Teac MMR-8 User Manual v3.2

TASCAM

TEAC Professional Division

D00000000A

MMR-8

Modular Multitrack Recorder

MMP-16

Modular Multitrack Player

MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 3.2
OWNER’S MANUAL UPDATE

73238

TASCAM MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 3.2

Table of Contents

MMR-8 / MMP-16 VERSION 3.2 UPDATE........................................................................................................3

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

Updating Software With the MM-RC Remote.........................................................................................3

Warning on Updating Units With MMR Bus Connections....................................................................3

CHANGES IN VERSION 3.2....................................................................................................................................4

MULTI-DISK SOFTWARE UPDATE SUPPORT ........................................................................................................4

SONIC SOLUTIONS FILE SUPPORT .........................................................................................................................5

Using Sonic Lightspeed..............................................................................................................................5

Sonic SSP and USP System Support.........................................................................................................5

Sonic Fade Files..........................................................................................................................................5

FORMAT CHART..................................................................................................................................................6

2

MMR-8 / MMP-16 Version 3.2 Update

This document details changes and new features in software Version 3.2 for the TASCAM MMR-8
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 3.1, the
last official release software version prior to Version 3.2. 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 installed (software installed from the Rescue Boot Disk is also
acceptable). The most recent software update may always be downloaded from the TASCAM web
site at http://www.tascam.com. The Version 3.2 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 booted and
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. The system
will access the floppy drive for a few moments to copy the files to the internal drive. During this
time, the green LED on the floppy disk drive is the only indication provided by the system that
software is being copied from the Floppy disk to the system’s internal disk drive. After the software
update has been copied from the floppy, the system will display a message that says “Reboot
required for new software”. This verifies that the software has been successfully copied to the
system drive.

To reboot the system after the software update, remove the floppy disk and recycle the power on
the unit. The first time the system boots after the update, it will go through a longer boot procedure
and will update various internal processors. The LCD will indicate the update procedure status as
these processors are re-programmed. After all these internal updates are finished, the LCD will
briefly show the message “New Software Loaded”, then mount all available SCSI volumes and
show the normal display. The unit is now ready for operation.

Updating Software With the MM-RC Remote

If an MM-RC remote unit is attached to the MMR/MMP when the software update is performed,
the system may update the MM-RC after the reboot. A progress display will be shown on the MM­RC LCD during the update. The MMR/MMP will show the message “Programming Remote” while
the MM-RC software is updated.

Warning on Updating Units With MMR Bus Connections

It is highly recommended that units which are attached to other units via the MMR bus be upgraded
while the other units on the MMR Bus are turned off. In a system with multiple MMR/MMP units,
this means the best approach is to power up only one unit at a time, complete the software update
process for that unit, then power it down and repeat the process with the next unit until all units
have been updated. Once all updates are complete, the entire system can be used again with the
normal MMR Bus configuration. If the system is connected to another MMR/MMP unit with an
MMR Bus sync cable, an error message that reads “MMR RCV Overrun Error” may occur. This is
normal – just ignore the error message (note that pressing CLR will cancel the error message) and
proceed with the system reboot.

TASCAM MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 3.2 Owner’s Manual Update

3

Changes in Version 3.2

The following functional changes and bug fixes have been made to the MMR-8/MMP-16 software
in Version 3.2. These changes are explained in detail in this document:

§ Playback of files for the Sonic Studio system from Sonic Solutions

§ Add support for future multiple disk software installations

Multi-Disk Software Update Support

Version 3.2 for the TASCAM MMR-8 and MMP-16 is the last release to be distributed on a single
floppy disk. Future versions add features that will make it necessary to use more than one floppy
disk for installing the software update. The enabling software to allow the MMR/MMP system to
recognize a multi-disk installation is included in this 3.2 release.

This means that even though the 3.2 release itself requires only one floppy disk, future versions will
require multiple disks and units must therefore be running version 3.2 so that the MMR/MMP unit
will be able to accept the new multiple disk software updates.

