Tascam MD-301 Brochure & Specs

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER/REPRODUCER _____________

AFFORDABLE RANDOM ACCESS RECORDING

AND PLAYBACK FOR BROADCAST, THEATERS,

THEME PARKS, PROJECT STUDIOS, AND

AUDIO CONTRACTORS

A MiniDisc Primer

6 Pages - Page 1

Removable, re-recordable MiniDiscs
offer the convenience of DAT and
the quality of a digital recording
media. Plus, the MD format gives
you random access to audio, for

Before you learn about the exciting capabilities of the MD-301, you
might find it helpful to know more about MiniDisc technology. What is it?
The MiniDisc (MD) is a “magneto-optical device.” This advanced technol­ogy uses the combination of a laser and a magnetic head to record and
play sound from a small, specially coated floppy-like disc — the
MiniDisc. It’s similar to a CD with one big exception: your average CD is
not rewritable — you can’t re-record it. You can re-record a MiniDisc as
many times as you like.

MD-301

incredible speed and editing flexibil­ity. If you’re looking for a single
piece of gear that can record, edit
and playback digital audio,
MiniDisc is a perfect choice.

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER ________________________________________________________

Easy To Use. Easy To Store. Hard To Wear Out.

MiniDiscs have all the convenience of a cassette with all the quality
of a digital recording media. Like a cassette or DAT, you simply pop a
MiniDisc into your MD-301 and you’re ready for exceptionally high­quality digital recording, editing and playback. Like tape, MD technology
allows you to record and re-record over existing audio. What’s more, you
can re-record your MiniDisc thousands of times — with pristine audio
playback. So when your music or audio program is recorded on MiniDisc,
it’s forever — unless, of course, you decide to re-record.

6 Pages - Page 2

The big advantage of the MiniDisc
format is that it provides you with
random access to recorded material.

Go Tape One Better

Each recording format provides different tools for different jobs.
That’s why it’s important to think about what you want to do with your
equipment before you purchase. If your primary objective is to create
music demos (laying tracks and mixing to stereo), analog tape may be
your answer. If you need long format digital recording and playback,
DAT is a great tool.

Your Search Is Over

While tape is great for many jobs, it’s linear in the way it accesses
your audio. That means it can only play back in a straight line — as the
audio was recorded. If you want to hear or record another part of the
tape, you have to fast forward or rewind. And you can’t change the order
of the material without physically editing the tape or transferring the
audio to another machine. This transfer process can cause a loss of
audio quality, especially with magnetic tape. It’s a fact in analog: the
more transfers (or generations), the less audio quality.

Because a MiniDisc provides random access retrieval of audio, that
is, it’s not linear in playback, you can hear chosen tracks almost as fast
as you can cue them up. That’s why MiniDisc is an exceptional choice for
broadcast, theater or other live performance venues. No more missed
cues, frantic rewinding, dead air or breaking your creative flow. Plus,
random access operation greatly speeds up your sessions. For example,
if you mix a song onto your MiniDisc recorder, you can hear the results
nearly instantly — just cue and play — with no waiting. Think of the time
you’ll save!

Are you looking for the perfect, affordable digital replacement for your
NAB cart machines? Do you want a dedicated piece of digital recording
gear with internal editing capabilities? And what about instant start, play
programming and random access operation? Now that you know a little
more about the benefits of MD technology, read on — and find out why
TASCAM has the answers.

It’s the perfect choice if you want
digital recording, editing and
playback in a single dedicated unit.
Plus MiniDisc gives you important
extras like instant start capability
and flexible playback programming.

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER ________________________________________________________

THE NEWEST, MOST AFFORDABLE MEMBER

OF TASCAM’S M

RECORDING SYSTEMS

With the MD-301 MiniDisc Recorder/Reproducer, TASCAM brings
the power of random access recording, editing and playback to an
affordable new level. This hot, 2-channel MD recorder gives you 74
minutes (stereo) of pristine digital audio on re-recordable, easy-to-store
MiniDiscs. Its speed of operation combined with versatile programming
capability make the MD-301 a cutting-edge production tool for any
application where random access operation enhances performance. And
all this comes in a sleek, 2U, rack-mountable chassis.

