3 Making your first recording  

3.7

Mixdown

Make sure that your mastering recorder is connected to the monitor 

ing system.

1) Set both 

REC FUNCTION

 switches to 

SAFE

, and move both 

faders down to 

0

.

This will stop any extra unwanted noise from the inputs appearing in 

the final mix.

2) Make sure the mastering recorder is ready to record, and 

put it into record pause mode. Do not start recording yet.

If you are using a tape for mastering, make sure that you are not 

recording over anything you want to keep. If you are using a new tape, 

make sure that you have taken the tape past the leader portion. Make 

the noise reduction, etc. settings on the mastering recorder, which will 

give you the best sound quality.

3) Play back the recording on the Porta02 and adjust the 

OUTPUT LEVEL

 and 

PAN

 controls on the Porta02.

The nominal position (the best position) for the 

LEVEL

 controls is 

about the 2 to 3 o'clock position. This is the position you should 

regard as normal.

It is usual to put the 

PAN

 controls for a stereo source such as a CD 

fully right and fully left. You can place the two voices anywhere in the 

stereo picture.

Practice adjusting the levels of tracks 3 and 4 together to fade the 

backing music in and out.

4) While adjusting the levels on the Porta02, watch the 

recording levels on the mastering recorder. If they are too 

high, take down the recording level on the mastering 

recorder.

Remember that if you are recording on a digital recorder, such as an 

MD recorder, if the signal levels are too high, the result will be 

extremely unpleasant distortion. Analog recorders, such as cassette 

decks, will also distort if the levels are too high, but the distortion is 

much more pleasant (even so, you should try to avoid distortion in the 

mixdown).

5) When you are happy with the mix rehearsal, rewind to the 

start of the recording on the Porta02.

6) Start recording on the mastering machine, and start 

playback on the Porta02.

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