and your hearing perception. The
record level (signals being sent to the recorder) should
be set as close as possible to average zero meter
readings—too low and you’ll have a lot of hiss, too high
and you’ll have a lot of distortion.
18. HEADPHONES LEVEL CONTROL (PHONES (18))
Adjusts the overall output level of the selected signal®
on the monitor bus, present at both PHONES jacks (28).
19. LED BARGRAPH METER (METER (19))
14-point Led bargraph meters indicate levels from -20
to +6. Meters 1 ~4 correspond to tracks 1 -4; L and R
correspond to the stereo bus
20. CASSETTE TRANSPORT (TRANSPORT (20))
The compact cassette is loaded here
21. PITCH CONTROL (PITCH (21))
Tape speed can be adjusted from +12% to -12%; O
is 3-3/4 ips.
22. NOISE REDUCTION SWITCH (DOLBY C NR (22))
For best sonic results keep this switch ON during normal
operation. The OFF position is for calibration and align¬
ment. You do not need to turn off the Dolby NR when
recording SMFTE time code or sync-to-tape signals from
sequencers/drum machines
23. MEMORY/COUNTER DISPLAY (DISPLAY (23))
This numerical display has five functions depending on
the status of the LEDs to the upper left of the four digits:
M 1 ONLY ON: indicates position of'Memory Point
1 .
M 2 ONLY ON: indicates position of Memory Point
2 .
P. IN ONLY ON: indicates auto punch-in point.
P. OUT ONLY ON: indicates auto punch-out point.
ALL FOUR OFF: functions as tape counter.
24. RECORD TRACK SELECTOR (RECORD TRACK
(24) )
These buttons select the track® to be recorded. When
a button is pressed the LED inside blinks to indicate
record ready. In this condition, you can alternate be¬
tween Input Monitor and Tape Monitor each time the
RECORD button (26) is pressed when the transport is
in the STOP mode. (See “Input Monitor" on page 7.)
Press the RECORD button (26) and the PLAY button (26)
simultaneously to enter the record mode, and the blink¬
ing LED changes to ON.
NOTE: When recording with the stereo bus, L corre¬
sponds to tracks 1 and 3; R corresponds to tracks 2
and 4.
25. MEMORY/AUTO FUNCTION KEYS (MEMORY/AUTO
(25) )
Your 280 is capable of sophisticated transport program¬
ming. You can automatically locate the 0 point, shuttle
between Memory Points 1 and 2, as well as auto¬
matically punch-in and -out. (See “The Locate Function”
on page 8 and “Auto Punch-in/out“ on page 10 for
operational details.)
26. TRANSPORT CONTROL BUTTONS (TAPE COM¬
MANDS (26))
In addition to the obvious control commands of Stop,
Play, Record, Fast Forward and Fast Rewind, these
control buttons have the following functions:
•CUEING MODE
When you want to find a specific section on a recorded
tape, but don’t know exactly where it is, use the cueing
mode—slower than fast forward or fast rewind, so you
can hear cues that will help you search more efficiently
Press either of the fast wind buttons and the play button
simultaneously and hold both dcwn. Release the play
button first, then the fast wind button, and the transport
will enter the cueing mode in the direction chosen.
While the transport is in motion, each time you press
the play button and the fast wind button simultaneously
you will alternate between cueing speed and fast wind
speed (both of which are fixed).
-MANUAL PUNCH-IN/OUT
When the 280 is in the play mode press the play button
and the record button simultaneously to punch-in (at
that instant the 280 enters the record mode).
When the 280 is in the record mode, hold down the
play button, then quickly tap the stop button to punch-
out (at that instant the 280 returns to the play mode).
•REC LED
A four function LED has been installed within the
Record button to indicate the status of the recorder:
(1) Red Light ON: Tracks selected by RECORD
TRACK (24) are in the record
mode.
(2) Green Blinking: Tracks selected by RECORD
TRACK (24) are in the Input
Monitor mode; non-selected
tracks are in the Tape Monitor
Mode