Tascam HS-8 User Manual

HS-8
8 Channel Audio Recorder
D01106920A
OWNER'S MANUAL
2 TASCAM HS-8
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within equilateral triangle, 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.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
This appliance has a serial number located on the rear panel. Please record the model number and serial number and retain them for your records.
Model number
Serial number
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR
SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
For U.S.A.
TO THE USER
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio fr equ enc y en ergy and, if not installed and use d in accordance with the inst ru ction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
CAUTION
Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by TEAC CORPORATION for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
CE Marking Information
a) Applicable electromagnetic environment: E4
b) Peak inrush current: 14 A
In North America use only on 120V supply.
TASCAM HS-8 3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1 Read these instructions.
2 Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
8 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampliers) that produce heat.
9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized
or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding pro n g. The w ide bla d e or t he thir d prong ar e provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10 Protect the power cord from bein g walke d on
or pinche d partic u larly at plu g s, co nven ience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
12 Use only with the car t, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table specied by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.
Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, on the apparatus.
Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such
as a book case or similar unit.
The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power
from the AC outlet with its POWER or STANDBY/ON switch not in the ON position.
The apparatus should be located close enough to the
AC outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any time.
The mains plug is used as the disconnect device, the
disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
Products with Class I construction are equipped with a
power supply cord that has a grounding plug. The cord of such a product must be plugged into an AC outlet that has a protective grounding connection.
If the product uses batteries (including a battery pack
or installed batteries), they should not be exposed to sunshine, fire or excessive heat.
CAUTION for products that use replaceable lithium
batteries: there is danger of explosion if a battery is replaced with an incorrect type of battery. Replace only with the same or equivalent type.
Caution should be taken when using earphones or
headphones with the product because excessive sound pressure (volume) from earphones or headphones can cause hearing loss.
RACK-MOUNTING THE UNIT
ª
Use the supplied rack-mounting kit to mount the unit in a standard 19-inch rack, as shown below.
Remove the feet of the unit before mounting.
13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.
14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
CAUTION
Leave 1U of space above the unit for ventilation.
Allow at least 10 cm (4 in) at the rear of the unit for ventilation.
4 TASCAM HS-8

Contents

1 − Introduction .........................................6
Features ........................................................... 6
Included items ................................................. 6
Conventions used in this manual ................... 6
Intellectual property rights ............................ 6
Precautions for placement and use ............... 7
Beware of condensation ................................ 7
Cleaning the unit ............................................ 7
Cleaning the display .................................. 7
About CF cards ................................................ 7
Precautions for use .................................... 7
2 − Names and functions of parts .............8
Front panel ...................................................... 8
Rear panel .................................................... 11
PARALLEL connector ............................... 13
RS-232C Connector .................................. 13
RS-422 connector .................................... 13
Home Screen ................................................ 14
3 − Preparation ......................................... 19
Inserting and removing CF cards ................ 19
Inserting CF cards ..................................... 19
Removing CF cards ................................... 19
Security screws ......................................... 19
About the display ........................................ 20
Adjusting the display angle .................... 20
Adjusting the display and indicator
brightness ................................................. 20
Turning the power ON and OFF .................. 20
Setting the time of the built-in clock .......... 21
Panel lock function ...................................... 21
Recording duration ....................................... 22
4 − Recording and Playback ....................23
Preparing to record....................................... 23
CF card selection ...................................... 23
Formatting a CF card .............................. 23
Create a new project .............................. 24
Set the master clock ................................. 25
Set the recording tracks .......................... 25
Set the file format ................................... 26
Make other recording settings ............... 26
Connecting headphones ........................ 27
Setting the inputs .................................... 27
Monitor the input ................................... 28
Make a recording .......................................... 28
Stop recording ......................................... 28
Retake a recording ................................. 28
Recording operation limitations ............ 29
Play a recording ............................................ 29
Select a project/folder/take ..................... 29
Disabling input monitoring ..................... 30
Start playback .......................................... 30
Mixing the playback sound ..................... 30
CALL .......................................................... 31
Flash start function ...................................... 31
Online function ............................................ 32
5 – Projects................................................33
File formats.................................................... 33
Monophonic and polyphonic modes ...... 33
Folder where files are saved in mono
mode ........................................................ 33
PROJECT screen overview ............................ 33
Project selection screen .......................... 33
Folder selection screen ........................... 34
Take selection screen ..............................34
Project operations......................................... 34
Creating new projects ............................. 34
Editing the project name ....................... 35
Changing a project name later ............... 36
Editing the name of the first folder ....... 36
Loading projects ...................................... 36
Rebuilding projects .................................. 37
Erasing a project ...................................... 37
Folder operations .......................................... 37
Creating new folders ............................... 37
Loading folders ........................................ 38
Rebuilding folders ................................... 38
Copying folders ........................................ 39
Erasing folders ......................................... 40
Take operations ............................................. 40
Loading takes ........................................... 40
Erasing takes ............................................ 40
Changing the start time of a take .......... 41
Using “@” with take names .................... 41
6 – Internal Settings ................................. 43
Menu screen ................................................. 43
Recording settings (REC SETUP) ................... 43
REC TRACKS page ................................... 43
FILE FORMAT page .................................. 43
OPTIONS page ......................................... 44
Playback settings (PLAY SETUP) ................... 45
GENERAL page ........................................ 45
CONTROL page ....................................... 45
Sync and time code settings (SYNC T/C)...... 45
CLOCK page ............................................ 45
SYNC page ................................................ 46
T/C page ................................................... 46
SETUP page ............................................. 47
I/O page ................................................... 47
Remote settings (REMOTE SETUP) .............. 48
PARALLEL TAB ......................................... 48
RS-232C page .......................................... 48
RS-422 page .............................................. 48
Mixer settings (MIXER SETUP) .....................49
INPUT page .............................................. 49
DIGITAL SOURCE page ............................. 49
TASCAM HS-8 5
Contents
SETUP page ............................................. 49
OUTPUT page ........................................... 49
CHx NAME (button) ................................. 50
Channel settings (CHANNEL SETUP) ............ 50
When channels are linked ....................... 51
Stereo (L/R) channel ................................ 51
Digital source settings (CHx-x DIGI
SOURCE) ................................................... 51
Level meter settings (METER SETUP) ........... 51
System settings (SYSTEM SETUP) ................. 52
PREFERENCES page ................................. 52
CLOCK ADJUST page .............................. 52
Managing CF cards (CF MANAGE) ............... 52
Version display (VERSION INFO) .................. 53
Folder structure ............................................ 53
File names ................................................. 54
7 – Mark and Locate Functions ...............55
Mark functions .............................................. 55
Adding marks ........................................... 55
Using keys to locate to marks ................ 55
Mark list screen ....................................... 55
Locating to marks .................................... 56
Viewing mark information ...................... 56
Erasing marks ........................................... 56
Editing marks ........................................... 56
Renumbering marks ................................ 57
Manual locate function ............................... 57
Audio performance ...................................... 68
Other specifications ...................................... 68
Dimensional drawings .................................. 69
Blcok diagram ............................................... 70
8 – Operation using a computer
keyboard ...........................................58
Setting the keyboard type ........................... 58
Use the keyboard to input the name .......... 58
List of keyboard operations ......................... 58
9 – Online functions ................................. 59
Enabling online functions ............................ 59
Activating online playback mode ............... 59
10 – Playback synchronized with external
timecode ........................................... 60
Using synchronized playback ....................... 60
Timecode offset ............................................ 60
Rechase .......................................................... 60
11 – Troubleshooting ............................... 61
12 – Messages ..........................................62
13 – Specifications ....................................67
General .......................................................... 67
Input and output ......................................... 67
Analog audio input and output
connectors ................................................ 67
Digital audio input and output
connectors ................................................ 67
Control input and output connectors..... 68
6 TASCAM HS-8

