Tascam DA-98HR Owner's Manual

Also see for DA-98HR: Setup guide Service manual

Contents

Tascam DA-98HR Owner's Manual Manual pdf 32 page image

6 – Basic Operations–Formatting a tape32 TASCAM DA-98HRNOTEIf varispeed is set to on (7.5, “Vari speed (pitch control)”) orFS shift is selected (9.4.1, “Pull up and pull down (Fsshift)”, the clock source is set to the same as the Wide set-ting (i.e. the LC oscillator), regardless of what settings aremade in this menu.6.2 Formatting a tapeBefore you use a tape in the DA-98HR, you mustfirst format it. This marks internal synchronizationpatterns for the servo to follow on subsequent passesthrough the tape as well as the subcode data (ABS).No audio data is normally recorded during a format-ting operation (but see below).When formatting, the tape is prepared for use in HR(high-resolution; 24-bit) or normal mode (16-bit res-olution).The formatting operation also determines the sam-pling frequency or sampling frequencies that will beused on the tape, and hence, the number of availabletracks (see 6.2.1, “Available tracks” below).While formatting is proceeding, you cannot performany other transport operation except stopping thetape.You cannot change the sampling frequencies or therecording resolution while formatting is in progress.NOTEOnce you have started to format a tape, it is strongly sug-gested that you allow the format process to continue to theend of the tape. Changing the sampling frequencies, thenumber of tracks, or the recording resolution in the middleof the tape will almost certainly lead to problems later on.Even if you do not change any of these parameters, butstop and start the tape in the middle of a format process,there will be a discontinuity which will produce unpredict-able results if you attempt to record over it.6.2.1 Available tracksBecause of the way in which the DA-98HR recordstracks at sampling frequencies which are differentfrom the base frequency, the number of tracks whichare available for recording varies according to thesampling frequency selected.The AVAILABLE TRACK 8 indicators above eachtrack meter show the current status of the corre-sponding track. When the indicator is unlit, the trackis not available for use. When red, the track will berecorded at four times the base sampling frequency(quad-frequency), when orange at twice the basesampling frequency (dual-frequency), and whengreen, at the base sampling frequency.The different combinations of available tracks are asfollows:These combinations are selected as explained belowin 6.2.2, “The format process”.Note that all sampling frequencies are related to abase frequency, which may be either 44.1 kHz or48 kHz. It is not possible to mix sampling frequen-cies based on different base frequencies on the sametape.All track combinations other than the eight base-fre-quency track combination must be in HR (24-bit)mode. It is not possible to make 16-bit dual or quad-frequency recordings using the DA-98HRNOTESee 7.10.3, “Setting the high-frequency AES/EBU I/Otransfer mode” for details of how to output high-frequencyAES/EBU data.6.2.2 The format process1 Switch on the DA-98HR and load a tape intothe tape loading slot 2. As the tape is loadedand threaded, the tape counter shows--LOAD--.For details of tapes that you can use in the DA-98HR, see 1.5, “Recommended tapes”.2 Press REW T to take the tape to the beginning.When the beginning of the tape is reached, thetape counter shows BoT (“beginning of tape”).3 Press the FORMAT/Fs key 7. The indicatorstarts blinking. Press the FORMAT/Fs keyagain within five seconds. The indicator thenlights steadily.If you do not press the FORMAT/Fs key twicewithin five seconds, the indicator goes out. Thisis a feature designed to stop you formatting atape accidentally.Track1 2 3 4 5 6 7 84x 4x — — — — — —2x 2x 2x 2x — — — —2x 2x 2x base base — — —2x 2x base base base base — —base base base base base base base base