Tascam 414MKII User Manual

Page 27

Syncing MIDI-Tape — Using the TASCAM MTS-30

Troubleshooting

Problem

Possible Cause

Playback sounds dull

Dirty heads

Playback level is too low

Dirty heads

Transport keys not effective

Power turned off, or tape not loaded

No recording

RECORD FUNCTION set to SAFE, or cassette tab broken

Wrong tracks recorded

PAN improperly set

Incorrect playback pitch

PITCH CONTROL set to a different position than during
recording

Feedback occurs during ping-pong

Level is too high or EQ HIGH is excessively boosted

recording

Problem

Solution

Old tracks are always recorded along

Use the TAPE CUE section instead of the main mixer for

with new material

monitoring previous tracks

Make sure that all mixer channel faders are turned down to
the minimum level except the ones that you are using. Also,

Recording is noisy

increase the volume controls of the instruments you are
recording — the 414 MKII channel and master faders should
not have to be "full up" at any time

Incorrect tape sync

Try re-recording sync tones by adjusting the channel fader
so that the track 4 meter reads between –10 dB and 0 dB

MIDI clocks are themselves a computer type digital
language and cannot be recorded on analog tape; it is
necessary to convert them to recordable FSK
(Frequency Shift Keying) signals using an appropri-
ate converter, such as the MTS-30.

The MTS-30 is not a mere MIDI-FSK converter but
translates MIDI clocks into an FSK sync signal con-
taining score "bar" information or "Song Position
Pointer", allowing the associated MIDI equipment to
stay in sync and follow the tape no matter where you
move the tape within a given song. The maximum
stability or resolution of the synchronization is
ensured by a TASCAM-exclusive error correction
circuit in the MTS-30.

Connect the TAPE OUT of the MTS-30 to the
SUB IN "R" of the 414 MKII, and the SYNC
OUT of the 414 MKII to the TAPE IN of the
MTS-30.

Set the track 4's RECORD FUNCTION switch
to R.

Set the DBX switch on the 414 MKII to the
SYNC position. This defeats the dbx
encode/decode for track 4 only.

– When recording FSK signals, adjust the MAS-

TER fader of the 414 MKII to get a reading on
the track 4 meter of from –10 to 0 dB.