Sony DTC-A6 User Manual

Digital Audio Tape Deck

3-856-761-11(2)

Operating Instructions Mode d’emploi Bedienungsanleitung

F D

DTC-A6

 1996 by Sony Corporation

3-856-761-11(2)

Sony Corporation Printed in Japan

3-856-761-11(2)

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

For the customers in the United States

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

INFORMATION

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: — Reorient or relocate the receiving

antenna.

— Increase the separation between the

equipment and receiver.

— Connect the equipment into an outlet

on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

— Consult the dealer or an experienced

radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Welcome!

Thank you for purchasing the Sony Digital Audio Tape Deck. Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly and retain it for future reference.

The DTC-A6 has the following features:

• High-density linear converters A pulse A/D converter that produces clear, elegant sound quality and theoretically zero cross distortion, and a pulse D/A converter with a newly developed digital filter and a full feedforward format that reduces quantizing noise in the audible bandwidth, thus expanding the range of spatial expression.

• SBM (Super Bit Mapping) function

• The Serial Copy Management System (see page 21)

• Three sampling frequencies (48 kHz,

44.1 kHz, 32 kHz)

• Recording and playback in long-play mode

• Analog recording at 44.1 kHz

• Sub codes Start IDs, program numbers and other sub codes written to the tape allow you to locate tracks quickly.

• See-through cassette compartment lid A see-through cassette compartment lid that allows you to view tape operations during playback and recording.

• Rack mount adaptor

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

Owner’s Record

The model and serial numbers are located on the rear of the unit. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No. DTC-A6 Serial No.

For the customers in Canada

CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

Voor de klanten in Nederland

Bij dit produkt zijn batterijen geleverd. Wanneer deze leeg zijn, moet u ze niet weggooien maar inleveren als KCA.

About This Manual

The instructions in this manual are for DTC-A6.

Conventions

Instructions in this manual describe the controls on the deck. The following icon is used in this manual:

Indicates useful information or

tips that make a task easier.

Indicates a task that requires use

of the remote.

3-856-761-11(2)

Getting Started

Unpacking 4 Rack Mounting 4 Hooking Up the System 5

Recording on a DAT 6 Playing a DAT 8

Recording Operations

Things You Should Know Before Recording 9 Adjusting the Recording Level for Analog Recording 9 Locating the End of the Recorded Portion (End Search) 10 Setting the Recording Mode 10 Using the SBM (Super Bit Mapping) Function 11 Inserting a Sound-Muted Section While Recording (Record Muting) 11 Recording Using a Timer (Timer Recording) 12

Playback Operations

About the Display 12 Locating a Track (AMS/Direct Access) 13 Playing Tracks Repeatedly (Repeat Play) 13 Playback Using a Timer (Timer Playing) 14

Writing Sub Codes

About Sub Codes 14 Writing Start IDs During Recording 14 Writing Start IDs During Playback 15 Adjusting the Position of an Existing Start ID 16 Erasing Start IDs 16 Renumbering the Program Numbers Automatically (Renumbering) 17

Additional Information

Precautions 17 Cleaning 18 Display Messages 18 Troubleshooting 19 Specifications 20 SBM (Super Bit Mapping) Function 20 Guide to the Serial Copy Management System 21

Index 23

3-856-761-11(2)

Basic Operations

Recording on a DAT

REC OFF

See page 5 for hookup information.

TIMER

POWER

PLAY

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

OFF

REC LEVEL

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

6 3 48

Turn on the amplifier and play the program source you want

to record.

Press POWER.

L R

PHONE LEVEL

100

Press OPEN/CLOSE § and insert a cassette.

OPEN/CLOSE

Window side up

Insert the cassette beyond the silver bar.

Set INPUT to the corresponding input connector.

To record through

ANALOG (LINE) IN DIGITAL OPTICAL IN DIGITAL COAXIAL IN

Close the cassette holder by pressing OPEN/CLOSE §.

Set INPUT to

ANALOG OPTICAL COAXIAL

OPEN/CLOSE

3-856-761-11(2)

Basic Operations

Locate the position where you want to start recording.

To record from the beginning of the tape

Press REW 0 to rewind the tape to its beginning.

To record from the end of the recorded portion

1 Press REW 0 to rewind the tape to its beginning. 2 Press FF ).

The deck locates the end of the recorded portion on the tape and stops automatically.

Press REC r.

The deck becomes ready to record.

When recording the analog input signal, adjust the recording

level with REC LEVEL. The recommended recording level is 3. For details, refer to

“Adjusting the Recording Level for Analog Recording” on page 9.

Basic Operations

z If “UNLOCK” appears in the

display

The program source is not connected to the deck properly or is not turned on. Make sure that the program source is properly connected or turned on.

Press PAUSE P or PLAY (.

Recording starts.

Start playing the program source.

When the tape reaches the end, the deck rewinds it automatically to its beginning and stops (Auto Rewind).

Stop recording Pause recording PAUSE P. Press the button again to

Take out the cassette

To prevent accidental erasure

Slide the record-protect tab to the left as shown in the illustration below.

Press

STOP p

resume recording. OPEN/CLOSE § after stopping

recording

Recording is impossible (the hole is open).

