Tascam Digital Multitrack Recorder DA-98 Owners Manual

Section 4 – Connections  
4-2 – 1.00 – 06/97
how to use the DA-98 with timecode, see 10, 
“Operations related to timecode”.
The two XLR timecode connectors [37] carry bal-
anced signals with the following polarity:
However, unbalanced signals may be used, with 
only pins 1 and 2 connected. 
The 
TIMECODE OUT connector either transmits 
internally-generated timecode or re-shaped or re-
generated timecode echoed from the 
TIMECODE 
IN
 connector.
4.2.2 Video connections
This pair of BNC connectors [38] is...

Section 4 – Connections
06/97 – 1.00 – 4-3
between the DA-98 and other suitably-equipped 
units (for instance, sequencers capable of being 
synchronized to MTC, and capable of transmitting 
MMC commands).
The MIDI functions are accessed through menu 
group 7. See 10.4.5, “Using MIDI Time Code 
(MTC)” and 11.3.1, “MMC commands and the 
DA-98” for full details.
Note the difference between 
MIDI OUT and MIDI 
THRU
. The OUT connector outputs signals which 
originate from the DA-98. The 
THRU connector...

Section 4 – Connections  
4-4 – 1.00 – 06/97 

Section 5 – Menu operations
06/97 – 1.00 – 5-1
5 – Menu operations
Read this section to understand the basic princi-
ples of menu operation. This will help you find 
your way round the DA-98’s functions easily and 
quickly.
5.1 The menus
The DA-98 has 12 menu groups, labelled from 0 
through 9, and E and F. These are referred to in 
this manual as “menu group 0”, menu group E”, 
etc.
The menu which is used to select these 12 menus 
is called the “top” menu, and looks like this
The bottom row of the...

Section 5 – Menu operations  
5-2 – 1.00 – 06/97
field and keep pressing the UP key, but one hour 
would be 30 x 60 x 60 = 10,800 key presses!
To avoid this,, the 
LEFT and RIGHT keys move the 
cursor between the “fields”; in this case, hours, 
minutes, seconds and frames.
Regardless of whether one value or several sub-
values have been edited, the changes to the values 
are made immediately. The cursor keys can then 
be used for navigation again.
In most time-based menus, when the “frames” 
field is...

Section 5 – Menu operations
06/97 – 1.00 – 5-3
2) This menu gives you three choices, Menu, 
Locate Positionand10 Key:
Menu uses the function keys as a quick way of 
jumping around the menu system (see 5.3, 
“Assigning menus to function keys”).
 
Locate Position assigns the ten func-
tion keys to location memories (see 8.2.1, “Storing 
a function key location memory”)
10 Key allows you to use the function keys as a 
numeric keypad for direct entry of numerical data 
(see 5.2.2, “Using the function keys as...

Section 5 – Menu operations  
5-4 – 1.00 – 06/97
5) Press the F 10 key [22] (to enter a 0):
6) Press the F 5 key [13]:
7) The numbers for this value have now been 
entered, but the value itself has not. Press the 
LOC 2 (PRESET) key [23] to enter the value. 
The bottom line of the display will stop blinking.
8) You can use the UP and DOWN keys to adjust 
the value you have just entered.
9) Press 
SHIFT again to restore the function keys 
to their “non-function” values.
You can use the function keys as...

Section 6 – Basic operations
06/97 – 1.00 – 6-1
6 – Basic operations
This section explains some of the basic operations 
using the DA-98. Section 8, “Advanced opera-
tions” describes more advanced operations.
Most operations on a DA-98 are similar to those 
on a traditional analog multitrack recorder, but we 
suggest that you read this section and the next to 
learn about the features of the DA-98.
6.1 Formatting a tape
Before you use a tape in the DA-98, you must first 
format it. This marks internal...

Section 6 – Basic operations  
6-2 – 1.00 – 06/97
However, we do not recommend interrupting the 
formatting process, but suggest that you let the 
tape run to the end.
If you interrupt the formatting (or the formatting 
is interrupted by a power cut or events beyond 
your control), rewind the tape and start the format 
from the beginning of the tape again.
6.1.2 Recording while formatting
If you have armed any tracks (you have pressed its 
REC FUNCTION switch [28] and the indicator is 
flashing), any...

Section 6 – Basic operations
06/97 – 1.00 – 6-3
2) Adjust the input signal levels so that the track 
meters read high, but the 
OVER segment does 
not light.
3) Hold down the 
RECORD key, and press the 
PLAY key. The tape will start moving and 
recording will start. 
The REC FUNCTION indicators of all tracks will 
light steadily.
When you start recording, the point at which 
recording starts is automatically stored into mem-
ory for punch-in purposes.
4) To stop recording and stop the tape, press the...