1 − Introduction

Thank you very much for purchasing a TASCAM HS-8 8 Channel Audio Recorder. Please read this manual thoroughly before using the unit so that you understand correct operating procedures and can use its functions fully. We hope that you enjoy using this unit for many years.
Please keep this manual so that you can read it at any time. A digital copy of this manual can also be downloaded from our website (http://www.tascam.com/)

Features

CF cards used as recording media (Ultra DMA
compatible)
Simultaneous recording of 8-channel multitrack and
stereo mix at 44.1/48 kHz, 16/24 bit
8-channel multitrack recording at 88.2/96 kHz, 16/24
bit
4-channel multitrack recording at 176.4/192 kHz, 16/24
bit
Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) files
Flash start possible using optional RC-HS20PD
JOG/SHUTTLE functions
Intuitive operation using graphical interface on TFT
color touch-screen
8 balanced analog inputs and outputs on 25-pin D-sub
connectors
8 AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs on a 25-pin D-sub
connector
8-channel ADAT digital input and output
2 channels of balanced XLR analog input and output
XLR AES/EBU digital input and output
Headphones output
BNC time code input and output
BNC video reference, as well as word clock input and
output/thru
USB storage media can be connected and files copied
(support planned in a version upgrade)
LAN (Ethernet) functions allow file transfer, remote
control and monitoring over a network (support planned in a version upgrade)
Cascade function allows multiple units to be operated
in sync (support planned in a version upgrade)
Can be used with parallel remote control
Can be used with RS-232C serial remote control
Can be used with RS-422 (9-pin serial protocol
standard) serial remote control

Included items

This product includes the following items.
Take care when opening the package not to damage the items. Keep the package materials for transportation in the future.
Please contact the store where you purchased this unit if any of these items are missing or have been damaged during transportation.
Main unit (HS-8)• ........................................................................... 1
Power cord set• .............................................................................1
Rack-mounting screw kit• ......................................................... 1
Security screws• ............................................................................ 3
Warranty card• ............................................................................... 1
Owner's manual (this manual)
...............................................1

Conventions used in this manual

In this manual, we use the following conventions:
Keys, jacks and other parts on the main unit and
external devices are indicated like this: MENU
Messages on the unit’s display are shown like this:
“CompactFlash card” is abbreviated as “CF card.”
Additional information is provided as necessary as tips,
notes and cautions.
TIP
These are tips about how to use the unit.
NOTE
These provide additional explanations and describe special cases.
CAUTION
Failure to follow these instructions could result in injury, damage to equipment or lost recording data, for example.
ON

Intellectual property rights

TASCAM is a trademark of TEAC Corporation, registered
in the U.S. and other countries.
CompactFlash is a US registered trademark of SanDisk
Corporation.
Other company names, product names and logos
in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Any data, including, but not limited to information, described herein are intended only as illustrations of such data and/or information and not as the specifications for such data and/or information. TEAC Corporation disclaims any warranty that any use of such data and/or information shall be free from infringement of any third party’s intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights, and further, assumes no liability of whatsoever nature in the event of any such infringement, or arising from or connected with or related to the use of such data and/or information.
TASCAM HS-8 7
1 − Introduction
This product is designed to help you record and reproduce sound works to which you own the copyright, or where you have obtained permission from the copyright holder or the rightful licensor. Unless you own the copyright, or have obtained the appropriate permission from the copyright holder or the rightful licensor, your unauthorized recording, reproduction or distribution thereof may result in severe criminal penalties under copyright laws and international copyright treaties. If you are uncertain about your rights, contact your legal advisor. Under no circumstances will TEAC Corporation be responsible for the consequences of any illegal copying performed using the recorder.

