Tascam Remote Control Unit RC-898 Owners Manual

							Section 6.1 - Reference modes
6-1
6 – Location functions
The RC-898 can store and recall up to 100 loca-
tion memory positions, allowing you to find key 
points in a recording project easily.
The contents of location memories (timecode val-
ues) are displayed on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 
LED display [15], and the number of the current 
location memory is displayed on the MEMORY 
NO
. 2-digit LED display [14].
6.1 Reference modes
Before proceeding with an explanation of the way 
in which location operations are carried out, it is 
necessary to examine the way in which times are 
displayed on the RC-898.
The RC-898 can use one of three time reference 
modes to show the tape times of the DTRS units 
connected to it, as shown on the timecode indica-
tors [12]: ABS
, REL
 and TC
.
ABS
 refers to the absolute time, as determined 
from the servo track of the DTRS tape.
TC
 refers to timecode read from the timecode 
track of the DTRS unit. However, since the RC-
898 does not accept timecode directly, this need 
not be actual timecode, but in the case of a DA-98 
or DA-88, may be pseudo-timecode, “synthe-
sized” from the ABS values (see 8.1.2, “Synthe-
sizing timecode from ABS times”).
REL
 refers to the time value, relative to a user-
defined reference point (see 6.3, “Setting a relative 
time reference”).
Cue points may be set “on-the-fly” or entered 
manually, and copied from a cue list. All cue 
points may be edited and “trimmed” to frame 
accuracy.
For faster entry and editing, cue points may 
optionally be displayed and edited to second accu-
racy, ignoring the “frames” field.
6.2 Setting the precision
The RC-898 typically displays to frame-based 
precision (although in fact, the location and syn-
chronization is to sample precision). 
However, it is not always necessary to work to this 
degree of accuracy, and you may want to save a little time by ignoring the “frames” field when 
entering and locating to location memories. 
Accordingly, the RC-898 provides you with a way 
to do this:
1) From the F menu group, move the cursor to 
FrameDisp and press SELECT
:
2) Use the UP 
or DOWN
 key to change from 
on 
to 
off.
When frame display is set on, the last two digits 
of the display will be used for the frames field of 
location memories, and the RC-898 expects frames 
to be entered as part of time values. When set to 
off, the frames field is ignored (i.e. always 
assumed to be zero).
6.3 Setting a relative time 
reference
This operation is equivalent to pressing the “reset” 
button on a numerical tape counter to set the value 
to “0000”. When the RC-898 is in relative mode, 
the time shown on the TAPE TIME
 display [13] 
becomes relative to a zero point which you set. 
This zero point is referenced to the first DTRS 
unit in the chain.
1) From the F menu group, move the cursor to 
DispTime and press SELECT
:
2) Use the UP
 or DOWN
 key to change 
Absolute to Relative.
The REL
 indicator [12] will light to show that the 
RC-898 is now displaying times in relative mode. NOTE
The location and synchronization accuracy is not affected 
by this function.
Frame Display
on
Display Time
Absolute 
						

							Section 6.4 - ABS setting  
6-2
3) When the tape is at the time you want to make 
the “zero” point, press the CAPTURE
 key [29].
The current time value from the first DTRS unit 
will be displayed on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 
display [15].
4) Press the STR
 key [17].
The MEMORY NO
. display [14] will start to flash.
5) Press the numeric keypad’s 0
 key, and then 
press the ENTER/LOAD
 key [20] to enter the 
current time into the 
00 location memory.
The TA P E  T I M E
 display will now show 
00:00:00:00, showing that it is now at zero, 
relative to the time you have just captured.
If the display shows something other than 
00:00:00:00, this means that the tape is now at 
a position other than the point where you captured 
the time (i.e. the tape was playing or recording).
All times now are relative to this time. Any loca-
tions will now be shown on the TAPE TIME
 dis-
play relative to the new 
00 memory. For example, 
if the relative “zero point” is set to 
00:30:00:00, when the tape is at the absolute 
location of 
00:45:00:00, the value shown on 
the TAPE TIME
 display will be 
00:15:00:00 
(45 – 30). However, even though the value shown 
on the TAPE TIME
 display changes, neither the 
actual tape position nor values shown on the 
LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display are affected.
A minus value is shown on the displays either 
with a leading minus sign (
–) on the TA P E  T I M E
 
