Tascam DR100 Mk3 User manual

Tascam DR100 Mk3
Setup Guide

Contents
Tascam Dr-100mkII – buttons and functions – [Page 1]
Setup of Tascam – how to reset to basic settings - [Page 2]
1. Initialising the Tascam
2. On/Off switch
3. SD card
4. Date and Time
Setup of Tascam – the record settings - [Page 3 - 4]
1. Setting the file format - [Page 3]
2. Setting recording input sources - [Page 3]
3. Phantom Power - [Page 3]
4. Setting where to save files - [Page 4]
The Recording Process - [Page 4]
1. Preparing to make a recording
2. Making a recording
Force reset function - [Page 4]

Page | 1
Tascam Dr-100mkII – buttons and functions
1. HOME - return to the Home Screen
2. LIMITER – Limiter adjusts gain so that if the input
level is very loud there will be less distortion in the
recording.
3. Fn – Opens the function menu. That can be used
to alter or view certain properties of the currently
selected file.
4. MENU - accesses menu options
5. |◀◀ - If on home screen goes back through files.
If on menus, goes back in the menu.
6. ▶▶| - If on home screen goes forward through
files. If on menus, goes forward in the menu.
7. STOP – stops recording and makes a new file. Stop
or pause playback. Used as ‘NO’ in a confirmation
menu screen.
8. PLAY/PAUSE - When on home screen plays the
currently selected file. When recording, pauses the
recording but does not create a new file.
9. INPUT LEVEL - Sets which input channel can be
altered with the side wheel. Left, Stereo (Both), or
Right.
10. MIC PAD – quietens the input by setting a -25db
gain pad on the input. Useful if recording loud
sounds. If under normal circumstances
recordings seem very quiet make sure this
is off.
11. ENTER/MARK - Used as ‘YES’ or ‘CONFIRM’
in the menus. During playback, press and
hold to add mark a clip.
12. WHEEL – used to scroll through the menus
and files
13. RECORD – press once to enter record standby, press again to enter recording mode.
14. On/off button – Press and hold to turn the Tascam on/off.
15. USB – a USB Micro connection used to connect the Tascam to a PC and can also be used to charge the
internal battery
16. Line output – Minijack line out female connector for line signals. This can connect to a DSLR to enable
the Tascam to become the Mic for the DSLR.
17. Headphone input – Mini jack headphone input.
18. Headphone/Speaker LEVEL – changes the headphone/ speaker volume. This is separate to the input
volume and will not change the input level on the mic, only the output level to the headphones or
speaker.
19. HOLD - Hold negates the use of any of the other buttons from working, preventing accidental pressing
of menus. Good option for hands free recording.
20. SPEAKER – Turns the mono speaker on the front on or off for playback.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Page | 2
Setup of Tascam – how to reset to basic settings
Initialising the Tascam
Initialise resets the Tascam its factory setting. This is useful to reset the Tascam before use incase
another student changed the menus.
To initialise go
•MENU
•SETUP
•INITIALIZE
•Press ENTER for YES
On/Off switch
Press and hold Power button to turn on and off. If this does not work, make sure the hold button is not
switched on.
SD card
There is a slot on the side panel that can be opened. The SD card is then released by pressing down. Be
careful as this can fly out.
Setting the date and time
•SYSTEM
•DATE / TIME
•Turn the wheel to move the cursor to the item - press
enter
•Turn the wheel to change the value - press enter
•Turn the wheel to move the cursor to OK

Page | 3
Setup of Tascam – the record settings
Setting the file format
It is important to understand what file format the Tascam is recording in as this directly alters the
quality of the recording.
To change the record format go;
•MENU
•REC SETTING
•FORMAT default to 16 bit, press ENTER and use the Wheel to change to 24bit, use the
|◀◀ (rewind) to apply
•Sample rate, change to 48KHz
Setting recording input sources
There are seven main input settings available on the Tascam. To access these go;
•MENU
•I/O SETTING
•SOURCE
This will bring up the list of inputs available.
i) Uni mic - records a stereo mix in one direction with main mics on top
ii) Omni mic – records a stereo mix in 360 degrees
iii) Mic – records via XLR/jack inputs with Phantom Power
iv) Line – records via line signal from a powered line output source.
v) Ext Mic – (External Mic) – records via XLR/Jack inputs for mics requiring plug-in power.
Note: When connecting a dynamic mic or external mic that has its own battery, do not turn plug-in
power on. If plug-in power is on, it could damage the connected mic
vi) Ext Line - (External Line) - records via line signal from a line output source for devices requiring
plug-in power
vii) Digital – digital input source from a digital mixer. Requires a conversion cable.
In most cases the 3 main inputs used on the Tascam are Uni, Omni, and Mic. Uni and Omni are the only
input settings that record a stereo track, the others record mono tracks via the XLR inputs.
Phantom Power
Phantom power gives an external microphone power. Many of the mics we use require this form of
power. If you find a mic not recording this is one of the first things to check.
To turn on phantom power click the PHANTOM switch located on
the bottom panel of the Tascam to the ON position. You should get
a warning on the main screen, press the enter button.
Then from the main home screen go;
•MENU
•I/O
•Make sure PHANTOM VOLT is set to +48 V (or 24)
Note: Do not connect/disconnect mics while phantom power is ON. The loud noise could damage the
TASCAM and your hearing! When battery is low, phantom power cannot be enabled.

Page | 4
Setting where to save files
If you want to control what folder(s) your audio will save to go
•MENU
•BROWSE
•NEW FOLDER
•ENTER/MARK
Alternatively, you can leave this setting alone and it will record to the standard root directory.
The Recording Process
Preparing to make a recording
Press the RECORD button once to access standby (The REC indicator will blink). NOTE: standby recording
is not recording it just activates the recording levels and microphone for you to set before actually
recording.
To adjust the gain, use the INPUT GAIN wheel on the side.
This wheel is an infinity wheel, meaning it will keep being able to be turned. The input gain has a digital
cutoff that can be seen on the screen. This will either be +31.5db with the Mic pad on, or +56.5 db with
the mic pad off.
Use the input level dial to determine which channel to alter with the wheel.
Making a recording
Once fully set up in Standby Record mode press the RECORD once more to record. The light around the
record button should be a solid red to indicate recording. Make sure to press STOP and not Record
again to end the recording.
Pressing record again will only pause the recording and make one long file. STOP creates separate files.
To playback, go back to the home screen and use the |◀◀ ▶▶|buttons to navigate through the files.
Press the Play/Pause button to play the desired file.
Force reset function
Sometimes, the Tascam can get itself soft-locked. This is where it gets trapped in a menu or recording
process and won’t go back or turn off.
If this ever happens you can do a force reboot, press and hold the 'POWER' button for at least 10
seconds while holding down the 'STOP' button at the same time. This will force the unit to turn itself off.