Tascam DA-88 User Manual
TASCAM
TEAC Professional Division
DA-88
Digital Multitrack Recorder
OWNER’S MANUAL
5700141001
Introduction
The TASCAM DA-88 is a digital audio multitrack recorder
designed for wz in a variety of professional applications. It
records 8 channels of digital audio data on a readily available
standard Hi8 video cassette tape. which is comparable in
handiness and compacmw to conventional analog audio
cass.sne tapes. Other feamres of the DA-88 include the
following :
0 Newly developed TASCAM-exclusive high performance/
high wear resis+x. rotary 4-head mechanism with
TASCAM original nack layout.
0 Synchronization of up to 16 DA-88s for a setup of 128
tracks simply by connecting them in series, without
having to “sa any synchronizer-controller.
o Synchronization with video or other audio recorders
(analog or digital) under SMF’lWEBU time code conWo1
when the optional SY-88 Sync Board is installed.
o Analog inputs and outputs handled by both RCA jacks
(unbalanced) and 25-pin D-sub conn~cmrs (balanced), and
digital inputs and outputs by a 25-pin serial I/O port.
o CD quality sound ensured by 16.bit linear quamizadon
and 48/44.1 kHz sampling rate.
o Auto punch-in/out with rehearsal capability
o 2-point au~olocavx
o Variable speed playback (up to 6.0% in 0.1 % steps)
Backup Feature
The following are retained in a backup memory each time
the pcw.z is mmed off (battery life is about 50,000 hours) :
0 MEMO 1 and 2 points
0 Pitch change
o Offset time
0 Track delay time
o Crossfade time
o F’unch-in and owpoints
0 Preroll time.
0 DIGITAL IN on/off
0 Monitor selecdon (ALL INPUT, AUTO INPUT and
INSERT)
o CHASE on/off
0 CLOCK selecdon
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safety Precautions.. ................................. 2
Safety Instructions.. ............................................... .3
Introduction.. .................................................... <. .. .4
Precautions and Recommendations ........................ .5
Specifications.. ...................................................... 6
Optional Accessories.. ........................................... .C
Features and Controls.. ...................................... I-12
Front Panel.. ........................................................ 8
Rear Panel.. ........................................................ .l 1
Note for U.K. Customers.. ...................................... .12
Hookup.. .............................................................. .13
Formatting a Tape.. ........................................... 13.14
Audio Record and Playback.. ............................. 15-21
Initial Recording.. ................................................ .14
Punch-in (Insert) Recording ................................... .16
Bouncing Tracks (Ping-pang). ................................ .20
Entering a Track Delay Time.. ............................... .21
Variable Speed Playback.. ..................................... .21
Autolocation Controls.. .................................... .22-23
Seuing Locating Points.. ...................................... .22
Repeat Play.. ...................................................... .22
Multiple-DA-68 System ..................................... .23-25
Synchronization.. ................................................ .23
Entering an Offset.. .............................................. .24
Digital Dubbing.. ................................................ .25
Error Messages.. .................................................. .26
0 Using this manual
1~~ Before acmallv usim? the DA-88, please read this
manual thoroughly at least once, so you will know
where to r&urn when yo” need a”swers. Even though
~nswz that misunderstandings won’t slow you down.
Use of capital letters : In general, w w all appw case
type to designate a particular switch, control or connec@x’
label, as in : Hold RECORD and press PLAY.
4
Features and Controls
123 4 5
lllllllll lllll
I
I I I
26 20 27 21 28 22 29 23 30 24 251716 31 34 35 36 37
7
38
43 39
40 41 42 44
Skim through this section of the manual to get a bird&eyeview of the DA-88, that way you will be able to locate
information whenever ~0” need. It is not XC~SSIU~ to
memorize all what is here nor to try to build up d&Is into
a systematic whole to get started.
1. POWER switch
Con@& the prwer m the DA-88. See also page 4, “Backup
Fe&we.”
