2-Track Recording with Peavey Mixers
Sometimes hooking up cassette recorders to our mixers can seem confusing, especially if we are familiar with home stereo equipment but are just getting into the sound reinforcement or home studio business.
A home stereo receiver has a monitor switch, which allows you to switch between tape recording and tape playback. When this control switches one function ON, it switches the other function OFF. This process disconnects the cassette deck inputs from the outputs and will prevent a feedback loop or "howl" from occurring. (The input signal of a cassette deck also appears at its outputs simultaneously.) When we connect the same cassette deck to a mixer, this scenario can change, depending on the design of the mixer. Some mixers have a tape play/record switch and others don't
Sometimes hooking up cassette recorders to our mixers can seem confusing, especially if we are familiar with home stereo equipment but are just getting into the sound reinforcement or home studio business.
A home stereo receiver has a monitor switch, which allows you to switch between tape recording and tape playback. When this control switches one function ON, it switches the other function OFF. This process disconnects the cassette deck inputs from the outputs and will prevent a feedback loop or "howl" from occurring. (The input signal of a cassette deck also appears at its outputs simultaneously.) When we connect the same cassette deck to a mixer, this scenario can change, depending on the design of the mixer. Some mixers have a tape play/record switch and others don't. [see Chart 1].
Chapter 1: Tape Input Orientation
| TAPE INPUTS ARE ROUTED TO THE TAPE OUTPUTS | TAPE INPUTS ARE NOT ROUTED TO TAPE OUTPUTS | TAPE INPUTS ARE SWITCHABLE TO TAPE OUTPUTS |
|---|---|---|
| MP5, MP 5+ MP 600 XM 4, XM 6 XR 600F XR 684, XR 684+ XR 800F XR 1204 XR 560 XR 600C, XR 680C RQ 2310, RQ 2314, RQ 2318 SRC 4026, SRC 4034 UNITY MIXERS (ALL) XR 800D, XR 1200D, XR 1600D |
XR 600E XRD 680 XRD 680S |
RQ 3014 RSM 4062 SRC 6024, SRC 6032 VERSAMIX XR 886, XR 2012 |
When an engineer designs a product there are many considerations, such as what type and number of functions the product should have, what markets are applicable, and how much the product should cost. Obviously there are different markets, which use the same product, and varying opinions as to which features are the most desirable and how they should operate.
If the mixer doesn't have a record/play switch, then the tape inputs and outputs may work two different ways. Either the tape input is routed to the tape output or it isn't.
For example, on the XR® 684 (or the XR® 600F), when the single cassette deck output is connected to the XR 684 tape inputs, these inputs also go back out the XR 684 tape outputs, which are connected to the input of the cassette recorder. If the cassette recorder's input/record level is too high, a feedback howl may occur. To prevent the loop, just disconnect the cassette outputs that are connected to the "tape inputs" on the XR 684 while recording. When used with two separate tape decks, this allows your singer to sing along with a separate tape being played through the tape inputs. Both the vocals and the music may be recorded from the XR 684 "tape outputs" onto a separate cassette recorder without the possibility of a feedback howl.
APPLICATION: Vocalist wants to accompany a pre-recorded tape plus other inputs while recording at the same time.
2-Track Recording with Peavey Mixers - Example 1
Example for using two cassette decks in order to record voices and accompaniment tape on the XR® 684.
If the tape input didn't go to the tape output, the tape playback music connected to the tape inputs would be heard only through the speaker system, such as on the XR® 600E. On the XR 600E, you may leave the single cassette deck outputs connected to the XR 600E "tape inputs," and a feedback howl won't occur when recording the inputs of channels 1-6 onto the cassette recorder. Again, this occurrence is when one cassette deck is being used and both the inputs and outputs are connected to the XR 600E tape in/out jacks. Therefore, the operator will either be recording or playing a tape, but not both at the same time.
APPLICATION: A live band wants to record their performance during a set and play background music during their break.
2-Track Recording with Peavey Mixers - Example 2
This configuration allows recording or playback, but not at the same time. On the XR® 600E, the tape inputs are not routed to the tape outs.
However, some people use two separate cassette decks and use one for playback and the other for recording. With the XR 600E, the tape input doesn't route to the tape output. So when there are two separate cassette units being used, the playback unit must be connected to a normal channel input(s) in order for its output to be recorded on the other cassette deck.
2-Track Recording with Peavey Mixers - Example 3
Example for using two tape decks to record voices with a tape on the XR® 600E. To record the tape output, the playback machine outputs are connected to one or two of the input channel line inputs.
But since the XR 600E is designed to be used with one cassette recorder, it isn't necessary for the tape inputs to go back out to the tape outputs, since you can't record and playback on the same cassette player simultaneously.
Some cassette recorders don't have a record level control. In order to get a good "hot" level signal on the tape, it may be necessary to set the input channel gain controls higher. This step can help if the mixer tape outputs are pre-master level control. You can turn the master level down in order to keep the same listening level, while driving the tape outputs harder, since the input gain controls are driving both the master level and tape output level [see Chart 2, pre-master level control]. Of course, you don't want the mixer-input gains set so high that the input signals become distorted. Also, the mixer tape output level may need to be set high.
CHART 2: TAPE OUTPUT ORIENTATION
| PRE-MASTER LEVEL CONTROL | POST-MASTER LEVEL |
|---|---|
| MP5, MP 5+ UNITY 1000, UNITY 1002, UNITY 2002 XR 560 XR 600C XR 600E, XR 680E XR 600F XR 684, XR 684+ XR 800D, XR 1200D, XR 1600D XR 800F XRD 680+ |
MP 600 RQ 2310, RQ 2314, RQ 2318 RQ 3014 RQ 880FX RSM 4062 SRC 6024, SRC 6032 UNITY 300RQ, UNITY 500 XM 4, XM 6 XR 1204 XR 886, XR 2012 |
Please keep in mind that people hook up the same types of equipment differently because they have different objectives. Additionally, two similar products may actually operate differently. For instance, the following differences can apply to both mixers and tape decks:
The equipment uses one or two cassette decks or dual cassette.
2-Track Recording with Peavey Mixers - Example 4
TYPICAL DUAL CASSETTE DECK: The first transport is a playback deck only. Its output is recorded on the second transport only. It doesn?t have separate outputs which may be routed to the XR® 600E (or any mixer). The second transport has inputs and outputs which function like a single cassette deck. Even if the tape inputs on the XR 600E were routed to the XR600E tape outputs, it wouldn?t be possible to playback on the first transport and record on the second transport.
NOTE: If the dual cassette deck does have separate inputs and outputs for each transport, then it is possible to record from the playback deck through the powered mixers Tape in/Tape out on the XR 684 and XR 600F to the record deck.
The cassette recorder may or may not have a level control.
The mixer "tape in" may or may not feed mixer "tape output."
The mixer tape output may or may not be post-master level control.
I hope this article helps you better understand the "ins and outs" of making a two-track recording with Peavey mixers. Let's make some tracks!
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