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 used to pro-
vide video frame reference clocking when the 
DA-98 is used with video equipment.
The front panel 
CLOCK switch [30] is used to 
change between clock sources, and should be set 
to 
VIDEO when synchronizing to video sync.
Connect the 
VIDEO IN connector of the DA-98 to 
the VIDEO OUT of a video unit. This signal 
should be a 1 Vp-p composite signal.
If other equipment (such as other DTRS units) 
also need the video frame reference clock, the sig-
nal received at the 
VIDEO IN is echoed at the 
VIDEO THRU connector.
If the DA-98 is the last unit in the chain of video 
equipment, there is no need to terminate it, as this 
circuit is self-terminating.
For details of how the DA-98 can be synchronized 
to video frame information, see 11.1.1, “Video 
clocking”.
4.2.3 Word clock connections
This set of BNC connectors [39] is used to syn-
chronize the DA-98 to other digital audio devices.
The front panel 
CLOCK switch (page 2-3) is used 
to change between clock sources, and should be 
set to 
WORD when synchronizing to an external 
word clock.
The 
IN jack should be connected to the WORD 
SYNC OUT of the digital audio device from 
which the DA-98 is to receive the synchronization 
clock.
Note the difference between the 
OUT and the 
THRU connectors. OUT is used to carry word clock 
signals generated by the DA-98, and 
THRU is used 
to echo the signals received at 
IN. 
If the DA-98 is the last unit in the chain of video 
equipment, there is no need to terminate it, as this 
circuit is self-terminating.
Also note that if the DA-98 is connected to other 
DTRS units, the 
WORD SYNC jacks do not need to 
be connected between the DTRS units.
4.3 Control connections
4.3.1 RS-422 connector
This connector is used to connect the DA-98 to 
other controllers or editors which will control the 
DA-98 using the Sony P2 protocol, or a bus proto-
col, such as that used by the TASCAM ES-61. 
If you are in doubt about the compatibility of such 
a device, please consult TASCAM or your TAS-
CAM dealer, who will be able to advise you.
The DA-98 can emulate (through software control 
accessed through menu 6) a number of devices for 
compatibility with almost any controller. See 
11.1.2, “Emulation” for details.
Full details of control using this connector are 
given in 11.1, “Use with 9-pin external control”.
4.3.2 MIDI connectors (IN , OUT and 
THRU)
These standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors [41] 
are used to carry MIDI Time Code (MTC) and 
MIDI Machine Control (MMC) information 
Pin # Connection
1 Ground
2Hot
3Cold
IN (balanced) OUT (balanced)
Level 0.5 Vp-p to 
10.0Vp-p2Vp-p
Impedance > 10k
W< 100 W 
						

							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 
echoes messages received at the 
IN.
4.3.3 Parallel control
Parallel control by and of the DA-98 is performed 
through the 
CONTROL I/O port [42]. See 15.1.6, 
“CONTROL I/O connector pinout” for details of 
how to connect other equipment to this port.
4.4 Connection to other 
TASCAM units
By a “TASCAM unit”, we mean another DA-98, a 
DA-88 or a DA-38 unit, or an optional remote 
control unit, which may also be connected in a 
“chain” with multiple DTRS units.
4.4.1 Multiple DTRS units
Use a TASCAM PW-88S cable when connecting 
other units to the 
REMOTE/SYNC IN connector 
[43] or to the 
SYNC OUT connector ([44]).
This synchronization cable will carry the internal 
synchronization code and the transport signals, 
etc. There is no need to make any other connec-
tions, apart from the audio connections (either 
digital or analog).
If more than one DTRS unit is to be used, the first 
unit in the chain must have its Machine ID set to 
“1”, (“0” in the case of DA-88s) and subsequent 
units must have their IDs set in order with no gaps 
in the numbering sequence. Note that the diagram 
below does not show any audio connections.
ÁoÁtÁrÁgÁoÁtÁrÁgÁoÁtÁrÁg
Machine ID 1
(master)Machine ID 2
(slave 1)Machine ID 3
(slave 2)
Termination
plug PW-88S PW-88S
See 9.2.2, “Setting machine ID” for details of set-
ting the Machine ID using menu group 3.
4.4.2 “Indirect” word sync
As mentioned earlier, there is usually no need to 
use a word clock when connecting DTRS units 
together. There is, however, an occasion when it is 
necessary to carry external word sync between 
DTRS units.
This is when a slave DTRS unit is recording digi-
tally from another digital audio device:
Though the slave will receive its word clock from 
the master unit, the master itself must receive its 
word clock from the other digital audio device.