2. Tape loading window
recording. No audio rewrding can correctly be made on
3. CASSETTE IN LED
Lights when a cassette is inside the deck.
4. EJECT key
When pressed, the cassette is ejected.
EJECT ca” operate during stop only.
5. Fs (sampling frequency) switch
Toggles No sampling frequencies (or rates) for your choice.
When formatting a tape yw have to select 48 kHz or 44.1
kHz depending Ron the applicaGons. During play the deck
will aummaGcally switch to the rate at which the. wording
was made, and either of the &vo LEDs will light
accordingly.
NOTE
If you attempt to record additional material to augment
the original cme, and the incoming sampling rate is not
the same as that is previously recorded con the tape,
one of the Fs indicators will flash, warning you that
recording cannot correctly be done.
6. FORMAT key
To fommt a tape is m record it with subcode da@, of which
ABS (absolute) time is one. This ABS data express the
elapsed time from the beginning of the tape, not from any
opdonally selectable. inhxnediate point : hence the name
“absolute.”
Formatting a tape erases whatever is previously recorded on
it. To prevent formatting from starting acciden@lly, the
FORMAT key is not actually a&v&d unless you press it
twice.
IMPORTANT
Audio can be recorded while formatting. l3W iWs wise of
ycu to format the tape from the beginning all the way to
the end before recording audio. This insures against
noise and discontinuity of absolute time data. If you
want to record audio and format a tape at one time,
don’t stop recording by stopping the tape with STOP or
PLAY. Press FIEC FUNCTION instead, which allows the
tape to be continuously formatted up to the end.
7. VARI SPEED switch
When pressed, “PITCW will show in the display and you
can use the v and A keys to change the play (or the wvxd)
speed up to +/-6.0 % in 0.1 % steps.
CAUTION
The pitch change affects the record speed also. Check
to sea that the VARI SPEED LED is turned off unless
you are using the function intentionally.
8. DIGITAL IN switch
Selects either the analog or the digital input. Pressing this
switch to wm on its LED acdwes the DIGITAL I/O port.
Turnin.g off the LED selec@ the. analog inputs (RCA jacks
or multipin connecmr) as the source of the deck.
9. REMOTE switch
When this switch is pressed, and the associated LED lights,
the DA-88 is submitted to the optional RC-848 remote
conwol unit, and all controls are locked out except
DISPLAY (item lo), v and I (item 1 l), and STOP.
10. DISPLAY switch
Each time you press this switch, the following will show
in the digital display window in sequence, as confirmed by
the corresponding LEDs being lit next m the display :
(1) ABS (absolute) time (elapsed time from the beginning
of the tape up to the cwrent position)
(‘2.) MEMO 1 point
(3) MEMO 2 point
(4) % of pitch change
0 To go back to ABS time display mode quickly, you can
hold DISPLAY and press A.
11. 7 and 1 keys
Used to enter the following :
15. ERROR LED
0 Crossfade time (p. 17);
0 Offset time (p. 24);
0 Track delay time (p. 21);
0 Pitch change (p. 21);
0 Preroll time (p.17).
Lights when errors occurred at so constraint a rate in digital
data, that they cannot be corrected, and are. submitted to
interpolation to anive at an approximation to the correct
data.
The following can be trimmed or tine tuned with the V and
I keys :
This indicator also lights to indicate that dirt accumulates
on the heads or tape paths, or that the tape is damaged. If
another tape is loaded and the indicator does not turn off,
consult TASCAM or your nearest TASCAM dealer.
0 MEMO points (~22) ;
0 Punch-in and out points (9.17).
See also the 3rd paragraph under the heading. Recommended
tapes, oil page 5.
16. AUTO PLAY key
The keys axe also used together with DISPLAY to get
Automates play start at the end of each autolocation
acces? to :
function.
0
CJ
0
12.
ABS time indication - if you hold DISPLAY and
press A.
Track delay time setting mode - if you hold I and
press DISPLAY.
Crossfade time setting mode - if you hold V and
press DISPLAY.