Made For The Fast Lane

INIDISC FAMILY OF DIGITAL

6 Pages - Page 3

“The MD-301 is a great piece of
recording gear and the cost makes
it an incredible value — the speed
alone is worth the price of admis­sion. Because of the production
hours the station is saving, our

Although the MD-301 is as easy to use as a cassette deck, it’s a
powerful and creative audio editing tool that helps you speed through
production. DIVIDE lets you divide a track into two; MOVE lets you move
a track to another location; COMBINE gives you the power to splice two
tracks together into one; and ERASE lets you quickly eliminate unwanted
tracks or programs. These editing features, combined with a variety of
programmable playback options, make the MD-301 a faster, better way
to record and manipulate your audio.

TASCAM thought of everything. You’ll find the features you need for
live, pre-programmed, and hands-off operation. Create fade-ins/outs, cue
and re-cue on the fly, or program for shuffle or repeat play. There’s even
a TIMER RECORD/PLAY mode for unattended start/stop — a must for
commercial installations. Let’s say you have a theme park or convention
center and you want pre-recorded messages to run on the half-hour. In
TIMER mode, the MD-301 does the job like cloc kwork.

In addition to editing features, the MD-301 has an on-board sample
rate converter that makes digital transfers from other sources — includ­ing DAT tapes recorded at other sampling rates — automatic. Fact is,
any format that speaks S/PDIF can be converted to MiniDisc’s 44.1kHz
standard sampling rate by the MD-301.

For added control, the MD-301 comes standard with an RC-3
wireless infrared remote controller. The RC-3 gives you access to the
MD-301’s abundant production features from any location in your broad-

MD-301 will pay for itself within
a matter of months.”

A.W., Arlington, VA.

MD-301

TIMER

OFF

PLAY REC

INPUT

REMOTE
SENSOR

RANDOM

REPEAT MEMORY CLEAR

EJECT

DISPLAY

RECORD

STOP PLAY READY

SEARCH

N

/

T

I

D

E

INPUT

O

SELECTOR

Y

E

S

DIGITAL 1
(OPTICAL)

C

A

K

R

ANALOG DIGITAL 2

T

(COAXIAL)

PHONES

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER ________________________________________________________

cast studio, theater audio booth or project studio. Using 74-minute stereo
MiniDiscs, the MD-301 is perfect for sound intensive productions. And
storage has never been easier. In fact, you can keep all your projects
and programs on separate discs for better management of your
audio archives.

The Ins And Outs Of Quality

The MD-301 will be at home in just about any audio environment.
RCA unbalanced analog inputs and outputs provide standard connec­tions to and from your console or other gear. For digital input capability,
the unit offers both RCA coaxial S/PDIF and optical TOS connectors. For
digital output, the S/PDIF format is supported with an optical TOS port.
With these connections, you’ll keep your project in the digital domain
while recording from and to other digital sources.

6 Pages - Page 4

“We use a lot of music and sound
effects in the show. One of the best
things about the MD-301 is its
cue and start capability. The
performers on stage know that
audio will be right on cue —
everytime. And with the program-

For Broadcast

As a replacement for outdated NAB cart machines, the MD-301
gives you digital quality and more control over program material than you
dreamed possible at this price. With instant start capability and auto cue,
your live, on-air productions will be seamless. Your playlist, commercials,
bumpers, sound effects, promos, stingers and other audio tracks are
only a push button away. Add polish to your programs as you record with
programmable fade-ins and fade-outs. And with track and disc titling for
easy reference, you always know where you stand. The MD-301 is great
for telephone and in-studio interviews, too. Simply record, then edit with
DIVIDE, MOVE and ERASE functions. It’s great for the creation and
storage of production assets for every show in your lineup. With an
MD-301 in your rack, you’ve got a versatile, powerful digital audio tool
for your production studio.

On Stage

Let’s say the director of your theater production wants you to change
the sound effects configuration of a particular scene. And he wants you
to do it for tonight’s performance! No sweat. The on-board editing capa­bilities of your MD-301 make it simple to reorder pre-recorded program
material. Its versatile playback options are great for rehearsals or provid­ing music tracks for live performances — especially when you need
things to happen right on cue.

ming and editing functions we
were able to fine tune backing
audio and cues during rehearsals.
And never missed a beat.”

