Tascam Ministudio Porta02 Owners Manual

							 
 Parts of the Porta02 
11 
clockwise to  
MIC
 
 for any channel which
is recording a microphone.
Instruments such as electric guitars pro-
duce a signal which is between  
MIC
 
 and 
LINE
 
 levels and the  
TRIM
 
 control should
therefore be somewhere between fully
clockwise and fully counter-clockwise.
See 3.3, “Setting the level” for full details
of how to adjust the  
TRIM
 
 controls for dif-
ferent input sources. 
[9] POWER indicator 
This yellow light is lit when the Porta02
is connected to the power supply and
switched on. 
[10] Tape counter and reset 
button 
The tape counter allows you to note dif-
ferent parts of the tape and locate to
them. Press the reset button to reset the
counter to “000” at any time (we suggest
that you only do this at the beginning of a
recording). 
[11] OUTPUT LEVEL controls 
These controls change the levels of the
four tape tracks in the  
LINE OUT
 
 and 
PHONES
 
 outputs. When one of these con-
trols is turned fully counter-clockwise,
the tape track corresponding to that con-
trol will not be heard in the  
LINE OUT
 
 and 
PHONES
 
 outputs. 
[12] OUTPUT PAN controls 
These controls change the position of the
four tape tracks in the stereo  
LINE OUT
 
and  
PHONES
 
 outputs. When one of these
controls is turned fully counter-clock-
wise, the sound of the corresponding tape
track will appear to come from the left,
and when turned fully clockwise, it will
appear to come from the right. When in
the center position, the output will appear
equally from both the left and right. When the  
PHONES MONO
 
 switch is
pressed, these controls will have no effect
on the output from the  
PHONES
 
 jack. 
[13] REC FUNCTION switches 
(1 and 2) 
These switches control where the signals
coming into the  
MIC/LINE
 
 jacks will be
recorded. For both switches 1 and 2, the
center position is marked as  
SAFE
 
. When
a switch is in this position, no signal will
be recorded on tape. However, you can
still listen to the signals coming into the 
MIC/LINE
 
 jacks and view the levels on the
meters.
When set to a number ( 
1
 
 or  
3
 
 for channel
1, or  
2
 
 or  
4
 
 for channel 2), the signals
input to the channel will be recorded on
the track whose number has been set on
the switch. This is called “assigning” or
“routing” channels to tracks. 
[14] Channel meters (1 and 2) 
Each channel has a set of four LED indi-
cators which show the level of the signals
sent to the  
LINE OUT L
 
 and  
R
 
 jacks.
Exactly what is metered depends on the 
REC FUNCTION switch settings, but gen-
erally, they display the signals at the 
MIC/
LINE IN
 jacks, and when the input chan-
nels are set to 
SAFE, the meters show the
off-tape signals, whose levels and pan
positions are set using the 
OUTPUT
LEVEL
 and PA N controls. 
The best level for any input signal is
when an averagely loud part of the signal
lights the red 
0 indicator, and the +6 indi-
cator (also red) is only lit by the loudest
parts of the signal. See 3.3, “Setting the
level” for details of how this should be set
up.
[15] Channel faders (1 and 2)
These faders are used to adjust the level
of the signals coming into the 
MIC/LINE 
						

							 Parts of the Porta02  
12
IN jacks. They should be used together
with the TRIM controls (see 3.3, “Setting
the level”) to adjust the levels of the sig-
nals routed to the tape tracks.
[16] RECORD indicator
This red indicator lights when the
RECORD and PLAY keys are pressed, and
at least one of the 
REC FUNCTION
switches is not in the SAFE position.
Pressing 
RECORD and PLAY while both
REC FUNCTION switches are set to SAFE
has the same effect as pressing PLAY.
[17] Transport controls
These work in the same way as the con-
trols on most cassette recorders. How-
ever, there are a few points you should
note:
• Pressing the 
RECORD key will also 
press down the 
PLAY key.• If the left record-protect tab of the cas-
sette has been broken out, or if there is 
no cassette loaded, the 
RECORD key 
cannot be pressed.
• It is not possible to go directly from 
recording into playback mode.
• The 
PAUSE key only pauses playback 
and recording. It is not possible to 
pause the tape in fast forward and 
rewind modes.
• All keys lock down when pressed, 
except for the 
STOP key, and only 
work when locked down.
[18] Cassette compartment 
cover
The hinged cassette compartment cover
is opened by lifting the tab on the right
side.
There is no eject mechanism. You load
and unload cassettes by hand, using a fin-
ger or fingers in the space to the right of
the cassette. 
						

