TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE (01) PDF Document

The TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE is compatible with standard (Philips) stereo format tapes that were recorded at 1 7/8 ips (4.75 cm/sec). It is designed to be used with High Bias Type II tapes (such as TEAC CRC, TDK SA X, or MAXELL UD XL IIS). Tapes recorded without noise reduction, or those recorded with dbx type II, can be played on the unit.

No. The use of C-120 cassettes is not recommended. The extremely thin tape used in C-120 cassettes can lead to winding troubles, crimping, wrinkling, and other damage to the oxide coating which will destroy your work. It is recommended to use the shortest possible tape for a given job (e.g., C-60 or C-90).

To protect the finished master, remove both safety tabs of the cassette. If you break out only one tab, you could still put the tape into the unit “upside down” and erase the tracks of your master. Note that the TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE records and plays in only one direction using the entire width of the tape; therefore, never turn the tape over to use “side two.”

To install or remove the batteries, turn the unit upside down on a soft surface. When installing new batteries, be sure that their polarity is correct. Refer to the diagram inside the battery compartment. The unit uses Carbon or Alkaline SUM-2 (“C” Size) batteries. When the unit is being used on battery power, the POWER LED will blink when the batteries need to be replaced.

If you intend to use the TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE with an external power supply, it is strongly urged that you acquire the TASCAM Model PS-P1 AC Adapter. If you attempt to employ an AC-DC converter of any other brand, you must ensure it provides the proper polarity (negative center, positive sleeve), a voltage of 11 – 15 V, and amperage of 350 mA. Damage occurring due to improper power supply usage may not be covered by the warranty.

Follow these steps to record track 1:

1. Plug a Microphone into channel 1.

2. Plug your headphones into the PHONES output jack. Do not put them on yet.

3. Turn the TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE on and depress the dbx switch.

4. Set the channel 1 INPUT select switch to the MIC/LINE position.

5. Set the other three channel INPUT select switches to the OFF position.

6. Set the TRIM control to the 2 o’clock position.

7. Set the EQualizer controls to the 12 o’clock position.

8. Set the channel 1 fader to about 7 or 8 (the shaded area).

9. Set the channel 1 PAN control to the full LEFT position, fully counterclockwise.

10. Set the MASTER fader to about 7 or 8, the shaded area.

11. Put the headphones on and, while speaking into the mic, adjust the PHONES level control to a comfortable listening level.

12. Set the PITCH CONTROL to the center detented position.

13. Test the signal level by speaking into the mic at a normal volume. The TRK 1 meter should read between -10 and 0.

14. Set the BUSS L (a buss is a circuit) RECORD FUNCTION switch to the TRACK 1 position. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will begin to flash. Set the BUSS R RECORD FUNCTION switch to the SAFE position.

15. Push the PLAY key and allow the tape to run for about 15 seconds. This runs the tape leader onto the take up reel.

16. Push the RESET button and press the ZERO RETURN switch. This locates the beginning point of your recording.

17. Press the RECord key. You are now recording on track 1. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will stop blinking and stay on steadily.

To record a second track while listening to the first:

1. Set the BUSS R RECORD FUNCTION switch to the track 2 position. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will begin to blink.

2. Turn the channel 1 PAN control all the way to the right (clockwise).

3. Listening through the headphones, push PLAY and begin speaking into the mic. Balance the volume setting of the new signal to that of the track 1 playback level.

4. Rewind the tape.

5. Press RECord. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will stay on. The second track is now being recorded. Since track 1 can be heard through the headphones along with the new signal, the second track can be recorded “in sync” with the first.

Ping-Ponging allows you to combine two or three tracks onto a remaining blank track. Here is the procedure for collapsing tracks 1, 2, and 3 onto track 4:

1. Set the BUSS R RECORD FUNCTION switch to track 4 and the BUSS L switch to SAFE. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will begin blinking.

2. Turn the channel PAN control all the way to the right (fully clockwise).

3. Set the channel faders to 7.

4. Set the MASTER fader to 7.

5. Set the INPUT switches on the corresponding channels to the TAPE position (Track 1 on channel 1, track 2 on channel 2, track 3 on channel 3).

6. Rewind the tape to 000.

7. Set the MONITOR switch to the CUE position, turn the TAPE CUE controls all the way down.

8. Push the PLAY key and listen to the mix. Make necessary level adjustments using the channel and MASTER faders.

9. When the balance is right and the level is between -10 and 0 on TRK 2 meter, stop and rewind the tape to 000.

10. Push the RECord key. The first three tracks are now being recorded onto track 4. The RECORD FUNCTION LED will stay on.

