Teac MMR-8 User Manual v2.0

TASCAM

TEAC Professional Division

D00000000A

MMR-8

Modular Multitrack Recorder

MMP-16

Modular Multitrack Player

MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 2.0
OWNER’S MANUAL UPDATE

MMR-8 Version 2.0 Update

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................2

MMR-8 / MMP-16 VERSION 2.0 UPDATE ............................................................................................. 3

INSTALLING THE MMR/MMP SOFTWARE UPDATE................................................................................. 3

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES IN VERSION 2.0................................................................................................ 3

FORMATTING MACINTOSH DISKS........................................................................................................... 3

MACINTOSH FILE SYSTEM ERRORS ........................................................................................................ 4

DISK CLEANUP FOR MACINTOSH VOLUMES ............................................................................................ 4

AUTOCLEANUP..................................................................................................................................... 4

DIGIDESIGN PRO TOOLS SESSION FORMAT SUPPORT............................................................................... 4

Recording Pro Tools Sessions.......................................................................................................... 5

Macintosh Files Created by the MMR.............................................................................................. 5

Pro Tools Features Supported.......................................................................................................... 7

Pro Tools Features Not Supported in Version 2.0 ............................................................................ 7

Gain Automation and Dynamic Voice Allocation......................................................................................... 7

TDM Plug-Ins............................................................................................................................................. 7

Voice Output Assignments.......................................................................................................................... 7

Restrictions When Using the Pro Tools Session Format................................................................... 8

Pull Up / Pull Down.................................................................................................................................... 8

Frame and Sample Rates in Tape Mode ...................................................................................................... 8

Limitations on Number of Tracks ................................................................................................................ 8

Session Start Time Restrictions................................................................................................................... 8

Using TapeMode with ProTools Sessions.................................................................................................... 9

File Backup, TapeMode Conversion, and Export........................................................................................10

Using the Backup, TapeMode Conversion, and Export Functions.................................................. 11

Exporting Pro Tools Sessions......................................................................................................... 11

Backup .......................................................................................................................................... 12

TapeMode Convert........................................................................................................................ 12

Export ........................................................................................................................................... 13

WaveFrame Export....................................................................................................................................13

OMF Export ..............................................................................................................................................13

Pro Tools Export........................................................................................................................................13

MACINTOSH FILE SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGES....................................................................................... 14

Macintosh File System Error Codes............................................................................................... 15

INDEX................................................................................................................................................. 20

Tascam MMR-8/MMP-16 Owner’s Manual • Version 2.0 Update2

MMR-8 / MMP-16 Version 2.0 Update

This document details changes and new features in software Version 2.0 for the TASCAM MMR­8 and MMP-16 Modular Multitrack units and the MM-RC remote. This document only explains
features and enhancements that have been made to the MMR/MMP since release version 1.27, the
last official release software version prior to version 2.0. The reason for the jump from 1.27 to 2.0
in numbering this software version is due to the inclusion of a major new feature, the ability to
natively record audio and edit decision list (EDL) data directly to the MMR-8 in the Digidesign
Pro Tools Session file format. This new capability has been implemented in accordance with a
license agreement with Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, and with their full cooperation
and support. We are grateful for their assistance in this endeavor. Because this release adds a new
“native” file format for recording audio on the MMR-8 and for file format exports on the MMP­16, we feel the version 2.0 software release represents a major step forward in the technology of
digital hard disk recorders and a substantial benefit for the users of these systems. This
documentation presumes familiarity with basic operation of the MMR-8 and MMP-16.

Installing The MMR/MMP Software Update

To install software in an MMR-8 or MMP-16, first make sure the unit to be updated already has
version 1.2 or higher software already installed (the Rescue Boot Disk is also acceptable). The
most recent software update may be downloaded from the TASCAM web site at
http://www.tascam.com. The software fits on a single floppy disk. To install the software update,
insert the floppy disk into the front panel floppy drive while the unit is operating normally. Access
Menu 995 (Load Software) and press STO. The system will ask “Are you sure?” Make sure the
floppy is properly inserted and press STO again to confirm. After the software update is installed,
the system will display a message that the update is complete to verify that the installation has been
successful. Remove the floppy disk and recycle the power on the unit to operate it with the new
software installed.

