Tascam DA-38 manual

TASCAM TEAC Professional Division DA-38 Digital Multitrack Recorder K--l t OWNER’S MANUAL I DOOZ45OOB[...]

SECTION1 : INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing the TASCAM DA-38 Digital Multitrack Recorder. The DA-38 is a product in the direct line of the worldwide successful DA-88 and w&designed to meet the needs of video/film production, broadcast production, recording studios, project studios, and the musician, Among the important features of DA-38 are [...]

SECTION 1 : INTRODUCTION I Table of Contents I Important Safety Precautions .......................................... 2 Safety Instructions ........................................................... 3 Secbon I : InWoduction ............................................ 1 * 1 1.1. Unpacking ....................................................... 1 [...]

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 section [...]

SECTION 3 : FORMATTING A TAPE 1 3-2. 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 [...]

SECTION 3 : FORMATTING A TAPE f0 Press the FORMAT switch once more on every DA- 38. The FORMAT indicator will glow solid to 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 sampling rate selectio[...]

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) There are three 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 footwit[...]

SECTlON4: RECOROING Suggestion : Each time you start recording, that point is automatically stored into nwnory, erasing the previous one. You can prognzm the DA-38 to punch 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 s[...]

SECTION 4 : RECOROING (3) Footswitch-controlled Recording If you are recording alone and are too busy playing an instrument to push the switches, the use of the optional remote footswitch (RC-30P) is really handy, This method of recording is recommended especially for punching in and out of record. The punch-in/out proce- dare is explained later, u[...]

SECTION 4 : RECORDING 1 4-3. 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 this problem is to x-record the entire track, but[...]

SECTlON4: RECOROING 6 When the point where yo” want to punch out of record is reached, press PLAY. That point is saved to memory ; and the RHSL LED that was blinking glows solid to show that the “nit is now in Rehearsal mode,, After about 3 seconds of play (this post-roll time is adjustable, as discussed later), the tape will rewind, automatica[...]

SECTiON4: RECORDING 3 Press MEMO I and the display will momentarily read like this before indicating the current punch in point. 4 You’ll notice that a period is blinking in the hours column to show that you can key in the desired number of hours using the A and V keys. 0 Each time you press MEMO 1, the blinking period moves to the next cohmm (H,[...]

SECTlON4: RECOROING (3) Auto Punch In and Out Autolocation When you perform the following steps, the original take is permanently lost.. Repeat the rehearsal until yoke are sure your performance and the in/out points are correct. 0 Pressing the LOC I key autolocates the tape to a point 5 seconds (or user selected time) lower than the punch in point[...]

SECTION 4 : RECOROING 1 4-4. Crossfade Time Setting I 1 4-5. Preroll Time Setting Seamless punch in and out of record is ensured by a crossfade action which is factory preset to 10 millisec- onds. You can change this time up to 90 ms at a menu, in 10 ins steps. 1 Press SHIFT and the associated LED will start blink- ing to show that all the double f[...]

SECTION 4 : RECOROING 1 4-6. Postroll Time Settino 4-7. Copyino Tracks The DA-38 is factory preset to play for 3 seconds after dropping out of record. You can change the time up to 59 minutes 59 seconds at a menu, in 1 second steps. Out Point - 32 1 Press SHIFT and the associated LED will start blink- ing to show that all the double function keys a[...]

SECTlON4: RECORDING (1) Copying in Stereo Pairs As an example, let’s copy tracks 3 and 4 to tracks 5 and 6 in stereo. 9 18 46 1 Press SHIFT 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. 2 Press the TRK COPY key and the display will read ?r.cP OFP. [...]

SECTION 4 : RECORDING (2) Copying Tracks of One DA-38 to Tracks of Another AS EUI example, M’s copy track 2 of first unit to track 1 of second unit 9 8 275 . Hook up a &vo DA-38 sync system. If necessary, refer to Section 7. l Be sure to connect the units by using the optional PW- 88D dubbing cable. WARNING Each time you press the A key, the [...]

SECTlON4: RECOROING (3) Using the Track Copy Capability as a Patch Bay The track copy capability allows you to select sources and tracks to record on, so you can record a specific input to any tracks without going to the trouble of repatching the input. As an example, let’s record analog input 2 to track 1, and analog input 1 to track 2. 9 j846 l[...]

SECTlON4: RECORDING (4) To Switch Off the Track Copy Mode 23 Press SHIFT and the associated LED will start blink- ing to show that all the double function keys are switched to offer their lower blwlabelled functions. 2 Press the TRK COPY key and the display will show the last track copy setting (“k r.c P.? r :” for exam- ple). Depending on the [...]

SECTION 4 : RECORDING 1 4-8. Ditherina the Re-wantization Noise 1 The DA-38 has a 18 bit A/D converter, a quantim for changing analog data into its digital equivalent, The DA-38 can also receive digital data of up to 24 bits, but it records and plays using I6 bit patterns, which means that it is necessary to further convert the 18 or 24 bit data in[...]

SECTlON5: PLAYBACK This section of the manual is divided into six major subheadings : basic playback procedure, shuttling the tape, variable speed playback, setting locating points, repeat playback, and delaying tracks. 1 5-1. Basic Playback Procedure I 0 Hook up your system by referring to a hook-up example shown in Section 1 if necessary. WA MING[...]

