Tascam DA-38 User manual

TASCAM
TEAC ProfessionalDivision
DA-38
DigitalMultitrackRecorder K--l
t OWNER’SMANUAL I DOOZ45OOB

SECTION1: INTRODUCTION
Thank youforchoosing theTASCAMDA-38 Digital
MultitrackRecorder. TheDA-38 is aproductin thedirect line of theworldwide successfulDA-88 andw&designed
to meet theneeds of video/filmproduction,broadcast production,recording studios, projectstudios, andthe
musician,
Among theimportant features of DA-38 arethe
following :
0Menu-selectable machineJD,pre-/postrolltime,and
others
l Syncingup to 16 unitsfor128tracks
l Syncingwith theDA-88
0Canbe slaved to external word clock
0Shuttling forreel rockingto identify specific points on tape .Z-pointautolocatorwith or withoutpreroll
0Trialpunch in andout
l Crossfade action to ensure seamless punch in andout
l Track delayfunction to correctthetimingdiscrepan-
ties betweentracks 0Digitalcopy betweentracks within one. DA-38 or
from tracks of oneDA-38 to tracks of another
0Canbe controlledfrom theTASCAMRC-848or
RC-SOSremote

SECTION 1 : INTRODUCTION
I Table of Contents I
Important Safety Precautions .......................................... 2
Safety Instructions ........................................................... 3
Secbon I : InWoduction ............................................ 1 * 1
1.1. Unpacking ....................................................... 1 * 3
1-2. Precautions and recommendations.. ................ 1*3
1-3. Compatible cassette tapes *............................... 1 3
1.4. Available recording/play time......................... 1*4
1.5. Backup facility.. 1*.............................................. 4
Hookup example ..................................................... 1. 5
Section 2 : General Guide.. 2 *...................................... 1
h Section 3 : Formatting a Tape.. -................................ 3 1
3.1. How to format a tape (basic operation)...........3 *1
3.2. Real-time, simultaneous tape format ..............3 *2
Section 4 : Recording.. ............................................. 4 *1
4-1. Recording analog input (basic operation). ...... 4 *1
4-2. Recording digital input.. .................................. 4 *3
4-3. Punch in/out editing.. ...................................... 4 *4
4-4. Crossfade time setting.. ................................... 4 *8
4-5. Preroll time setting.. ........................................ 4 - 8
4.6. Post1011time setting ........................................ 4 *9
4.7. Copying tracks *................................................ 4 9
4.8. Dithering the re-quantization noise.. ............. 4 - 14
Section 5 : Playback.. 5 *............................................... 1
5.1. Basic playback procedure *............................... 5 1
5.2. Shuttling the tape 5 *............................................ 1
5-3. Variable speed play 5 -......................................... 2
5.4. Setting locations.. 5 -
n ............................................ 3
5.5. Repeat play.. 5 ..................................................... 4
5.6. Delaying tracks ............................................... 5 *5
Section 6 : Autolocation.. .......................................... 6 *1
6-1. Autolocating to either of two location points,, 6 *1
6-2. Setting autolocation preroll time.. ................... 6 +1
6-3. The auto play function .................................... 6 *2
Section 7 : Syncing Multiple DA-3%. *...................... 7 1
7-1. Hooking up multiple DA-38s.. 7 *....................... 1
7.2. Selecting a machine ID number.. *....................7 2
7-3. How to sync the slave units to the master..-.. 7 *2
7.4. Offsetting slave units *...................................... 7 3
7-5. Digital dubbing between DA-38s ...................7 *4
Section 6 : Convolling the DA-36 from Menus.. .... 8 * 1
8.1. General.. .......................................................... 8 . 1
8.2. Using the built-in oscillator.. *........................... 8 2
8.3. Initializing the backup memory ...................... 8 *3
8.4. Selecting a TDIF input bit length.................... 8 - 4
Section 9 : Monitor and Other Capabilhies ............ 9 * 1
9-1. Monitor functions.. 9 *.......................................... 1
9.2. Capabilities to assist in saving your time........ 9 *3
9.3, To see the system version.. 9 -.............................. 3
Section 10 : Maintenance.. ..................................... 10*1
10.1. Errorratedisplay ........................................ 10*1
10-2. Cleaning the heads.. .................................... 10*2
10.3. Head drum utilized time display.. ............... 10*3
Section ii : Appendices ........................................ 11- 1
11.1. Specifications .............................................. 11*1
11.2. Optional accessories 11*................................... 2
11.3. Error messages explained ........................... 11*3

