Tascam Da-98hr Technical Documentation Manual

							Technical Documentation
DA-98HR
The DA-98HR brings the full power of T ASCAMs D TRS line into the realm of high resolution recording.  The DA-98HR can format, record and pla y 16 bit tapes for backwards compatibilit y with the previous D TRS (ie DA-88 or DA -98).  For high resolution, y ou can record 24 bit audio on 8 tracks at 48kHz, 4 tracks at 96kHz, or 2 tracks of 192kHz.  On-board professional control and synchronization includes D TRS sync, SMPTE chasing/generating, video sync, RS-422 (Son y P2) control, parallel control, MMC and MT C are all included.  TDIF and AES/EBU digital I/O is standard.  The optional IF-AN98HR is a vailable for adding 24 bit/96Hz analog I/O .The MU-8824 remote meter bridge is also a vailable.
* The RC-898s LCD screen can duplicate the menus of the DA-98HRs with a free firmware update available from TASCAM.  Without the update, RC-898 control over the DA-98HR will stillbe capable of transport control, track arming, locate points, etc.
                                       7733 T elegraph R oad    •   Montebello , CA 90640    •   (323) 726-0303    •   http://www .tascam.comAll features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  C\
ontact y our local TASCAM representativ e for the latest information.
TA SCAMs line of D TRS machines earned their role as the standard machine for audio in video and film production.  The DA -98HR brings the DTRS reliabilit y into the high resolution recording en vironment.
Production Recorder • Back-up Recorder  • Extra TracksThe DA -98HR is a top qualit y recorder, well equipped for audio orvideo applications.  The DA -98HRs solid time code chasing capabilit yalong with its parallel and serial control ports allow the machine toefficiently operate as either primary tr acks, ancillary tracks, or evenas a back-up machine.  Plus, the DA -98HR can integrate seamlesslywith earlier DTRS machines.  
Studio TransfersThe DTRS format is the tr ansfer medium of choice in the business.Since the DA-98HR can read and write 16-bit D TRS tapes that arecompatible with older DA-88s, you are assured compatibilit y withfacilities equipped with the older machines.  Howev er, if y ou are working with studios which ha ve DA -98HRs or DA -78HRs, you willbe able to tak e advantage of higher resolution audio .
Live Recording/Mobile TrucksThe DA-98HR offers Confidence R ecording which puts the machineinto a read-after-write recording mode.  This allows monitoring off tape while recording.  (Most digital recorders simply allow y ou to monitor the audio sent to it.)  This is ideal for live tracking to ensure y our tapes are accepting the information being sent to it.
Page 1 of 4DA -98HR_TECHDOC.pdf091900
• 108 Minutes of R ecord Time on 120 Hi8 T ape
• R ecords 8 tr acks of 24 Bit A udio To Hi8 T apes
• R eads and W rites 16 and 24 Bit D TRS Tapes
• 8 tr ack/48kHz, 4 tr ack/96kHz, or 2 tr ack/192kHz
  High Resolution R ecording Modes A vailable
• 16 Machine Sample Accur ate Lock with DTRS Sync
• SMPTE Time Code Gener ation and Chasing
• Son y P2 Compliant (RS-422) Serial Control
• P ar allel I/O P ort for Control and T allies
• R esponds to MIDI Machine Control
• Gener ates MIDI Time Code
• W ord S ync In/Out/Thru
• Video S ync In/Thru
• AES/EBU Digital I/O pro vided on DB25 port
• TDIF Digital I/O & SPDIF Digital I/O
• Clear Back -Lit LED Displa y
• Confidence Monitoring (R ead after Write)
• T rack Slip from -200 to +7200 Samples
•  Meter Bridge P ort for Optional MU-8824
• Compatible with Previous RC -828, RC-848 and 
  RC-898* D TRS Remotes
• Optional IF- AN98HR provides 24 bit/96kHz analog I/O
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
APPLICATIONSSPECIFICATIONS
General Specifications:  Format:  Time to Pla y from Stop:  Shuttle Speeds:  Varispeed:  Subcode:  Sampling Frequency:  R ecording R esolution:  Crossfade Time:  Track Dela y: 
