Tascam HD P2 Portable Stereo Audio Recorder Owners Manual

							
TASCAM  HD-P  Owner's Manual  1

Timecode
Timecode
Overview
The HD-P2 has a wide range of timecode features. 
It can read incoming linear timecode (LTC) and has 
many functions including freewheeling, trigger on 
frame number, and timecode offset. The HD-P2 can 
also resolve its audio clock to a range of sources 
including LTC in and video in.
Very briefly, timecode operation works this way 
(details in the following sections):
1.  Enable timecode on the Project Menu/Settings screen.
2.  Adjust the timecode settings as needed.
3.  Go into timecode chase mode by pressing the 
TIMECODE key. The TIMECODE indicator will reflect the 
state of incoming timecode (blinking if there is no 
timecode, solid with good timecode). The position 
on the audio timeline is now controlled by the LTC.
4.  Start a timecode operation by pressing the PLAY or 
REC key. The REC indicator will blink until the op-
eration is triggered by incoming timecode. Once 
triggered, any blinking light will stay on solid.
5.  The operation is stopped when the STOP key is 
pressed, or if power or storage space is low, or if 
LTC has hit the end of its 24-hour timecode day. If 
FreeWheel is not infinite (see below), then the op-
eration will also stop if timecode is stopped.
6.  Leave timecode chase mode by pressing the 
TIMECODE key. The TIMECODE indicator goes out and 
the transport keys and the SHUTTLE/DATA wheel once 
again control the position on the audio timeline.
7.  When timecode is disabled on the Project Menu/
Settings screen, the TIMECODE key is no longer ac-
tive.
There are many variations to how timecode works on 
the HD-P2, as controlled by the Timecode Settings 
screen.
Timecode Settings
Figure 33 - Timecode Settings Screen
Timecode operation on the HD-P2 is disabled by 
default. You cannot access the Timecode Settings 
menu screen until timecode is enabled. Go to the 
Project Menu/Settings screen, select the Timecode 
menu item and change it from DIS to EN to enable 
timecode. Then select the Timecode Settings menu 
item and press the SELECT key to enter the Timecode 
Settings screen which looks similar to Figure 33.
Clock Source
This menu item is a duplicate of the Clock Source field 
on the Project Menu/Settings screen. There is only one 
audio clock source and changing either one affects the 
other. This menu is included in the Timecode Settings 
for convenience.
The possible audio Clock Source values are:
• Internal – The audio clock is crystal-controlled 
and generated by the HD-P2. Use this only if the 
HD-P2 is to be the audio clock master in your sys-
tem, with its S/PDIF digital audio output used to 
synchronize other audio gear.
• Word – The BNC input can also be sent a standard 
TTL-level word clock for audio clock sync.
• S/PDIF – The audio clock rate can also be derived 
from an incoming S/PDIF digital audio signal.
• LTC – The HD-P2 will lock its audio clock to the 
incoming LTC, always keeping it in sync to the LTC 
rate. Please note that even with the audio clock rate 
locked to incoming LTC, the audio clock can still 
“drift” with respect to the LTC if it is discontiguous 
or if there is a mismatch between the expected and 
received LTC formats (e.g. drop vs. non-drop frame).
• Video – A variety of video formats can be fed into 
the BNC input and used for audio sync, including 
composite or blackburst NTSC and PAL, and tri-
level sync from HDTV systems. Note that the  
Frame Rate (described below) must be correctly set 
to match the incoming video material.
The audio clock source and frame rate must be set cor-
rectly and fed valid signals to avoid “drift” between 
the LTC and the audio clock.
Frame Rate
This field lets you specify the expected incoming LTC 
(and video) frame rate, as well as frame encoding in 
Drop Frame (DF) and Non-Drop (ND) frame systems.
•  .  – Some HDTV setups use a “pull-down” ver-
sion of 24 frame-per-second video. While the video  
						