SECTlON3: FORMATTINGATAPE
Audio can be recorded while formatting a tape (discussed
later). But it’s wise of you to format the tape from the
beginning all the way to the end before recording audio.
The tape formatting process writes sub-code data such as
ABS time and satup data such as ATF (Automatic Track
Finding) signal onto a non-audio sectionof the tape.
13-1. How to Format a Tape (basic operation)
f Switch power ON
You’llnotice that a machine ID number (” td na /”
for example) and other indications appear on the
display.
See Section 7 for an explanation of the machine ID
number.
2 Insert a new Hi8 tape into the DA-38,
“- I !l!Rd - - ” will appear on the display to show
that the tape isbeing loaded.
IMPORTANT
l The DA-36 is designed to operate on/y with Hi&3
video tapes. You cannot use any other tapes.
l The DA-36 automatkx//y ejects tapes thinner than
8.5 pm : t50-minute or longer tapes.
3 Press REW to rewind the tape all the way to the
beginning.
When the beginning is reached, “b o k ” (beginningof
tape) will appear on the display.
4 Press the FORMATes witch.
The FORMAT indicator will start blinking cm the
display.
3.1
l Unless you perform the next step (5) within five
seconds, the formatting mode is disabled and the
FORMAT indicator turns off. Should this occur,
press the FORMAT/Fs witch again,
7
l0
5 While the FORMAT indicator is blinking, press the
FORMAT/Fs switch once more.
The FORMAT indicator will glow solid to show that
the unit is ready to format the tape.
* If you want to cancel the format ready mode at this
stage,press CLEAR and the FORMAT LED turns off.
6 The FORMATIFs switch now acts as a sampling rate
selectionwitch, so press the switch until the required
rate shows on the display.
.‘Y,
NOTE
ifa d@ita/ signa/ is fed into the DA-38 (as indicated by
the DIGITAL IN indicator /it on the disp/ay), the unit is
automatically switched to operate at an incoming
sampling rate, and the Fs switch does not operate.
7 To start formatting the tape, hold RECORD and press
PLAY,
The RECORD button will light up. When the tape is
formatted all the way to the end, it will automatically
rewind, stoppingat “fl!!flcfiflE”, fi
Suggestion : You can record audio on a track selected
by the REC FUNCTION switch while at the same
time the tape isformatted.
IMPORTANT
l Be we to format the tape from beginning to end in
one continuous stroke. Do not interrupt the format
process.
l When e tape is being formatted, any transpoti
controls do not operate except for STOP
l When a tape is being formatted, you cannot
change the sampling rate. (This fs also true when
audio recording is in progress.)
l When the display shows a negative ABS time,
audio cannot be recorded, es confirmed by a blink-
ing RECORD LED.