Overview of Changes in Version 2.0

The following functional changes have been made to the MMR-8/MMP-16 software in version 2.0.
These changes are explained in detail in this document:

• Direct recording of Digidesign Pro Tools Session files on the MMR-8

• Export (file format conversion) of WaveFrame and OMF files to Digidesign Pro Tools

Session format and export of Pro Tools Sessions to OMF on the MMR-8 and MMP-16

• AutoCleanup Record Mode removed

Formatting Macintosh Disks

The MMR-8 and MMP-16 cannot format disk drives as Macintosh HFS volumes, so a drive must
first be formatted as a Macintosh HFS volume using a Macintosh computer before the drive can be
used with the MMR-8 or MMP-16. If a non-Macintosh formatted drive is mounted, the
MMR/MMP will not allow Pro Tools or OMF as a choice for recording, backup, or file export to
that disk. Users are advised to follow the recommendations of Digidesign for formatting disk drives
for use with the Pro Tools system and with the MMR-8 and MMP-16.

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Macintosh File System Errors

Various types of file errors and inconsistencies can sometimes accumulate on a Macintosh drive.
Although the MMR-8 and MMP-16 can read and write data on Macintosh HFS volumes, it is of
critical importance that any Macintosh disk used be free of file and format errors. When the
MMR/MMP unit scans the SCSI bus for available drives and sees a Macintosh volume, it will
look for file errors on the disk. If errors are found, the volume may not load at all. In some cases,
the volume may load but only a few files will show up in the drive directory. If a disk is found to
have file system errors, the MMR-8 will not allow recording, backup, or export to that disk and
track arming will be disallowed.

Fortunately, commercially available disk repair utilities such as Norton Disk Doctor can locate,
and in many cases (although not all) can repair the disk and rectify the errors. If a Macintosh disk
connected to an MMR-8 or MMP-16 has problems such as:

§ disk volume will not mount

§ files appear to be missing

§ the MMR-8 will not go into record

then connect the disk to a Macintosh computer and use a Macintosh disk repair utility to locate and
repair any errors. If the errors cannot be fixed by the disk repair program, then the drive will need
to be re-formatted on a Macintosh computer before it can be used on the MMR/MMP. A list of
possible Mac file system errors and their error codes is given at the end of this document.

Disk Cleanup for Macintosh Volumes

The Disk Cleanup function (setup menu 720) is not currently supported for Macintosh Volumes in
version 2.0. This feature will be supported in a future version of the MMR/MMP software.

AutoCleanup

The AutoCleanup Record Mode (setup menu 200) has been removed for all formats. This Record
Mode automatically performed a disk cleanup after every recording. It was originally developed to
prevent buildup of unwanted files during repeated overdubbing of material during post-production
recording of mix tracks to the MMR-8. A high processing overhead made it the least efficient
Record Mode for punching in and out repeatedly over multiple tracks. The TapeMode style of
recording was implemented subsequently to achieve the same goal without the added processing
overhead and serves the purpose much more elegantly than AutoCleanup. There are now only two
available Record Modes, Non-Destructive and TapeMode.

Digidesign Pro Tools Session Format Support

Version 2.0 of the MMR-8 software allows recording directly to a Macintosh HFS (Hierarchical
File System) formatted disk drive in the Digidesign Pro Tools Session file format and also allows
export of WaveFrame or OMF projects (compositions) as Pro Tools session files and backup of
existing Pro Tools sessions. This means that Sound Designer II format audio files and a Pro Tools

4.0 session file will be created when using the Session record feature on the MMR-8. The MMP­16 does not record audio, and so does not allow direct recording of Pro Tools session files, but it
does allow editing and backup of Sessions, and export to Pro Tools Session file format.

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Recording Pro Tools Sessions

To record a new Pro Tools Session directly to the MMR-8, you must first set the Disk Encoding
parameter in setup menu 700 to be either ProTools 16-Bit or ProTools 24-Bit.

01234567890123456789 20 position LCD character positions

700 Disk Encoding Top: (Menu Item)
* ProTools 16-Bit Bottom: (Encoding Type)

You may use the 24-Bit Disk Encoding setting for projects which will be edited using the 24-Bit
Pro Tools 4.x system.

01234567890123456789 20 position LCD character positions

700 Disk Encoding Top: (Menu Item)
* ProTools 24-Bit Bottom: (Encoding Type)

Once a Macintosh formatted disk is mounted and the Disk Encoding type is set to ProTools, you
may arm the tracks to be recorded and begin the record operation. The Session name is defined
(before recording) by using setup menu 800 to name the Session , and setup menu 810 to set the
track prefix. These may be changed later when editing the Session on a Pro Tools system.

Macintosh Files Created by the MMR

Whenever a Macintosh disk is mounted on an MMR-8 or MMP-16, a series of file folders are
created so that the system is ready to hold recordings, backup files, or edits made by the MMR-8
or MMP-16. These folders and files are created according to the hierarchy explained here.

A folder called MMR8 Projects is automatically created at the root level of the disk drive mounted
on the MMR-8 or MMP-16.

The other files and folders created are stored within this folder. Any Pro Tools Sessions recorded
on the MMR-8 (and their attendant sub-folders and audio files) will be automatically placed in this
folder by the system.