Recording is possible (the hole is closed).

3-856-761-11(2)

Basic Operations

Playing a DAT

REC OFF

TIMER

POWER

PLAY

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

2 34

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONE LEVEL

L R

100

See page 5 for hookup information.

z To use headphones

Connect them to the PHONES jack. Use PHONE LEVEL to adjust the volume.

Turn on the amplifier and set the source selector to the position

for DAT.

Press POWER.

Press OPEN/CLOSE § and insert a cassette.

OPEN/CLOSE

Press PLAY (.

The deck starts playing. Adjust the volume on the amplifier.

Window side up

Insert the cassette beyond the silver bar.

OPEN/CLOSE

Close the cassette holder by pressing OPEN/CLOSE §.

Stop playing

Press

STOP p Go to the next track NEXT + Go to the preceding track Fast-forward or rewind

PREVIOUS =

FF ) or REW 0 when the deck is

stopped Fast-forward or rewind while

monitoring the sound

FF ) or REW 0 during playback.

Release the button to resume normal

playback.

Take out the cassette

OPEN/CLOSE § after stopping playing

3-856-761-11(2)

Recording Operations

For basic recording operations, see pages 6 and 7.

Things You Should Know Before Recording

The difference between a blank section and a sound-muted section

The deck distinguishes between two kinds of silent sections, which are respectively called a “blank section” or “sound-muted section”.

Blank section

This is a section on which no signal has ever been recorded.

b) b)

a) b)

Blank section

Sound-muted section

This is a section on which a signal has been recorded but at a level that is not audible.

Sound-muted section

Important

Make sure no blank sections are created while you are recording. The existence of blank sections within recorded material will make search operations using the PREVIOUS =/NEXT + buttons impossible or destroy the continuity of the absolute time codes.

z If you press the REC r button while in a blank

section

The deck automatically rewinds the tape to the beginning of the blank section and changes to recording pause (except during Timer Recording).

Absolute time codes

Absolute time codes indicate the elapsed time from the beginning of the tape. These codes are automatically recorded. Note that once recorded, absolute time codes cannot be re-written.

For accurate recording of absolute time codes

• If the tape is blank, make sure to start recording from the beginning of the tape.

• Use Record Muting (see page 11) to insert spaces between tracks. Do not advance the tape with the PLAY ( or FF ) button.

• To start recording from the middle of a tape, use End Search (see page 10) to locate the end of the recorded portion. This will prevent the creation of blank sections.

a): Recording b): Track

If “EMPHASIS” appears in the display

The deck is recording a digital signal with emphasis (in the higher frequencies). The recording will also contain the same emphasis.

If the deck is left in recording pause for more than 10 minutes

Recording pause will be released automatically, the deck will stop and “SOURCE” will appear in the display. To resume recording, press the REC r button. The deck will change to recording pause.

When using a new tape

Before you record on a new tape, we recommend that you fast forward the whole tape and then rewind to the beginning to make the tape reel smoothly.

Adjusting the Recording Level for Analog Recording

Before you start recording an analog source through ANALOG (LINE) IN, set the INPUT switch to ANALOG and adjust the recording level.

L R

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

PLAY ( PAUSE P MARGIN RESET REC LEVEL

1 Do Steps 1 to 6 of “Recording on a DAT” on pages

6 and 7.

2 Play the portion of the program source with the

strongest signal level.

3 While monitoring the sound, turn REC LEVEL to

adjust the recording level so that the peak level meters are at maximum level without entering the OVER (red) range.

MARGIN indication

Maximum level

The segments of the peak level meters corresponding to the maximum signal strength remain lit longer than normal. The MARGIN indication shows the margin between maximum signal strength and 0 dB, changing each time a stronger signal.

1.0

Remains unlit

REC LEVEL

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

PHONE LEVEL

ON OFF

100

(Continued)

Basic Operations

3-856-761-11(2)

Recording Operations

If the level exceeds 0 dB

The segments under “OVER” light up, and “0.0 dB” flashes in the display. If these segments light steadily, sound distortion may occur. To avoid this, keep the recording level between –12 dB and 0 dB.

To reset the margin indication

Press MARGIN RESET. The margin indication changes to “- - dB”.

4 Stop playing the program source. 5 To start recording, press PAUSE P or PLAY (,

then start playing the program source.

Setting the Recording Mode

You can select either of two recording modes— standard or long—in the following cases.

• When recording an analog input signal with the INPUT switch set to ANALOG

• When recording a digital input signal with a sampling frequency of 32 kHz with the INPUT switch set to OPTICAL or COAXIAL.

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

PHONE LEVEL

L R

100

Locating the End of the Recorded Portion (End Search)

End Search detects a blank section longer than 9 seconds, then automatically rewinds the tape to the end of the recorded portion, then stops. Use End Search to start recording from the end of the recorded portion without creating a blank section on the tape.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

REW 0 / FF )

1 With the deck stopped, press REW 0 to rewind

the tape to the beginning .