SECTION 3 : FORMATTING A TAPE
13-2. Real-time. Simultaneous Tane Format 1
In some cases, when recording a live concert using multi-
ple DA-38s for instance, you may want to format tapes
while at the same time you record audio on them, for later
master/slave sync play.
I 481
Follow these steps to perform the real-time, simultaneous
tape foxmat :
0 Hook up a mutiple DA-38 sync system a basic example
of which is shown in Section 7.
Speaking of Remembering :
l The DA-38 is designed to operate only with Hi8
video tapes. Youcannot use any other tapes.
g Switch power ON,
l The DA-38 automatically ejects tapes thinner than
8.5 pm : l5Ominute or longer tapes.
A machine ID number (” so! nCC \” for example) 7 Press REW to rewind the tape all the way to the
and other indications will appear on the display. beginning.
Assigning e machine ID number to each of the DA-38s
p (steps 2 through 5)
2 Press SHlFT and the associated LED will start blink-
ing to show that all the double function keys are
switched to offer their lower blue-labelled functions.
3 By repeatedly pressing MENU, access an ID selection
menu, which looks like this:
4 Enter the desired machine ID number by pressing the
A and V keys.
l Enter ” /” on the DA-38 you intend to use as the
master machine.
0 Enter other numbers (“2 ” to ” \6 “) on each of the
slave DA-38s.
IMPORTAA’T
Assign c different number to each of the DA-38s.
5 Press SHlFT and the display will be switched back to
show the ABS time,
6 Insert a new Hi8 tape into each of the DA-38s
The display will show “- -L ERd - “while the tape
is being loaded.
When the beginning is reached, “b o t ” will appear
on the display.
8 Press CHASE on each of the slave DA-38s to put
them into sync mode and the associated LED starts
blinking.
4%
OEL
L---l
cl
9 Press the FORMAT/Fs switch on all of the DA-3%.
The FORMAT indicator will start blinking on the
display of every DA-38.
0 If you don’tperform the next step within 5 seconds,
the tape format mode will be disabled and the
FORMAT indicator will turn off. Should this occur,
press the FORMAT key again.
3-2

SECTION 3 : FORMATTING A TAPE
f0 Press the FORMAT switch once more on every DA-
38.
The FORMAT indicator will glow solidto show that
the unit is ready to format the tape.
* If you want to cancel the tape format ready mode at
this stage, press CLEAR, and the FORMAT indicator
will turn off.
11 The FORMAT/Fs witch now acti as a samplingrate
selection switch, so press the switch until the
required rate shows on the display.
IMPORTANT
it is imperative that a/f the slave machines are refer-
enced to the same sampling rate a.s the master.
Check to .see one and the same sampling rate indica-
for is fit on all the units’ displays.
l If you select a different rate from the one selected
on the master unit, “E. Li Ec ” will appear on
that slave’sdisplay.
NOTE
When recording from the digital input, the DA-38 is
automatically switched to operate at an incoming
samp/ing rate. Your selection is overridden and the Fs
switch does not operate.
12 Put the tracks to record on into Record Ready mode
by pressing the tracks’associated REC FUNCTION
switches,Their LEDs will start blitiing.
13 On the master DA-38, hold RECORD and press
PLAY,and botb the audio recording process and the
tape formatting process will start on all the DA-38s
(RECORD LED lit).
When the end of the tapes isreached, they will auto-
matically rewind, stoppingat “~6!~~~ c:c “.
IMPORTANT
l Let the tape run until the end is reached wan if
audio recording is complete at an intermediate
point of the tape. Interrupting the tape format
process resu/ts in ABS time discontinuities, making
proper operation impossible.
l The tapes you intend to wa for synchronization
a/so must be formatted from the beginning a// the
way to the end in one continuous stroke. Tapes
which were formatted in multiple strokes or were
recorded in Assemble mode and in consequence
formatted in multiple strokes could lead to unstable
synchronization when they transit from ona format-
ted section to the next formatted section. Such
tapes must be re-formatted from beginning to end if
you want to use.
. During the tape formatting process, any transport
controls do not operate except for STOR
l You cannot change the sampling rate during the
formatting/recording process.
l When the disp/ay shows a negative ABS time,
audio cannot be recorded, as indicated by a blink-
ing RECORD button.
3.3

