Fostex XR-5 - XR-5 Capabilities and Concepts

How to use the XR-5
Here’s what you can do with the XR-5
Radio cassette players and stereo cassette decks record and playback stereo sound on each
side; side A and side B. As shown in the diagram, a cassette tape is divided into four tracks.
Two are used for side A and two for side B.
However the XR-5 uses all four tracks at once (i.e., as a single side), and is able to record
each track independently, allowing you to record instruments or vocal parts separately.
This chapter will give some actual examples of things that are possible when using the XR-5,
and explain the basic concepts that you need to understand.
Standard Cassette Deck Model XR-5
Record a four-person band
The XR-5 has four tracks, and a different sound source can be recorded independently on
each track.
Here’s how you might record a four-person
band (drums, bass, guitar and keyboard).
Record the drums on one track. Then, while
you playback the drum part you recorded,
record the bass part on the second track.
(This process is called “overdubbing.”) As
shown below, use the same procedure to
record the guitar and then the keyboard on
the remaining tracks to complete a four track
recording.
You can also use the XR-5 to record a four- FEM lll
person performance. The four-person band Drum EBass E.Guitar Keyboard
in the example above could be recorded on
two tracks; drums and bass on one track, and guitar and keyboard on another track.
However, there are some restrictions on which tracks can be recorded simultaneously. On
the XR-5, the following four combinations are possible.
Tracks 1&2, Tracks 1&4, Tracks 2&3, Tracks 3&4
As shown above, the XR-5 is not able to record simultaneously on two odd numbered tracks,
on two even numbered tracks, or on all four tracks together. Details are explained in chapter 3.
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Record a multi-track performance by yourself
{f you are able to play more than one instrument, a multi-track recorder can be a very
valuable music-making tool. This is even more the case if you are able to use MIDI
instruments, since you can use the tape sync function to create large orchestral arrange-
ments. This manual will explain first how to record one sound source on a single track, and
gradually move on to more complex possibilities.
Once you understand the basic principles, multi-track recording is really quite simple and
easy.
Use professional recording techniques
Another possibility is for you to record a favorite song by a professional musician, and then
record your own performance on a different track. By using the pitch control to slow down
the tape speed, you can more easily figure out and learn how to play rapidly played phrases.
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