display, or with a leading period (
.) on the 
LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
6.3.1 “Return-to-zero”
Since the RC-898 works on time-based, rather 
than counter-based, references, there is no dedi-
cated “RTZ” control. However, you can return to 
the zero point using the following procedure:
1) Press the RCL
 key [18].
The MEMORY NO
. indicator will start to flash.
2) Press the 0 key on the numeric keypad, 
followed by ENTER/LOAD
.
The LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display will now 
show the actual time value of the “zero point”.
3) Press the LOC
 key [41].
The tape will return to the nominal “zero point” 
and the TA P E  T I M E
 display will show 
00:00:00:00.
6.4 ABS setting
The ABS setting allows you to use the subcode on 
the servo track of the DTRS unit as the time refer-
ence of the RC-898. Usually, this starts at 
00:00:00:00, and continues for the length of 
the tape. 
However, there are some options available with 
the ABS mode, which increase the flexibility of 
the system. These are described in 8.1.2, “Synthe-
sizing timecode from ABS times”, and allow you 
to start with an offset, etc. when synsthesizing 
timecode.
6.4.1 A note on ABS frame rate
When ABS is selected, the number of frames per 
second is different from that in any timecode 
mode. For details of setting SMPTE/EBU frame 
rates, see 8.1.3, “Selecting a timecode type”.
Timecode (whether SMPTE or EBU) contains a 
fixed number of frames per second. However, the 
ABS method of timing works in a slightly differ-
ent way.
In three seconds of time, there are 100 frames. 
These frames are allocated as follows:
This pattern is repeated every three seconds, as 
you will notice when you set frame values using 
the menu system in ABS mode. When multiple 
DTRS units are connected together in DTRS sync 
mode, the master unit always outputs ABS tim-
ings to the slave unit(s).
6.4.2 Selecting Time Mode
Each DTRS unit in the chain capable of 
using timecode (i.e. DA-98 and DA-88/SY-88 
units) can be changed to use either timecode or 
ABS timing.
00:00:00:00 00:45:00:00
.00:30:00:00TAPE TIME display 
Relative settings
00:00:00:00
Absolute settings
New 
“zero” 
point
00:15:00:00SecondNumber of 
framesMaximum frame 
value displayed
00 – 01 33 32
01 – 02 33 32
02 – 03 34 33
9888 
						