2 Press FF ).

The deck locates the end of the recorded portion, then stops. The deck stops at the beginning of any blank section that is 9 seconds or longer, or fast-forwards to the end of the tape if the tape is blank.

z If you press the REC r button while in a blank

section

The deck automatically rewinds the tape to the beginning of the blank section and changes to recording pause. “BLANK” and “WAIT” appear in the display while the deck is searching for the beginning of the blank section.

Notes

• End Search does not operate if you press the FF ) button while in a blank section.

• If the tape is blank, the deck merely fast-forwards to the end of the tape.

REC MODE

Set REC MODE to select the recording mode. The following table shows the selectable recording modes and corresponding REC MODE position and sampling frequency for various input signals.

Input signal

REC MODE

Recording mode

position

Analog

Digital (32 kHz)

Digital (44.1 kHz) STANDARD

Digital (48 kHz)

STANDARD (48 kHz)

STANDARD (44.1 kHz)

LONG STANDARD

(48 kHz) STANDARD

(44.1 kHz)

LONG

(48 kHz) STANDARD

(44.1 kHz) LONG STANDARD

(48 kHz) STANDARD

(44.1 kHz) LONG

Standard play (48 kHz)

Standard play (44.1 kHz)

Long play (32 kHz)

Standard play (32 kHz)

Long play (32 kHz)

Standard play (44.1 kHz) (Standard play only)

Standard play (48 kHz) (Standard play only)

The recording time in long-play mode (the REC MODE switch set to LONG) is twice as long as standard-play mode.

3-856-761-11(2)

z The counter in long-play mode

The displayed tape running time, absolute time and remaining time on the tape are for standard-play mode. Double the time to obtain the corresponding times for long-play mode.

Recording Operations

Inserting a Sound-Muted Section While Recording (Record Muting)

Note

Do not change the INPUT or REC MODE setting while recording. This may cause an error in the “PGM TIME” (playing time of the track) display.

Using the SBM (Super Bit Mapping) Function

You can use the SBM function to record on analog input signal only when the INPUT switch is set to ANALOG and the REC MODE switch to STANDARD (either 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz). For details on the SBM function, see “SBM (Super Bit Mapping) Function” on page 20.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

SBM

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

Set SBM to ON. “SBM” appears in the display during recording using the SBM function.

Use Record Muting to insert a space of about 4 seconds between tracks. This is recommended if you plan to copy the DAT tape to an analog audio cassette tape since the spaces will allow you to use automatic search functions to locate the beginning of each track. When you start recording from the beginning of a blank tape and want to insert a space before the first track, be sure to create a sound-muted section using Record Muting only. Do not advance the tape with the FF ) or PLAY ( button since this will create a blank section on the tape (see page 9).

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

+ 0)

AMS

PLAY

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

TIMER

REC OFF

POWER

PLAY ( PAUSE P

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

REC MUTE R

MARGIN

OPEN/CLOSE

RESET

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

L R

1 Press REC MUTE R where you want to insert a

space while the deck is recording or in recording pause. The deck creates a sound-muted section as “REC” flashes in the display. After the sound-muted section is completed, “REC” lights up and the deck changes to recording pause.

To turn the SBM function off

Set SBM to OFF.

To insert a blank space longer than 4 seconds

Hold down the REC MUTE R button as long as you want. When you release the button, the sound-muted section ends and the deck changes to become recording pause. If you keep the button pressed longer than 4 seconds, “REC” will begin to flash more quickly and the time elapsed after pressing the REC MUTE R button is shown in the display. When you release the REC MUTE R button, P in the display stays on and the deck changes to recording pause.

2 Press PAUSE P or PLAY ( to resume recording.

The deck starts recording again.

Note

If you do not create a sound-muted section at the beginning of a tape, you may not be able to move or erase a start ID (see page 14) that is recorded within 2 seconds from the beginning of the tape.

3-856-761-11(2)

Recording Operations

Recording Using a Timer

Playback Operations

For basic playback operations, see page 8.

(Timer Recording)

By connecting a timer (not supplied) to the deck, you can start and stop recording operations at specified times. For further information, refer to the instructions that came with the timer.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

TIMER

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

STOP p

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

1 Do Steps 1 to 7 of “Recording on a DAT” on pages

6 and 7.

2 • To specify the time for the start of recording,

press STOP p.

• To specify the time for the end of recording, do Steps 8 and 9 of “Recording on a DAT” on page

• To specify the time for the start and end of recording, press STOP p.

About the Display

You can use the display to show the following types of time information:

• absolute time

• playing time of the track

• remaining time on the tape

• tape running time

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

MODE

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

RESET

Showing the absolute time, playing time of the track, remaining time on the tape, and tape running time.

Press MODE (or COUNTER MODE on the remote). Each time you press the button, the displayed information changes as follows.



Absolute time

ABS TIME



8 20

3 Set TIMER on the deck to REC. 4 Set the timer as required.

• When you have set the time for the start of recording, the deck turns off. When the specified time arrives, the deck turns on and after about 10 seconds starts recording.

• When you have set the time for the end of recording, the deck continues recording, then when the specified time arrives, the deck stops recording and turns off.

• When you have set the time for both the start and end of recording, the deck turns off. When the starting time arrives, the deck turns on and after about 10 seconds, recording starts. When the ending time arrives, the deck stops

Playing time of the track

Remaining time on the tape

In the case of premastered DAT, the remaining time is to the end of the recorded portion.

