34 TASCAM 788 Digital PortaStudio3 – Before recordingWe have already looked at how to connect instru-ments to the 788 (“Connecting other equipment toyour 788” on page 22). Now we look at how the sig-nals are passed from the input connectors on the backof the 788 to the recording tracks.This process is known as assigning. There are twoways to assign signals to channels on the 788: theQuick Setup, described immediately below, and themanual assignment method (“Assignment on the788” on page 36).The theory of this patchbay is explained in “Assign-ment” on page 13. Consult this for an explanation ofthe principles, if you are unsure of how this feature ofthe 788 works.Quick SetupThe quick setup allows the selection of one of threepredefined assignment patterns, together with defaultEQ and send settings, for use when recording or mix-ing down, etc.1 Press the QUICK SETUP key beside the displayscreen.2 Use the dial to select RECORDING, MIXDOWN or BOUNCE 7/8 (the libraryfunctions are explained in “Routing and scenelibraries” on page 91).3 Press ENTER. The current selection is shownon screen using the assign map (see below,“Viewing assignments” on page 37).4 Return to the home screen by pressing theHOME/ESC key (“The “home” display” onpage 26).After the setup has been loaded from the Quick Setupmenu, it is possible to ‘fine-tune” the assignment tothe exact requirements (“Assignment on the 788” onpage 36).RECORDINGThe RECORDING setting sets up the followingassignment:The inputs from A through D are assigned to chan-nels 1 through 4, and the AUX INPUTS are assignedto channels 5 and 6 and the 7-8 channel.This is a good point to start recording the basic tracksin a project, allowing six simultaneous externalsources to be recorded.