In this case, the master unit will have its clock 
source set to 
WORD, and the slave will receive its 
clock from the master unit through the 
SYNC IN 
[43].
4.4.3 Meter unit (MU-8824)
The optional MU-8824 external meter bridge unit 
can be connected using a PW-88M cable from the 
METER UNIT connector [46]. You do not need to 
make any settings on the DA-98 when connecting 
the meter unit.
WARNINGS
The last unit in the chain must be terminated (a TAS-
CAM termination plug must be plugged into the 
SYNC 
OUT
 of the last machine in the chain.
Once again, only use TASCAM cables for connection of 
equipment to and from the DA-98.
ÁoÁtÁrÁgÁoÁtÁrÁg
Machine ID 1
(master, but
CLOCK set to
WORD)Machine ID 2
(slave 1)
Termination
plug PW-88S
IF-88SD
TDIF-1 digital
audio
Digital SDIF-2
device
SDIF-2
digital audio
Word clock signal 
						

							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 display is used as a quick 
reference to remind you of the currently-set value 
or the contents of the menu group.
5.1.1 Navigation around the menu 
system
The cursor keys [25] are used to navigate round 
the screen. In this manual, we use the following 
terms for these keys:
Notice that in the top menu, as you move the cur-
sor between menus, the bottom line will change, 
reflecting the contents of the menu.
5.1.2 Using the ENTER key
From the top menu, when the cursor is beside the 
desired menu group, press 
ENTER [25] to enter 
that menu group. The screen will change, and the 
choices within that group will be shown. These are the choices within menu 0:
Use the cursor keys to navigate between menu 
items within the group. The bottom line of the dis-
play will change to show the currently-set values 
for the parameter beside the cursor.
When the cursor is beside the desired parameter, 
press the 
ENTER key. You can now change the val-
ues of that parameter.
5.1.3 The ESCAPE key
The ESCAPE key is used to move up through the 
menu hierarchy (from menu screens to sub-menus 
to the top menu). It is therefore used if you enter 
the wrong menu by mistake.
For a full description of the menu tree, see 12, 
“Menu and parameter reference”.
• There is also an alphabetical index of menu 
functions and items on page 12-8.
5.1.4 Editing values
When a parameter has been selected for editing, 
the function of the cursor keys is changed.
If there is only one parameter, the 
LEFT and 
RIGHT keys are not used, and the UP and DOWN 
keys are used to change the value of the parameter. 
If the parameter is a number, the 
UP key increases 
the value and the 
DOWN key decreases the value.
If there is more than one parameter or there are 
“sub-values” to the parameter, such as in the fol-
lowing example (menu group 8), the functions are 
a little changed:
Here, the internal timecode generator start time 
can be set. Obviously, we could edit the “frames” 
Select Menu Group
01234567
89----EF
Dly/Tr.Cp/Vari/Loct
CURSOR 
keyTerm used in text
UP key
DOWN key
LEFT key
RIGHT key
Delay Memo 1
Trk Copy Memo 2
Vari Spd Loc Pre
1 0000 Sample
Gen Start Fs shift
Gen Mod TcRec Src
01:33:12:17 30NDF 
						

							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 being edited, the value can be changed 
from 
00 to the number of frames in 1 second 
(the exact number varies between settings) and 
back to 
00. 
However, if the cursor is moved to an invisible 
“field” to the right of the frames field, increment-
ing the value of the frames field above the number 
of frames in a second will increment the seconds 
field.
As an example:
1) The menu screen shows: “
00:01:43:2 9” 
when the frame rate is 30fps.
2) Press 
UP.
3) The menu screen shows: “
00:01:43:0 0”.
However:
1) The menu screen shows “
00:01:43:29_”.
2) Press 
UP.
3) The menu screen shows: “
00:01:44:00_”.
5.1.5 Resetting a menu value
Sometimes it is necessary to reset a menu value to 
a default value.
To do this quickly, hold down the 
UP key and 
press the 
DOWN key (or hold down the DOWN key 
and press the 
UP key). If the menu value is a time 
value in hh:mm:ss:ff format, all the fields will be 
reset to zero. If there is more than one independent 
field in a menu screen, use the cursor to point to 
the value that you want to reset to zero.
5.1.6 Changing menu values fast
Sometimes it is useful to be able to change a value 
fast (for instance, time values such as minutes and 
seconds). To do this, hold down the 
UP or DOWN 
key and press the 
ENTER key. The values will 
change faster as long as the 
ENTER key is held 
down.