Tape running time

Press



PGM TIME



3 15

Press



REMAINING



1 00

Press



5 19

√

recording and turns off.

Press

5 After using the timer, set TIMER on the deck to

OFF.

To reset the tape running time

Press RESET (or COUNTER RESET on the remote).

Notes

• If TIMER switch is left at the REC position, the deck will automatically start recording when you turn on the deck next time.

• During Timer Recording (i.e., when the TIMER switch is set to the REC position), Auto Rewind (see page 7) will not function even if the tape ends during recording. This is to prevent previously recorded material from being recorded

over.

• When playing certain types of premastered tapes, “BB” may appear momentarily in the display at the beginning of the tape.

• The playing time of the track does not appear in the following cases: — When you start playing from the middle of the track — During rewinding

• In standard-play mode, the remaining time on the tape appears about 16 seconds after you start playing.

• The displayed remaining time may vary somewhat from the actual remaining time, depending on the tape.

3-856-761-11(2)

If “EMPHASIS” appears in the display

The deck is playing an audio signal recorded with emphasis (in the higher frequencies). The deck, however, plays the signal while automatically deemphasizing it (with attenuation proportional to the degree of emphasis).

Locating a Track (AMS*/Direct Access)

You can locate the tracks in a number of ways, but only after you have recorded start IDs on the tape (see pages 14 to 16). To use Direct Access, program numbers must be recorded on the tape (see pages 14 and 17).

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

PLAY (

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

+ 0)

AMS

PLAY

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

TIMER

REC OFF

POWER

PREVIOUS = / NEXT +

To locate Press

The beginning of the next or succeeding tracks (AMS)

The beginning of the current track(AMS)

The beginning of preceding tracks (AMS)

By specifying the program number of a track (Direct Access)

* AMS = Automatic Music Sensor.

NEXT + as many times as you want while playing. For example, to locate the second track ahead, press twice.

PREVIOUS = once while playing

PREVIOUS = as many times as you want while playing. For example, to locate the second track behind, press three times.

1 Enter the program number of the track with the number buttons.

2 Press (.

z If you enter the wrong program number during

Direct Access

If you haven’t pressed the ( button, press the CLEAR button on the remote, then enter the correct number. If you have already pressed the ( button, pressing the CLEAR button will not erase the wrong program number. Stop the deck and reenter the program number.

Playback Operations

Playing T racks Repeatedly (Repeat Play) Z

You can play a specific track or all the tracks on the tape repeatedly.

OPEN/

COUNTER

CLOSE MODE

RESET

123

456

789

REPEATCLEAR

Playing all tracks repeatedly

Press REPEAT repeatedly while playing a track until “REPEAT” appears in the display. The deck will then play back all tracks until it detects the end of the last track, which may be: — a blank section of 9 seconds or more — the end of the tape When the deck detects either of the above, it rewinds the tape to beginning and plays back all tracks again. The deck repeats this cycle up to 5 times, then automatically stops.

To stop playing all tracks repeatedly

Press REPEAT repeatedly until “REPEAT” disappears.

Note

Repeat Play of all tracks is canceled when you take out the cassette.

Playing a track repeatedly

Press REPEAT repeatedly while playing the track that you want until “REPEAT 1” appears in the display. The deck will then play back the track until its end, which may be: —the next start ID —a blank section of 9 seconds or more —the end of the tape When the deck detects any of the above, it rewinds the tape and starts playing from the start ID of the same track again. The deck repeats this cycle up to 5 times, then automatically stops.

REPEAT

z If the deck detects a blank section of 9 seconds or

more, or the end of the tape

The deck rewinds the tape automatically to its beginning and stops (Auto Rewind).

z You can make the deck start playing automatically

from the beginning of the tape after rewinding

Press PLAY ( while holding down REW 0.

To stop playing a track repeatedly

Press REPEAT repeatedly until “REPEAT 1” disappears.

Note

Repeat Play of a single track is canceled when you take out the cassette.

3-856-761-11(2)

Playback Operations

Writing Sub Codes

Playback Using a Timer (Timer Playing)

By connecting a timer (not supplied) to the deck, you can start and stop playback operations at specified times. For further information, refer to the instructions that came with the timer.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

TIMER

1 • To specify the time for the start of playing, do

Steps 1 to 3 of “Playing a DAT” on page 8.

• To specify the time for the end of playing, do Steps 1 to 4 of “Playing a DAT” on page 8.

• To specify the time for the start and end of playing, do Steps 1 to 3 of “Playing a DAT” on page 8.

2 Set TIMER on the deck to PLAY. 3 Set the timer as required.

• When you have set the time for the start of playback, the deck turns off. When the specified time arrives, the deck turns on and after about 10 seconds starts playing.

• When you have set the time for the end of playback, the deck continues playing, then when the specified time arrives, the deck stops playing and turns off.

• When you have set the time for both the start and end of playback, the deck turns on. When the starting time arrives, the deck turns on and after about 10 seconds, playback starts. When the ending time arrives, the deck stops playing and turns off.

4 After using the timer, set TIMER on the deck to

OFF.