Digital display wihdow
Shows the ABS time, MEMO 1 point, MEMO 2 point, or
amount of pitch change (or SMPTE time code numbers
when the optional sync board is installed), as selected by
the DISPLAY switch.
The display will also show error messages. For details on
them, see page 26.
0 The display can quickly be switched back to show ABS
time when you hold DISPLAY and press 1 at any time
(except when error messages show).
0 The ABS time display can flicker when the tape is fast
winding (while in FFWD, REW or LOC).
13. WARNING LED
Flashes to warn you that trouble occurred. Error messages
will also then show in the display, specifying what is
wrong. See also page 26.
14. REC INHIBIT LED
Lights when the tape in use is write-protected. Check the
write protect tab on the cassette.
17. MEMO 1 and MEMO 2 keys
Pressing MEMO I stores the current tape location into that
register, to which the tape will be autolocated when
pressing LOC 1. MEMO 2 is similar to MEMO 1, and is
used to capture any point to which you can return by
pressing LOC 2.
NOTE
“MEMV points you recall into the display by pressing
DISPLAY are the points to which the tape will be
autolocated when pressing LOG except when RHSL
lights solid. When RHSL lights solid, “MEMO 1” shows
the punch- in point, and “MEMO 2” the punch-out point,
as established during Rehearsal &fling mode (during
,which RHSL should blink). This does not mean that
punch-in and out points are stored into the MEMO
registers. When they are recalled into the display, the
“MEMO 1” LED only indicates the punch-in point, and
the “MEMO 2” LED the punch-out point.
18. ALL INPUT switch
When pressed to turn on its LBD, all the chacnels’ outputs
are switched to carry signals derived from the inputs,
whatever the transport mode (primarily for alignment).
9
19. AUTO INPUT switch
When this switch and INSERT are both previously
activated, the channel inputs selected by REC FUNCTION
are automatically switched to directly feed the outputs
whenever the transport goes into rewind, fast-forward,
shuttle, or stop mode. This allows the talent in studio to
talk to the engineer in control room without having to
change any settings on the mixer.
20. INSERT switch
Lets yen monitor tape during preroll and postroll for punch-
in recording. See table below.
Relationships between the output signals,
transport modes and switch settings
21. RHSL switch
Puts the deck into rehearsal mode which allows you to
check the auto punch in and out points for accuracy.
22. AUTO IN/OUT switch
Automates the punch-in sequence (preroll, punch in, punch
out, and postroll) as you have set during rehearsal.
23. CLEAR key
Defeats the RHSL and AUTO IN/OUT functions.
24. REPEAT I-2 switch
Lets the tape play between two MEMO points.
25. LOC I and LOC 2 keys
LOC 1 locates the tape to the MEMO I point, and LOC 2
to the MEMO 2 point.
26. REW key
Winds the tape at high speed in xve~se.
0 When you press F.FWD or REW for the first time after
powering up ok replacing the tape, this will mn at an
intermediate speed for a few seconds before starting
running at the expected high speed. During this interval
the transport is detecting the tape characteristics.
26. STOP key
Disables the current transport mode and stops any tape
motion.
29. PLAY key
Enables play mode ; or, punches out of record if pressed
during record.
30. RECORD key
Pressing PLAY while holding RECORD initiates record on
any track whose REC FUNCTION indicator was blinking
to show Record Ready mode.
Hitting RECORD during play lets any “Ready” track punch
into record.
31. SHUTTLE switch and the knob
Pressing the switch to let its LED turn on allows you to
use the knob to monitor the tape at variable speeds in
search of a specific point. Turning the knob to the right of
center rolls the tape in the forward direction, and turning it
to the left of center provides reverse cueing. The further you
turn it in either way, the higher the tape speed will be. The
initial speed is 1/4 times normal play speed, and if you turn
the knob all the way to the left or right, the tape will play
at 8 times normal play speed.
Pressing the SHUTTLE switch during recording gets you
out of record, allowing you to begin to “shuttle” the tape
immediately.