SECTION 5 : PLAYBACK 1 5-3. Variable Speed Play The DA-38 provides a plus or minus 6.0% variation (in 0.1% steps) to the tape speed both in record and play modes. 1 Press the VARI SPEED key. Its associated LED will light solidly while at the same time the SHIFT LED will start blinking and the cnrrent pitch change will show on the display, like this[...]

SECTION 5: PLAYBACK 1 5-4. Settin Locations You can specify two points (MEMO 1 and 2) on the tape to which you want the DA-38 to autolocate. You can also have the DA-38 continually play a segment between two MEMO points. You can specify points on the tape in either of two ways : l Hold SHJFT and hit MEMO 1/2 on the fly during the recording or playb[...]

SECTION 5: PLAYBACK I 5-5. Repeat Play You can have the DA-38 play between two MEMO points over and over again. If yoke haven’t done yet, create a play loop (as discussed above) before proceeding with the following steps. 1 Press REPEAT. (You don’t need to press PLAY.) 0 As you press REPEAT, the DA-38 will start playing upon locating the start [...]

SECTION 5: PLAYBACK 5-6. Oelaying Tracks The track delay function corrects the time discrepancies The display is cleared if you hold either the A or between each track or may be used for other effects. the V key and press the other. Adjustable range is from -200 samples (*) to 7200 samples, in 1 sample steps, or from -4 ms to 150 ms, in 1 rns steps[...]

SECTlON6:AUTOLOCATlON This section of the manual provides infomation on autolocation procedure, along with autolocation preroll setting and auto play procedures. 6-1. Autolocatino to Either of Two Location Points You can have the DA-38 autolocate to either MEMO 1 or MEMO 2 points. We suppose yen have already set one or two MEMO points. Setting loca[...]

SECTION 6 : AUTOLOCATION 1 6-3. The Auto Plav Function You can have the DA-38 automatically start playing after completing autolocation. Autobcation m Play b I I t._ ” A MEMO i (MEMO 2) 1 Press PLAY after a LOC key and the PLAY button will start blinking, and when the MEMO I or 2 point (or user selected starting point of a preroll) is reached, th[...]

SECTION 8 : CONTROLLING THE OA-38 FROM MENUS _~______“““~““.“~“~” ..” ........................................ ................................ -- ........ 1 8-1. General I The DA-38 allows you to control various functions from menus. The following IO menus are provided : 1 t d fth. OFF 4 t b.E.r. OFF 1 Press SHIFT and the associa[...]

SECTION 8 : CONTROLLING THE DA-38 FROM MENUS At this me”” yo” can select a TDIF input bit length among three options : 16, ‘20, and 24, as discussed later in this section of the manual, Factory preset is 8, h ,a, This is for switching the dithering function on or off, as discussed in Section 4. Factory preset is % F F I’, At this me”?[...]

SECTION 8 : CONTROLLING THE OA-38 FROM MENUS (3) How to Record the Sine Wave Tone on Tape l The built-in oscillator must be switched on at the “0 5 l” mm”. 1 Press the REC FUNCTION switch of the track you want to record on. The associated LED will start blinking. 2 To begin recording the sine wave tone from the oscil- lator, hold RECORD and p[...]

SECTION 8 : CONTROLLING THE DA-38 FRDM MENUS 8-4. Selectiql a TDIF Input 8it Length To send and receive digital data through the TDIF-1 I/O port on the rear panel of the unit, you have to select a bit length in accordance to the one of an incoming digital data. The DA-38 offers three options : 16, 20, and 24. Factory preset is 16. Follow these step[...]

SECTION 9 : MONITOR AND OTHER CAPABILITIES This section explains the DA-38’s capabilities that assist i” streamlining the recording, playback, and synchroniza- tion operations. 1 9-1. Monitor Functions This paragraph explains the following monitor functions : . All Input l Insert l Auto Input l Shuttle Relationship between those functions and t[...]

SECTION 9 : MONITOR AND OTHER CAPABILITIES (3) Auto Input monitor This causes the inputs whose corresponding tracks are When you rotate the SHUTTLE knob for reel rocking to record enabled to be sent directly to the same numbered locate specific points on the tape, what you hear depends outputs whenever the transport goes into any other modes on whe[...]

SECTION 9 : MONITOR AND OTHER CAPABILITIES 1 9-2. Caoabilities to Assist In Savino Your Time 1 1 9-3. To See the System Version When entering the following numbers by “sing the A and the v keys, yo” can promptly clear the currently displayed number or speed “p the scrolling of numbers. l Punch in and out points (p.4 * 6) 0 Punch in preroll ti[...]

SECTION11 :APPENOlCES 1 11-3. Error Messages Explained When referenced No clock is coming into the WORD IN, oming clock’s frequency is Plug in the correct clock. another DA-38 selected on the slave. Turn off the unit, then turn on it beyond the limit and winding problems occurred. us?. Turn off the unit, and turn on it before continuing to use th[...]

Other Messages no tRPE No tape is inserted into the unit. SECTlONll:APPENDlCES “0 R.55-t The tape is not formatted. rEc ,nh , The tape is write-protected. 11.4[...]

h TASCAM TEAC Professional Division DA-38 h[...]