  Meter Unit P ort:Audio I/O:  Digital I/O:  Reference Lev el:  Word S ync In and Thru:  Word S ync Out:  Option Slots:Control I/O:  Remote/S ync:
  Time Code In:  Time Code Out:  Video S ync In/Thru:
  SMPTE Fr ame Rates:
  Timecode Offset:  MIDI I/O:Physical and Electrical Specifications:  Dimensions:  Weight:  Power R equirements:
  Power Consumption  Electromagnetic En vironment:
DTRS and D TRS-HR< 2 seconds8x, 4x, 2x, 1x, 0.5x, 0.25x±6%Independent ABS and SMPTE T C44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz16 bit, 24 bit10ms to 200ms (10ms increments)-200 to +7200 samples  (set in samples or msec)DB15 (For TASCAM MU-8824) TDIF (DB25), AES/EBU (DB25)-16dB FS , -18dB FS , -20dB FSBNC, 75 Ohm (auto terminated)BNC, 75 OhmAccepts IF- AN98HR analog I/O cards
DTRS S ync DB15 IN/OUTRS-422 Serial (P2 Compliant)DB37 P arallel P ortXLR balanced, >10kOhm, 0.5V -10V p-pXLR balanced, 
						

							DA-98HR Technical Documentation
                                       7733 Telegraph R oad    •   Montebello , CA 90640    •   (323) 726-0303    •   http://www .tascam.comAll features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  C\
ontact y our local TASCAM representativ e for the latest information.Page 2 of 4DA -98HR_TECHDOC.pdf091900
DTRS HISTORY
Ever since the introduction of the DA -88 in 1992, users of all levels ha ve been using D TRS machines to create, mix, and transfer their tr acks at home and between studios.  The DTRS standard has become renowned for top qualit y sound, top notch reliability, and the fastest tr ansport and machine lock in the business.
The DA-88but since it w as so full featured, it also found its w ay into 
major television and motion picture studios.  The D TRS format has long been the standard format to move audiofrom one studio to the next, due to the affordable nature of the machine and media, as well as the high audio qualit y.  In addition, a number of studios ha ve been using DA -88s to expand their tr ack count by having the DA -88 chase analog machines, or other digital formats.
With the the DTRS machines added some new features lik e a digital patchbay, test tone oscillators, and an ev en faster transport than the original DA -88.  Still, the DA-88 had made such an indelible mark on the industry that its production was continued b y popular demand into the year 2000.
The DA -78HRof its heritage, continuing the tr aditions established andattested to over the y ears at a new standard - 24 bit.
All in all,the most flexibilit y, and tried and true reliabilit y that has been proven for almost a decade.  
THE 24 BIT ACHIEVEMENTBACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY
When the 24 bit D TRS format was announced, most userswere curious about how we did it.  24 bit audio requires
50% more data than the original 16 bit format, y et theDA-78HR didnt cut back on tr acks or record time.  Manyassumed that the 24 bit format would ha ve been lessreliable since more information is written in a smaller space.  W ell, actually the 24 bit format is ev en morereliable.  Heres why:
Whenwriting a bunch of ones and z eros on a piece of paper.  Allthe data passes through an encoder and decoder (codec) when going to and coming from tape.  The coding processutilizes a lossless algorithm allowing a larger amount of data to be stored in the same amount of space.
The original D TRS 8-10 Modulation Principle used b y most all DAT recorders.  This format has been around for almost two decades; more efficient encoding schemes ha ve been dev eloped over time.
High Length Limited) codec commonly used in hard driv e and DVD technologies.  This format is 66% more space efficient than the codec used in the original DTRS machines.  Since only 50% more data was needed to store the audio itself , the other 16% was dedicated to additional data v erification beyond the original D TRS machine.  
