Yamaha MT100 - Manual (Page 17)

MIXDOWN
Mixdown is the final stage in the recording process at which you transform your multitrack master tape into a mono or stereo master
tape that is the final creative product. The process involves re-recording the multitrack tape, via the MTIOO’s mixer, onto a
conventional stereo tape deck while you finely balance the tracks to achieve just the right sound. Tracks can be faded in or out as
required, and refinements such as overall reverberation or equalization can be added using external signal processing equipment.
The mixer’s PAN controls can be used to position each track at the appropriate location in the stereo image, and you can even want
pan a sound from one channel to the other for dramatic effect.
Here’s how your system should be set up:
•Input Jacks
Make sure that nothing is plugged into any of the mixer’s
input jacks.
• Channel Faders
Set all channel to “0.”
•RFC SELECT Switches
All REG SELECT Switches to OFF.
•AUX SEND Controls
Set all four AUX SEND controls to MIN for the time being.
• PAN Controls
Start with all PAN controls set to center.
MASTER Fader
Set to about “7” or "8” on the scale.
•AUX RTN Control
Set to MIN for the time being.
• PHONES SELECT Switch
Set to STEREO if you’ll be mixing using headphones. We
recommend using an external sound system or a pair of
powered monitor speakers (such as the YAMAHA MS101
Monitor Speaker System) for mixdown, in which case the
PHONES SELECT switch setting doesn’t matter.
•MONITOR Controls
Set all MONITOR controls fully counter-clockwise.
• METER Switch
4 TRACK.
•dbx Switch
If you started recording with the dbx switch ON, leave it
ON. If OFF, it should stay OFF.
1. Sit in a comfortable, central position in front of your monitor
speakers.
2. Listen to, evaluate, and adjust the sound of each track indi­
vidually. This simply means raising the fader of a single
track, adding effects or other signal processing as required,
then repeating*the process on the next track until all tracks
have been carefully checked. If you have an external signal
processing device such as the YAMAHA R100 Reverb
Processor connected into the MTIOO’s AUX SEND/RTN
loop as described in the following section (“USING THE
AUX SEND/RTN LOOP), it’s a simple matter to select the
desired effect on your signal processor and add the re­
quired amount of effect to each track using the AUX SEND
controls. The AUX RTN control must also be set to an ap­
propriate level.
3. When all tracks have been individually checked, bring all
channel faders up to about "T or "8” on the scale and play
back the tape. Adjust the faders for the best overall bal­
ance. Now adjust the PAN controls to place each track at
the desired location in the stereo sound field. Now listen
carefully — too much or too little reverb on any track?
Readjust the AUX SEND controls to achieve the desired
effect. Balance not quite right? Keep readjusting until you
are satisfied. You should also rehearse any fades or pans
you plan to do while actually recording the mix.
4. When you’re sure everything is ready, prepare to actually
record the mix. To do this you’ll have to connect the MT100
ST OUT jacks to the inputs of a stereo cassette recorder.
Plug your monitor headphones into the stereo cassette
deck phones jack if you want to listen as you record the
mix, or simply leave them connected to the MT100
PHONES jack and listen with the PHONES SELECT switch
set to STEREO. Use the stereo cassette deck record level
control(s) and, if necessary, the MT100 MASTER fader to
set the optimum record level, then go ahead and record.
The MT100 MASTER fader can also be used to add a slow
fade at the end of the piece.
15