Precautions for placement and use

The guaranteed operating temperature range of this
product is 5º - 35º C (41º- 95º F).
Do not install in the following types of places. Doing
so could degrade the sound quality and/or cause malfunctions.
Places with significant vibrations or that are
otherwise unstable
Near windows or other places exposed to direct
sunlight
Near heaters or other extremely hot places
Extremely cold places
Places with bad ventilation or high humidity
Make sure that the unit is mounted in a level position
for correct operation.
In order to promote the emission of heat, do not place
anything on top of this product.
Do not place this product on top of a powered
amplifier or other equipment that emits heat.

Beware of condensation

If the unit is moved from a cold to a warm place, or used immediately after a cold room has been heated or otherwise exposed to a sudden temperature change, condensation could occur. Should this happen, leave the unit for one or two hours before turning the unit on.

Cleaning the display

Slightly wipe the display with a soft dry cloth that does not shed dust (e.g. a cleaning cloth). Avoid wiping with a stiff cloth or rubbing with force. Doing so could damage the surface of the LCD. Do not use benzene, thinner, manicure remover, alcohol or similar substances.

About CF cards

The capacities and performance of your HS-8 will vary based on the speed and abilities of the Compact Flash (CF) media used. Older and some cheaper Compact Flash (CF) cards use slower memory components and little internal buffering which results in poor recording performance. Newer CF cards, particularly those made for high-precision DSLR cameras, not only perform reading and writing faster, but also come in larger storage size.
A list of CF cards that we have confirmed to work with this unit is provided on our website (http://www.tascam.com).
If a CF card is used that has not been confirmed, this unit might not operate correctly.
CAUTION
We can accept no responsibility for any loss of the data you record using this product onto a CF card.

Precautions for use

CompactFlash cards are precision devices. To prevent damage to the card or the slot, please observe the following cautions.
Do not leave a CF card in an extremely hot or cold
location.
Do not leave a CF card in an extremely damp
location.
Do not allow a CF card to become wet.
Do not place any object on top of a CF card, or twist
or bend it.
Do not subject a CF card to strong impact.
Do not insert or remove a CF card during recording,
playback, data transfer or other operations that access a card.

Cleaning the unit

Wipe the unit with a soft dry cloth to clean it. Do not use any benzine, paint thinner, alcohol or other chemical agents. Doing so could damage the surface of the unit or cause fading.
8 TASCAM HS-8