							3 Making your first recording
13
3 – Making your first recording
This section describes how to make a 4-track recording using the
Porta02. For this, we will assume that you are making a recording
of your voice on two tracks (1 and 2), using a microphone, and
recording a part of a stereo CD or cassette on the other two tracks (3
and 4). Make sure you know what you are going to say.
Start by making sure that you have all the equipment listed in 1.3,
“What you need to make recordings”.
3.1 Setting up
1) Make sure all equipment is turned off.
2) Connect the 
LINE OUT jacks of the Porta02 to the AUX IN 
jacks of the amplifier.
3) Connect the mastering recorder 
REC IN and PLAY OUT jacks 
to the appropriate jacks of the amplifier. See 1.4, 
“Connecting the Porta02” if you are not sure what you 
should be doing here.
4) With the 
INPUT 1 fader at the 0 position, plug the 
microphone into the 
MIC/LINE 1 jack. Do not plug anything 
into the 
MIC/LINE 2 jack.
If the microphone has a switch, make sure this switch is off.
5) Plug the stereo headphones into the PHONES jack of the 
Porta02.
6) Turn on the Porta02, the mastering recorder, and the 
amplifier (in that order).
7) Set the amplifier’s input source to 
AU X (or the name of the 
jacks to which the Porta02 is connected).
3.2 Getting ready
1) Clean the heads and pinch roller (see 1.2.4, “Cleaning the 
heads” and 1.2.5, “Cleaning the pinch roller”).
2) Insert a Type II (chrome) cassette. 
The tape should be towards the front of the Porta02, and the full spool 
should be on the left side. Put the non-tape part of the cassette in first, 
and then push the tape (front) down into place 
						

							3 Making your first recording  
14
3) Play the tape for about 10 seconds and then stop the tape.
4) Press the counter reset button.
3.3 Setting the level
The aim of this section is to teach you to set the input level so that
the average signals coming from the microphone will light the 
0
meter indicator, and the loudest will light the +6 indicator.
1) Make sure all 
OUTPUT LEVEL controls are set to 0. Put on 
the headphones and set the 
PHONES LEVEL to the 0 position.
If you do not do turn down the speaker volume, you will probably get 
feedback (“howlround”) when you start using the microphone.
2) Set both TRIM controls to the LINE position.
Although you will probably end up with this control at the MIC posi-
tion, or close to it, for now, set it to 
LINE.
3) Take the INPUT 2 fader to the 0 mark. Bring the INPUT 1 
fader up to between the 
7 and 8 marks.
This is called the “nominal” position, and is the position where the 
electronics controlled by the fader will not have to amplify the signal 
too much (causing noise) or have too much signal going into them 
(causing distortion). 
4) Switch the microphone on if necessary. Speak into the 
microphone at the volume you will be recording.
It is important than when you perform these level checks that you 
speak, sing or play at the level at which you will actually be recording. 
Most people, when they first start recording, tend to be a little louder 
than when they are simply checking the levels. 
5) While talking into the microphone, turn the INPUT 1 TRIM 
control clockwise until the left 
0 indicator is lit most of the 
time, and the 
+6 indicator is lit on the loudest parts.
If the 0 indicator hardly lights at all, you may be too far from the 
microphone, or you are speaking too softly. If the microphone uses 
batteries, you may need to replace them.
You can also bring the fader up from the
 7-8 position to increase the 
level, but you should do this only after the 
TRIM control has been 
turned fully clockwise.
6) Adjust the PHONES LEVEL until you are comfortable with 
what you hear in the headphones. 
						

							3 Making your first recording
15
3.4 Recording the first track
1) Set the REC FUNCTION switch of INPUT 1 to 1.
You are now ready to record on track 1. Make sure the REC FUNC-
TION
 switch of INPUT 2 is set to SAFE, so you don’t record on it by 
accident.
2) Press the RECORD key (which will also press the PLAY key) 
and start recording the first spoken track.
If the level as shown by the meters now seems a little high, you can 
“back off” on the fader a little.
3) When you have finished (try to keep speaking for at least a 
minute), press the 
STOP key.
4) Rewind the tape to the 000 mark.
5) Start playing the tape, and adjust the 
LEVEL and PA N 
controls of track 1 so that you can hear clearly what you 
have just recorded.
Note that meter 2 now shows the level of the tape replay on the right 
LINE OUT, rather than what is being input to the tape.
6) Rewind and replay the tape again, listening carefully to 
your recording.
7) Rewind and re-record the track as many times as you think 
necessary.
Of course, this is only a test, so it doesn’t matter too much, but when 
you’re making a real recording, it’s important to make the recording 
as good as possible.
8) When you’re happy with the recording, set the REC 
FUNCTION
 switch of INPUT 1 to SAFE.
If you replay now, both meters will now show off-tape monitoring NOTE
You may notice a difference between the sound you hear when you replay the 
tape and the sound you hear when you are recording. This is perfectly nor-
mal, and is due to the way that the Porta02 lets you hear previously-recorded 
material. 
						

