Contents

1 Introduction to the DA-98HR
- 1.1 Unpacking
- 1.2 Features
- 1.3 Using this manual
  - 1.3.1 How this manual is organized
  - 1.3.2 Typographic conventions
- 1.4 Notes and precautions
  - 1.4.1 Clock source in a digital studio
  - 1.4.2 Confidence replay
  - 1.4.3 Environmental conditions
  - 1.4.4 Installing the DA-98HR
  - 1.4.5 Electrical considerations
  - 1.4.6 Condensation
- 1.5 Recommended tapes
  - 1.5.1 Tape brands
  - 1.5.2 Available recording and playback time
2 Front and rear panels
- 2.1 Front Panel controls
  - 1 Power switch
  - 2 Tape loading slot
  - 3 EJECT key
  - 4 CONFIDENCE MODE key and indicator
  - 5 Fs indicators
  - 6 HR MODE key and indicator
  - 7 FORMAT/Fs key and indicator
  - 8 AVAILABLE TRACK indicators
  - 9 Peak meters
  - A Tape counter and status indicators
  - B Display screen
  - C INPUT PATCH key and indicator
  - D AES/EBU key and indicator
  - E CHASE key and indicator
  - F LOCAL DISABLE (F1) key and indicator
  - G CLEAR (F2) key
  - H PREROLL (F3) and indicator
  - I AUTO PLAY (F4) key and indicator
  - J MEMO 1 (F5) key
  - K MIXDOWN (F6) key and indicator
  - L RHSL (F7) key and indicator
  - M AUTO PUNCH (F8) key and indicator
  - N REPEAT (F9) key and indicator
  - O LOC 1 (F10) key
  - P MEMO 2 (+/) key
  - Q 10KEY key and indicator
  - R LOC 2 (PRESET) key
  - S SHIFT key and indicator
  - T REW key
  - U F FWD key
  - V STOP key
  - W PLAY key
  - X RECORD key
  - Y CURSOR keys
  - Z ENTER key
  - a ESCAPE key
  - b DATA ENTRY key and indicator
  - c JOG/SHUTTLE key and indicator
  - d Data Entry/Jog and Shuttle controls
  - e REC FUNCTION keys and indicators
  - f INPUT MONITOR keys and indicators
  - g ALL SAFE key and indicator
  - h ALL INPUT key and indicator
  - i AUTO MON key and indicator
  - j CLOCK key and indicators
  - k TC REC key and indicator
- 2.2 Rear Panel connectors
  - l TIME CODE (IN and OUT)
  - m RS-422
  - n VIDEO (IN/THRU)
  - o WORD SYNC (IN/OUT/THRU (AUTO TERM))
  - p DIGITAL (AES/EBU)
  - q MIDI IN/OUT/THRU
  - r CONTROL I/O
  - s REMOTE IN/SYNC IN
  - t SYNC OUT
  - u TDIF-1 (DIGITAL I/O)
  - v METER UNIT
  - w ~ IN
3 Connections
- 3.1 Audio connection
  - 3.1.1 Analog audio connections (optional IF-AN98HR)
  - 3.1.2 Digital audio connections (using TDIF-1)
  - 3.1.3 Digital audio connections (using AES/EBU)
- 3.2 Synchronization connections
  - 3.2.1 Analog timecode connections
  - 3.2.2 Video connections
  - 3.2.3 Word sync clock connections
- 3.3 Control connections
  - 3.3.1 RS-422 connector
  - 3.3.2 MIDI connectors (IN , OUT and THRU)
  - 3.3.3 Parallel control
- 3.4 Connection to other TASCAM units
  - 3.4.1 Multiple DTRS units
  - 3.4.2 Indirect word sync
  - 3.4.3 Meter unit (MU-8824)
4 Menu operations
- 4.1 The menus
  - 4.1.1 Navigation around the menu system
  - 4.1.2 Using the ENTER key
  - 4.1.3 The ESCAPE key
  - 4.1.4 Editing values
  - 4.1.5 Resetting a menu value
  - 4.1.6 Changing menu values fast
  - 4.1.7 Using the dial to change values
  - 4.1.8 Blanking the screen display
- 4.2 About the function keys
  - 4.2.1 Function key modes
  - 4.2.2 The SHIFT key and function keys
- 4.3 Assigning menus to function keys
  - 4.3.1 To assign a menu screen to a key
  - 4.3.2 Recalling an assigned menu function
- 4.4 Using the function keys as number keys
5 Monitoring modes
- 5.1 Monitoring controls
  - 5.1.1 ALL INPUT and INPUT MONITOR
  - 5.1.2 AUTO MON
  - 5.1.3 Shuttle monitoring
- 5.2 Patching the outputs