J.R., Cincinnati, OH

In Your Project Studio

If you own a project or professional recording studio, the MD-301 is a
superb archiving tool that makes it easy to manage your work. Put each
project on a different disc — your song ideas, music, voiceovers, SFX

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER ________________________________________________________

and mixes are instantly accessible. The MD-301 is also the perfect
companion to your MD multitrack recorder such as the TASCAM 564
Digital Portastudio. The TOS optical digital I/O makes cross-platform
transfers a snap — you can record material/songs from the 564 directly
to the MD-301 without ever leaving the digital domain. It’s an exceptional
way to archive your music projects.

6 Pages - Page 5

In Your Industrial Strength Application

If your business is contracting audio installations for commercial
applications, you can’t go wrong when you specify the MD-301. Because
it’s TASCAM, you can count on industrial strength performance day-in,
day-out. The MD-301’s PROGRAM PLAY, SHUFFLE PLAY and REPEAT
functions give your clients unlimited flexibility in playing back audio. It’s a
simple matter to program the unit to play music or pre-recorded mes­sages in any order. The MD-301 also offers random playback and con­tinuous looping. And for the ultimate convenience, the Timer mode
provides unattended operation. And of course, MiniDiscs are as easy as
cassettes to store and use, so changing background audio programs is
as simple as loading another MD.

Built To Last By TASCAM

TASCAM has been the choice for incredibly durable recording gear
for decades. The MD-301 is built with the same integrity for professional,
heavy-duty use. If you want affordable, stable, high-quality digital audio
recording and editing with random access operation, your search is o ver.
The TASCAM MD-301 Recorder/Reproducer is just what you’ve been
asking for .

TASCAM makes a full line of MD recorder/reproducers. The MD-501,
MD-801R and the 564 Digital Portastudio offer features and options that
will suit all your MiniDisc recording and editing requirements. Want more
information? Consult the FaxBack Product Index for appropriate docu­ment numbers. To get the full MD picture, stop by your nearby TASCAM
dealer for a demonstration. And to get the scoop on the latest recording
innovations, be sure to visit TASCAM’s web site at www.tascam.com.

“I’ve been upgrading my project
studio to digital and the MD-301
provided the last piece of the
puzzle. It’s more than a mixdown
machine — I’m using the
MD-301’s editing functions to
create killer demos. DIVIDE and
MOVE are now a part of my
creative routine.”

J.Y., Whittier, CA

All This In A 2U, 19-inch Rack Space

• Cost-effective professional grade 2-track MiniDisc
recorder/reproducer

• Versatile Edit functions (Divide, Erase, Move, Combine,
Track title, Disc title)

• Repeat Play function

• Timer Record/Play function

• Program Play mode

MD-301

MINIDISC RECORDER ________________________________________________________

• Shuffle Play mode

• Built-in sample rate conversion

• RCA unbalanced analog inputs and outputs

• Optical TOS and coaxial RCA digital inputs on the rear panel

• Optical TOS digital output connector on the rear panel

• “RC-3” infrared wireless remote controller as a standard accessory

Specifications

6 Pages - Page 6

Format: MiniDisc
Channel: Stereo 2-channel
Recording System: Magnetic field modulation

overwrite system

Recording Time: 74 minutes stereo (with a

74-minute MiniDisc)

Compression System: ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform

Acoustic Coding)
Sampling Frequency: 44.1KHz
Modulation System: EFM (Eight to Fourteen

Modulation)
Error Correction System:

ACIRC (Advanced Cross

Interleave Reed-Solomon Code)
Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20kHz, ±1dB
Signal-To-Noise ratio: Better than 98dB

(Playback, A filter)
Dynamic Range: Better than 90dB (1kHz, -60dB)
Channel Separation: Better than 90dB (1kHz)
THD: Less than 0.008% (EIAJ)

1

1

COAXIAL

OPTION

L

R

OPTICAL

IO

Wow and Flutter: Unmeasurable
Analog Inputs: RCA unbalanced, -10dBV, 50KΩ
Analog Outputs: RCA unbalanced, -10dBV, 600Ω

Digital inputs

Coaxial: RCA, IEC 958 Type II (S/PDIF)
Optical: TOS, IEC 958 Type II (S/PDIF)

Digital Output

Optical: TOS, IEC 958 Type II (S/PDIF)

Headphone: 35mW + 35mW, 33Ω loaded
Standard Accessory: RC-3 infrared wireless

remote controller
Pow er Consumption: 14W
Dimensions (WxHxD): 482 x 88 x 290 mm
Weight: 4.8 kg

MODEL NO. MD-301

TEAC CORPORATION

MADE IN JAPAN

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