some advanced recording techniques for your ReVox B77 and PR99… ...for the A77 blip here

Preparations for recording:

Select other channel for recording, REC L (18) switched ON (REC R OFF). This switch setting will now protect the first overdub recording from accidental erasure.

Turn input selector (27) to position R > L (position for transferring from right to left).

Connect microphone to right channel input MIC (29)

Turn input selector right (28) to position MIC.

INPUT LEVEL control (20) adjusts the portion of the signal that will be transferred from right to left. INPUT LEVEL control right (21) controls the level of the third voice which is being added.

Checking the overdub recording (REC L):

Rewind the tape.

Turn TAPE/INPUT switch (16) to position TAPE.

Mode selector (17) switched to LEFT.

If this second overdub recording is found satisfactory, rewind to its beginning and return the setting of the TAPE/INPUT switch (16) to position INPUT.

Third and subsequent copies or overdubs:

The recording on the left channel, which now contains the basic melody or voice plus two overdubbed voices, may again be transferred to the right channel. When performing these additional operations, proceed as described for the first overdub when making an odd numbered transfer and as described for the second overdub when making an even numbered transfer.

The number of possible transfer operations (back and forth) is limited by the tape noise which adds up with each subsequent transfer operation until it becomes objectionable. For this reason, optimum recording level control is of great importance, and some experience will have to be gained by trial-and-error, particularly with regard to the level balance of the final recording.

To obtain synchronism, one has to listen to the previous recording while transferring it. Best results are obtained when this is done with the help of headphones, which makes the simultaneous listening to one's own performance possible.

Record first voice (basic melody, rhythm) on the left channel (REC L). Make sure to modulate the tape to its full capacity.

First copy or overdub (REC R ) Procedure:

Transfer from the left channel onto the right channel, while adding a second voice.

Preparations for recording:

Change recording channels, REC R (22) switched ON (REC L OFF(18)). The first recording on track 1 is now protected from accidental erasure.

TAPE/INPUT switch (16) set to INPUT.

Note: For overdub operations, this switch is always set to INPUT, because one has to listen to the previous recording (tempo information) ahead of the new recording process.

Input selector right (28) in position L > R (position for transfer from left to right).

For the recording of the second voice, connect a

microphone to left channel input MIC (26)

Set input selector left (27) to position MIC.

INPUT LEVEL control (21) controls the portion of the signal to be transferred from left to right. Start tape recorder in the PLAY mode and make provisional level adjustments (the sound audible in the headphones, and the levels indicated by the VU-meters relate to the signal which is being reproduced from the left channel).

Turn INPUT LEVEL control left (20) up and make a provisional level adjustment for the second voice.

Start the recorder in PLAY for a practise run of the mix. Keep level of modulation up so as to utilize the full level capacity of tape. After rewinding, start the machine in the recording mode to record the overdub. If the recording does not turn out as desired, rewind to the beginning and start the overdub procedure all over again.

Checking the overdub recording (REC R):

Rewind tape.

Turn TAPE/INPUT switch (16) to position TAPE.

Mode selector (17) set to position RIGHT.

Listen to the overdub recording and if it is found satisfactory, rewind to the beginning and return the TAPE/INPUT switch (16) to position INPUT.

Second copy or overdub (REC L) Procedure:

Transfer from the right channel onto the left channel while adding a third voice. Please note that this operation will erase the first (original) recording on the left channel.