							
 TASCAM  HD-P   Owner's Manual

Timecode
runs at a slowed down rate, the frames are always 
“non-drop” frame encoded.
•  .00 – This frame rate is used in both film and 
HDTV systems.
•  .  – This frame rate is used in both film and 
HDTV systems.
•  .00 – Used for PAL video.
•  .  DF – Standard frame rate for NTSC video with 
wall time matching the drop-frame video time.
•  .  ND – NTSC video with non-drop encoded 
frames.
•  0.00DF – True 30 frame-per-second rate but with 
drop-frame encoded LTC.
•  0.00ND – 30 frames-per-second, non-drop encoded 
LTC.
Rate Pull Up/Down
Normally a synchronized audio clock is set to be 
precisely 44,100 Hz, 48,000 Hz, and so on. There are 
some cases where it is required to run the audio at 
pull-up or pull-down rates.
The Rate Pull Up/Down options are:
• 23.976 – Pull Down
• 24.00 – Pull Up
• 24.975 – Pull Down
• 25.00 – Pull Up
• 29.97 – Pull Down
• 30.00 – Pull Up
FreeWheel
The HD-P2 FreeWheel setting lets you adjust how 
many bad, missing, or discontiguous timecode frames 
should elapse before dropping out of a timecode 
operation (record or play). The options are from 1 to 
 0 frames, or Infinite. After a timecode operation has 
started when FreeWheel is set to Infinite the LTC can 
be stopped or removed and it will still continue (In 
this case, you have to press the STOP key or run out of 
memory space or power to stop the timecode opera-
tion).
Jam Sync
When timecode is set to Infinite freewheel, and a valid 
timecode source is connected, the internal timecode 
generator is started. While there is a signal, the HD-P2 
will continue to follow the external timecode. Should 
the timecode stop, the internal timecode generator 
takes over as the timecode reference until one of the 
following occurs:
   •   clock source is changed
  •   freewheel setting taken off of Infinite
  •   power cycle
This assumes that the internal clock, or something else, 
does not stop when the LTC is unplugged. You can 
turn on/off the timecode (via keys) or disable/enable 
timecode, and the generator will continue to run.
Trigger Mode
When FreeWheel is not set to Infinite, a timecode opera-
tion will stop if LTC is lost. If LTC restarts, perhaps in 
a different position, the HD-P2 will either start another 
timecode operation (Trigger Mode of Auto) or will wait 
to start another operation until the REC or PLAY keys are 
pressed (Trigger Mode of Single).
Trigger on Frame
Once a timecode operation has been initiated (by 
pressing PLAY or REC with timecode on), the operation 
will start either once any incoming timecode frame is 
recognized (Trigger on Frame Off) or once a particular 
timecode frame is recognized (Trigger on Frame On).
Trigger-Frame
If Trigger Mode is set to Single, then you cam specify 
the particular trigger frame in HH:MM:SS.FF format 
(Make sure you select Save and press the SELECT key 
once you have entered the frame number).
Timecode Origin
When a project is created with timecode enabled, it 
has an initial timecode origin of 01:00:00.00. This 
defines the beginning of a 24-hour “timecode day” for 
the project. If an operation hits the end of the timecode 
day (e.g. 00:59:59.29, in this case), it is stopped.
Before recording audio into the project, the user can 
modify the start/stop points of the timecode day to 
correspond with the range of external timecode that 
is expected to be used with the project. For example, 
if the user is using 30 fps code, and sets the timecode 
origin to 02:00:00.00, the timecode day will range 
from [02:00:00.00 to 23:59:59.29] and then from 
[00:00:00.00 to  01:59:59.29]. In this case, a recording 
at 00:01:30.00 will be towards the end of the 24-hour 
timecode day instead of near the beginning. This 
makes “recording over midnight” possible in time of 
day applications.
Timecode Offset
The HD-P2 can offset incoming timecode up to +/-12 
hours during playback. This is useful when the user 
wants to line up playback with a timecode source that 
uses a different timecode range than that used to origi-
nally record the material into the project. An On/Off 
selection allows the user to activate and deactivate 
the offset without having to reenter the numeric offset 
each time. The word offset appears on the main display 
when it is On letting the user know at a glance that a 
timecode offset is currently in effect. 
						

							
TASCAM  HD-P  Owner's Manual 

Key Shortcuts
Key Shortcuts
The HD-P2’s keys are mapped to the most commonly 
used functions, to quickly perform an action or navi-
gate to a menu. There are additional key shortcuts that, 
while not necessary to the more common operations of 
the HD-P2, might prove useful in some situations.
Shortcuts
Shifted MENU Keys
Pressing and holding the MENU key and pressing one of 
these additional keys will perform the following menu 
shortcut:
MENU-PROJECT – Jump to Change/New Project Menu
MENU-DISPLAY – Jump to System Menu
MENU-SELECT – Jump to Project File List Menu
MENU-RETAKE – Jump to Project Trash List Menu
MENU-MARKER – Jump to Project Marker List Menu
MENU-TIMECODE – Jump to Project Timecode Settings (if 
enabled)
Shifted STOP Keys
Similarly, there are four shortcuts that use the STOP key 
as a shift key.
STOP-RETAKE – Perform Retake without Warning Dialog
STOP-REW – Locate to beginning of recorded audio
STOP-F FWD – Locate to end of recorded audio
STOP-SELECT – Change timeline scrub units (default is 
frame)
Offset
This entry lets you specify the Timecode Offset in 
HH:MM:SS.FF format (Make sure you select Save and 
press the SELECT key once you have entered the offset). 
						