- 5.3 Confidence mode
  - 5.3.1 Arming tracks in pairs
  - 5.3.2 Using confidence mode
- 5.4 Mixdown patchbay
  - 5.4.1 Turning on the MIXDOWN mode
  - 5.4.2 Selecting the mixdown sources
  - 5.4.3 Setting mixdown levels
6 Basic Operations
- 6.1 Word sync settings
  - 6.1.1 Selecting the word sync clock
  - 6.1.2 Setting the AES/EBU channel for the word sync source
  - 6.1.3 Clock range with slot board
- 6.2 Formatting a tape
  - 6.2.1 Available tracks
  - 6.2.2 The format process
  - 6.2.3 Aborting the format process
  - 6.2.4 Recording while formatting
- 6.3 Recording the first tracks
  - 6.3.1 Preparing to record
  - 6.3.2 Selecting the digital source
  - 6.3.3 Selecting input sources
  - 6.3.4 Write-protecting cassettes
  - 6.3.5 Recording the basic tracks (i)
  - 6.3.6 Recording the basic tracks (ii)
  - 6.3.7 Replaying the first tracks
- 6.4 Overdubbing
- 6.5 Track bouncing
- 6.6 Punch-in and punch-out
  - 6.6.1 Overview of punch procedures
  - 6.6.2 Automatic punch point setting
  - 6.6.3 Setting punch points on the fly
  - 6.6.4 Setting and editing punch points using the menus
  - 6.6.5 Editing the preroll and postroll times
  - 6.6.6 Rehearsing the punch-in
  - 6.6.7 Interrupting a rehearsal or punch recording
  - 6.6.8 Recording the punch-in
  - 6.6.9 Reviewing the punched material
  - 6.6.10 Exiting punch-in mode
7 Advanced operations
- 7.1 Autolocation
  - 7.1.1 Setting MEMO 1 and MEMO 2 on the fly
  - 7.1.2 Checking, editing and manually entering MEMO 1 and MEMO 2
  - 7.1.3 Setting the location pre-roll time
  - 7.1.4 Locating to MEMO 1 and MEMO 2
- 7.2 Function key location memories
  - 7.2.1 Storing a function key location memory
  - 7.2.2 Editing function key memories
  - 7.2.3 Locating to a function key memory
  - 7.2.4 Location and playback
  - 7.2.5 Repeat function
  - 7.2.6 To start repeat play
- 7.3 Track delay
  - 7.3.1 To set the track delay:
- 7.4 Crossfade time
- 7.5 Vari speed (pitch control)
  - 7.5.1 To set a non-standard speed
  - 7.5.2 Resetting the speed to standard
- 7.6 Shuttle operations
  - 7.6.1 Shuttle monitoring
  - 7.6.2 Shuttle muting
- 7.7 Reference levels
- 7.8 Meter modes
  - 7.8.1 Peak hold time
  - 7.8.2 Meter ballistics
- 7.9 Sine oscillator
  - 7.9.1 Recording the oscillator
- 7.10 Digital recording
  - 7.10.1 Selecting different inputs for recording
  - 7.10.2 Selecting input word length
  - 7.10.3 Setting the high-frequency AES/ EBU I/O transfer mode
  - 7.10.4 Cbit mode
- 7.11 REC MUTE (recording silence)
  - 7.11.1 Viewing user bits
- 7.12 Dither
  - 7.12.1 Selecting dither settings
- 7.13 Output word length
- 7.14 Disabling automatic muting
- 7.15 Setting the power-on message
8 DTRS synchronization
- 8.1 Synchronization connections
- 8.2 Machine ID and master/slave settings
  - 8.2.1 Differences between DTRS models
  - 8.2.2 Setting machine ID
  - 8.2.3 Master/slave settings (CHASE mode)
- 8.3 DTRS emulation
- 8.4 Machine offset
  - 8.4.1 Setting machine offset
  - 8.4.2 Cancelling machine offset
  - 8.4.3 Setting machine offset on the fly
  - 8.4.4 An example of setting offsets
  - 8.4.5 Clock mode
- 8.5 Digital dubbing
  - 8.5.1 Synchronized formatting
  - 8.5.2 Recording while formatting
- 8.6 Error messages
9 Operations related to timecode
- 9.1 ABS and SMPTE/EBU timecode
  - 9.1.1 ABS time
  - 9.1.2 Tape timecode
  - 9.1.3 Selecting TC or ABS timing
- 9.2 Tape timecode mode
  - 9.2.1 TcTrack setting
  - 9.2.2 ABS setting
  - 9.2.3 ABS-Ofs setting
  - 9.2.4 ABS-13 and ABS-23 settings