							Section 6.5 - Location operations
6-3
The time mode selected here is the reference time 
mode for punch operations, location operations, 
etc.
1) From menu group 3, move the cursor to 
TimeMode and press SELECT
:
In the above screen, all machines are referenced to 
the ABS time.
2) Use the UP
 and DOWN
 keys to select between 
ABS and TC settings.
6.5 Location operations
Location transport operations on the RC-898 are 
mainly controlled using the LOC
 key [41]. This 
key, which has no equivalent on the DTRS units, 
allows the instant location of the tape to the value 
shown in the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
However, it is also possible to set a locate pre-roll 
time, and if this is set to a non-zero value, locating 
to a position will move the tape to the time shown 
in the display, minus the pre-roll value. 
For example, if the pre-roll time is set to 5 sec-
onds, and the time shown in the LOCATE TIME/
VA L U E
 display is 
01:23:03:02, when the 
LOC
 key is pressed, the tape will locate to 
01:22:58:02. This allows time for cueing, 
slave unit lock-up, etc.
6.5.1 Setting the location pre-roll value
To set the pre-roll value which will be used by 
location operations:1) From menu group 0, move the cursor to 
Loc Pre, and press SELECT
:
2) Use the LEFT
 and RIGHT
 keys to move 
between the min and sec fields, and set the 
values using the UP
 and DOWN
 keys.
It is also possible to use the numeric keypad here. 
The “hours” and “frames” digits of the value 
shown in the 
LOCATE TIME/VALUE display will 
be ignored, and only the “minutes” and “seconds” 
used.
The maximum value that may be set here is 
59min59sec, and the minimum value is 
00min00sec. It is not possible to have a 
negative pre-roll time.
6.5.2 Auto play
When the DTRS unit reaches the location point, it 
will normally go into stop mode.
However, if the AUTO  P LAY
 indicator [33] is on, 
the unit will automatically start playing when the 
location point is reached.
6.5.3 “Instant” location
If you are playing back or recording, and you wish 
to mark a point for later one-time location:
1) Press the CAPTURE
 key [29] at the point 
where you wish to return.
2) At any point following the capture, press the 
LOC
 key to return to the location point that has 
just been captured.
It is not necessary to stop the tape before pressing 
LOC
. Location can be performed while the unit’s 
transport is in any mode, including fast forward 
and rewind.
You can now “fine-tune” this time value (see 6.5.5, 
“Editing a location”). This location point may also 
be stored in a location memory (see 6.5.6, “Storing 
Time Mode
TC
ABS»»»»»»
Machine123456
NOTES
Note that these settings show the way in which the position 
on the DTRS unit is shown on the TA P E  T I M E
 display and 
may also be used to control the chase mode of the DTRS 
units as described in 8.1.8, “Chasing to external timecode”.
NOTE
In the following explanations, in the interests of clarity and 
brevity, we will refer to the units locating to the location 
time. This should always be assumed to be the location time 
minus the location offset, unless specifically mentioned 
otherwise.
Locate Pre-roll
00min00sec
NOTES
The values set here apply to the RC-898 location functions, 
and are not affect settings made on the DTRS units con-
nected to the RC-898.
The values set here do not apply to the auto-punch operation 
pre-roll time, which is set using a separate menu (see 6.7.5, 
“Setting pre-roll and post-roll times”). 
						