2 − Names and functions of parts

Front panel

1 POWER switch
Use to turn the power on and off. This switch has a cover to prevent misoperation. Open the cover from below to access and operate the switch.
2 USB connector (support planned in a version
upgrade)
By connecting a USB flash drive, for example, you can back up data from a CF card and save files to the card.
NOTE
Do not disconnect USB ash memory when using it to copy les. You can connect and disconnect USB ash memory at all other times. You can connect and disconnect USB keyboards at any time.
3 SLOT 1 and SLOT 2 indicators
The indicator for the currently selected card slot lights. It rapidly blinks when recording or copying. When no CF card is inserted in the current slot, the indicator blinks slowly.
CAUTION
Do not remove a card from a slot when its indicator is rapidly blinking.
4 CompactFlash card slots (SLOT 1/SLOT 2)
Insert CF cards here (see “Inserting and removing CF cards” on page 15).
5 HOME key
Press to open the Home Screen.
Press the MENU key while pressing and holding the
HOME key to open the
lock function” on page 21.)
Turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the
HOME key to adjust the brightness of the color display,
the JOG (SHUTTLE), SLOT 1 and SLOT 2 indicators and the PAUS E, REC and P LAY keys.
Push and turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the HOME key to adjust only the brightness of the color display.
LOCK SETUP
screen. (See “Panel
6 MENU key
Press to open the
Press the MENU key while pressing and holding the
HOME key to open the
lock function” on page 21.)
7 Color display
This 3.5-inch TFT color display with a resolution of 320 x 240 shows various types of information and responds to touch.
8 DATA dial
Turn the DATA dial to change settings, and press it to use it as an ENTER key. When setting parameter values, press while turning to change them in large increments (coarse mode). When a pop-up window is open, this works as an OK or
Turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the
HOME key to adjust the brightness of the color display,
the JOG (SHUTTLE), SLOT 1 and SLOT 2 indicators and the PAUS E, REC and P LAY keys.
Push and turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the HOME key to adjust only the brightness of the color display.
9 STOP (RETAKE) key
Press to stop recording or playback.
Press this while pressing and holding the SHIFT key to retake the recording (erasing the last recorded take).
While recording, press this key to stop recording and stop the unit at the beginning of the last recorded file.
0 PLAY key/indicator
When stopped or in playback standby, press this key to start playback. This key lights during playback.
Press this key when in recording standby to start recording. Both the PL AY and REC keys light during recording.
q PAUSE key/indicator
Press this key when stopped or during playback to put the unit in playback standby. This key lights when in standby.
MENU
screen.
LOCK SETUP
screen. (See “Panel
CLOSE
button.
TASCAM HS-8 9
2 − Names and functions of parts
Press this key while recording to put the unit in recording standby. Both the PAUSE and REC keys light during recording standby.
w REC key/indicator
When a recordable CF card is installed and the unit is stopped, press this key to put the unit into recording standby. Both the PAUSE and REC keys light during recording standby.
Press this key while recording to stop recording the current file, and continue recording to a new file.
CAUTION
If you press the REC key less than 4 seconds after beginning
recording, the unit will not start recording a new take. Depending on the folder setting for mono recording les, the required time could be even longer. (See “Folder where les are saved in mono mode” on page 33.)
Depending on other conditions, recording of a new take
might not be possible when the REC button is pressed during recording. (See “Recording operation limitations” on page 29.)
Recording is not possible if any of the following conditions
apply. Change the recording folder.
The folder contains 999 takes
The number at the end of the take name has reached 999
The remaining recording time indicator on the Home Screen
shows “Rec Limit”. (See “Recording operation limitations” on page 29.)
e JOG/SHUTTLE dial
When in jog operation mode, turn this to change the playback position by a corresponding amount.
When in shuttle operation mode, turn this to adjust the playback speed according to the degree of rotation. If you return to the original position when in shuttle operation mode, the transport status is restored to how it was before shuttle playback was begun.
r PHONES knob/jack
Connect stereo headphones to this standard stereo phone jack. Use the PHONES knob to adjust the headphones output level.
CAUTION
Before connecting headphones, turn the PHONES knob to the minimum volume. Failure to do so could cause sudden loud noises to occur, which might damage your hearing or equipment.
t KEYBOARD connector
Connect an IBM PC-compatible keyboard with a PS/2 interface, and use it to input project, folder, and channel names, for example. By default, the unit is set to use a US keyboard. To use a Japanese keyboard, since the key allocation is different, change the setting on the
PREFERENCES
page of the
SYSTEM SETUP
screen.
(See “PREFERENCES page” on page 52.)
y PROJECT key
Press to open the
PROJECT
screen. (See “PROJECT
screen overview” on page 33.)
u EXIT/CANCEL (PEAK CLEAR) key
Press to cancel input or item selection. On the Home Screen, this functions as a reset button for peak hold marks shown on the level meters.
When the
MENU
screen or
PROJECT
screen is open, press this to return to the Home Screen. On other screens, press this to return to the previous screen.
When a pop-up window is open, press this to cancel an operation.
i CALL (CHASE) key
Press to locate the call point, which is where playback last started from playback standby, and resume playback standby.
Press this key while pressing the SHIFT key to turn synchronization with external timecode ON/OFF.
o LCD TILT button
Press this button to unlock the color display, so that you can adjust its angle by pulling the bottom of the display outward.
To put the display away, press this button to unlock it and push the bottom inward.
p Ô ( )/ ( ) (search) keys
Use these keys to search.
Ô ( ): Search backward
( ): Search forward
Press one of these keys while pressing the SHIFT key to search at high speed
a Â/¯ (MARK Â/¯) (SKIP) keys
Use these to skip to the previous/next take.
Press these keys while pressing the SHIFT key to move to the previous/next mark. After moving, the same playback state resumes (stopped/standby/playback).
s MARK key
Press this key to add a mark at the currently located time. The maximum number of marks, including automatic marks, possible in a single file (take) is 99. (See “Mark functions” on page 55.)
d SHIFT key
When stopped/in playback standby/during playback:
Press the
 while pressing and holding this key
to move to the previous mark, and resume the same playback state.
Press the
¯ key while pressing and holding this
key to move to the next mark, and resume the same playback state.
Press a
Ô ( )/( ) key while pressing
and holding this key to search at high speed.
Press the
JOG (SHUTTLE) key while pressing and
holding this key to activate the shuttle operation mode.
Press the
STOP (RETAKE) key while pressing and
holding this key to retake the recording (erasing the last recorded take).
10 TASCAM HS-8
2 − Names and functions of parts
f JOG (SHUTTLE) key and indicator
Use to enable use of the JOG/SHUTTLE dial. Press this key to enable the jog operation mode of the
JOG/SHUTTLE dial. When this mode is enabled, this
indicator lights.
Press this key while pressing the SHIFT key to enable the shuttle operation mode of the JOG/SHUTTLE dial. When this is enabled, this indicator blinks.
Press this key again to disable either mode.
TASCAM HS-8 11