About Sub Codes

In the DAT format, sub codes (i.e., control codes such as start IDs and program numbers) can be written on the tape along with the audio signal. These sub codes allow you to use AMS (see page 13) or Direct Access (see page 13). Since sub codes are written on the tape separately from the audio signal, they have no effect on the audio signal.

Track

Start ID

TrackTrack

Start IDs

Start IDs indicate the start of a track, and therefore allow you to locate the position of a track precisely. The start IDs are 9 seconds in length (18 seconds in long-play mode) to enable easy detection during fastforwarding or rewinding.

Program numbers

Program numbers serve as track numbers. Occupying the same position as start IDs, a program numbers allow you to locate specific tracks.

Notes

• The STOP p and PAUSE P buttons do not work during the writing of sub codes.

• Writing and erasing of start IDs and renumbering of program numbers are impossible if the record-protect hole on the DAT cassette is open (see page 7).

Writing Start IDs During Recording

You can write start IDs either manually or automatically anytime during recording.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

PLAY (

PAUSE P

START ID AUTO

WRITE

3-856-761-11(2)

Writing Sub Codes

Manual Writing of Start IDs During Recording

Press WRITE. “ID WRITE” appears in the display for a few seconds and the start ID is written on the tape at the selected position. “START ID” flashes in the display during this time.

Start ID



ID WRI TE

START ID

Note

The interval between start IDs must be more than 18 seconds (36 seconds in long-play mode). If the interval is less than 18 seconds (or 36 seconds), the deck may fail to detect the second start ID during playback.

Writing the Start IDs Automatically During Recording

Do the following procedure to automatically write program numbers along with start IDs at the same position.

If the last program number on the tape appears in the display, you don’t have to specify the next program number. If you are recording from the beginning of a blank tape, program number “1” appears in the display. If you forget program numbering at this time, you can add them later (see “Renumbering the Program Numbers Automatically (Renumbering)” on page 17).

4 To start recording, press PAUSE P or PLAY (,

then start playing the program source. Start IDs are written on the tape automatically during recording. “ID WRITE” appears for a few seconds whenever a sub codes (a start ID and program number) are being written.

During digital recording from a CD player

Start recording on your deck first, then press the ( PLAY button on the CD player while it is stopped. If you place your deck into recording pause and the CD into play pause before you start recording, the start ID and program number of the first track on the CD may not be correctly written to the tape.

• When recording an analog signal with the INPUT switch at ANALOG

A start ID and program number are written whenever the input signal rises above a given level after remaining at a muted or low level for 3 seconds or more.

• When recording a digital signal with the INPUT switch at OPTICAL or COAXIAL

A start ID and program number are written whenever a new track is detected while recording a digital signal through the COAXIAL IN or OPTICAL IN jack from a digital source such as CD player or another DAT deck. Start IDs and program numbers are not written, however, for tracks that are less than 18 seconds in length.

1 Do Steps 1 to 7 of “Recording on a DAT” on pages

6 and 7. The deck changes to recording pause.

2 Press START ID AUTO repeatedly until “AUTO”

appears in the display.

3 If you are recording from the end of the recorded

portion, use the number buttons to specify the program number after the last one recorded.

Example: When program number 5 is the last

program number recorded on the tape.

REC

AUTO

· ∏



PGM NO.

The next program number

Note

During automatic start ID writing the positioning of some start IDs may be inaccurately or inappropriately positioned away from the beginning of the track. If this happens, you can reposition or erase the start IDs later (see “Accurate Positioning of Start IDs (Rehearsal)” and “Erasing Start IDs” on page 16).

Writing Start IDs During Playback

You can write start IDs during playback.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

+ 0)

AMS

(

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

WRITE

REW 0 / FF )

START ID REHEARSAL

Press WRITE. “ID WRITE” appears in the display for a few seconds and the start ID is written on the tape at the selected position. “START ID” flashes in the display during this time.

3-856-761-11(2)

Writing Sub Codes

START ID REHEARSAL

MARGIN

OPEN/CLOSE

RESET

RESETMODE

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

AMS

TIMER

START ID

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

PHONE LEVEL

REC LEVEL

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

100

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ANALOG OPTICAL COAXIAL

STANDARD

OFF

REC OFF

POWER

PLAY

(

+ 0)

L R

Accurate Positioning of Start IDs (Rehearsal)

1 During playback, press START ID REHEARSAL

when you arrive at the proper position. “REHRSL” appears, “START ID” flashes in the display and Rehearsal repeats a 3-second portion starting from the selected position. Note that the repeated portion will play back 8 times, with the remaining number of times appearing to the right of the “REHRSL”. After 8 times, the deck automatically stops.

2 Press REW 0 or FF ) to move the beginning

of the repeated portion. Each time you press the REW 0 or FF ) button, the beginning of the repeated portion shifts backwards or forwards in 0.3-second increments, up to a maximum extent of about 2 seconds (4 seconds in long-play mode) in either direction.

Position where the START ID REHEARSAL button is pressed in Step 1.

Movement with each press of REW 0

0.3 sec

↓

3 seconds

Repeated portion

Movement with each press of FF )

0.3 sec

Adjusting the Position of an Existing Start ID

You can adjust the position of previously recorded start IDs.