							Section 6.5 - Location operations  
6-4
the location in a memory”) and recalled for later 
use.
6.5.4 Manual entry of a location point
You can also use the numeric keypad to enter a 
time value manually from a cue list, etc. to which 
you can locate.
Time values are entered from the right of the dis-
play, which is cleared as soon as a number key is 
pressed. For instance, to enter a value of 
01:25:34:12, the following keys should be 
pressed:
Note that the ENTER/LOAD
 key [20] is used to 
confirm the entry.
If you make a mistake entering the value, you can 
stop the entry procedure with the CANCEL
 key 
[19]. The display will stop flashing.
This time value can now be used for “instant” 
location (simply press the LOC
 key [41]) or 
stored in a location memory for further use (see 
6.5.6, “Storing the location in a memory”).
6.5.5 Editing a location
When a location has been captured or entered as 
described above, it can be edited using the jog dial 
[28].
1) Ensure that the DATA INC/DEC
 indicator [27] 
is lit.
If this indicator is not lit, the JOG
 dial will control 
the tape transport.
2) Use the JOG
 dial to adjust the value of the 
location point.
3) To confirm this edited value, either locate to the 
position that you have just edited, or store the 
edited value into the location memory.
4) To use the JOG
 dial as a transport control 
again, press the DATA INC/DEC
 key so that the 
indicator goes out.
6.5.6 Storing the location in a memory
There are 100 memories into which location time 
values may be stored, numbered from 
00 to 99.
The location memory which is currently in used is 
shown in the 2-digit MEMORY NO.
 display [14]. 
As mentioned above (6.3, “Setting a relative time 
reference”), location 
00 is used for special pur-
poses, such as storing the “zero” reference point in 
relative time mode. We therefore suggest that you 
do not use location memory 
00 as a general loca-
tion point.
1) Enter or capture a location time (you do not 
need to press ENTER
 in this case).
2) Press the STR
 key [17].
The LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display will stop 
flashing, and the MEMORY NO
. display [14] will 
start to flash.
3) Use the numeric keypad [16] to enter the 
number of the location memory into which you 
want to store the value.
The number will “fill up” from the right. If you 
want to store the time value in memory 
03, for 
example, you only need to press the 3
 key, but if 
you want to store it in memory 
13, press the 1
 key, 
followed by the 3
 key.
You can also use the JOG
 dial as a data dial (when 
the DATA INC/DEC
 indicator [27] is lit) to select 
the location memory.
4) Press the ENTER/LOAD
 key [20].
The MEMORY NO.
 display will stop flashing, and 
the value is stored in the location memory.
If you enter the wrong location memory, press the 
CANCEL
 [19] key. The MEMORY NO.
 display 
will stop flashing and will return to its previous 
va lue.
6.5.7 Recalling a location memory
To recall and locate to a time value stored in a 
location memory:
1) Press the RCL
 key [18].
The MEMORY NO
. display [14] will start to flash.
100:00:00:01 (display is cleared and 
starts flashing)
2
00:00:00:12
500:00:01:25
300:00:12:53
400:01:25:34
100:12:53:41
201:25:34:12
ENTER/LOAD(stops display flashing and enters the 
value)
NOTE
Location memories stored on the RC-898 are completely 
independent of either the MEMO 1 and MEMO 2 points 
stored in the DTRS units, or of the 10 extra memory loca-
tions which may be stored in a DA-98 unit. 
						

							Section 6.6 - Repeating a section
6-5
2) Use the numeric keypad [16] to enter the 
number of the location memory you want to 
recall.
The number will “fill up” from the right. If you 
want to recall memory 
03, for example, you only 
need to press the 3
 key, but if you want to recall 
memory 
13, press the 1
 key, followed by the 3
 
key.
3) Press the ENTER/LOAD
 key [20].
The MEMORY NO. 
display will stop flashing, and 
the time value stored in that memory will appear 
on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
4) Press the LOC
 key [41].
The tape will locate to the location point that has 
just been recalled.
If you enter a location memory in which nothing 
has been stored, this is not an error, but the 
LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display will show 
00:00:00:00.
If you enter the wrong location memory, press the 
CANCEL
 [19] key. The MEMORY NO.
 display 
will stop flashing and return to its previous value..
6.5.8 Repeated entry of location points
You can also use the CUE STR
 key [39] to store a 
series of location points as a tape is played.
1) Recall a location memory. 
The location memory immediately after the 
recalled memory will be overwritten, so make sure 
that it is a location you do not want to keep.
2) Start playing (or recording) the tape.
The order of steps 1) and 2) can be reversed.
3) Press the CUE STR
 key.
The current tape location will be stored into the 
location memory following the one you have just 
recalled. No confirmation is necessary.
The LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display will now 
show the value of the time just stored in the loca-
tion memory, and the MEMORY NO.
 display will 
show the memory number in which it has been 
stored.
Pressing the CUE STR
 key again will store the 
new tape location into the next memory location.
These location memories can be recalled and 
edited in the same way as location memories 
entered in any other way. There is also one level of 
undo available to replace one location memory which may have been entered accidentally. See 
6.7.4, “Undo function” for details. Note that there 
is no “redo” function available.
6.5.9 Editing a location memory
When a memory has been recalled, it is possible to 
edit it, either by replacing the contents with a 
value entered from the numeric keypad or using 
the jog/shuttle controls:
1) Use the DATA INC/DEC
 key [27] to set the jog/
shuttle controls into data editing mode.
2) Use the JOG
 dial [28] to “nudge” the values 
displayed on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 
display [15].
The value will flash.
3) Confirm the entry with the STR
 key [17].
The LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display will stop 
flashing, and the MEMORY NO.
 display [14] will 
start to flash.
4) Press the ENTER/LOAD
 key to store the edited 
value to the same location memory, or the 
numeric keypad, followed by the ENTER/
LOAD
 key to store the edited value to a 
different location.
6.6 Repeating a section
You can set two points, independently of the loca-
tion memories, which allow you to repeat play-
back continuously between them.
1) From menu group 3, move the cursor to 
Repeat, and press SELECT
:
2) Use the DOWN
 key to select the 
Start 
parameter if it is not already visible.
NOTE
The points that are set here using the RC-898 are indepen-
dent of any repeat points set on the DTRS units. When 
repeat times are set using the RC-898, the repeat function is 
not available from the DTRS front panel.
Repeat Start/End
Machine 1
30ND
Start 00:00:00:00 
						