Rear panel

1
1425
13
1
1425
13
DigitalIn
DigitalOut
1
1425
13
2 − Names and functions of parts
g ANALOG INPUTS 1-8 connector
This 25-pin D-sub connector is for analog balanced line input. The pin assignments are as follows.
h ANALOG INPUTS A and B connectors
These A/B balanced XLR connectors are for analog balanced line inputs (1: GND, 2: HOT, 3: COLD). Set which channels the signals input through these connectors are recorded to using the unit settings.
j DIGITAL I/O (ADAT) 1-8 connectors
These connectors are for the input (IN) and output (OUT) of ADAT optical format digital audio. Sampling frequencies of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz are supported.
k REMOTE cover
This cover is attached when the unit is new. Remove the two screws from the cover to access and use the
REMOTE connector.
l RS-422 connector
This 9-pin D-sub connector is for RS-422 serial control. Connect an external controller, for example, here.
NOTE
This cannot be used at the same time as the RS-232C connector. (See “RS-422 page” on page 48.
x AC inlet
Connect the provided AC power cord set here.
c ANALOG OUTPUTS 1-8 connector
This 25-pin D-sub connector is for analog balanced line output. The pin assignments are as follows.
v ANALOG OUTPUTS L/A and R/B connectors
These A/B balanced XLR connectors are for analog balanced line outputs (1: GND, 2: HOT, 3: COLD).
These output the stereo signal mixed in this unit or the monitoring signal (the same sound output from the
PHONES jack, including soloed tracks, etc.).
b DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) 1-8 connector
This 25-pin D-sub connector is for digital audio input and output in AES/EBU (AES3-2003/IEC60958-4) format.
Transmission occurs at double speed when the sampling frequency is 88.2 or 96 kHz and at quad speed when 176.4 or 192 kHz.
The digital input section includes a sampling rate converter that is compatible with sampling frequencies between 32–216 kHz.
The pin assignments are as follows.
; RS-232C connector
This 9-pin D-sub connector is for RS-232C control. Connect an external controller, for example, here.
NOTE
This cannot be used at the same time as the RS-422 connector (See “RS-232C page” on page 48.)
z PARALLEL connector
This 25-pin D-sub connector is for parallel control. Connect an external controller, for example, here.
12 TASCAM HS-8
2 − Names and functions of parts
n DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) INPUT A/B and OUTPUT L/R
connectors
These XLR balanced connectors are for digital audio input (INPUT A/B) and output (OUTPUT L/R) in AES/ EBU (AES3-2003/IEC60958-4) format.
Transmission occurs at double speed when the sampling frequency is 88.2 and 96 kHz and at quad speed when 176.4 and 192 kHz.
The digital input section includes a sampling rate converter that is compatible with sampling frequencies between 32–216 kHz
The digital output section outputs the stereo signal mixed in this unit or the monitoring signal (the same sound output from the PHONES jack, including soloed tracks, etc.).
m SIGNAL GND terminal
When using a TASCAM RC-HS20PD remote control (sold separately), depending on the operating environment, the color display might flicker or noise might be heard when monitoring. If this occurs, use the SIGNAL GND terminal. (Please prepare a wire to use with the SIGNAL GND terminal.)
,CASCADE IN connector (support planned in a
version upgrade)
This connector is for cascade connection input.
. CASCADE OUT connector (support planned in a
version upgrade)
This connector is for cascade connection output.
/ TIME CODE IN connector
This BNC-type connector is for SMPTE time code input.
! TIME CODE OUT connector
This BNC-type connector is for SMPTE time code output.
@ WORD/VIDEO IN connector
This BNC-type connector is for word clock and video reference signal input. You can input a word clock signal (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 48 kHz pull-down, 48 kHz pull-up, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz) or a video reference signal (NTSC/PAL black burst signal, HDTV Tri-Level signal). You can also use the switch to the right to set whether or not to terminate with 75Ω.
# WORD/VIDEO THRU, WORD OUT connector
This BNC-type connector is for word clock thru or output and video reference signal thru. You can output a word clock signal (thru, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 48 kHz pull-down, 48 kHz pull-up, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz) or a video reference signal (IN connector signal thru). Use the THRU/OUT switch to set the signal output. (OUT is only for WORD.)
$ 75Ω OFF/ON and THRU/WORD OUT switch
Use this switch to make the following settings.
Whether or not
resistance (75Ω)
The
WORD/VIDEO output THRU/OUT setting (OUT is
only for WORD)
WORD/VIDEO IN has termination
% ETHERNET connector (support planned in a version
upgrade)
Use this Ethernet connector to connect with a network for file transfer and to control this unit from an external source.
When the REMOTE Connector cover is removed
^ REMOTE connector
Connect a dedicated RC-HS20PD remote controller (sold separately) here.
CAUTION
This is not an Ethernet connector (LAN, etc.). Never connect it
to a network using an Ethernet cable. Doing so could cause this unit or network devices to malfunction.
When the unit is shipped from the factory, this connector has
a cover attached with screws in order to prevent accidental connection to a network.
TASCAM HS-8 13
START
STOP
Pin1GND
PARALLEL
Pin8 FADERSTART
2 − Names and functions of parts

PARALLEL connector

The PARALLEL connector on the rear panel allows external control of this unit. The pin assignments are as follows.
Pin No. Function In/Out
1 GND
2 PLAY/Flash 1 In
3 STOP/Flash 2 In
4 RECORD/Flash 3 In
5 SKIP FWD/Flash 4 In
6 SKIP BWD/Flash 5 In
7 FLASH LOAD (STOP) In
8 FADER START In
9 FLASH Tally Out
10 READY Tally Out
11 RECORD Tally Out
12 STOP Tally Out
13 PLAY Tally Out
14 REMOTE Select In
15 PAUSE/Flash 6 In
16 CALL/Flash 7 InIn
17 AUX1/Flash 8 In
18 AUX2/Flash 9 In
19 AUX3/Flash 10 In
20 Flash Page In
21 Reserved
22 CF1 Tally Out
23 ONLINE Tally Out
24 CF2 Tally Out
25 +5V*
In: Command input, for transport control
Internal circuit, +5V pull-up Operates with low commands of 50 msec or more
Out: Command output, for tally output
The internal circuit is open collector (output impedance 10Ω) Low command output when operating 20 V dielectric strength, 35 mA maximum current
*
+5V: 50 mA maximum supplied current
NOTE
The FLASH LOAD (STOP) (pin 7) functions are FLASH LOAD when
stopped and STOP during playback and when paused.
When Remote Select (Pin 14) is high, the input pins that have
two commands separated by a “/” (pins 2–6 and 15–19) in the above table will perform the rst-listed function, and can be used as conventional parallel controllers.
When this pin is low, the above-listed input pins will function as ash start keys. Moreover, the key assignments will be as follows according to the high/low state of pin 20.
#14 #20 Flash-start take
Low High 1–10
Low Low 11–20
The following example is of a connection that uses a fader to
start and stop playback of this device.
For information about the assignment of AUX1-3 (pins 17-19) functions, see the “PARALLEL tab” of the REMOTE SETUP screen on page 48.

