5 Troubleshooting  

track tape in the Porta02. The left and

ing the Porta02 tracks to the mastering 

right stereo tracks of the mastering

machine, as the Porta02 does not use 

recorder can be used as tracks 1 and 2 of

noise reduction. Of course, on the 

the Porta02, leaving tracks 3 and 4 ready

final stereo mix, you can use noise 

for recording.

reduction on the mastering machine.

Once you have mixed the four tracks 

There are a few points to remember:

to two, you cannot adjust their levels 

Although you can repeat this process 

or pan positions again on the new 

of mixing 4 tracks to 2 and then add 

tape. Think ahead to what tracks you 

ing 2 more, as you repeat the mix pro 

will record on the new tape, and mix 

cess, noise and hiss will build up to a 

accordingly.

point where the quality becomes unac 

When using this technique, always use 

ceptable.

the same type of tape in the Porta02 

The mastering recorder must have its 

and mastering machine. Differences in 

noise reduction turned 

off

 when mix 

tape type may affect the sound.

5   Troubleshooting

Tracing faults in a recording setup is

which hasn't been plugged in properly, or

often a mixture of logical deduction and

a faulty cable. If you discover a faulty

patience. Very often, the problem is

cable, replace it with a new one it's not

caused by something simple; a cable

worth hanging onto bad cables!

Is the PS P2 adaptor plugged into the power supply?

The Porta02's POWER light does 

Is the PS P2 adaptor plugged into the Porta02?

not come on

Is the switch on the Porta02 set to ON?

The tape does not move when 

Is the tape properly inserted in the Porta02?

PLAY is pressed

Is the tape at the end of the tape?

If you've just put in a tape you recorded in another session, make 

sure that it's the right way round.

Make sure the 

OUTPUT LEVEL

 controls are set to monitor the 

Some tracks have been recorded 

tape tracks (not at 0). Set the 

REC FUNCTION

 switches to 

on the tape, but nothing can be 

SAFE

 and look at the meters.

heard when playing back

Try monitoring through headphones and adjust the 

PHONES 

LEVEL

. If you can hear something through the headphones, check 

the 

LINE OUT

 connections.

Make sure the amplifier is set to the correct input source.

Nothing appears on the meter 

Is the source (microphone, guitar, etc.) switched on and volume 

indicators when a source is 

control turned up? If it uses batteries, does it need new batteries?

played

Is the 

TRIM

 control of the channel set correctly?

Is the tape properly inserted in the Porta02?

Cannot press the RECORD key

Is the tape record protected?

Is the 

REC FUNCTION

 set to 

SAFE

?

The RECORD key is pressed, the 

Check the 

OUTPUT LEVEL

 control for the track.

tape moves, but nothing is 

recorded, or the level is very low

Is the 

TRIM

 level set correctly (a microphone feeding a channel set 

to 

LINE

 will sound very faint).

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