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Disk vs. tape recording, Multitrack tapes, Multitrack disks – Tascam 788 User Manual

Page 9: Multitrack tapes multitrack disks, 1 – introductory concepts–disk vs. tape recording, Tascam 788 digital portastudio

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1 – Introductory concepts–Disk vs. tape recording

TASCAM 788 Digital PortaStudio

9

Multitrack recorders can be analog (for example, the
TASCAM PORTASTUDIO cassette series) or digital
(for example, the TASCAM series of DTRS record-
ers), and likewise mixing consoles can be analog or
digital. The 788 is digital, that is, after the signals
enter the 788, the mix, recording process, the internal
effect processors and mixdown are all digital. This

avoids any possible loss of quality caused by
repeated conversion between analog and digital.

This also allows a consistent frequency response (i.e.
there is no loss of the very high or very low frequen-
cies) and dynamic range (from quiet to loud), since
all the components in the integrated 788 system are
designed to work with each other.

Disk vs. tape recording

The 788 uses a disk for recording, but traditionally,
multitrack recording has been done on tape. The

methods of recording with tape and disk recording
systems differ in a number of ways.

Multitrack tapes

A tape is divided into a number of different “tracks”;
usually either 4, 8, 16 or 24.

A typical arrangement of tracks used during a tape-
based recording session is shown below:

If more tracks are required in the course of a session,
there are a number of alternatives:

• It is possible to record on unused parts of a track

(for instance, if there is a saxophone part which is
never played at the same time as the backing
vocals, you can use the spare portions of track 7 for
recording the saxophone).

• By sacrificing a track of audio, special synchroniz-

ing timecode can be recorded on the “sacrificed”
track, allowing sequenced MIDI instruments to
play along with the audio tracks.

• If there are more instruments than tracks, it is pos-

sible to do a “mini-mixdown” from some existing
tracks to a spare track or tracks. This is known as
“track bouncing” or “ping-pong”.

• In the example above, the four recorded tracks

incorporating the drum parts will be bounced and
combined onto tracks 7 and 8. Tracks 1 through 4
may now be reused for other purposes.

Multitrack disks

On an analog tape deck, the number of tracks avail-
able is determined (mainly) by the width of the tape.
By contrast, in a disk system, the power of the pro-
cessor determines how many tracks can be recorded
and played back at one time. On the 788, eight tracks
can be recorded and played back at one time.

While a tape’s tracks are recorded side-by-side along
the length of the tape, a disk track may be placed
anywhere on the disk.

If you could see the magnetic patterns that are
recorded on a hard disk, you might find that the

Track 1

Bass (kick) drum

Track 3

Drum Kit (left)

Track 2

Snare drum

Track 4

Drum Kit (right)

Track 5

Bass Guitar

Track 6

Guitar

Track 7

Vocals (backing)

Track 8

Lead vocals

Track 1

Bass (kick) drum

Track 3

Drum Kit (left)

Track 2

Snare drum

Track 4

Drum Kit (right)

Track 5

Bass guitar

Track 6

Rhythm guitar

Track 7

Click track (disposable)

Track 8

Guide vocals (disposable)

Track 1

Was bass (kick) drum - now reusable

Track 3

Was drum kit (left) - now reusable

Track 2

Was snare drum - now reusable

Track 4

Was drum kit (right) - now reusable

Track 5

Bass guitar

Track 6

Rhythm guitar

Track 7

New mixed drums (left)

Track 8

New mixed drums (right)