So, the 24The write area is actually about the same siz e.  The 24 bit machine utilizes a better codec which offers more efficient use of the space, as well as increased reliabilit y through more accurate data verification processes.
When the high resolution machines were designed, theability to work with the original 16 bit machines lik e 
DA-38s, DA -88s, and DA -98s was a high priorit y.  
Sync ChainHigh resolution D TRS machines use the same D TRSSync line that the previous machines used.  So , you can lock an y combination of 16 bit machines with24 bit machines sample accur ately in 2 seconds or less.
Audio I/OThe new high resolution DTRS machines use the sameDB25 plugs for balanced audio , and TDIF lines for transfers and integr ation into digital studios.  This means if you are trading out 16 bit machines for 24 bitmachines, there are no new cabling requirements.  
Tape FormatThe DA-98HR can read and write 16 bit format tapes,allowing HR users to seamlessly work with owners ofolder DTRS machines.  Howev er, 24 bit tapes created on a high resolution D TRS machine will only work on other high resolution D TRS machines.
Time Code TrackIn addition to the 8 tracks of audio, DTRS machines can handle two separ ate time tracks in subcode of thetape.  One of the tr acks is the tapes absolute time, and the other is an independent SMPTE time code track.  The high resolution D TRS machines can readand write this SMPTE time code tr ack in both 16 bit and 24 bit format, so you can continue working thesame way y ou are used to working.
TASCAMs DA-88, the original DTRS format recorder 
						

							DA-98HR Technical Documentation
                                       7733 Telegraph R oad    •   Montebello , CA 90640    •   (323) 726-0303    •   http://www .tascam.comAll features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  C\
ontact y our local TASCAM representativ e for the latest information.
Page 3 of 4DA -98HR_TECHDOC.pdf091900
CONTROL I/O PINOUT
The AES/EBU DB25 pinout on the DA -98HR is the same as on most recorders, consoles and dubbers.  While these cables are readily available in y our local retail outlets, the pinout is listed here for users wishing to mak e custom cables and snak es.
The analog DB25 ports on the IF- AN98HR follow thesame standard as previous DTRS machine.  Theguide is listed below for your convenience:
The RC -898 remote can control up to6 DTRS machines of an y vintage.  TheLCD screen is mak es advanced set -upof machines much easier b y offeringthe same LCD screen menus found onthe face of the DA -98 and DA-98HR,and also offers control o ver DA -38 andDA-78HR menus.
If require a firm ware update for L CDscreen interaction with the DA -78HRand DA-98HR.  The firm ware updateis a vailable from T ASCAM.  T o obtainthe update, contact [email protected].
AES/EBU DB25 PINOUT
OPTIONAL REMOTE (RC-898)
IF-AN98HR DB25 PINOUT
Digital InDigital Out
GCHGCHGCHGCHGCHGCHGCHG
131
2514
CH12341234
GCHGCHGCHGCHGCHGCHGCHG
131
2514
CH12345678
PIN:12345678910111213141516171819
FUNCTION:PLAYFFWDREWAUX 1ST OPRECAUX2CHA SE-SUB GNDPLAY TALL YFFWD T ALLYREW T ALLYSTOP T ALLYREC T ALLYLOCK T ALLYAUX 1 T ALLYAUX 2 T ALLYACTIVE SENSE
PIN:202122232425262728293031323334353637
FUNCTION:SUB GNDSERIAL OUT-SERIAL IN--------SRCK-LOAD-SUB GNDSUB 5V (MAX 50mA)
12345678910111213141516171819
372021222324252627282930313233343635
REMOTE (P ARALLEL) 
						

							DA-98HR Technical Documentation
                                       7733 Telegraph R oad    •   Montebello , CA 90640    •   (323) 726-0303    •   http://www .tascam.comAll features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  C\
ontact y our local TASCAM representativ e for the latest information.Page 4 of 4DA -98HR_TECHDOC.pdf091900
FRONT AND BACK PANELS