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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)