1 During playback, press START ID REHEARSAL

when the existing start ID you want to reposition is displayed. The deck rewinds to the beginning of start ID and Rehearsal repeats a 3-second portion.

2 Do Steps 1 to 3 of “Accurate Positioning of Start

IDs (Rehearsal)” on this page. You can move the start ID to a maximum extent of about 2 seconds (4 seconds in long-play mode) in either direction from its original position.

Note

Start IDs written within 10 seconds from the end of the tape may be difficult or impossible to move.

The time in the display shows the shift in position from the time the START ID REHEARSAL button was pressed.

After pressing FF ) twice

06.

START ID

After pressing REW 0 twice

06.

START ID

3 Press WRITE.

“ID WRITE” appears in the display for a few seconds and the start ID is written on the tape at the selected position. “START ID” flashes in the display during this time.

Erasing Start IDs

You can erase any start ID.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD

48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

ERASE

ON OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

Press ERASE when the start ID you want to erase is displayed. “(ERASE)” appears in the display as the deck rewinds to the beginning of the start ID, then “ID ERASE” appears as the deck erases the start ID.

• It takes 9 seconds to erase a start ID.

• Program numbers are erased together with start IDs.

3-856-761-11(2)

Writing Sub Codes

Additional Information

Renumbering the Program Numbers Automatically (Renumbering)

Renumbering searches for each start ID from the beginning of the tape and assigns a new program number to each one starting with 1. Use Renumbering in the following cases:

• When you’ve added a start ID while playing the tape.

• When a program number is missing due to an erased start ID.

• When you began recording from the middle of the tape and wrote a program number that already exists, or when one of the the start IDs has no program number.

L R

START ID

RENUMBER REHEARSALAUTO

WRITE ERASE

STANDARD 48 kHz

44.1kHz LONG

OFF

REC LEVEL

PHONESSBMINPUT REC MODE

PHONE LEVEL

100

MARGIN

RESET

OPEN/CLOSE

ANALOG OPTICAL

COAXIAL

TIMER

REC OFF

PLAY

POWER

+ 0)

AMS

(

REWPREVIOUS FFNEXT

RESETMODE

RECREC MUTEPAUSEPLAYSTOP

START ID RENUMBER

Press START ID RENUMBER while the deck is playing or stopped. “RENUMBER” flashes in the display and the tape is automatically rewound to its beginning. The deck then starts searching for start IDs from the beginning of the tape and assigns a new consecutive program number to each track. When the deck detects a start ID, the deck plays the track from the start ID for 2 seconds, then writes a new program number on the tape. During this time, “RENUMBER” lights up and “START ID” flashes. After Renumbering is finished, the deck rewinds the tape automatically to its beginning, then stops.

Note

Renumbering may not function correctly when:

• A blank section exists on the tape.

• The interval between two start IDs is less than 18 seconds (36 seconds in long-play mode).

• A start ID exists within 10 seconds from the end of the tape.

Precautions

On safety

• Do not disassemble the cabinet as this may result in an electric shock. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

• Should any solid object or liquid fall into the cabinet, unplug the AC power cord before operating the unit any further.

On power sources

• Before operating the unit, check that its operating voltage is identical with your local power supply. The operating voltage is indicated on the nameplate at the rear of the unit.

• The unit is not disconnected from the AC power source (mains) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet, even if the unit itself has been turned off.

• If you are not going to use the unit for a long time, be sure to disconnect the AC power cord (mains lead) from the wall outlet. To disconnect the cord, grasp the plug itself; never pull the cord.

• AC power cord must be changed only at the qualified service shop.

On operation

If the unit is brought directly from a cold place to a warm place, or is placed in a very damp room, moisture may condense inside the unit, “CAUTION” may appear in the display, and the unit may not operate. If this happens, remove the cassette and leave the unit turned on for about an hour until the moisture evaporates.

On placement

• Place the unit in a location with adequate ventilation to prevent heat build-up.

• Do not place the unit: — on a soft surface such as a rug that might block the

ventilation holes on the bottom. — near heat sources. — in direct sunlight. — in an inclined position. — in a place subject to excessive dust or mechanical

shock.

On the tapes

• After using a tape, put it into its case and keep it where it will not be subject to sunlight, high temperature, moisture or dust.

• The DAT cassette shell is designed to keep out dust. Do not open the case to expose the tape.

• The hole at the back of the cassette is the detector slot. Do not cover this slot.

3-856-761-11(2)

Additional Information

Regarding tapes of over 120 minutes

Do not use thin-tape cassettes (with a playing time of over 120 minutes) to record important material since such cassettes are subject to the following problems:

— Improper threading of the tape after repeated AMS,

rewinding, fast-forwarding, or cueing operations. — Incorrect writing and erasing of start IDs. — Sound distortion.

For the customers in the U.S.A.

For detailed safety precautions, see the leaflet “IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS.”

If you have any questions or problems concerning your unit, please consult your nearest Sony dealer.

Cleaning

Cleaning the cabinet, panel and controls

Use a soft cloth slightly moistened with a mild detergent solution. Do not use any type of abrasive pad, scouring powder or solvent such as alcohol or benzine.