SECTlON4: RECORDING
This section of the manual provides information on basic
recording procedures, punch-in/out procedure and others.
4-1. Recording Analog Input (basic operation)
Therearethree ways to start recording. Use whichever
one is most suitable to you.
0 Hold RECORD and press PLAY.
. Press REC FUNCTION.
l Press an optional RC-30P footwitch.
They are explained in that order in the following.
0 When recording on a newly fomatted tape, rewind it all
the way to the beginning and allow a blank leader of 30
seconds or more of ABS time before the beginning of
recording. Recordings close to the beginning or the end
could cause drop outs. Also, create a recorded blank
trailer at the end of recording; and before continuing
recording, rewind the tape to the recorded blank trailer,
l When recording live concerts or others you have no
chance of retaking, it is wise of you to clean the heads
in advance.
(1) Using RECORD and PLAY
Hook up the DA-3S(s) and other devices by referencing to
a hook-up example shown in Section 1if necessary.
1 2 3 5
<p
WARNING
Make all connections with power OF,6
1 When your system is all hooked up, turn on each DA-
38.
A machine ID number (” 9d na 1” for example)
and other indications will appear on each DA-38%
display.
2 In%17a pre-fomatted new Hi8 tape intoeach DA-38.
While the tape is being loaded the display will show
f!..Lgflol__u,
IMPORTANT NOTICES
l The DA-36 is designed to operate on/y with Hi8
video cassette tapes You cannot use any other
tapes.
. We recommend that you uee preform&ted new
(blank) Hi8 tapes for new recordings.
l Do not use a tape once used in any different
machines from the DA-36 or DA-68 : a tape used
for video recording for example.
l /f the tape in we is writeprotected, a ‘+Ec ,nh , ”
message wi// appear on the disp/ay (in step 6
below). If you want to use this tape, open the write
protect tab. If you try to record on a write-protected
tape, the DA-38 goe.s into F/ay mode.
l The DA-38 automatics//y ejects tapes thinner than
8.5 pm : 150-minute or longer tapes.
3 Check to see that VARI SPEED is not enabled on any
DA-38, as indicatedby the associatedLED turned off.
Recording at variable speeds is referred to in Section
5, paragraph 5-3.
4 Put the tracks to record on into Record Readv mode
by pressing the corresponding REC FUNkTION
switches. The associated LEDs will start blinking.
5 Adjust the output level of the source unit or of the
mixer in we as high as possible, without causing
overscale reading on any DA-38’smeter.
6 To start recording, hold RECORD and press PLAY,

SECTlON4: RECOROING
Suggestion : Each time you start recording, that
point is automatically stored into nwnory, erasing the
previous one. Youcan prognzm theDA-38 topunch in
at that point, as discussed later,psgs 4 - 7,paragraph
(4).
7 To tenninate recording, press STOP.
Suggestion : Each time recording is stopped, that
point is automatically stored into nwnory, erasing the
previous one. You con px~gram the DA-38 to punch
out at that point, as discussed later, page 4 * 7,par-a-
wph (4).
When you have. the DA-38 drop out of record to
rewind or fast-forward too, that point is saved.
8 To prevent the tracks from accidentally erasing, press
the tracks’ associated REC FUNCTION switches off.
NOTES
l Youcannot change the samp/ing rate when record-
ing is inprogress.
. /fYoustart a new recording at the same timeas the
tape format from the end of the existing recording
(“assemble’?, the tape is recorded and formatted at
the previous sampling rate. When preparing to
record from the end of the previous take and to
continue to format the tape, first rewind the tape to
a formatted silence section. Avoid staffing record-
ing and formatting from a non-recorded and
unformatted blank section.
(2) REC FUNCTION-triggered Recording
l For the hookup, refer to a diagram shown in Section l if
necessary.
l Understand the Important Notices on the previous page.
-,
0 Adjust the mixer’s level controls or the output level of
the source unit so high as possible without causing
overscale reading on the DA-38’s meter.
0 Perfom steps I through 3 under the paragraph, Using
RECORD and PLAY.
Then, follow these steps.
1
2
3
Making sure that all the REC FUNCTION switches
are released, hold RECORD and press PLAY. The
tape will start playing and the RECORD button will
start blinking.
Press the REC FUNCTION switch for the track(s)
you want to record on. The pressed REC FUNCTION
switches’ associated LEDs will light solidly, and the
RECORD button the sane.
. If the ta.pe is write-protected, the deck goes into
Play mode.
To stop recording, press STOP.
4*2

