Akai DPS 24 Operator's Manual download pdf (Page 2)

DPS24 “Quick Start” Guide

Introduction

OK so you did your research, spent your money and brought home a brand new DPS24. You’re

really excited about getting going and when the shock wears off you realize you need to start

somewhere…but where? Hopefully, this little tutorial will get you where you want to be with as little

fuss as possible. Fortunately for all of us, the good folks at Akai have put together a system that is

both incredibly powerful as well as (relatively) simple to use. However, such power and flexibility

means a certain level of complexity. For those of you with multitrack recording experience, you

should start to feel right at home as soon as you get the hang of certain system conventions within

the DPS24. For those of you with none, you’ll have to do some homework and experimentation but,

surprisingly, even a total novice can learn how to use the DPS24 and start recording within a

reasonably short period of time. After that, learning the deeper complexities of the machine such as

system automation, syncing to external devices, project tools, use within a midi environment etc. can

be learned as you go. This guide assumes that you have updated the OS on your machine (as of this

writing, V1.3 is the most current), and you are encouraged to do this ASAP since a lot of neat stuff

has been incorporated into the operating system since the units were released…as well as some

relatively minor fixes. For doing recording, the only other hookup you need (besides your instrument)

is a way to hear what you’re doing. This can be a set of headphones plugged right into the front of

the DPS24, or a set of speakers running off the main monitor outs or even the stereo master outs

(though these are also audio outs, they would be used to connect to another stereo mastering

recorder if you wanted to) . With me so far?…let’s go a little deeper!

About Recording

Multitrack recording is essentially recording source material (vocals, instruments etc.) to what

amounts to many single recorders operating in unison. In this way, you can record parts of a piece in

single “instrument” or “multi-instrument” chunks at a time…until you have reached the maximum

number of tracks your system will allow (in the case of the DPS24...24 tracks). When a multitrack

recorder is used with the appropriate mixer, you can record single instruments to single tracks or

multiple tracks (why you would want to do that is beyond the scope of this tutorial), as well as

recording multiple instruments to single tracks or multiple tracks. When all your instruments have

been recorded, they can all be “mixed” down to either a single (mono) track or two (stereo) tracks on

a separate recorder with effects like reverb, delay, flanging, chorusing etc. to produce a finished

product “master”. The DPS24 allows you to do all of this without leaving the machine, as it combines

a full-functioned 8-bus mixer (more on this later), a very high quality 24 track HD recorder, a two

track HD recorder and what would be racks and racks of processing equipment…all in one fully

integrated unit. The engineers and development people at Akai have provided you with all the

equipment you need to produce master recordings fully on a level with commercially produced CD's

as well as the ability to integrate outboard equipment easily to further expand the DPS24 if you

wish…pretty thoughtful of them right? Still with me?…let’s keep on going.

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Akai DPS 24 Operator's Manual Page 2