							3 Making your first recording  
16
3.5 Recording the next track
Since you plugged the microphone into MIC/LINE 1 / MONO, and
didn’t plug anything into 
MIC/LINE 2, the microphone signal is split
as if it was plugged into both channels.
1) Take fader 1 to the 0 mark.
2) Set the level for input channel 2 in the same way as you set it 
for input channel 1 (see 3.3, “Setting the level”).
3) Set 
REC FUNCTION switch for INPUT 2 to 2.
You are now ready to record on track 2.
4) Rehearse your second spoken part by playing back the first 
track (adjusting the level and pan if necessary) while 
speaking the words for the second track.
5) Rewind and record when you are ready.
When you are recording, the meter of INPUT 2 will show the input 
levels of input 2. Since the signal is now going to track 2, the meter 
for input 1 will not show anything.
6) Rewind and playback when you have recorded. Adjust the 
level and pan position of the two tracks with the 
LEVEL and 
PA N controls for tracks 1 and 2.
Remember that the fader adjusts the level of what goes onto tape, not 
the replay levels.
When you are playing back, the meter of 
INPUT 1 will show the level 
of the signal from the left outputs, and the meter of 
INPUT 2 will 
show the input signal level as long as the 
REC FUNCTION switch is 
not 
SAFE.
7) Rewind and repeat the recording of track 2 until you are 
satisfied with it.
SAFE input channel 2, and take both faders down to 0. Set 
the 
TRIM controls of both inputs to LINE. 
						

							3 Making your first recording
17
3.6 Recording the stereo backing
Now that tracks 1 and 2 are filled with spoken words, we’ll put
some backing music behind them. We’ll assume that you’re using a
CD player here (of course, it may be an MD player or a cassette
player).
1) Make sure the volume on the amplifier is turned all the way 
down (it should already be turned down).
2) Take off the headphones and unplug the microphone.
3) Connect the left and right 
LINE OUT of the CD player to MIC/
LINE
 inputs 1 and 2 of the Porta03.
4) Set the 
REC FUNCTION switches of INPUTs 1 and 2 to 3 and 4.
You are now ready to start recording on tracks 3 and 4.
5) Start playing the CD track you will be recording. Adjust the 
faders so that the 
+6 meter indicators light on the loudest 
parts of the CD.
6) Slowly turn up the amplifier volume so that you are 
listening at a comfortable level.
7) Make the CD ready to play, and make sure that the Porta02 
is rewound to the start of the recording.
8) Start recording, and start replaying the CD. 
9) When you come to the end of the CD material, stop the CD 
and Porta02, and rewind the Porta02 tape to the beginning 
of the recording.
NOTE
This is a test recording and will not be used except as a test. However, if you 
are making recordings for public performance or distribution which include 
pre-recorded copyright material, you should be aware of the regulations con-
cerning copyright in the area where you live. Unauthorized recording of copy-
right material may be illegal. 
						

							3 Making your first recording  
18
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 PA N 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 
PA N 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. 
						

							3 Making your first recording
19
7) Mix the tracks, fading the backing music on tracks 3 and 4 
to taste.
8) At the end, stop both machines. Rewind the mastering 
recorder.
9) Set the amplifier input source to the mastering recorder, 
and replay your mix.
10) If you are not happy with the mix, you can do it again, 
either recording over the old mix, or adding the new mix 
after the old one.
Congratulations! You have now completed your first recording
project with the Porta02. Rewind the Porta02 tape to the start,
remove it, and clean the Porta02’s heads. 
						

							4 Hints and advanced tips  
20
4 – Hints and advanced tips
This section gives a few hints and tips
which may be useful to you when you
make recordings using the Porta02.
4.1 Recording techniques
Learning how to record is an art, not a
science. One of the best teachers is expe-
rience. However, there are a few things
mentioned here which may be useful toyou, and there are several good books on
the subject which can explain the theory
of recording and some of the techniques.
4.1.1 Recording electric guitars
Much of the sound of an electric guitar
(and also bass) is due to the effects,
amplifier and speakers, as well as the gui-
tar and style of playing. If you plug the
guitar straight into the Porta02, you will,
of course, be able to record it, but the
sound will probably not be what you are
used to.
Plugging effects units between the guitar
and the Porta02 will certainly help to pro-
duce a fuller sound. The sound which
will come closest to a live sound, though,
will be provided by the amplifier itself.
You can adopt one of two approaches:
either to put a microphone in front of the
guitar speaker and record this (at 
MIC
level), or to connect the output of the pre-
.amplifier to the Porta02 and record at
LINE level.
4.1.2 Recording with effects
Professional recordings often use effects
like digital reverberation on vocals, etc.
You can add some of these effects by
plugging the microphone into an effects
unit, and plugging the unit into the
Porta02. Note that the effects unit must
be able to accept microphone-level sig-
nals, and will output to the Porta02 at
LINE levels.
In addition, you will need to use the inter-
nal balance control in the unit to decide
how much of the “dry” (un-effected)
sound will be passed through to the
Porta02 for recording.
If you do not have access to a reverbera-
tion unit, you can try recording vocals in
a very “live” room (without much furni-
ture).
WARNING
Do not connect the speaker output (or head-
phone output, if provided) of the amplifier to 
the Porta02. This will almost certainly dam-
age the Porta02, and may damage the ampli-
fier. Only use outputs which are marked 
LINE OUT, PRE OUT, DIRECT OUT 
and so on. Avoid using any outputs marked 
SPEAKER OUT, SP OUT, 4W, 8W, 16W 
or the like.