5.1.7 Blanking the screen display
There are times when you may want to blank the 
backlit screen display (for instance, the light may 
be a visual distraction, or you may want to dis-
courage tampering fingers).
1) Press the 
ENTER key, and while holding it 
down, press 
ESCAPE.
You can also hold down the ESCAPE key and 
press 
ENTER.
2) The screen will blank, and the back light will 
go out.
3) To restore the screen display, press any of the 
following: 
ENTER, ESCAPE, or any of the 
CURSOR keys.
The screen will be relit, and show the top menu.
5.2 Function key modes
These keys are often used to jump to frequently-
used menus (see 5.3, “Assigning menus to func-
tion keys”), but their function can be changed, as 
described here:
1) Press and hold down the 
SHIFT key [24], and 
while holding it down, press the 
MEMO 2 key 
[14] to enter the 
Function Key Mode 
menu.
As an alternative to the method above, you can go 
to menu group 7, move the cursor to 
Funct-
Mode
 and press ENTER. NOTE
This can be used as an alternative way of returning to 
the top menu when you are inside the menu hierarchy 
						

							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 number 
keys”).
3) Select the option with the UP and DOWN keys.
5.2.1 The SHIFT key and function keys
Usually, the 10 function keys and the LOC 2/PRE-
SET
 and MEMO 2/ +/– keys perform the duties as 
marked on the top of their labels (e.g. key [19] 
usually works as the 
AU TO  M O N key).
To use the keys as function keys (whether location 
keys, preset menu keys or as number keys), press 
the 
SHIFT key. 
The 
SHIFT indicator will start to flash.
 While it is flashing, these keys are used as 
described on the bottom row of their labels (e.g. 
key [19] now becomes function key 7 (
F 7)).
Press the 
SHIFT key again to stop the indicator 
flashing and return the keys to their original 
functions.
5.2.2 Using the function keys as number 
keys
When the Function Key Modeparameter 
has been set to 
10 Key (see above), you can use 
the function keys as number keys for direct entry 
of numerical data.
The function key number is used to enter the digit 
(
F 1 enters a 1, F 2 enters a 2, etc.) except for F 10, 
which enters a 
0.
When you have entered the value using the func-
tion keys as number keys, you should press the 
PRESET key ([23] to confirm the value you have 
just entered.
The following is a step-by-step guide to entering a 
value (1 minute and 5 seconds) into the Locate 
Pre-roll parameter (see 8.1.3, “Setting the location 
pre-roll time”).
1) Set the function key mode to 
10 Key, as 
described above (page 5-2).
2) Go to menu group 0, move the cursor to 
Loc
Pre
, and press ENTER:
3) Press the 
SHIFT key [24]. The indicator will 
start to flash.
4) Press the 
F 1 key [9]:
The bottom line of the display will start to blink, 
showing that you are entering numerical data.
Notice that the number is entered from the right of 
the fields, even though the cursor position is not at 
the right of the field.
Function Key Mode
Select
Menu
NOTE
When you change the function of the “soft” keys 
between menu and location functions, the values 
assigned to the other function are not lost, and will be 
restored when you next change the function of the soft 
keys.
Locate Pre-roll
00min00sec
Locate Pre-roll
00min01sec 
						

							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 number keys in 
almost any menu where direct numerical input is 
possible. 
You cannot use these keys as number keys when 
there are only two choices (even if they are 
numerical). An example of such a menu is the 
Rechase Mode menu (page 10-13), where the 
two options for the 
Window value are 1 second 
and 2 seconds. This parameter should be set using 
the 
UP and DOWN keys, not the number keys.
5.3 Assigning menus to 
function keys
It is quite likely that you will find yourself using a 
few of the same menu functions many times (for 
instance, manual adjustment of punch points) and many of the menu functions only rarely (for 
instance, whether the DA-98 is a master or a slave 
unit).
Some of the keys below the tape counter ([9] 
through [13], and [18] through [22]) can be used 
as “soft keys”, providing instant access to the 
menu screens you use most often.
5.3.1 To assign a menu screen to a key
1) Set the function key mode to Menu as 
described in 5.2, “Function key modes”
2) Use the cursor and 
ENTER keys to get to the 
menu function you want to assign to a key.
3) Press the 
SHIFT key [24] (the indicator will 
flash).
4) Press the 
PRESET key [23]. The following will 
appear on the display.
5) Press the key (
F 1 through F 10) to which you 
want to assign the menu screen.
