In this lab you are going to practice cueing up compact discs and turntables and making
recordings on an open reel tape machine. Follow directions carefully and practice until
you feel comfortable performing these tasks.
Sign out at least one hour for the lab project.
Pick two CDs from the (limited) music library or from your own collection for this
project. Use one of the LP albums in the lab as well.
You will need your ¼" reel of audio tape for this project. Bulk erase the tape
before you begin the lab if the tape has been used previously.
Set up tone to 100% modulation on both the output VU meters of the audio console and
Reel to Reel (Otari MX 5050).
Cue up a cut on CD #1. Place the CD player in "pause" to be ready for
playback. (Be sure "auto cue" is on) Check that the CD is cued using the
"cue channel" on the audio console. When you hear the music recue CD #1 for that
cut using the rewind (back) and play controls again.
Start the tape machine and record the standard preopen (10 sec. of silence, 10 sec.
of test tone @ 100% modulation, voice slate giving your name and project
designation—compact disc and turntable practice, 10 sec of silence) and then
immediately start CD #1 and record the cut onto tape. Start with the CD player potted down
and bring up the pot for the CD cut (dead-potting).
While cut 1 is being recorded, cue up another CD cut on CD #2 and crossfade to
cut 2. While crossfading try to match the tempo of the music. While cut 2 is being
recorded, cue up an inside cut on turntable #2. Record at least 1 minute of CD cut 2 and
then start turntable #2. Crossfade to the turntable cut. While crossfading try to
match the tempo of the music to the speed of the crossfade. Record at least one minute of
the turntable cut then fade it out.
Stop the tape machine; rewind the tape and pot up the fader for the tape machine. Play
it back and set the play back level to 100% using the standard pre-open tone (watch
the right two VU meters on the audio console to set your levels). Listen to the
recorded music. Did the music from cut 1 seem to seque out too quickly or too
slowly? How about from cut 2 to the turntable cut?
Bulk erase the tape again and recue CD #1. Record the standard preopen and begin the
lab again. This time record 30 seconds of cut 1 and try to cue cut 2 while cut 1 is
playing (try to cue cut 2 within the 30 seconds allotted). At 30 seconds start CD # 2 and
perform a three-second crossfade from cut 1 to cut 2. Cue up the turntable cut. At 1
minute start turntable #2 and perform a three-second crossfade from cut 2 to the turntable
cut. After recording one minute of the turntable cut, stop the machine and rewind the tape
with heads out.
Label the leader tape and box (don’t write too large) with your name and project
and date. Turn in your tape by February 6, 2001. This lab is worth 25 points.
Remember: On the Reel to Reel Machine(Otari MX 5050):
Mustard buttons "out" and record buttons "in" to record
Mustard buttons "in" for playback (i.e., to hear what you recorded)
Tone (1 kHz): Press "in" to record tone, release (button out) to stop
recording tone
© B.L. Yates 2001