Display Messages

The following table explains the various messages that appear in the display.

Message

ANALOG This appears for a few seconds when you set

BLANK The deck is searching for the beginning of the

CAUTION

CLEANING

COAXIAL This appears for a few seconds when you set

(ERASE) The deck is searching for the beginning of the

ID ERASE A start ID is being erased.

Meaning

the INPUT switch to ANALOG.

blank section on the tape.

A safety mechanism is operating because of condensation or other reasons.

Cleaning the head and tape path is recommended. After about 10 hours of deck use, this message appears for about 10 seconds whenever you turn on the deck .

the INPUT switch to COAXIAL.

start ID to be erased.

Cleaning the head and tape path

• Prolonged operation will cause contamination of the head. To obtain the best possible recording and playback sound, we recommend that you use the Sony DT-10CL cleaning cassette (not supplied) to clean the head after every ten hours or so of operation.

• Clean the head with the cleaning cassette when the deck has not been used for a long period of time. Contamination of the head may cause sound dropout during playback.

Using the cleaning cassette

1 Insert the cleaning cassette as you would a normal DAT

cassette.

2 Press PLAY (. After 10 seconds, press STOP p.

Do not press the REC r or FF ) button for cleaning.

3 Remove the cleaning cassette without rewinding it. You

should rewind the cleaning cassette only when it has reached the end.

Notes on cleaning

• After 10 hours of operation, “CLEANING” appears in the display for about ten seconds when you turn on the deck. It is recommended that you clean the head and tape path periodically, using this message as a guide.

• Due to the shortness of the cleaning cassette, the counter will not show the actual running time and remaining time of the cassette.

ID WRITE A start ID or program number is being

NO TAPE A cassette is not inserted into the deck.

OPTICAL This appears for a few seconds when you set

PROHIBIT The program source you are about to record

PROTECT The record-protect hole on the cassette is

REHRSL

SOURCE The deck has been in recording pause for

TAPE END The tape has come to the end of the recorded

TAPE TOP The tape has reached its beginning.

UNLOCK No digital signal is being input to the jack or

WAIT The deck is searching for the beginning of the

(WRITE) This appears when the WRITE button is

written.

the INPUT switch to OPTICAL.

cannot be recorded through the digital input jacks or connectors. For more information, see “Guide to the Serial Copy Management System” (see pages 21 and 22).

open and recording on the tape cannot be done.

Rehearsal is on.

about 10 minutes, or you've pressed the REC r button while no cassette is in the deck or the cassette is record-protected.

portion.

connector that you selected with the INPUT switch.

blank section on the tape.

pressed.

3-856-761-11(2)

Troubleshooting

If you’ve experienced any of the following difficulties while using the deck, use this section as a guide to remedy the problem. Should any problem persist, consult your nearest Sony dealer.

The cassette holder does not close.

/ Check that the cassette is inserted correctly (see pages 6

and 8).

/ Insert the cassette beyond the silver bar (see pages 6

and 8).

Additional Information

Start ID writing is not possible during recording.

/ The start ID cannot be written within 9 seconds (18

seconds in long-play mode) after the end of the previous start ID. Make sure at least 9 seconds (18 seconds in the long-play mode) has passed after the last start ID and before writing a new one.

Direct Access does not work.

/ The specified program number does not exist on the

tape. Press START ID RENUMBER to renumber the program numbers.

/ The program numbers are out of order. Press START

ID RENUMBER to renumber the program numbers.

The function buttons do not work.

/ The deck has just been turned on and will not operate

for about 4 seconds. Wait 4 seconds (10 seconds when “CLEANING” appears) before attempting any operation.

/ The PAUSE P button is activated. Press PAUSE P to

cancel pause.

/ The tape has reached its end. Press REW 0 to rewind

the tape.

No sound

/ Make the proper connections (see page 5). / The connected amplifier is not being operated properly.

Operate the amplifier as required for the respective deck operation. (Refer to the operating instructions of the amplifier.)

The deck does not record.

/ The record-protect hole on the cassette is open. Slide

the record-protect tab to close the hole (see page 7).

/ The INPUT switch is incorrectly set. Set INPUT to the

correct position.

/ The REC LEVEL control is set at 0. Turn REC LEVEL

clockwise to raise the recording level (only during analog recording).

/ The signal input to the digital input jack or connector is

protected against digital copying (only during digital recording). Input the signal through the analog input jack or connector.

The deck begins rewinding the tape during playback.

/ Repeat Play is on.

Press REPEAT on the remote repeatedly to turn off “REPEAT” or “REPEAT 1” in the display and cancel Repeat Play.

The tape operation buttons do not function while writing or erasing a start ID.

/ All buttons do not work during the 9 seconds the start

ID is being written (18 seconds in long-play mode). Wait until the writing the start ID finishes before operation.

Absolute time codes writing is not possible.

/ Recording began within a blank section.

Rewind the tape to its beginning, or locate the end of the recorded portion with End Search before starting recording.

Tape transport is excessively loud during fast-forwarding or rewinding.

/ The noise is caused by the cassette and is not a

mechanical problem.

The tape stops suddenly.