SHUTTLE will automatically be disabled if you leave the
knob at its ce.nter position for IO seconds.
32. Peak level meters
Register the signal levels being fed to the outputs, the
levels coming either from the inputs or the tape, as shown
in the left column of this page.
Pressing REW during recording punches out and the tape
rewinds.
27. F.FWD key
Winds the tape at high speed in the forward direction.
Pressing F.FWD during recording punches out and the tape
fast forwards.
i0
33. REC FUNCTION switches
Put the corresponding tracks into Record Ready mode, or
directly into Record if RECORD and PLAY axe previously
pressed.
The associated LEDs flash to indicate Record Ready, and
turn on solid during Record.
34. CHASE key
Lets the slave DA-88(s) chase and lock to the same ABS
time point as the master. Once locked op. they will play,
record, or fast-wind in sync in response to the commands
from the master.
The installation of the optional SY-88 sync board allows
the DA-88 to run in sync with VTRs or other ATRs
(digital or analog). For more details, refer to the SY-88
manual.
35. CLOCK switch
Selects the clock to which the deck will be referenced.
If the DA-88 is used as a stand-alone deck, it has to be
referenced to the iNT(ernal) clock.
The WORD clock is used when making a digital copy
between the DA-88 and other digital tape machines, or
when letting them run in sync (the optional SY-88 Sync
Board is required).
For the DA-88 to be slaved to VTRs, select VIDEO (the
optional SY-88 sync board is required).
When o”e or more DA-88s are hooked “pas the slaves, the
CLOCK switch on them are locked out (all the associated
LEDs turned off), and they are automatically referenced to
the clock to which the master DA-88 is referenced.
The next two items can operate only when the optional SY88 sync board is installed. For their functions, refer to the
SY-88 manual.
36. TC GENERATE switch
37. TC REC key
Bescheinigung des Herstelle~/lmporteurs
AMTSGLATT 163/1994, VF6 1045/19i4, VFG 1046/1994
,A”‘,abIeX”*?ftiQ”“g,
38. REMOTE IN/SYNC IN and SYNC OUT jacks
When two or more DA-88s are hooked up, a sync signal
and commands from the master’s SYNC OUT jack are fed
into the first slave’s SYNC IN jack; and its SYNC OUT
jack feeds the second slave’s SYNC IN jack, and so on.
The optional RC-848 remote control unit may alternatively
be connected to the SYNC IN jack. The remote can control
a maximum of 6 DA-88s, separately.
m Use ,only the optional PW-88S sync cable ~for
establishing the sync in and out connection
WARNING
Please use only TASCAM cables, as there are very
aoecific cable reauirements. these cables ara
sbecially config”& for comkction to REMOTE
IN/SYNC IN, SYNC OUT, METER UNIT, TDIF-I
(DIGITAL l/O).
(QQ& usa &andard computer cables.)
It is possible to damage certain internal components
by the use of non TASCAM cables. If the use of non
TASCAM cables causes or results in damaged this will
void the Warranty.
1
39. WORD SYNC IN and OUT jacks
The DA-88 can be referenced to the clock derived from the
WORD SYNC IN for it to be slaved to other digital tape
machines. Inversely, they can be slaved to the DA-88 by
letting them be referenced to the clock the DA-88 transmits
from its WORD SYNC OUT. (For the DA-88 and other
digital machines to be synchronized, the optional SY-88
Sync Boani is required.)
The clock the WORD SYNC jacks carries may also be used
when making a digital copy between the DA-88 and other
digital machines.
40. REMOTE IN jack
For connection to the optional RC-808 basic remote
transport control unit.
41. REMOTE PUNCH IN/OUT jack
For connection to the optional RC-30P footswitch.
42. MACHINE ID rotary switch
For tvfo or more DA-885 to be synchronized, they have to
be given their own ID (identification) numbers. Allot “0”
to the master, “1” to the first slave whose SYNC IN is
directly fed with the master’s SYNC OUT and, in a similar
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