This will assign the menu screen to the key and the 
SHIFT indicator will go out.
5.3.2 Recalling an assigned menu 
function
1) Press the SHIFT [24] key (the indicator will 
flash).
2) Press the 
F key (1 through 10) which has been 
assigned to the menu function you want to 
recall.
The menu screen will be recalled, and the SHIFT 
indicator will go out.
Locate Pre-roll
00min10sec
Locate Pre-roll
01min05sec
NOTE
Some parameters (e.g. offsets) can take either positive 
or negative values. To change the sign of the value, use 
the 
MEMO 2 (+/–) key [14] to toggle between posi-
tive and negative values.
Function Preset
Push Function Key 
						

							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 synchronization pat-
terns for the servo to follow on subsequent passes 
through the tape as well as the subcode data 
(ABS). No audio data is normally recorded during 
a formatting operation (but see below).
While formatting is proceeding, you cannot per-
form any other transport operation except stop-
ping the tape.
You cannot change the sampling rate while for-
matting is in progress.
1) Switch on the DA-98 and load a tape into the 
tape loading slot [3]. As the tape is loaded and 
threaded, the tape counters will show 
.
For details of tapes that you can use in the DA-98, 
see 1.5, “Recommended tapes”.
2) Press REW [32] to take the tape to the 
beginning. When the beginning of the tape is 
reached, the tape counter will show   
(“beginning of tape”).
3) Press the 
FORMAT/Fs switch [6]. The FORMAT 
indicator will start blinking. Press the 
FORMAT/
Fs
 switch again within 5 seconds. The FORMAT 
indicator will then light steadily.
If you do not press the FORMAT/Fs switch twice 
within 5 seconds, the indicator will go out. This is a feature designed to stop you formatting a tape 
accidentally.
4) Now use the FORMAT/Fs switch to select the 
sampling frequency (either 44.1kHz or 48kHz).
The sampling frequency that you select depends 
on the eventual use for the recording. For audio 
work, selecting 44.1kHz will allow you to produce 
CD master tapes with no frequency conversion.
5) To start formatting the tape, hold down the 
RECORD key [36] and press the PLAY key [35].
6) The tape will format to the end, and then 
rewind automatically, stopping at the 
 position.
You are now able to use the tape for recording.
It is possible to format tapes on a number of 
DTRS units simultaneously. For details, see 9.4.1, 
“Synchronized formatting”.
6.1.1 Aborting the format process
To abort the process before formatting actually 
takes place (i.e. you have pressed the 
FORMAT/Fs 
switch twice in error), press the 
CLEAR key [11]. 
The 
FORMAT indicator will go out.
As explained earlier, the only transport operation 
you can perform once formatting has started is to 
stop the tape. 
NOTE
If you do press the FORMAT/Fs switch twice so that 
the indicator lights steadily and you then change your 
mind about formatting the tape, you can use the 
CLEAR key [11] to cancel the operation.
NOTE
If a digital signal is received at the DIGITAL I/O jack 
[45] as selected and shown by the 
DIGITAL IN switch 
and indicator [15], the DA-98’s recording and playback 
sampling frequency is automatically determined by the 
sampling frequency of the input signal and you cannot 
change it.
NOTE
The tape counter may show a negative ABS time for a 
short while at the start of the formatting process. While 
it is displaying a negative value, no audio recording can 
take place. 
						

							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 audio signal routed to that track will 
be recorded while formatting is in progress.
6.2 Recording the first tracks
There are a number of different ways of recording 
the first tracks. However, all follow the same basic 
principles.
6.3 Preparing to record
1) If you have not already loaded a formatted 
blank tape, do so now.
2) Make sure that varispeed is turned off (check 
the 
VARI SPEED indicator [2] and see 8.5.2, 
“Resetting the speed to standard” if necessary).3) If you are recording from a digital source, press 
the 
DIGITAL IN switch [15]. The indicator will 
light.
4) Select the input which will be routed to each 
track on which you will be recording.
This may involve the use of an external patch bay 
(analog), but the DA-98 also incorporates a “vir-
tual patch bay” which can be used for signal rout-
ing; both digital and analog. This is accessed 
through the Track Copy function (see 8.11.1, 
“Track Copy (channel-to-track routing)”).
With a digital recorder such as the DA-98, track 
crosstalk is almost negligible (better than 90dB at 
1kHz). For this reason, you do not have to worry 
so much about the constraints of choosing physical 
track locations as you do with analog recordings.
