Tascam 788 Owner's Manual

Also see for PORTASTUDIO 788: Supplementary guide Addendum Tutorial Brief guide

Contents

Tascam 788 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 22 page image

2 – Getting started–Connecting other equipment to your 78822 TASCAM 788 Digital PortaStudioConnecting other equipment to your 788For a typical recording session, you will need:• the 788 itself• some sound sources (instruments and/or micro-phones)• a stereo mastering recorder (cassette, DAT, MD).Alternatively, you can use a CD-R or CD-RW drivewhich will allow you to master the song, and alsoto back up and restore your working material.• an external effects unit (optional)• a monitoring system (this is a grand name for agood amplifier and a pair of good speakers whichyou will use to listen to your recorded material—this can be your stereo system)• if you are using microphones in the same room asthe 788, you should use headphones (headphonesare also sometimes useful for general monitoringpurposes as well)• cables to connect everything together, with theappropriate connectors• if you are using MIDI instruments, you will almostcertainly be using a sequencer (either as a stand-alone unit, as a computer program, or built into aworkstation instrument)1 Find a stable level surface on which to put your788 and place the 788 on it.2 Make sure that all equipment is switched off.3 Connect the MONITOR OUTPUTs of the 788 toa pair of inputs of the monitoring system.4 Connect the STEREO OUTPUTs of the 788 tothe inputs of the mastering recorder (if it is ananalog-connected recorder). Connect the out-puts of the mastering recorder to another pairof inputs on the monitoring system (if they areavailable).Alternatively, if you are using a DAT, CDrecorder or MD recorder with a digital (coax-ial) audio input, connect the 788’s DIGITALOUTPUT to the COAXIAL IN of the recordingdevice. Set the input selector of the recordingdevice appropriately.As yet another alternative, you can make aSCSI connection (see “SCSI issues” onpage 17) to a suitable CD-R or CD-RW drive.Even though no audio connection is made, thedrive will be able to accept audio data throughthe SCSI cable, and to transfer it back to the788 for replay.5 If you are using an external effects unit, con-nect the AUX OUTPUTs of the 788 to the inputsof the effects unit, and the outputs of the effectsunit to the AUX INPUTs of the 788.6 Connect the MIDI OUT of the sequencer to theMIDI IN of the 788 and the MIDI IN of thesequencer to the MIDI OUT of the 788.7 Connect the audio outputs of your instrumentsto the inputs of the 788.8 Connect the PS-P788 AC adaptor suppliedwith your 788 to the 788.9 Turn on the power, starting with the instru-ments, and finishing with the monitoringsystem.Additional connection notes• Make sure that you have enough space to plug andunplug cables, etc. and that you can reach the con-trols, read the display, etc. comfortably.• If you are using a home stereo amplifier, do notconnect the 788 to any PHONO inputs on theamplifier. These are the wrong kind of inputs forthis kind of equipment. Use inputs labeled AUX,CD, VIDEO, etc.• Always use the TASCAM PS-P788 AC adaptordesigned for use with the 788, making sure that theinput voltage marked on the adaptor matches thepower supply in your area. Never use any otheradaptor with the 788. If you are unsure, consult anelectrician. If you move to an area with a differentvoltage, contact your TASCAM distributor regard-ing the supply of a new adaptor.• When switching on equipment, a general rule is towork from the signal source through to the finalend result. In this case, assuming a synthesizer isplugged into the 788, the switch-on order wouldbe:Synthesizer → 788 → Mastering recorder → Mon-itor amplifierSwitch off in the reverse order (end result throughto signal source).