SECTION 4:RECOROING
(3)Footswitch-controlledRecording
If youarerecordingaloneandaretoobusyplayingan
instrumentto pushtheswitches,theuseof theoptional remote footswitch(RC-30P) is really handy,
Thismethod of recordingis recommended especiallyfor
punching in andoutof record.Thepunch-in/out proce- dareis explainedlater, underthecorresponding heading.
l PlugtheRC-30P footswitchintotheREMOTE PUNCH-IN/OUT jackon therearof theDA-38. For
otherconnections, referto a hookup exampleshownin
Section1.
l PerformstepsI through5 undertheparagraph,Using
RECORD andPLAY.
Then,proceedas follows:
1 Pressthefootswitchandthetapewillstartplaying.
2 To startrecording,pressthefootswitchoncemore.
l If thetapeis write-protected,theDA-38doesnot
go intoRecord mode,andremainsin Playmode.
3 To stoprecording,pressSTOP.
4 To insure againstaccidentalerasure, presstheREC
FUNCTION switches off.
Suggestion: TheDA-38remembersbothtk record startpoint andtheendpoint ; andYOUCCVIpqq-amthe
unittodropintoandoutofrecordatthose points.For
&tails,set?page4 - 7, paragraph (4).
4-2. RecordingOigilal Input
Theprocedureis similarto thatforRecordingAnalog Input, withtheseexceptions:
l PresstheDIGITALIN switch.TheindicatorDIGITAL
IN willlighton thedisplay.
0 In themostcases, theDA-38is referencedto thesame
clockAs thesour&digital unit,so :
0 Plugtheclockfromthesource unitintotheWORD
SYNCIN jackon therearof theDA-38.
0 PresstheWORDIN switch,TheindicatorWORD
IN willlighton thedisplayto showthattheDA-38is
slaved to theexternal clock.
0 Whenrecordingfromthedigitalinput, thereis no need
of adjustingtherecordinglevel,
IMPORTANT
l Ifeitheroftwosamplingrateindicatorsblinkson
thedisplay,itindicates thata different sampling
ratethantheonepresentonthetapeiscomingin.
Then, w-formatthetapewiththecorrectsampling
rate* oruseanothertape.
l An‘?.d to” warningappearsonthedisplayifyour
digita/ source(DA-38/DA+?8) ordigita/ interface unit(/F-&?&?AE/fF-88SD)isnotcorrected totheDA-
38byusing theoptionalFWL38Dcable.
4-3

SECTION 4 : RECORDING
14-3. Punch In/Out Editing I
This section of the manual provides information on
rehearsal or trial punch in/out and actual punch in/out
procedures.
Quite often, it becomes apparent that the recorded mater-
ial contains a mistake or could be improved. One obvious
way to correct thisproblem is to x-record the entire track,
but, if the mistake is minor, this is not practical or neces-
sary. You can use the technique known as Punch-in or
Insert recording. This provides a way to re-record only a
small part of a track, thus covering the mistake, or to
record additional material on a blank section of a track,
augmenting the original material.
For smooth punch-ins (dropping into record) and punch-
outs (dropping out of record) we recommend you the use
of the optional RC-30P footswitch. This streamlines the
process and you can control the timing of punching in and
out with ease. Especially if you are recording alone and
are busy playing an instnnnent, it isreally handy.
The DA-38 has a Rehearsal function, allowing you to
make a trial punch in without actually recording on to
tape, And, when you are ready, you can “se an Auto
Punch-in/out function to have the deck actually drop into
record and drop out to play exactly at pre-selected points.
The DA-38 ensures seamless punch-ins and outs with a
built-in crossfade action. The crossfade time defaults to
IO milliseconds. If you want to change this time, refer to
paragraph 4-4.
Let’s say we’vediscovered a small error on track 2, here’s
how to fix it.
In Point Out Point
w Time
(I) Rehearsal
. Plug the mic or instrument as required intochannel 2.
1 Press the track 2’sREC FUNCTION switch.
The associated LED will start blinking to show that
track 2 isrecord-enabled.
,--X
2 Press the INSERT switch.
The associated LED will light to show that an Insert
Monitormode isenabled.
3 Press the RHSL switch. r-x
‘Ihe associated LED will start blinking to show that
the unit is inRehearsal Ready mode.
4 Press PLAY to start playing the tape.
5 When the point you want to punch in the retake is
reached, press RECORD.
That point is saved to memory ; the monitor is
switched from tape to input;and the RECORD button
is blinking.
4*4