4

Sonic Solutions File Support

Version 3.2 software for the MMR-8 and MMP-16 adds support for files created on the Sonic
Studio workstation from Sonic Solutions. The Sonic Studio digital audio workstation uses a
proprietary disk file system, a specially modified version of the AIFF audio format, and a
proprietary EDL format. Sonic Solutions is in the process of moving toward using the newest
version of Apple’s Hierarchical File System instead of their proprietary Media Optimized File
System (MOFS). For this reason, Version 3.2 supports Sonic audio media files and EDLs only after
they have been copied to a Macintosh HFS formatted disk volume, and will not recognize a Sonic
MOFS volume directly. The MMR/MMP system will only read Sonic files copied to a Macintosh
HFS volume, and does not write Sonic audio or EDL files.

Using Sonic Lightspeed

The preferred method for copying Sonic files to a Macintosh HFS volume is by using Sonic’s
Lightspeed program. Lightspeed enables Sonic MOFS volumes to be mounted on the Mac SCSI
bus and accessed on the Macintosh desktop. While on the Mac SCSI bus, the Sonic Studio system
cannot record to this MOFS drive. Lightspeed in this case is only used as a means to transfer files
from the MOFS volume to the Mac volume. The Lightspeed Toolkit program and a Macintosh
system extension called Sonic Lightspeed are available from Sonic Solutions.

To copy Sonic files from the MOFS volume to the Mac HFS volume using Lightspeed, unmount
the Sonic MOFS volume from the Sonic SCSI chain and mount it on the Mac SCSI chain. If the
Lightspeed application and system extension are properly installed, the MOFS drive should mount
automatically on the Macintosh. If it does not mount automatically run the Lightspeed Toolkit
program, select the drive to be mounted and click on "Mount".

Drag the root folder of the MOFS drive onto the root folder of the Mac formatted drive. Since the
Sonic EDL is dependent on the full path name to a file, do not copy a sub folder or file from the
MOFS volume. Do not choose a target folder on the Mac drive - drop the file onto the drive itself
(root folder). Once the file is on the Macintosh HFS volume, it can be recognized directly by the
MMR-8 or MMP-16 unit.

Sonic SSP, USP, and HD System Support

Over the years, Sonic has shipped several different audio processor cards (SSP, USP, and HD) for
their Sonic Studio system. The MMR/MMP only support 16-bit files from Sonic SSP-based
systems. Both 16- and 24-bit files are supported for Sonic USP- and HD-based systems.

Sonic Fade Files

The Sonic Studio system can play various types of complex fades in real time. The MMR/MMP
will play any non-rendered fades as linear fades of the length specified by the EDL, but these units
cannot reproduce complex fade types unless they are rendered in advance by the Sonic system. The
MMR/MMP will always play a linear fade for all non-rendered fades.

TASCAM MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 3.2 Owner’s Manual Update

5

Format Chart

The following chart shows the Matrix of formats supported and the various Backup, Export, and
TapeMode Conversion operations available in Version 3.2 of the MMR-8 and MMP-16.

File

Compatibility

Chart

FROM

WaveFrame Backup
WaveFrame

TapeMode

OMF/SDII Export

Pro Tools
Pro Tools

TapeMode

Akai DD8 Export

DEVA

(DOS disk)

Sonic Solutions

(Mac HFS)

WaveFrame

TO

Backup Backup Export Export

See Note See Note

See Note See Note

Export

Export

WaveFrame
TapeMode

Convert to
TapeMode

Convert to
TapeMode

Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode

OMF/SDII

Export Export

Backup Export

Export Backup

Export Backup Backup *

Export Export

Export Export

Export Export

Pro
Tools

ProTools
TapeMode

Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode

Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode
Convert to
TapeMode

Table of Backup, TapeMode Conversion, and Export Paths

Note : Digidesign Pro Tools files may be exported as OMF files, but not directly as WaveFrame
files. To export Pro Tools to WaveFrame, first export Pro Tools to OMF on the same disk, then
use that OMF file for export to WaveFrame (one extra step).

* This is true only if the Mac HFS disk to which the TapeMode file is being copied is formatted

identically (same formatted disk capacity and block size), otherwise Backup to a Mac volume
with a different block size will yield a non-destructive project. Unless the drive is precisely the
same formatted capacity and block size, use Convert to TapeMode to insure the project remains a
TapeMode project after being copied to the new disk.

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TASCAM MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 3.2 Owner’s Manual Update

7

TASCAM

TEAC Professional Division

MMR-8/MMP-16

Version 3.2 Update

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73238