							Section 6.7 - Punch operations  
6-6
3) Move the cursor to the time fields, and use the 
UP
 and DOWN
 keys to set the time value.
Alternatively, you can use the numeric keypad to 
set the time value.
4) Move the cursor to the Start parameter, 
and press the UP
 key to select the 
End 
parameter.
5) Set the time values for the 
End point.
6) Press the REPEAT
 key (the indicator will light) 
to start the repeat between the two points. 
The 
Start and End times must be at least 5 
seconds apart, otherwise repeat play cannot take 
place.
If the 
End time is set, and the Start time is 
set to a time after the 
End time, when the 
REPEAT
 key is pressed, the two time points will 
be swapped, so that the 
Start comes before the 
End. 
When you are editing the repeat times, the DTRS 
unit tries to take into account the fact that the 
End should follow the Start, and automati-
cally attempts to adjust the entries as they are 
made so that they are consistent.
6.7 Punch operations
Automatic punch recording operations are closely 
linked to location memory, and so are described 
here.
6.7.1 Setting punch points
To set the punch-in and punch-out points:
• While the tape is playing, press the IN
 and 
OUT
 keys as appropriate at the right time.
• Alternatively, you can use the numeric keypad 
to enter a time value for the in or out point. 
• While the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display is 
flashing, press the IN
 or OUT
 key as appropri-
ate. The display will stop flashing, and the 
MEMORY NO.
 display will show 
in or ot, 
depending on whether the value has been 
stored as the punch-in or punch-out point.
6.7.2 Checking punch points
The punch points can be checked and recalled in 
the same way as any other location memory.
1) Press the RCL
 key.
The MEMORY NO. 
display will start to flash.
2) Press either the IN
 or the OUT
 key, as 
appropriate.
The time value of the punch-in or the punch-out 
point will be shown on the LOCATE TIME/
VA L U E
 display.
•The LOC
 key can be now be used for instant 
location to the punch-in or punch-out point.
•The PRRL
 key [34] will also locate to the pre-
roll time minus the punch pre-roll time (see 
6.7.5, “Setting pre-roll and post-roll times” for 
details of setting this value). This is indepen-
dent of the location pre-roll time (see 6.5.1, 
“Setting the location pre-roll value”).
In addition to checking the actual punch positions, 
you can also check the length of the punch time:
1) Press the RCL
 key.
The MEMORY NO.
 display will start to flash.
2) Press and hold down the IN
 key.
3) While holding down the IN
 key, press the OUT
 
key. 
The time between the two punch points will be 
shown on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
6.7.3 Editing punch points
1) Press the RCL
 key, followed by the IN
 or OUT
 
key.
The punch-in or punch-out value (as appropriate) 
will be shown on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 
display.
2) If the DATA INC/DEC
 indicator [27] is not lit, 
press the DATA  I NC /DE C
 key so that the 
indicator is lit. 
3) Use the JOG
 dial to adjust the value of the 
punch-in or punch-out point.
4) After adjusting the value, press the IN
 or the 
OUT
 key as appropriate to store the new value 
into the punch memory.
6.7.4 Undo function
If you have stored a punch in or out value and 
overwritten it in error, there is an “undo” function, 
NOTE
Setting a punch-out time which comes before the punch-in 
time is meaningless, and will not be automatically corrected 
by the RC-898. If you try to perform a punch operation with 
the punch points set in this way, the tape will locate to the 
punch-in point (minus the punch pre-roll time) and then 
stop. 
						