RS-232C Connector

The RS-232C connector on the rear panel can be connected to an RS-232C connector on a computer to allow control of this unit from that computer.
Makes settings related to communication on the REMOTE SETUP screen RS-232C page. (See “RS-232C page” on page
48.)
NOTE
Please contact TASCAM customer support for information about this unit’s RS-232C command protocol.

RS-422 connector

You can control this unit remotely by connecting the RS-422 connector on its rear panel to a controller or editor compatible with SONY P2 protocol (RS-422).
Make settings related to operation on the REMOTE SETUP screen RS-422 page. (See “RS-422 page” on page 48.)
NOTE
Please contact TASCAM customer support for information about this unit’s protocol compatibility.
14 TASCAM HS-8
2 − Names and functions of parts

Home Screen

Press the HOME key to open the Home Screen.
1 ONLINE status indicator
When the ONLINE function is active and ONLINE playback mode is ON, the
icon appears red. When the ONLINE function is active and ONLINE playback mode is OFF, the
icon appears unlit.
When the ONLINE function is not active, the icon is not displayed.
2 Repeat status indicator
When repeat playback is ON, the icon appears green. When repeat playback is OFF, the icon appears unlit.
3 Flash status indicator
When flash start is possible, the icon appears green. The icon blinks when flash start is being prepared. When flash start is not possible, the icon appears unlit.
4 Take number display
The number of the currently selected take is shown.
This number is assigned to a take in the order that it was recorded within a folder.
5Time counter (button)
The current time displayed is either the elapsed time or the remaining time. Touch this part of the screen to change the time display mode.
6 Time mode indicator (button)
This shows the current time display mode. Touch this part of the screen to change the time display mode.
The time remaining until the end of the take is shown. When recording, the remaining time until the maximum file size is reached is shown.
The time elapsed from the beginning of the folder is shown.
The time remaining until the end of the folder is shown. When recording, the remaining amount of time that can be recorded on the currently selected CF card, which depends on the current recording settings, is shown.
The time code for the file being recorded or played is shown.
7 Time code status (button/indicator)
When accurate time code is input and the input time code matches the time code setting made on the project, this indicator appears green.
When the input time code does not match the time code setting made on the project, this indicator appears unlit.
Synchronized playback status is shown when playback is synchronized to external timecode.
The
CHASE
indicator appears green when
synchronized with the external timecode.
The
CHASE
indicator blinks when playback is not synchronized with external timecode. This includes when synchronization is lost during synchronized playback
Touch this part of the screen to open the screen. (See “Sync and time code settings (SYNC T/C)” on page 45.)
8 Audio synchronization status (button/indicator)
When the selected Master clock is synchronized, this indicator appears green.
This blinks when the selected Master clock is not synchronized.
Touch this part of the screen to open the screen. (See “Sync and time code settings (SYNC T/C)” on page 45.)
9 Transport status indicator
This shows the current transport status.
Playing back
Playback standby
SYNC T/C
SYNC T/C
The time elapsed from the beginning of the take is shown.
Stopped
Searching backward
TASCAM HS-8 15
2 − Names and functions of parts
Searching forward
Searching backward (high-speed search)
Searching forward (high-speed search)
The number shown when searching backward (shuttle operation) changes with the current speed: x2, x4, x8, x16, x32. The number shown when searching forward (shuttle operation) changes with the current speed: x2, x4, x8, x16, x32.
Recording
Recording standby
0 Take name display (button)
This shows the icon for the currently active file mode and the take name. The two types of file mode icons are as follows.
Monophonic mode (Single track BWF file)
Polyphonic mode (Multitrack BWF file)
Touch this part of the screen to open the (current project/folder take list) screen. (See “Project operations” on page 34.)
q Track number display
The track number appears black when recording is possible and appears gray when it is not possible (according to the sampling frequency). Moreover, the track number area functions as an overload indicator and appears red when there is an overload. The L/R area appears yellow when the limiter is functioning to control volume.
w Level meter (button)
The input signal level for a track is shown if input monitoring for it is set to ON. The input signal level for a track is also shown if it is armed for recording and not playing back. During playback, the playback level of a track is shown if input monitoring is set to OFF.
When the input source is set to a digital input, but there is no input signal or if the input signal differs from the internal setting, the channel meter display area appears grey and one of the following messages appears.
PROJECT
AESx-x NO SIGNAL
Touch a level meter to solo that channel. Yellow highlighting appears around the level meter and the number of a soloed channel. The level meters of the other channels are dimmed.
The following settings can be made for the display of the level meters in the
MENU
screen.
Peak hold time
Release time
Overload indicator peak indication level
Reference level line display ON/OFF
e Track name display, and record arming and input
METER SETUP
screen from the
monitoring status
The area beneath each level meter shows the track name (four characters or less) and indicates whether recording and input monitoring are enabled.
REC Off REC On
MON Off
MON On
Black Red
Blue Red/blue
r SOLO indicator (button)
If any channel is being soloed, the appears yellow, and the
