Plug the AC power cord into a wall outlet and press the "Power" switch located on the upper right of the top panel to turn the MR-16 HD on.
Plug in the cables from your mics (XLR cable) or instruments (1/4-inch cable) into the "Inputs A through D," located on the upper left of the top panel. If you use "Input A," set the "Input A Sel" switch on the back panel to the position you wish. The "Mic/Line" position is best if you're using a microphone or basic instrument signal.
Plug the headphones into the "Phones 1" jack on the top panel and adjust the headphone volume knob to a nominal playback level. This is usually somewhere between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the dial control.
Press the "Menu/Enter" knob in the upper right of the top panel to enter the menu on the LCD screen.
Rotate the knob to highlight "Song" and press the knob again to select.
Highlight "Select Song" and press the knob.
On the next screen, highlight "New Song" and press the knob again. The next screen allows you to name your song. If you're trying to start your session quickly, just go with the default by highlighting "Enter" and pressing the knob.
Press the "Rec Select" buttons (located just above the channel faders) for the tracks you wish to record to. On the LCD screen, the numbers of the channels you select will change to the letters A through D respective to which inputs you use, indicating that the inputs are routed to those tracks.
Set the master fader and the faders for the tracks you've selected to record on to the nominal level, indicated by the tight group of lines to the side of the fader path.
Press the "Record" button in the lower right corner of the top panel. This lets you monitor the input signal through the headphones and on the LCD screen.
Adjust the "Trim" controls just below the input connections as you play through a song, keeping an eye on the input levels on the LCD screen. Make sure there is as much level on each channel as possible without the peak indicator (the little light below and to the right of the trim controls) lighting up at loudest part of the song.
Hold down the "Record" button while pressing the "Play" button to begin recording. Play through your song, then hit the "Stop" button when you finish. To listen back, hold the "Stop" button and then press "Rewind" to return to the beginning of the song, then press "Play."