							Section 6.7 - Punch operations
6-7
which allows you to restore the previous version. 
Only one level of undo is allowed, and if no value 
has been stored in the in or out memory prior to 
the wrong value being entered, no undo is possi-
ble. To undo the wrong entry:
1) Press and hold down the CANCEL
 key, and 
press either the IN
 or the OUT
 key, depending 
on the memory store operation that you want 
to undo.
The previously-stored memory value will be 
shown on the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
This undo function can also be used with the “on-
the-fly” location memory store function (see 
6.5.8, “Repeated entry of location points”)to 
delete a cue point entered in error. In this case, the 
CUE STR
 key, rather than the IN
 or OUT
 key, 
should be pressed while the CANCEL
 key is held 
down.
Please note that there is no “redo” function.
6.7.5 Setting pre-roll and post-roll times
These times used for punch operations only, and 
are independent of the pre-roll time described in 
6.5.1, “Setting the location pre-roll value”.
The PRRL key can be used to locate to the punch-
in time, minus the punch pre-roll time set here.
1) From menu group 1, move the cursor to 
Pre/
Post
, and press SELECT
:
2) The times may be set up to a maximum of 59 
minutes, 59 seconds, using the cursor keys or 
the numerical keypad.
The values shown above (5 seconds and 3 seconds) 
are the factory default values for pre-roll and post-
roll, respectively.
These values are also the minimum values. Any 
attempt to set a value less than these will cause the 
setting to revert to the minimum value.
6.7.6 Crossfade times
Crossfading is used in digital recording to provide 
a “seamless” punch operation.1) From menu group 1, move the cursor to 
X-fade and press SELECT
:
2) On DA-98 units, the time can be set from 
10ms to 200ms in 10ms increments. On DA-
38 and DA-88 units, the increments are still 
10ms, but the time can be set from 
10ms to 
90ms.
Use the UP
 and DOWN
 keys to change the value, 
or the last digits of a value entered with the 
numeric keypad.
6.7.7 Rehearsing the punch recording
1) Arm the track(s) which will be used for 
recording.
The REC FUNCTION
 indicators [1] of these 
tracks will flash, and the INPUT MONITOR
 indi-
cators [2] will light.
2) Press the AUTO  M ON
 key [5].
This corresponds to pressing the AUTO M ON
 key 
of a DA-98 unit or the INSERT
 key of a DA-38, or 
pressing the AUTO INPUT
 and INSERT
 keys 
together on a DA-88 unit.
3) Press the RHSL
 key [35].
• The tape will locate to the punch pre-roll point 
and start playing. The INPUT MONITOR
 
indicators of the armed tracks will go out, 
showing that monitoring is off-tape. 
• When the tape reaches the punch-in point, the 
RECORD
 key [40] will start to flash. The 
INPUT MONITOR
 indicators will light, show-
ing that source monitoring is now enabled.
• When the tape reaches the punch-out point, the 
RECORD
 key will go out. The INPUT MON-
ITOR
 indicators will also go out .
• When the tape reaches the post-roll point, it 
will stop.
• To repeat the rehearsal, press the RHSL
 key 
again.
• The rehearsal can be interrupted at any time by 
pressing the STOP
 key.
6.7.8 Performing the punch recording
1) With the tracks armed, and the AU TO  M O N
 
indicator lit, press the AUTO  P U NC H
 key [36].
Preroll Postroll
Machine 1
Pre Post
00m05s 00m03s
Crossfade Time
Machine 1
060 ms 
						