If you need to copy a track to another track later in 
the recording process, remember that track copy-
ing in the digital domain will add no noise or dis-
tortion. A digital copy is a “clone” of the original, 
and no loss of quality is incurred.
6.3.1 Write-protecting cassettes
If you attempt to record on a cassette where the 
write-protect tab has been closed, an error mes-
sage will appear on the screen as you press the 
RECORD key. Recording is, of course, not possi-
ble on a write-protected cassette.
Hi8 cassette write tabs work in the opposite man-
ner to DAT cassettes, and “closed” means “write-
protect”. 
If the tape is write-protected, the 
REC INHI indica-
tor to the left of the tape counter will be lit. Eject 
the tape, open the write-protect tab, replace the 
cassette, and try again.
6.3.2 Recording the basic tracks (i)
1) Arm the tracks on which you wish to record.
Press the REC FUNCTION key of these tracks; the 
indicator will start flashing. NOTES
• If you have recorded and formatted part of a tape, and 
you wish to continue formatting and recording on the 
rest of the tape (“assembly”), you should rewind to a 
pre-formatted, blank section of the tape and resume for-
matting and recording from there.
• Recording and formatting will continue at the sampling 
frequency used on the first part of the tape.
• Avoid re-starting recording and formatting from an 
unformatted section of the tape.
NOTES
• When using a newly-formatted tape, we suggest that 
you record a blank “leader” about 30 seconds long, 
starting from the beginning of the tape, to avoid dropout. 
Leave a similar recorded blank “trailer” at the end of the 
recording. You can use the Rec Mute function as a con-
venient way of recording silence (see 8.12, “REC 
MUTE (recording silence)”).
• If the tape counter shows a negative value, you cannot 
record on the tape at that position. 
NOTE
Sony Hi8 cassettes (and those from some other manu-
facturers) have the words “SAVE” (write-protected) and 
“REC” (write-enabled) molded into the cassette shell by 
the protection tab. 
						

							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 
STOP key. You can also press the PLAY key, 
which will continue the tape movement, but 
stop recording.
6.3.3 Recording the basic tracks (ii)
This is an alternative method of recording basic 
tracks on a blank, formatted tape.
1) Arm the tracks and adjust the levels as 
described in [1] and [2] above (6.3.2, 
“Recording the basic tracks (i)”).
The REC FUNCTION indicators of all armed 
tracks will flash.
2) Press the PLAY key. The tape will start moving.
3) When you reach the point at which you want to 
start recording, press the 
RECORD key.
The REC FUNCTION indicators of all armed 
tracks will light steadily.
The point at which recording starts is automati-
cally stored into memory for punch-in purposes.
4) Stop recording as described above.
6.3.4 Replaying the first tracks
When you have positioned the tape at the begin-
ning of the recording you have just made (or at the 
pre-roll point), you can start playing back the tape.1) Turn off the 
RECORD FUNCTION switch of the 
track you have just recorded.
We suggest turning off the RECORD FUNCTION. 
This will prevent you from accidentally hitting the 
RECORD key and going into record mode, over-
writing what you have already recorded.
2) Make sure that the INPUT MONITOR of the track 
you have just recorded is turned off (see 7.1.1, 
“ALL INPUT [18] and INPUT MONITOR 
[29]”).
3) Rewind the tape to the point that you started 
recording and press 
PLAY.
6.4 Overdubbing
Overdubbing subsequent tracks is carried out in a 
very similar way to recording the first tracks.
If you are unsure about the difference between 
monitoring modes as implemented on the DA-98, 
now is a good time to read the section 7, “Moni-
toring modes”.
Obviously you will want to record while you lis-
ten to the off-tape signals from previously-
recorded tracks and the input source on tracks 
where recording is taking place.
Note, however, that the use of confidence mode 
when overdubbing (see 7.2, “Confidence mode”) 
is not recommended, as the off-tape replay signals 
will be delayed, making it impossible to provide 
accurate cues.
6.5 Track bouncing
Though the DA-98 provides a method of copying 
tracks digitally (see 8.11.1, “Track Copy (channel-
to-track routing)”), there is no way of combining 
tracks within the DA-98.
If you need to combine tracks, this must be done 
through an external console, routing all tracks to 
be combined through an output group, and routing 
that group to the appropriate track input.
6.6 Punch-in and punch-out
There are a number of ways in which the DA-98 
can be used to perform reliable punch-in and 
punch-outs automatically. Punch points can be set 
NOTE
Use the reference level you have chosen (see 8.7, “Ref-
erence levels”) to be your “nominal” level.