/ The cassette is defective or damaged.

Press OPEN/CLOSE § and replace the cassette with a new one.

The OPEN/CLOSE § button does not work.

/ The OPEN/CLOSE § button does not function during

recording. Press STOP p or PAUSE P to stop recording first, then press OPEN/CLOSE §.

“CAUTION” appears and the deck cannot be operated.

/ A safety mechanism is operating because of

condensation. Remove the cassette and leave the deck turned on for about an hour. Then turn the deck off, then on again (see page 17).

Sub codes writing is not possible.

/ The record-protect hole on the cassette is open. Slide

the record-protect tab to close the hole (see page 7).

When pressing REW 0/FF ) or PREVIOUS =/NEXT +, the tape stops momentarily before starting to

move.

/ This is normal and is not a mechanical problem.

The deck cannot be operated with the remote (supplied).

/ The battery is weak. Change both batteries.

“SBM” does not appear in the display even though SBM is set to ON.

/ ”SBM” appears only during the recording of analog

input signals with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz or

44.1 kHz, not during the recording of a digital input signal, or an analog input signal with a sampling frequency of 32 kHz, or during playback.

3-856-761-11(2)

Additional Information

Specifications

System

Tape Digital audio tape Recording head Rotary head Recording time Standard: 120 minutes

(when using DT-120) Long-play: 240 minutes Tape speed Standard: 8.15 mm/s

Long-play: 4.075 mm/s

Drum rotation Standard: 2,000 rpm

Long-play: 1,000 rpm

Track pitch 13.6 µm (20.4 µm) Sampling frequency 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 32 kHz Number of channels 2 channels, stereo D/A conversion Standard: 16-bit linear

(quantization) Long-play: 12-bit non-linear Frequency response* Standard: 2 - 22,000 Hz (±0.5 dB)

Long-play: 2 - 14,500 Hz (±0.5 dB)

General section

Power requirements Where purchased

U.S.A./Canada 120 V AC, 60 Hz Europe 220 - 230 V AC, 50/60 Hz

Power consumption 30 W Dimensions Approx 430 × 122 × 325 mm (w/h/d)

Weight Approx 5.0 kg (11 lb 0.4 oz)

Power requirements

(17 × 4 7/8 × 12 7/8 inches)

Remote commander RM-D9 (supplied)

Dimensions Approx 45 × 185 × 20 mm (w/h/d)

Weight Approx 100 g (3.5 oz) incl. batteries

(113/16 × 7 3/8 × 13/16 inches)

Supplied accessories See page 4.

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Signal-to-noise ratio* 90 dB or more (Standard and long-play

mode)

Dynamic range* 90 dB or more (Standard and long-play

Total harmonic Standard: 0.005% or less (1 kHz) distortion* Long-play: 0.008% or less (1 kHz)

Wow and flutter Below measurable limit (±0.001%

* During analog input with the SBM function off.

mode)

W.PEAK)

Input Connectors

Connector

ANALOG (LINE)

DIGITAL OPTICAL

DIGITAL COAXIAL

Jack type

Phono jacks

Optical connector

Phono jack

Input impedance

47 kilohms

——

75 ohms

Rated input level

–4 dBs

0.5 Vp-p

Output Connectors

Connector Load

Jack type

Output impedance

Rated output level

impedance

SBM

(Super Bit Mapping)

Function

During analog recording, the SBM function lowers noise within the frequency band to which to the human ear is most receptive to noise, thereby, sharply expanding the auditory dynamic range of the recorded signal.

High-precision pulse A/D converter

The deck uses a pulse AD converter and decimation filter to convert an analog signal into a quantized 24-bit digital signal. The deck, like CD players, uses 16-bit quantization, and thus the 8-bit difference results in more precise quantization, more signal information and less quantizing noise than 16-bit quantization. During conversion of the 24-bit data to a 16-bit recording signal, the SBM function boosts sound quality by reintegrating 4 bits of signal information that would normally be lost into the 16-bit signal.

ANALOG (LINE)

DIGITAL OPTICAL

DIGITAL COAXIAL

HEADPHONES

Phono jacks

Optical connector

Phono jack

phone-plug jack

470 ohms

—

75 Ω

100 ohms 1.2 mW 32 ohmsStereo

–4 dBs

(wavelength 660nm)

0.5 Vp.p—75 Ω

10 kilohms or more

3-856-761-11(2)

+ 43 hidden pages

Sony DTC-A6 User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Recording on a DAT

Playing a DAT

Things You Should Know Before Recording

Adjusting the Recording Level for Analog Recording

Setting the Recording Mode

Locating the End of the Recorded Portion (End Search)

Inserting a Sound-Muted Section While Recording (Record Muting)

Using the SBM (Super Bit Mapping) Function

About the Display

Locating a Track (AMS*/Direct Access)

Playing T racks Repeatedly (Repeat Play) Z

Playback Using a Timer (Timer Playing)

About Sub Codes

Writing Start IDs During Playback

Adjusting the Position of an Existing Start ID

Erasing Start IDs

Renumbering the Program Numbers Automatically (Renumbering)

Precautions

Cleaning

Display Messages

Troubleshooting

Specifications