Poor sound quality from external line

It is much easier to use an analog mixer and microphone thru the mixer. I would plug the microphone into the mike input on the mixer and then the Karaoke machine to stereo LINE inputs on the the Mixer, then Mixer Output or Tape Output on the mixer to analog LINE IN on the MiniDisc recorder.
Let me know if you need more info.

You need to check your setup's recording volume and interface. You did not mention if you are trying to record from RCA or digital inputs.

It sounds like your recording level is not set up to catch all of the music. I'd love to buy a unit which cuts all of the whiney vocals from good trance music it is very hard to do with all of the layers of recording.

This unit is a pro unit that makes use of XLR type inputs. These are typically at +4 dBm signal level not that of the -10 from RCA type mixing boards. So what you need to do is take the RCA outputs from your source and hook them to a IHF or unbalanced to Balanced converter and they are available from MCM Electronics. This device here should take care of the problem.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/555-8485

How To Connect a DVD Recorder to a Television:
1.If you want to use higher quality cables, then you may want to connect the TV Source (Cable and Satellite only, not Antenna) to the DVD Recorder using Composite, S-Video or Component video and audio cables.
2.To use composite cables (also known as RCA, the yellow plug is video, the red and white plugs, audio): Plug in the composite cables to the RCA outputs on the back of your TV source and then plug in the composite cables to the RCA inputs of the DVD Recorder. Then connect the RCA outputs from the DVD Recorder to RCA inputs on the TV.
3.To use S-Video and RCA audio cables: Plug in the S-Video cable to the S-Video output of the TV source. Plug in the S-Video cable to the S-Video input on the DVD Recorder. Next, connect the RCA audio cable to the output on the TV source and the input on the DVD Recorder. Finally, connect the S-Video cable and the RCA audio cable to the output on the DVD Recorder and the input on the TV.
5. To use Component Video cables and RCA audio cables: Connect the Component Video cable and the red and white RCA audio cables to the outputs on the TV source and the inputs on the DVD Recorder. Next, connect the Component Video cable and RCA audio cable to the outputs on the DVD Recorder and the inputs on the TV.
6. Now that the TV source (either Cable, Satellite or Antenna), the DVD Recorder and the TV are all connected, you need to configure everything to make sure that TV is coming through the DVD Recorder, for recording and viewing.
7. Turn on the Cable Box or Satellite Receiver, TV and DVD Recorder.
8. If you connected everything using the RF connections then the TV should be passing through the DVD Recorder and displaying Television on the TV screen. To record in this mode, you would need to tune to either channel 3 or 4 on the TV and then use the DVD Recorder TV Tuner to change channels and record.
9. If you made connections using either Composite, S-Video or Component cables, then to view or record TV, two adjustments need to be made. First, the DVD Recorder needs to be tuned to the appropriate input, typically L1 or L3 for rear inputs and L2 for front inputs. Second, the TV also must be tuned to the proper input, on a TV usually Video 1 or Video 2.
10. If you have a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound A/V Receiver you can connect either a Digital Optical Audio cable or Coaxial Digital Audio cable from the DVD Recorder to the receiver to listen to audio through the receiver.

Hi,

You should always work in wav format if possible because there is a loss of quality with mp3 which is a compression format in which bits are lost in order to compress the file size.

There are a number of wav editors available which will allow you to load a stereo wav and then save it as a mono wav. The free one I use is called Audacity.

When working with FL or Reason I will sometimes import files to the Tascam, or I will take the outputs from my PCs sound card and line them into the tacams inputs and record them live. I only tend to do this with programs (like synths) where I am using an external midi keyboard and can play live what I want to record.

With basic drum pattern tracks I'll usually create them on the PC, save as wav, convert to mono, and then import to a track on the Tascam.

hope this helps.

bd.

Here's How:

1. The first step to connecting a DVD Recorder to your TV is to determine what type of connection you want to make between the TV source (Cable, Satellite, Antenna), the DVD Recorder and the TV. This is usually determined by the outputs and inputs available on the DVD Recorder and the TV.
2. If you have an older TV that only accepts RF (Coaxial) input, then you would connect the RF output (a coaxial cable) from your TV source (in my case a Cable Box) to the RF input on the DVD Recorder. Then connect the RF output from the DVD Recorder to the RF input on the TV. This is the most basic (and lowest quality) option for connecting a DVD Recorder to any TV.
3. If you want to use higher quality cables, then you may want to connect the TV Source (Cable and Satellite only, not Antenna) to the DVD Recorder using Composite, S-Video or Component video and audio cables.
4. To use composite cables (also known as RCA, the yellow plug is video, the red and white plugs, audio): Plug in the composite cables to the RCA outputs on the back of your TV source and then plug in the composite cables to the RCA inputs of the DVD Recorder. Then connect the RCA outputs from the DVD Recorder to RCA inputs on the TV.
5. To use S-Video and RCA audio cables: Plug in the S-Video cable to the S-Video output of the TV source. Plug in the S-Video cable to the S-Video input on the DVD Recorder. Next, connect the RCA audio cable to the output on the TV source and the input on the DVD Recorder. Finally, connect the S-Video cable and the RCA audio cable to the output on the DVD Recorder and the input on the TV.
6. To use Component Video cables and RCA audio cables: Connect the Component Video cable and the red and white RCA audio cables to the outputs on the TV source and the inputs on the DVD Recorder. Next, connect the Component Video cable and RCA audio cable to the outputs on the DVD Recorder and the inputs on the TV.
7. Now that the TV source (either Cable, Satellite or Antenna), the DVD Recorder and the TV are all connected, you need to configure everything to make sure that TV is coming through the DVD Recorder, for recording and viewing.
8. Turn on the Cable Box or Satellite Receiver, TV and DVD Recorder.
9. If you connected everything using the RF connections then the TV should be passing through the DVD Recorder and displaying Television on the TV screen. To record in this mode, you would need to tune to either channel 3 or 4 on the TV and then use the DVD Recorder TV Tuner to change channels and record.
10. If you made connections using either Composite, S-Video or Component cables, then to view or record TV, two adjustments need to be made. First, the DVD Recorder needs to be tuned to the appropriate input, typically L1 or L3 for rear inputs and L2 for front inputs. Second, the TV also must be tuned to the proper input, on a TV usually Video 1 or Video 2.
11. If you have a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound A/V Receiver you can connect either a Digital Optical Audio cable or Coaxial Digital Audio cable from the DVD Recorder to the receiver to listen to audio through the receiver.

Try adjusting the input level so the meter stays close to 0 when recording. It sounds like the levels are too hot.

I never had that problems. I have been using it over five years. Does it play commercially made CDs (the ones you bought at the store)? Panel shows track numbers and sound volume? Can you hear it by using a head set (phone volume control turned up? If so, now recording part, do you have input select correct (analog or digital)? Input cable(s) into right connector(s)? When you press "record" button, does it put into "pause" mode? Can you watch the incoming sound levels when it is on "pause" mode? Can you start the recording with remote's fader button or play/pause button on the machine? Good luck.

You can get to the quick start guide here.

www.tascamgiga.com/i-738-232-128-0-BBDFF677.pdf

There is quite a bit to learn to get to the proficient point with this unit. Most of it involves the operator learning the software

It sounds like you have connected the two correctly. I can only imagine that you need to check that the hifi source selector is switched to that line-in, it may be referred to as AUX. Check that the recording level control is not at zero on the hifi and if there is a volume control for line-out on the tascam. If you are able to listen to the recording on via the hifi then you are halfway there even if it doesn't get to the hifi recorder. If your hifi is a seperates system then you could try plugging the tascam in to the CD input on the amplifier.