11. Once the recording is done, press STOP then REWind.

12. Set the BUSS R RECORD FUNCTION switch to SAFE.

13. Set the MASTER fader to zero (off).

14. With the MONITOR switch in the CUE position, adjust the track 4 TAPE CUE control to the proper level and listen to the results.

1. Connect the Left and Right LINE OUT jacks of the TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE to the line inputs of the mastering deck.

2. Set the channel INPUT select switches of all four inputs to TAPE.

3. Set the PAN controls to the center (12 o’clock) position.

4. Set the channel and MASTER faders to 7.

5. Set the MONITOR switch to REMIX.

6. Turn the TAPE CUE controls all the way to the left or off.

7. Rewind the recorded tape to 000.

8. Push PLAY and, with the headphones on, adjust the PHONES level control to a comfortable listening level.

9. Using the channel PAN and fader controls, set each track’s level and left-to-right position for the desired balance.

10. When the signal balance and level sounds right, set the overall level using the MASTER fader.

11. Rewind the tape and push PLAY. Adjust the input levels on the MASTERING deck until its meters read between about -3 to 0.

12. Rewind the tape again. Put a fresh tape in the MASTERING deck and let it play for 10 to 15 seconds, then stop it and reset the MASTERING deck’s counter to 000.

13. Put the MASTERING deck into its RECORD mode, then push PLAY on the TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE.

1. Play the tape up to a point several seconds before the error. Push the RESET button to mark this point.

2. Set input 1 to the MIC/LINE position, set channel 2, 3 and 4 to OFF.

3. Plug the mic into channel 1.

4. Set the channel controls just as before.

5. Set the RECORD FUNCTION switches (BUSS L to track 1, BUSS R to SAFE).

6. Set the MONITOR switch to CUE.

7. Turn the TAPE CUE controls for tracks 1 and 2 to about 12 o’clock.

8. Press PLAY. The two tracks should be heard through the headphones. Adjust the PHONES control and TAPE CUE controls to the desired volume and balance.

9. Adjust the fader and TRIM controls on channel 1 while speaking into the mic. Set the PAN control all the way to the left.

10. Rehearse the Punch-In by rewinding the tape and pressing PLAY. Speak along with the recorded signal.

11. Press PLAY and, as in the rehearsal, speak along with the material. When you reach the point JUST BEFORE the error, press RECord. Continue speaking.

12. When the Punch-In has been performed correctly, press STOP.

The PITCH CONTROL allows you to adjust the speed of the unit by approximately +/- 15% in both record and playback modes. Sliding the knob to the left (-) slows the tape, while sliding it to the right (+) speeds up the tape. You can return to the basic speed of 1 7/8 ips (4.8 cm/sec) by setting it at the center detented position.

The ZERO RETURN button works in conjunction with the Tape Counter. Being able to return to any desired point on a tape can be very helpful. If the ZERO RETURN button is depressed, the tape will automatically stop during REWind when the Tape Counter reaches 000. Note that ZERO RETURN works only in rewind, and tape motion will not stop at 000 in the Fast Forward mode.

The TASCAM MINISTUDIO PORTA ONE has built-in dbx noise reduction. When playing a dbx-encoded tape or making a dbx NR recording, this switch must be depressed. This circuitry is switchable, allowing the unit to play non-encoded tapes from other machines. The dbx system provides a net noise reduction of about 30 dB.

The status of the Record Function LED and Meter Lights indicates the recording mode and track status as follows:

All heads and metal parts in the tape path must be cleaned after every 6 hours of operation, or before starting and after ending a recording session. Using a good head cleaning fluid and a cotton swab, clean the heads and tape guides until the swab comes off clean. Wipe off any excess cleaning fluid with a dry swab.

Demagnetizing (Degaussing) should always be done with the recorder turned OFF. Slowly move the degausser slowly up and down, touching lightly all metal parts in the tape path. Slowly move it away again to at least 1 m (3 feet) from the recorder before turning it off. This should be done periodically to prevent high frequency loss and noise.

The unit features 1/4″ phone jack inputs that accept unbalanced signals from any type of microphone having any impedance from 150 ohms to 10,000 ohms. You can also connect any magnetic instrument pickup, electric guitar or bass, or an electronic keyboard. For low impedance balanced microphones with XLR connectors, an optional input transformer (like the TASCAM 109B) is required.