SOLO
SOLO
indicator
level knob is shown. Turn the DATA dial when a channel is soloed to adjust its level while soloed.
Yellow highlighting appears around the level meter and the number of a channel that is soloed. The level meters of the other channels are dimmed.
To choose a channel to solo, touch its level meter.
Display Description
AESx-x NO SIGNAL
ADAT NO SIGNAL
AESx-x UNLOCK
ADAT UNLOCK
AESx-x NOT AUDIO
AESx-x NOT PRO
AESx-x Cbit ERROR
If there is no input signal
If the input signal is not synchronized with the system
If the Cbit information of the input signal is not audio
If the Cbit information of the input signal is not professional
If other input signal Cbit information differs from the actual operation mode
Home Screen during playback
16 TASCAM HS-8
2 − Names and functions of parts
used appears green during playback and red when recording.
If there is no media in the slot, No the background is light grey. If the card has no projects or folders, a unformatted CF card is inserted in the CF card slot that is not being used, is inserted during recording,
Home Screen during recording
Home Screen REC/MON page
recording is stopped, the usual screen is shown.
If the total number of entries, including files and subfolders, inside a folder exceeds about 5000, recording becomes impossible and “Rec Limit” is shown. For details, see “Recording operation limitations” on page 29.
Press this part of the screen to open the CF screen (media selection screen). (See “CF card selection” on page 23.)
y REC/MON button
Touch this button to open the you can make record function and input monitoring settings.
NoProject
UNFORMAT
Media
is shown and
message appears. When an
appears. When a CF card
UNMOUNT
appears. When
REC/MON
page where
SELECT
Home Screen NEXT TAKE NAME page
Home Screen PAN/LEVEL page
Home Screen INFO page
t Recording media display (button)
This shows which of the two CF card slots is being used, as well as its remaining recording time. The background of the media that is currently being
<Record arm button>
Touch this to arm a track for recording. When a track is armed, the track signal will be recorded during recording.
When a channel is armed for recording, the signal from the assigned input connector is input when the unit is stopped, recording or in recording standby.
<Input monitoring button>
Touch this to enable/disable input monitoring.
When enabled for a channel, sound input through the assigned input connector is always input.
u NEXT TAKE NAME button
Touch this button to open the “
NEXT TAKE NAME
” page where you can set the name that will be given to takes recorded in the future.
First half of take names
The first half of the take name can be set to either the “User Word” or the “Folder Name”. (Default setting: Folder Name)
NOTE
The rst half of the take name can only be changed when the unit is stopped.
TASCAM HS-8 17
2 − Names and functions of parts
• “
UserWord
mode (button)
Use the user word for the first half of the take name. Press the EDIT button to open the screen where you can change the user word. (This works the same as the screen for editing project names.)
• “
Folder Name
mode (button)
Use the folder name as the first half of the take name. This is the default value.
• Second half of take names
The second half of the take name is comprised of one alphabetical letter and a three-digit number.
Press the EDIT button to open the screen where you can change the letter.
You can change the three-digit number with the + and – buttons. You can also touch the numerical part to highlight it in yellow and use the DATA dial to change the number.
The numerical part cannot be selected when the track is soloed.
In the following cases, “
---
” appears and the value
cannot be changed.
No project or folder is loaded
The selected CF card is unavailable
When the numerical part of the file name of the
current take is 999
NOTE
The “Next Take Name” setting is saved with each project. If you
change projects, the setting of the loaded project is used.
The numerical part of the second half of the take name can be
changed even during playback and recording. (The rst half of the take name and the letter in the second half can only be changed when stopped.)
If the rst half of the take name or the letter in the second half
are dierent, a take that has the same three-digit number in the second half can be created.
When the unit is put in recording standby, the le name of the
next take to be recorded is shown above the take name button on the Home Screen.
i PAN/LEVEL button
Press this button to open the
PAN/LEVEL
page where you can adjust stereo mix recording and the 2mix output.
Each channel has a
PAN
and
2Mix LVL
knob. If you touch one, its background becomes white and you can control its parameter with the DATA dial.
If two channels are linked, the
PAN
knob functions as a
balance adjustment knob.
When in solo mode,
PAN
or
2Mix LVL
knob cannot be
selected.
o INFO button
Press this button to open the
INFO
page, which shows the current settings of the unit and information about the loaded file.
The
Play Info
section shows information related to current playback settings. If an item is gray, that item is OFF.
Touch this part to open the
The
Sys. Info
section shows the current settings
PLAY SETUP
screen.
of this unit. Touch this part of the screen to open the
SYNC T/C
The
screen.
File Info
section shows information about the currently loaded file. Touch this part of the screen to open the
PROJECT
screen. You can also use the D ATA
dial to scroll the display of project and take names.
NOTE
On this screen only, when a track is soloed, a SOLO knob appears in place of the TC and SYNC indicators at the top right.
p Mark List button
Press this button to open the mark list. (See “Mark list screen” on page 55.)
18 TASCAM HS-8
2 − Names and functions of parts
a Manual Locate button
Press this button to open the for locating manually. (See “Manual locate function” on page 57.)
MANUAL LOCATE
screen
TASCAM HS-8 19