  - 9.2.5 Checking tape TC
- 9.3 Recording timecode
  - 9.3.1 Selecting the timecode source
  - 9.3.2 Recording timecode using the generator
  - 9.3.3 Recording synthesized timecode from ABS timing
  - 9.3.4 Assembling timecode
  - 9.3.5 External timecode sources
  - 9.3.6 Recording timecode from an analog recorder
  - 9.3.7 Recording timecode from external sources
  - 9.3.8 Checking external timecode
- 9.4 Selecting the frame rate
  - 9.4.1 Pull up and pull down (Fs shift)
- 9.5 Timecode input and output
  - 9.5.1 Timecode input
  - 9.5.2 Timecode output
  - 9.5.3 Timecode output format
  - 9.5.4 Timecode input and output timing
  - 9.5.5 Using MIDI Time Code (MTC)
- 9.6 Chasing to timecode
  - 9.6.1 Machine ID and timecode
  - 9.6.2 Setting timecode offset
  - 9.6.3 Setting timecode offset from the menu
  - 9.6.4 Cancelling timecode offset
  - 9.6.5 Setting timecode offset on-the-fly
  - 9.6.6 Timecode accuracy
  - 9.6.7 Park position
  - 9.6.8 Automatic park position setting
  - 9.6.9 Absolute and relative difference
  - 9.6.10 Rechasing timecode
  - 9.6.11 Bypassing timecode errors
  - 9.6.12 Individual recording while chasing timecode
- 9.7 Video resolution
  - 9.7.1 Video reference setting
10 External control
- 10.1 Selecting the control source (protocol)
- 10.2 Disabling local control
- 10.3 Use with 9-pin external control
  - 10.3.1 Video clocking
  - 10.3.2 Emulation
  - 10.3.3 Record delay
  - 10.3.4 Cue-up tally
  - 10.3.5 Fast wind speed
  - 10.3.6 Track mapping
  - 10.3.7 Timecode track mapping
  - 10.3.8 Remote track arming
- 10.4 Bus protocol
  - 10.4.1 Assigning a MIDI and Bus ID to the DA-98HR
- 10.5 MIDI Machine Control
  - 10.5.1 MMC and the DA-98HR
11 Menu and parameter reference
- 11.1 Menu groups
  - 11.1.1 Menu group 0
  - 11.1.2 Menu group 1
  - 11.1.3 Menu group 2
  - 11.1.4 Menu group 3
  - 11.1.5 Menu group 4
  - 11.1.6 Menu group 5
  - 11.1.7 Menu group 6
  - 11.1.8 Menu group 7
  - 11.1.9 Menu group 8
  - 11.1.10 Menu group 9
  - 11.1.11 Menu group A
  - 11.1.12 Menu group B
  - 11.1.13 Menu group D
  - 11.1.14 Menu group E
  - 11.1.15 Menu group F
- 11.2 Menu item index
12 Maintenance and settings
- 12.1 Head and transport cleaning
  - 12.1.1 Daily cleaning
  - 12.1.2 Periodic cleaning
- 12.2 Checking error rates
  - 12.2.1 Checking head time
  - 12.2.2 Checking head search time
- 12.3 Memory backup
- 12.4 User setups in RAM
  - 12.4.1 Saving user setups
  - 12.4.2 Loading user setups
  - 12.4.3 Resetting the memory to factory defaults
- 12.5 Tape storage of settings
  - 12.5.1 Saving settings to tape
  - 12.5.2 Loading settings from tape
- 12.6 Checking version numbers
  - 12.6.1 Software upgrades
13 Options/specifications/reference
- 13.1 DA-98HR options
  - 13.1.1 Accuride mounting
  - 13.1.2 Remote control units (RC-898, RC-848 and RC-828)
  - 13.1.3 Meter unit (MU-8824)
  - 13.1.4 Cables
- 13.2 Specifications
  - 13.2.1 Physical specifications
  - 13.2.2 Power specifications
  - 13.2.3 Digital recording characteristics
  - 13.2.4 Tape recorder section
  - 13.2.5 Tape transport
  - 13.2.6 Inputs and outputs
  - 13.2.7 Recorder chaacteristics
  - 13.2.8 9-pin (RS-422), MIDI, synchronizer specifications
- 13.3 MMC Bit Map Array
- 13.4 MIDI Implementation Chart
- 13.5 MIDI Control Change
- 13.6 MIDI System Exclusive
  - 13.6.1 Identity Reply
  - 13.6.2 TASCAM Exclusive messages
  - 13.6.3 Track delay
  - 13.6.4 Crossfade
  - 13.6.5 Machine offset
  - 13.6.6 Input Patch setup

