Hello I just received my Tascam 414 MKII in the mail. I haven't had a chance to use it and I probably won't for a few days. In the mean time I've read the whole manual but there are a few things that I still don't understand and would like to before I get going with it. I also have some questions about tape tracking in general. I have recorded on computers for 5 years and this is my first endeavor into analog.

1) Why are the stereo imputs on the back labeled 5-6 and 7-8 as if they are both two channels in themselves. Aren't they essentially mono tracks like 1-4?

2) Why does the Effect 2/Tape Cue application share a button/switch? It seems to me like sending a signal to an effect and the much more important application of sending a signal to headphones so that tracks don't get bounced down constantly would merit their own buttons.

3) If I bounced down tracks 1-3 to track 4, would track 4 be a stereo track? Or would it convert the stereo tracks 1-3 to mono? I don't understand how a single track could be stereo.

4) The "record function" switch has the option (on track 1 for example) of 1, SAFE, and L. I know Safe basically un-cues the track for recording, and L is what the manual says to use when recording on track 1 (along with turning the pan nob all the way to the Left). What happens when the switch is in the "1" position. Furthermore, when the switch is in the L position does the pan nob act as another trim basically (assuming all other tracks are on SAFE.)?

Thanks,
Taylor