Tascam Digital Multitrack Recorder DA-98 Owners Manual

Section 1 – Introduction to the DA-98  
1-4 – 1.00 – 06/97
If condensation does occur, you will not be able to 
operate the DA-98 controls, and you will see the 
following message on the display:
If you see the above message, press the 
ESCAPE 
key to remove the message, leave the DA-98 
switched on for one or two hours, then switch it 
off and on again before starting recording.
If you are going to use the DA-98 in a location 
where you think condensation is likely to occur, 
move the DA-98 into the...

Section 1 – Introduction to the DA-98
06/97 – 1.00 – 1-5
tapes for which the DTRS recorder was originally 
designed may cause an error in functionality or 
prevent the user from getting optimum perfor-
mance from the tape. Always use the shortest pos-
sible tape for a given project. Do not attempt to 
use 150-minute or longer tapes in DTRS 
machines, as the machine will detect the thickness 
of tape and automatically eject any tape thinner 
than recommended.
Never attempt to use a tape with the DA-98...

Section 1 – Introduction to the DA-98  
1-6 – 1.00 – 06/97 

Section 2 – Front Panel controls
06/97 – 1.00 – 2-1
2 – Front Panel controls
[1] Power switch
Turns the power to the DA98 on and off. When the 
DA-98 is turned off, settings will be retained in 
memory (see 14.2, “Memory backup”).
[2] Tape counter and status indicators
The tape counter gives the time in hours, minutes, 
seconds and frames.
The status indicators show the current status of 
various DA-98 functions. The legends of these 
indicators are abbreviated for reasons of space. 
Here is a list of...

Section 2 – Front Panel controls  
2-2 – 1.00 – 06/97
The ballistics and peak hold times are selectable 
(see 8.8, “Meter modes”).
[9] RHSL (F 1) key and indicator
This key and indicator allow selection of the 
rehearsal mode in auto punch-in and out (see 6.6, 
“Punch-in and punch-out”).
When the 
SHIFT key [24] is pressed, this key 
becomes a function key.
[10] AUTO PUNCH (F 2) key and 
indicator
This key and indicator allow automatic punch-in 
and punch out following rehearsal  (see 6.6, 
“Punch-in and...

Section 2 – Front Panel controls
06/97 – 1.00 – 2-3
[20] SHTL MON (F 8) key and indicator
When this key is pressed, shuttle monitoring is 
enabled (see 7.1.3, “Shuttle monitoring”).
When the 
SHIFT key [24] is pressed, this key 
becomes a function key.
[21] REPEAT (F 9) key and indicator
When this key is pressed, playback is repeated 
between the two memory locations set by [13] and 
[14] (see 8.2.5, “Repeat function” for details).
When the 
SHIFT key [24] is pressed, this key 
becomes a function key....

Section 2 – Front Panel controls  
2-4 – 1.00 – 06/97
[31] TC REC switch and indicator
This switch is used when you wish to record time-
code (either internally generated or from an exter-
nal source) on a dedicated subcode track of the 
DA-98. No audio track is needed to record time-
code. For full details of timecode operation, see 
10, “Operations related to timecode”.
[32] REW key
Rewinds the tape at high speed.
If this key is pressed during recording, recording 
will stop and the tape will rewind....

Section 3 – Rear Panel connectors
06/97 – 1.00 – 3-1
3 – Rear Panel connectors
This section provides a brief description of the 
functions of the connectors on the rear panel. For 
full details of cables to be used, pinouts, etc., see 
4, “Connections”.
[37] TIME CODE (IN and OUT)
This pair of XLR connectors (female for IN and 
male for 
OUT) provides the timecode connections 
for the synchronization functions of the DA-98. 
See 10, “Operations related to timecode” for full 
details.
[38] VIDEO...

Section 3 – Rear Panel connectors  
3-2 – 1.00 – 06/97 

Section 4 – Connections
06/97 – 1.00 – 4-1
4 – Connections
This section explains how to connect other equip-
ment to the DA-98 in a variety of situations. It is 
not intended as a complete reference to the use of 
the DA-98. See the appropriate sections for full 
details of how these connectors are used. 
4.1 Audio connections
Other audio equipment can be connected to the 
DA-98 either using analog or digital interfaces.
4.1.1 Analog audio connections
All analog audio connections to the DA-98 are 
made...