I. Purpose: To accurately dub external sound sources through an analog audio mixer to CD. The intent of the project is to familiarize each student with techniques of patching audio components together using In/Out strategies. This project also helps create archives of sound designs for previous UMD Theatre productions.

II. Set-Up Procedure:

1. Choose a prerecording on mini disc, vinyl, DAT (if you dare). or other recording to be dubbed to CD.

2. Patch L & R of original source into Line In 1 & 2 on Tascam M308 mixer. (Additional adapters are available in the Electric Workshop.)

3. Patch Aux 1 Out to CDR Left (RCA snake #5) and Aux 2 Out to CDR Right (RCA Snake #6).

4. Patch Stereo L & R Out (XLR snake #1 & #2) to Speakers 1 & 2.

5. Patch CD Playback L & R (RCA snake #7 & #8 ) to Line In 3 & 4 on mixer.

6. Turn power on for Mixer, Mini disc (or other playback device), CD Recorder/Player, and Amplifiers 1 & 2 (top switch).

III. Playing Audio Input to Mixer:

1. Insert mini disc into mini disc player and press Start. (or play other playback device as necessary).

2. Each cue on mini disc will play, then pause at the end of each cue. Dial AMS knob to replay cue or skip cue.

3. While cue is playing, bring up Stereo L. You should hear sound from Speaker 1. Sound from Stereo R should come from Speaker 2. Stereo L & R need not be up to record sound. Instead, use Stereo L & R to monitor sound as it's being recorded.

4. Assign Meter to Aux 1 & 2.

5. Play through all cues to be recorded while watching the VU Meter. (Sounds should bounce into the red zone regularly. Flashing Peak LED light is okay, but do not pin the VU Meter needle to the right.

6. Adjust volumes for each Channel. Channel 1 should be on Aux 1 only. Channel 2 should be Aux 2 only. Volume can be adjusted at the Aux volume control on a specific channel, or the Aux Master Control . Channels volumes can also be adjusted using the Trim Ring.

III. Recording the CD:

1. Open the right CD tray, place an unrecorded CD-R in the tray and close.

2. Push the Input button repeatedly until "AnaUNBALIn" appears in the dialog box.

3. Push Menu button and the Fast Forward button to get the "Set-up Menu?" prompt to appear.

4. Push Enter.

5. Push the Skip Forward button to" Sync. Off?" prompt.

6. Push Enter.

7. Push Record button on CD Recorder. CD Recorder should go into record/pause mode.

8. Monitor signal recording on CD Recorder VU meters for all cues. Unlike analog recording, digital recordings should never be overdriven.

9. Return Aux B to stereo - Channel 5 panned to the left and Channel 6 panned to the right.

10. Press Play on the CD recorder.

11. Press play on the mini disc player and record all sound cues onto the CD.

16. Press stop on CD recorder.

IV. Labeling Disc:

1. Push Menu button to "Menu Mode" prompt and press Enter.

2. Press Skip Track button to "Text Edit?" prompt and press Enter.

3. Press Skip Track button to "Text In?" prompt and press Enter.

4. Press Skip Track button to "Disc Title?" prompt and press Enter.

5. Push number buttons to put your name and project number on disc, and Enter after each character. (Characters are noted above the buttons.)

6. Push "Character" button to change to different sets of characters. Press the Skip Track button for additional characters (including numbers).

7. Press Menu button to complete title.

8. Press Finalize to complete CD recording.

V. Results:

1. Move newly recorded CD to left-hand tray of the CD player and play.

2. Assign Inputs 3 & 4 to L-R.

2. Bring up Inputs 3 & 4 and Stereo L & Ron mixer.

3. Pan Input 3 to L, and Input 4 to R.

4. All cues recorded should be heard on CD.

VI. Labeling CD for Archives:

1. CD should be labeled with the following information, if available. Please print neatly.