							
 TASCAM  HD-P   Owner's Manual

Keyboard a4FunctionMain ScreenEverywhere*
TransportSpace BarPlay/Stopxx
F-5Rewxx
F-6F Fwdxx
F-7Stopxx
F-8Playxx
F-9Pausexx
F-10Recordxx
F-12Drop Markerx
Left ArrowLocate Leftx
Right ArrowLocate Rightx
HOMERTZx
ENDEnd of Projectx
ShortcutsTToggle Timcode Chasex
ZRetakex
RRelocatex
MenusPProjectx
F-11Markersx
LToggle Locator Menux
MMenux
NChange/NewProjectx
FProject Filesx
SSystem Menux
F-2Timecode Settings (only when enabled)x
F-3Displayxx
PrintScreenScreenshotxx
ENTERSelectxx
ESCCANCEL / Clear Overxx
GTrashx
Up ArrowScroll up menu in any menu list screen
Down ArrowScroll down menu in any menu list screen
HOMEGo to top of entire menu list
ENDGo to bottom of entire menu list
* except renaming screen
External PS/2 Keyboard Equivalents
When a PS/2 external keyboard is hooked to the 
HD-P2 the following keyboard equivalents can be 
used to operate the system:
When using the Rename screen for renaming a proj-
ect, file, or marker, the keyboard operates normally 
allowing you to edit, (pressing the backspace key to 
delete) and type in a new name.
External PS/2 Keyboard Equivalents 
						

							
TASCAM  HD-P  Owner's Manual 

Docking and Conforming
FireWire Dock
When the HD-P2 is connected to a host computer sup-
ported by Windows XP or Mac OS 10.3 via FireWire, 
this Main Menu item is enabled and can be used to 
dock the HD-P2 to the host computer.
The HD-P2, when docked, shows up on the host com-
puter as an externally mounted FireWire hard drive. 
On the HD-P2 the screen appears as shown in Figure 
34. 
The only way to safely un-dock the HD-P2 from the 
host device is to “eject” it on the host’s file system. On 
Figure 34 - FireWire Docked Screen
the Macintosh this means dragging the HD-P2 disk 
icon to the Trash (which becomes an eject button), or 
clicking the eject icon next to the disk in the Finder 
window. On Windows you can right click the HD-P2 
disk and select Eject.
CAUTION
While the HD-P2 is docked you should not try 
to remove or change the CF card. Doing so will 
corrupt the data on the card.
Once the host computer ejects the HD-P2, the warning 
screen goes away, and the HD-P2 reloads the CF card 
just as it does on power-up and card insertion.
Compact Flash Card Layout
Figure 35 is an example of a typical CF card with two 
Projects as seen from a Macintosh OS X computer:
Note that Project PROJ0001 and all its files use default 
system names. The other Project (PressConf) has been 
renamed, as have the active audio files. 
The HD-P2 automatically takes care of organizing the 
file system. When docked to a host computer, or when 
using a CF card reader, you can refer to this organi-
zation chart to find and copy the audio files to your 
DAW. If you have custom settings that you use all of 
the time, turn them into a Project Template (.tpt exten-
sion) which allows you to keep a master copy on your 
computer that can be copied to new HD-P2 media 
before heading to the field. 
Figure 35 - CF Disk Layout
HD-P2 Conform Application
The HD-P2 includes a standalone application sup-
ported by both Windows XP and Mac OS 10.3 for 
conforming (or rendering) a project into a single audio 
file. The application reads in the audio files for a 
selected project (all files must share the same sample 
rate), evaluates the timeline position and file creation 
date & time for each audio file, and writes out the 
“flattened” or “conformed” audio into a single file. 
The file can be saved with 16- or 24-bit sample depth 
and in Stereo, Dual Mono, Mono Left, Mono Right, 
or Mono Summed (L+R) formats. Various application 
uses follow:
Choose Project
Using file dialog navigate to the project and click 
Open. Once a valid project is chosen the status line 
will show the start and end times of audio within, 
along with the size of the output file at the current 
settings. The Conform Project button will also be 
enabled.
Choose Output File Setting
Set the Width and Channel format you wish the output 
file to have.
Conform Project
Upon clicking this key you will be presented with a 
file Save As dialog. Choose where you would like the 
file saved and what name. An extension of .wav is 
required. 
						