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Inside the MMR8 Projects folder, another folder is created with the name of the Project (as defined
in setup menu 800 when the recording was first made). In the case of a Macintosh disk which is
simply mounted on an MMR or MMP, a default Project folder called MMR Project is created. A
new folder labeled with the name of the Project will be created for each new Session recorded on
the MMR-8. Here is an example of several Project folders nested inside the MMR8 Projects folder:

Each of these folders contains the Pro Tools Session file and Audio File and Fade File folders for
that Session, as explained on the following page. Note that Sessions created on the Pro Tools
system may be placed elsewhere within the disk filing system. Sessions created on the MMR-8 will
always be placed here. Inside the Session folders, the system automatically creates two new folders
labeled Audio Files and Fade Files. If a Pro Tools Session has been recorded, there will also be a
Pro Tools Session file. The contents of a typical project file folder created when a Session is
recorded to an MMR-8 would look like this:

All sound designer II files recorded for this Session will be placed in the folder labeled Audio Files.
The Fade Files folder is automatically created so that Pro Tools has a place to store any fade files
the system may create. The MMR does not create Pro Tools fade files, but will play them back.
The MMR does generate the proper fade file descriptor so that Pro Tools can later generate
appropriate fade files. When opening a Session on Pro Tools that was created on the MMR, Pro
Tools will alert the user that fades are missing. The user can then choose Skip All from the Pro
Tools dialogue and Pro Tools will generate the missing fade files. The MMR-8 and MMP-16 will
also perform default fades in real time according to the default fade settings in setup menu 510. If
any fade files are missing from a Session created using Pro Tools, the MMR and MMP will simply
play a real-time linear crossfade of the appropriate length in place of the missing fade file.

Tascam MMR-8/MMP-16 Owner’s Manual • Version 2.0 Update6

Pro Tools Features Supported

The MMR-8 and MMP-16 will recognize and play back Pro Tools Session files (and all Sound
Designer II audio files referenced by the Session file) created as version 3.2 or 4.x Sessions on a
16-bit or 24-bit Pro Tools system. The name of all recognized Session files on all mounted volumes
will appear in the list of projects shown in the LCD display after the Load Track key is pressed. If
fade files are present, the MMR/MMP will play them. If fade files are missing, the unit will play
back a linear fade of the correct duration in real time. Any playback mutes that are part of the
Session will be followed by the MMR/MMP, and the audio material programmed to mute will not
play back. If audio mutes have been applied in error, the material must be unmuted using the Pro
Tools system before it will play back on the MMR/MMP.

Pro Tools Features Not Supported in Version 2.0

The TASCAM MMR-8 and MMP-16 are designed to be able to play back edited audio files and
fades from Pro Tools Session files and other workstation file types, but they do not have all of the
complex DSP and routing/mixing capabilities of a full-fledged digital audio workstation. There are
therefore some capabilities of such systems that do not translate when files are played back on the
MMR/MMP. For post production sound editing, this need not pose a problem if these limitations
are understood and material is prepared with the capability of the MMR/MMP in mind. This
section details some features of the Pro Tools system and Session file format which are not directly
supported on the MMR/MMP.

Gain Automation and Dynamic Voice Allocation

The Pro Tools system has special features for assigning gain automation to regions, and for
dynamic voice allocation utilizing virtual tracks and track priority. The MMR-8 and MMP-16
Version 2.0 software does not recognize or respond to these parameters in a Session file. These
capabilities will be added in a future MMR/MMP software release.

TDM Plug-Ins

One of the most impressive features of the Pro tools system is the number and variety of third­party DSP plug-in effects available for the system. These effects rely on special DSP hardware in
the Pro Tools system to perform various digital audio processes in real time. These real-time
effects are not supported by the MMR/MMP since there is no equivalent processing power or
software. Another class of Pro Tools effects called AudioSuite plug-ins work by actually applying
the effect and changing the audio data on the disk. In this case, the files will play back just as they
have been processed, since the processing has been made part of the file.

Voice Output Assignments

Since Pro Tools has extensive mixing capabilities, it also allows tracks to be freely assigned to
various outputs for playback. The MMR/MMP units are designed to assign Pro Tools tracks
directly to audio output channels on the MMR/MMP unit on a one-to-one basis and do not follow
the output mapping of Pro Tools session. When editing material on Pro Tools for eventual
playback on an MMR/MMP, it is best to place the material on the track where it should play on
the MMR/MMP. Track assignments can be changed locally on the MMR/MMP and any track can
be assigned to play out of any MMR/MMP channel output, but the default assignment when
loading a Session will be to the tracks as numbered in the Pro Tools Session, not the voice
assignment patching.

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