How do I make an audio CD with the VF-16?
You can burn CD's directly from the VF16 using a stand alone CD Recorder. To use a computer burner you would have to transfer your two track mix file into the computer using:
- 1. Sound Card
- 2. WAV file backup
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What options are there for mastering?
Currently these are your options for "Mixing Down" to CD:
- 1) export .WAV files (2-tracks);
The advantage of this is file compatibility with computer software programs. The disadvantage is that it is a multi-step process and would require you to use two tracks on the VF16.
- 2) Digitally connect your VF16 to a sound card and mix to you computer program directly. From there you burn the CD as you normally would using those programs;
- 3) Use a stand alone CD burner. Again, connecting the digital I/O's and mix directly to it.
*A variation to #2 & #3 is using Track 15 & 16 for your mix and then simply transferrting those two tracks to your destination. This assumes you have tracks 15 & 16 to spare.
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I would like to know how to archive data from the VF-16 to a PC and then burn the data to a CDR disc.
If you have recording software on your computer you can do the following:
- a) put the software in record, recording the S/PDIF or ADAT input on the card (whichever you have).
- b) now put the VF16 in SAVE mode and choose S/PDIF or ADAT (again depending on what you have on the card).
- c) the software program now has the archived audio; though the file will appear to be a long stereo file or shorter 8-track file.
- d) simply burn the CD from this file, either directly or by exporting it so that your CD burning software can recognize it as a file to record onto the disc.
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Can you archive data to the Philips CD recorders like you would archive to DAT?
You cannot for a couple reasons. The unit does not have an optical output to go back into the VF-16 and the unit does not support "standing-by" while the VF-16 archives any silent passages or switching from Tracks 1&2 to 3&4... for example. In
otherwords, the machine will go out of record after so many seconds of silence are recorded. Its a safety feature for preserving your blank CD but it is not desired when you are recording an archive.
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Does anybody know how the copy/paste function works?
Here is a good step-by-step procedure:
- Store the Clipboard In and Out points
1. At the head of the audio, press "Store" then "CLIPBARD IN"
2. At the end of the passage,press "Store" then "CLIPBARD OUT"
- Now store where you want to paste (even if you have not auditioned the Clipboard yet)
1. At the point where you want to paste the audio press "Store" then "AUTO-PUNCH IN"
- Now actually execute this:
1. Select the track(s) that you want to Copy or Cut
2. Press the EDIT key until you find Copy Clip or Move Clip. (Copy leaves the original alone, Move picks it up off the track)
3. Press YES/ENTER
4. The display should take you to the "Copy Paste?" function. If you already stored the Auto Punch IN point (described above) then you can simply Press YES/ENTER ONCE
5. Select the destination track (if pasting to a different track)
6. Press YES/ENTER.
This should be it.
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I've used the built in metronome but find it difficult to increase or decrease the tempo. Can this be done manually with the jog wheel?
The tempo is set in the VF-16's Setup page. To set the tempo in whole numbers, hold the Shift key down as you dial in the tempo with your jog/shuttle wheel.
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How do you monitor material on a track as you approach a punch-in point?
After setting the punch-in/out points, you set the machine into rehersal mode. You can then use the play button to simulate the punch-in or use the record button to actually record. The track you are punching-in on will play (monitor) up until the punch-in point and then will come back after the punch-out point.
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I do not notice any "dedicated" pan knobs on the VF16. Is panning done on the "data" wheel? Is it still possible to do some "random/radical" pan moves when bouncing or sub-mixing tracks (example: panning a guitar part from left to right [and back] in REAL TIME to achieve a certain effect)?
Yes, panning is done on the data wheel after pressing the "pan" button. Although not shown in the manual, it is possible to pan back & forth in real time during a bounce. Here's the trick; You have to record in BUSS mode to 2 tracks, panning one track hard L and the other hard R. Then when bouncing, dial the "source" channel back and forth to create the effect. The drawback is that this eats up one more track. After trying dozens of variations (including bouncing the 2 panned tracks with this effect down to 1) I was not able to get this effect down to just one track.
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Can "scene changes" be programmed to change "automatically" during playback?
Yes, you can set up to 100 scenes and then create a scene event map either in real time or by pre-programming, plugging in any scene at any time. You can also turn the scene sequence mode on and off.
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Can you use an internal PC SCSI disc as backup?
No. As FDMS-3 employed by the VF-16 is very exclusive and not compatible to any OS, the computer will not recognise the VF-16 even though you connect it via SCSI port. It is only possible for the VF-16 to save or load the data to the external SCSI device.
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What SCSI standard is used for the cable?
All Fostex recorders including the VF-16 conform to SCSI-2. This is regardless of the type of SCSI connector with which it is equipped. In the case of the VF-16, its SCSI connector is called mini 50-pin.
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How can you playback all 16 recorded tracks and mix in an extra VF-16 8 analog inputs to make a 24 channel mix?
It is possible to do so with the following settings:
- Playback the VF-16(1), stereo mix the 16trk and output the 2ch signal via Digital out.
- Connect the signal to the VF16(2), assign them to any two tracks and setup the mixer for record input monitor.
- Also input 8ch analog signal to the VF-16(2).
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Can you move recorded tracks between two songs?
No. The Paste function is only available within a program. But instead, you need to do the following procedure. Save all the recorded tracks to the external device. Load them to a different program in the VF16. Then delete unwanted tracks.
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Can you automate the VF-16 mixer section from an external MIDI sequencer?
No. The VF-16 mixer section is not implemented to be controlled or
controlling via MIDI at the moment. Fostex implies a future possibility.
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Is there a way to connect the S/P DIF to the SoundBlaster Live
electrical digital S/P DIF input in order to transfer files?
Yes. It is possible if you meant as DAT save/load via an optical/coaxial signal converter, such as Fostex COP-1. You can treat the computer with digital soundcard as a DAT machine. Please bear in mind that the VF16 can save and load only recorder section information but not including the mixer section setting at all.
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