3 − Preparation

Inserting and removing CF cards

Inserting CF cards

Insert a CF card into CF card SLOT 1 or SLOT 2 on the front panel of the unit in order to use it for recording and playback.
NOTE
CF cards can be inserted whether the power is ON or OFF.
1 Open the CF card slot cover.
2 Insert the CF card with the correct orientation.
With the labeled side up, insert the end with the connector completely.

Removing CF cards

Turn the unit power OFF or stop operations before removing a CF card.
CAUTION
Never remove a CF card during recording, playback, or anything else that accesses the CF card. Doing so could, for example, cause recording errors, loss of recorded data, and sudden loud noises to be output through monitoring equipment, which could result in damaged equipment and hearing loss.
1 Pull the CF card slot cover forward.
2 Press the square button to the right of the CF card
slot to bring the button out.
3 Press the square button in again to partially eject
the CF card.
3 Close the cover.
NOTE
If you cannot close the slot cover, remove the CF card once, press the square button to the right of the slot in and then reinsert the card.
4 Pull the CF card out by hand.

Security screws

The included security screws can be used to lock the CF card slot covers. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to install or remove the screws.
20 TASCAM HS-8
3 − Preparation

About the display

Adjusting the display angle

Push the LCD TILT btton to unlock the display, and then pull the bottom of the display forward to adjust the angle. Pull the bottom of the display until you hear a clicking sound.
To restore it to its flat position, push the LCD TILT button again to unlock the display, and push the bottom of the display. Do not push the display surface. Push the bottom of the display until you hear a clicking sound.
When using the display, do not put a hand on the panel or push
around the display forcefully. Doing so could prevent accurate position detection.
Do not place anything on top of the display or otherwise put
weight on the same place for a long time. Doing so could cause the panel to warp or result in inaccurate position detection.
Do not apply a commercially-available screen protection lm to
the display. Doing so could prevent normal operation.
Gently wipe the display with a soft dry cloth that does not shed
dust (e.g. a cleaning cloth). Avoid wiping with a sti cloth or rubbing with force. Doing so could damage the surface of the LCD. Do not use benzene, thinner, manicure remover, alcohol or similar substances.
CAUTION
Do not push the display screen itself.

Adjusting the display and indicator brightness

Turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the HOME key to adjust the brightness of the color display, the
PAUS E, REC and P LAY keys, and the JOG (SHUTTLE), SLOT 1 and SLOT 2 indicators.
Push and turn the DATA dial while pressing and holding the HOME key to adjust only the brightness of the color display.
NOTE
The display is produced with extremely high-precision manufac­turing technologies, and 99.99% or more of the pixels are eective, but sometimes pixels might not appear or might appear as red or black dots. This is not a malfunction.

Turning the power ON and OFF

Open the front panel POWER switch cover to turn the power ON with the switch.
CAUTION
The display can easily be scratched, so do not use pointed
objects, including ngernail tips, to touch it. Always touch it with your ngers.
Do not press the display forcefully with a nger or poke it with a
pen, toothpick or other pointed object. Doing so could scratch the display or cause malfunction.
The display touch panel is comprised of a lm and glass. Do
not apply a strong force to its surface. Doing so could break the glass.
Startup screen
Home Screen
To turn the power OFF, push the switch on the front panel again.
TASCAM HS-8 21
CAUTION
Never turn the power OFF during recording, playback, or anything else that accesses the CF card. Doing so could, for example, cause recording errors, loss of recorded data, and sudden loud noises to be output through monitoring equipment, which could result in damaged equipment and hearing loss.
3 − Preparation

Setting the time of the built-in clock

1 Press the MENU key on the front panel to open the
MENU
screen.
2 Touch the
SETUP
SYSTEM SETUP
screen.
button to open the
SYSTEM
5 Touch the
SET
button, or push the DATA dial to
confirm the setting.
NOTE
After purchasing this unit, set the clock before making your rst recording. If you do not set the clock, the time stamps on recording les will not be correct

Panel lock function

Press the MENU key while pressing and holding the HOME key on the front panel to open the where you can disable or enable operation from the front panel.
LOCK SETUP
screen
3 Touch the
CLOCK ADJUST
tab to open the page
where you can set the built-in clock.
4 Touch the item that you want to change, and use
the DATA dial on the front panel to change the value.
The front panel is divided into two sections, which can be locked and unlocked separately.
If you press the button for a section, it changes from
UNLOCK
to
LOCK
(with a yellow background) and the
locked area appears dimmed.
If the display is touched when the LCD section is locked, the following pop-up window message appears.
22 TASCAM HS-8
3 − Preparation

Recording duration

The table below shows the amount of recording time possible on CF cards of various capacities for each available recording format.
When the display (panel) is locked
If one of the keys around the display is used, the following pop-up window message appears.
When the display (keys) is locked
If one of the transport keys is used when the Transport is locked, the following pop-up window message appears.
When the transport is locked
File recording
format and
number of
recordable
tracks
16-bit, 44.1 kHz, 8 tracks
16-bit, 44.1 kHz, 8 tracks + stereo mix
16-bit, 48 kHz, 8 tracks
16-bit, 48 kHz, 8 tracks + stereo mix
24-bit, 44.1 kHz, 8 tracks
24-bit, 44.1 kHz, 8 tracks + stereo mix
24-bit, 48 kHz, 8 tracks
24-bit, 48 kHz, 8 tracks + stereo mix
24-bit, 88.2 kHz, 8 tracks
24-bit, 96 kHz, 8 tracks
24-bit, 176.4 kHz, 4 tracks
24-bit, 192 kHz, 4 tracks
The recording times shown above are estimates. They
8 GB 16 GB 32 GB
3 hours 9 minutes
2 hours 31 minutes
2 hours 54 minutes
2 hours 19 minutes
2 hours 6 minutes
1 hour 41 minutes
1 hour 56 minutes
1 hour 33 minutes
1 hour 3 minutes
58 minutes 1 hour 55
1 hour 3 minutes
58 minutes 1 hour 56
CF card capacity
6 hours 18 minutes
5 hours 2 minutes
5 hours 47 minutes
4 hours 38 minutes
4 hours 12 minutes
3 hours 22 minutes
3 hours 51 minutes
3 hours 5 minute
2 hours 6 minutes
minutes
2 hours 6 minutes
minutes
12 hours 36 minutes
10 hours 5 minutes
11 hours 34 minutes
9 hours 16 minutes
8 hours 24 minutes
6 hours 43 minutes
7 hours 43 minute
6 hours 10 minutes
4 hours 12 minutes
3 hours 51 minutes
4 hours 12 minutes
3 hours 51 minutes
might differ depending on the CF card in use.
The recording times shown above are not continuous
recording times, but rather they are the total possible recording times for the CF card.
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