Tascam DA-98HR Owner's Manual

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Tascam DA-98HR Specification

The Tascam DA-98HR is a professional-grade digital multitrack recorder known for its high-resolution audio capabilities and robust feature set, designed to meet the demanding needs of audio production environments. It supports 24-bit, 48 kHz and 96 kHz recording, ensuring high-fidelity sound reproduction suitable for professional studios and live recording applications. The DA-98HR offers eight tracks of digital recording and playback on Hi8 tape, providing ample flexibility for complex audio projects. Its advanced A/D and D/A converters ensure accurate sound capture and playback, minimizing noise and distortion.

The recorder is equipped with a built-in SMPTE/EBU timecode generator/reader, which facilitates seamless integration into video and film production workflows by ensuring precise synchronization with other devices. Its comprehensive digital I/O options include TDIF-1, AES/EBU, and S/PDIF, enhancing connectivity with various digital audio systems. The DA-98HR supports advanced editing functions, including punch-in/out, track bouncing, and non-destructive editing, enabling users to refine their recordings with precision.

The unit features a user-friendly interface with an intuitive LCD display, providing clear visual feedback and easy navigation through its menu system. It is designed for durability and reliability, with a rugged construction that withstands the rigors of professional use. The DA-98HR also includes a remote control port, allowing for convenient operation in studio settings. With its combination of high-resolution audio performance, versatile connectivity, and robust build quality, the Tascam DA-98HR is a reliable choice for audio professionals seeking a dependable multitrack recording solution.

Tascam DA-98HR F.A.Q.

How do I format a tape for use with the Tascam DA-98HR?

To format a tape, insert it into the DA-98HR, press the 'Menu' button, navigate to 'Tape Format', select 'Format', and confirm your choice. This will prepare the tape for recording.

What steps should I take if the DA-98HR is not powering on?

Check the power cable connections, ensure the power outlet is functional, and verify that the power switch is in the 'ON' position. If the problem persists, inspect the fuse and replace it if necessary.

How can I troubleshoot playback issues on the Tascam DA-98HR?

First, ensure that the tape is correctly loaded and not damaged. Check if the track is correctly selected and the channel levels are not muted. Additionally, clean the tape heads and transport path to avoid playback issues.

What is the procedure for cleaning the tape heads on a DA-98HR?

Turn off the unit and open the tape compartment. Use a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the tape heads and capstans. Allow the components to dry completely before closing the compartment.

How can I change the sample rate on the Tascam DA-98HR?

Press the 'Menu' button, navigate to 'Setup', and select 'Sample Rate'. Choose the desired sample rate from the available options and confirm your selection.

What should I do if I encounter error messages during recording?

Refer to the user manual for specific error codes and their meanings. Common solutions include checking the tape condition, ensuring proper tape formatting, and verifying that all connections are secure.

Can I use the DA-98HR to record multiple tracks simultaneously?

Yes, the DA-98HR supports simultaneous recording of up to 8 tracks. Use the channel inputs to connect your audio sources and ensure each track is armed for recording.

How do I perform a firmware update on the Tascam DA-98HR?

Visit Tascam's official website to download the latest firmware. Transfer the firmware file to a compatible tape, insert it into the DA-98HR, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

What maintenance routine is recommended for the Tascam DA-98HR?

Regularly clean the tape heads, capstans, and pinch rollers. Inspect and replace any worn-out tapes. Store the device in a dry, dust-free environment and avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

How can I optimize the audio quality on my DA-98HR recordings?

Ensure proper input levels and use high-quality tapes. Regularly clean the tape heads and use the appropriate sample rate for your project. Consider external preamps for enhanced signal quality.