							
 TASCAM  HD-P   Owner's Manual

During the conforming process a dialog is shown, with 
a progress bar that tracks the approximate amount of 
the process that has completed. If you click Cancel but-
ton during conforming the process is interrupted and 
the incomplete file is deleted.
The application uses the same playback algorithms 
as the HD-P2 to ensure that the final file sounds like 
what you would hear if the project were played on 
the HD-P2. If the project has silence between files the 
application will write silence into the output file.
Docking and Conforming
HD-P2 Conform Application Screens
Figure 36 - Windows Conform Screen
Figure 37 - Macintosh Conform Screen
Dimensional Drawing
260mm(102.3)
246mm(96.9)
61mm(24.0)65mm(25.6)
50mm(19.7)
196mm(77.2)
Due to product improvement, specifications 
and external appearance are subject to change 
without notice.  Also, the actual unit may 
appear differently from the illustrations in this 
operation manual. 
						

							
TASCAM  HD-P  Owner's Manual 

Specifications
Specifications
Recording Media: Compact Flash, Microdrive
File Format: BWF Broadcast Wave File (FAT16/FAT32)
Recording time: 24 minutes (256 MB Compact Flash, Fs=44.1   kHz 16 bit stereo)
Operating time: 5 Hours 
Sample Rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz
Sample Clock refs: S/PDIF, Video (NTSC or PAL), LTC, WORD
Quantization: 16/24 bit
Pre-record buffer: Up to 10 seconds
Time code types: 23.976,24,24.975,25,29,29.97  DF/NDF,  30  DF/NDF
Frequency response
Nominal level: 20   Hz to 20   kHz  ±1.0 dB (44.1   kHz/48   kHz)
MIC to LINE OUT: 20 to 40  kHz   0.5   dB/–4.0  dB (88.2 kHz/96   kHz)
                   20 to 80  kHz 0.5   dB/–20   dB (176.4 kHz/192   kHz)
Noise level Trim Max (22 Hz to 22  kHz): Up to –55   dBu                           MIC to LINE OUT
THD+N 
MAX LEVEL at 1  kHz: Up to 0.01%  MIC to Line Out
TRIM MIN: Up to 0.01%  22   kLPF
Crosstalk at 1  kHz: Over 80   dB   MIC to Line Out
Delay: 44.1  kHz   < 0.6   msec
           192  kHz    < 0.1   msec
Limiter: Attach time      Up to 25   usec
             Release time    Up to 50   msec 
Low Cut: High pass 100  Hz cut off     –18   dB/OCT
Phantom Power: +48 Volt, 10  mA
Input/Output Connectors
Analog I/O
MIC Input
Connector: XLR–3–31 type 
Input Impedance: 1.3  kØ Balance 
Mic Input Level: –60  dBu (Trim Max) to 13.8   dBu (Trim Min) 
Internal Mic level: –60  dBu (Trim Max) to 13.8   dBu (Trim Min)  
Headroom: 16dB/22  dB (with limiter)
Maximum Gain: 46.2   dB
Pad: 20  dBS
LINE Input

Connector: RCA Pin type 
Input Impedance:10   kØ 
Input Level: –46.2  dBV (Trim Max) to 0   dBu (Trim Min)  
Headroom: 10 dB
Maximum Gain: 46.2  dB
LINE Output
Connector: RCA Pin type 
Input Impedance: 100   Ø 
Input Level: –10  dBV  
Head Room: +6  dBV 
 
Headphone Output
Connector: 6 TRS PHONE jack (Tip: L, Ring: R, Sleeve: GND) 
Output Power: 55   mW+55   mW (32  Ø)
Speaker Output:
500  mW (16  Ø)
Digital I/O
COAXIAL INPUT/OUTPUT
Connector: RCA Pin type 
Input Impedance: 75  Ø 
Format: IEC60958 (S/PDIF)
Quantization: 24 bit
Other Inputs
LTC INPUT
Connector: XLR–3–31
Input Impedance: 75 Ø
VIDEO INPUT
Connector: BNC
Input Impedance: 75 Ø
KEYBOARD
Connector: PS/2
FIREWIRE
Connector: IEEE.1394 (6 Pin)
Format: IEEE.1394 (Asynchoronous)
Baud Rate: 400  Mbps
Display
LCD: 240x160 dots with backlight
Power
AC ADAPTOR
Input: USA/Canada  120   V AC, 60   Hz
Europe/U.K. 230  V AC, 50   Hz
Australia  240  V AC, 50   Hz
Output: DC12  V
Rash Current: 600   mA
Power Consumption: 6   W (CompactFlash)
Battery
8 x AA type dry cell (NiMH recommended)
Operating temperature: 0° to 35° C
Dimensions (w x d x h): 260 x 196 x 65 
Weight: 1.2  kg (without the batteries)
Compatible Operating Systems: 
Windows XP and Macintosh OSX ~10.3 
						

							
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HD-P2