Check to make sure that power is going to the BR-1180. Check the connection at the back of the recorder to ensure that the power cable connection is tight and that the power light is illuminated. If there is no power, check the outlet and make sure that it is not off.
Check the power going to your playback devices. Turn up the volume on the devices if the BR-1180 shows that signal is being played. Check the main LCD meters to ensure that the signal is strong to the outputs of the device.
Check all of the cables going from the BR-1180 to the playback devices for a good connection. Feel the optical cable to make sure that it is seated in the optical out jack on the BR-1180, or push in the RCA jacks on the analog stereo outs of the recorder. Check the other side of the cables as well.
Raise the main sliders to ensure that the played signal is not being muted. Check the mutes on the individual playback channels as well. If the channel mutes are on, no sound will be heard.
Turn off the phantom power if the microphone is showing no signal. Phantom power will prevent the signal from passing through an input unless used with a condenser microphone.
Adjust the gain or sensitivity of the channel if the instruments are not registering on the BR-1180. If the channel volume is up and there is no signal going to the track, raise the sensitivity knob to add gain to the sound. Bring the sensitivity up slowly to prevent damage to your hearing.
Check to see if the BR-1180 is in "Mastering" mode if the instruments are not heard through the BR-1180. The inputs will not work if the BR-1180 is in "Mastering" mode. Press [Rec Mode] until the "Mastering" mode light is turned off. Change the recorder to the "Record" mode to enable the inputs and make your adjustments after entering that mode.