Tascam DR100 MkII User manual

Tascam DR100 MkII
Setup Guide

Contents
Tascam Dr-100mkII – buttons and functions – [Page 1 - 2]
Setup of Tascam – how to reset to basic settings - [Page 3]
1. Initialise the Tascam
2. On/Off switch
3. SD card
4. Date and Time
Setup of Tascam – the record settings - [Page 4]
1. Setting the file format
2. Setting recording input sources
3. Phantom Power
4. Setting where to save files
The Recording Process - [Page 5]
1. Preparing to make a recording
2. Making a recording
Force reset function - [Page 5]

Page | 1
Tascam Dr-100mkII – buttons and functions
1. HOME - return to the Home Screen
2. MENU - accesses menu options
3. I/O Loop - sets the in/out points for looped
playback or clear the points.
4. QUICK – Opens popup menu
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. PB CONTROL - Opens and closes playback
control menu
10. INPUT CONTROL - Sets the inputs for recording
i) XLR – records via XLR/jack inputs
ii) Uni mic - records in one direction with
main mics on top
iii) Omni mic - records in 360
degrees
iv) Line – records via line input
11. WHEEL – used to scroll through the
menus and files
12. ENTER/MARK - Used as ‘YES’ or
‘CONFIRM’ in the menus. During
playback, press and hold to add mark
a clip.
13. AUTO - Used to make various settings automatic. Good option for hands free recording.
14. RECORD – press once to enter record standby, press again to enter recording mode.
15. HOLD -Hold negates the use of any of the other buttons from working, preventing accidental
pressing of menus. Good option for hands free recording.
16. Headphone/SP Output – changes the headphone 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.
17. Headphone input – Mini jack headphone input.
18. Line input – Minijack line in female connector for line signals.
19. 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.
20. USB – a USB Mini connection used to connect the Tascam to a PC and can also be used to charge the
internal battery
21. DC in 5V – If you require fast charging or the Tascam to be plugged in and work for a long period of
time then this connects it to mains power.
22. On/off button – Press and hold to turn the Tascam on/off.
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Page | 2
23. MIC GAIN – Changes mic sensitivity to low,
medium, or high. If the mic seems really quiet
or is peaking when it shouldn’t there is a
chance that this is the reason.
24. +48V off/on – +48v, often also called 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.
i) If you set +48V to ‘ON’ there
should be a sign on the LCD screen
asking you to confirm this. (this may
have happened as soon as you turned
it on) just press ENTER and phantom
power should then be active.
25. AUTO/LIMITER – in the input menu, the limiter
can be activated or deactivated. If activated
there are two functions available.
i) Auto automatically adjusts the volume
to make it as even as possible.
ii) Limiter adjusts gain so that if the input
level is very loud there will be less
distortion in the recording.
26. SPEAKER – Turns the mono speaker on the
front on or off for playback.
27. ¼ inch screw thread – Allows the Tascam to be
mounted on a stand.
28. Battery holder – the Tascam has both an internal
battery and 2 AA batteries.
29. XLR INPUTS – When plugging in a mic or line you
use the XLR inputs. Left and Right are 2 separate
mono channels allowing for 2 track recording.
i) Note: when removing the XLRs please
make sure you press the silver release button.
30. MIC/LINE 1 – used to set the input type of XLR or Line in. It is advised to keep this on XLR as there is
rarely a need for a line input.
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Page | 3
Setup of Tascam – how to reset to basic settings
Initialise 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 top panel that can be lifted up. The SD card is then released by pressing down. Be
careful as this can fly out.
Date and Time
•MENU
•DATE/TIME
•Use |◀◀ ▶▶|to move highlighted area and use wheel to change the time.

Page | 4
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 4 main input settings available
i) XLR – records via XLR inputs
ii) Uni mic - records in one direction with main mics on top
iii) Omni mic - records in 360 degrees
iv) Line – records via line input
Omni and Uni are the only modes that innately record in stereo.
For recording with an external microphone and boom pole go to;
•MENU, INPUT SETTINGS, scroll down to MIC
•Make sure the TYPE is MONO
•Input selector is on the front panel, make sure it is set to XLR
•On the bottom panel, make sure the switch is set to mic
Phantom Power
Most departmental mics require power in order to work, this is sometimes referenced as phantom
power or simply as +48V. The phantom power switch is on the back of the Tascam, +48V, turn to on.
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.

Page | 5
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 wheels on the side. The internal wheel is Right channel the
external wheel is the Left channel.
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 Play/Pause
to end the recording.
Play/Pause 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.