							Section 6.7 - Punch operations  
6-8
• The tape will locate to the punch pre-roll point 
and start playing. The INPUT MONITOR
 
indicators of the armed tracks will go out, 
showing that monitoring is off-tape. 
• When the tape reaches the punch-in point, the 
RECORD
 key [40] will light, and the 
RECORD FUNCTION
 indicators of the 
armed tracks will also light steadily. 
•The INPUT MONITOR
 indicators will light, 
showing that source monitoring is now 
enabled.
• When the tape reaches the punch-out point, the 
RECORD
 key will go out and the RECORD 
FUNCTION
 indicators of the armed tracks 
will start to flash. The INPUT MONITOR
 
indicators will also go out .
• When the tape reaches the post-roll point, it 
will stop.
• To repeat the take, press the AUTO
 PUNCH 
key again.
• The take can be interrupted at any time by 
pressing the STOP
 key.
• Check the punched material by pressing the 
PRRL
 key and locating to the punch pre-roll 
point . If the AUTO  P L AY
 indicator is lit while 
the pre-roll location is taking place, playback 
will start automatically when the pre-roll point 
is reached.
NOTE
When you are satisfied with the take, remember to turn off 
the AU TO  M O N
 setting and unarm the tracks. 
						

							Section 7.1 - Track operations
7-1
7 – Making settings on the 
DTRS units
This section covers the operations which relate to 
the DTRS units, other than those specifically 
related to timecode.
7.1 Track operations
The following series of operations relate to indi-
vidual tracks of the DTRS units connected to the 
RC-898.
7.1.1 Track delay
When recording or playing back, tracks on a 
DTRS unit may be delayed by up to 7200 sam-
ples, or advanced relative to other tracks up to a 
value of 200 samples.
This is possible due to the design of the recording 
and monitoring heads in the DTRS mechanism.
1) From menu group 0, move the cursor to 
Delay and press SELECT
:
2) Use either the UP
 key or the numeric keypad to 
change the track number by individual track.
3) When track 1 is shown, you can press the 
DOWN
 key to select the eight tracks of the first 
DTRS unit. Continue pressing the DOWN
 key 
to select the tracks in groups of eight for the 
subsequent DTRS units (i.e. 
9-16, 17-24, 
etc.):
Any changes to the delay time made when a group 
fo eight tracks is shown will affect the delay time 
of all tracks on the unit. This allows you to set the delay times for different DTRS units in the chain 
easily (to slip times, etc.).
When track 48 is shown on the display, pressing 
the UP
 key will select tracks 41-48. Subsequent 
presses of the UP
 key will select the other DTRS 
units in order, working towards the head of the 
chain.
4) Move the cursor to the numerical value field 
and use the UP
 and DOWN
 keys or the numeric 
keypad to enter a value.
The +/–
 key of the numeric keypad allows you to 
enter negative values here, as shown by the period 
after the last digit in the LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 
display.
5) If you prefer to work in sample values, rather 
than milliseconds, move the cursor to the 
msec field and change it to sample with 
the DOWN
 key.
The delay value is now converted to samples at the 
current sampling frequency, and is up to 4 digits 
long.
7.1.2 Track copying
This operation allows the assignment of 
inputs (either digital or analog) on a track-by-track 
basis. This facility is not available on DA-88 units. 
This means that a patchbay is not required to 
reroute input signals
As well as external inputs, tracks which have 
already been recorded can be used as recording 
sources. This feature therefore allows tracks to be 
copied within a unit. 
It does not allow routing or copying of tracks 
between machines, nor does it allow the combina-
tion (“ping-pong” of tracks). For these operations, 
an external patching or mixing system is required. 
For further details of this feature, consult section 
8.11 of the DA-98 manual, or 4-7 of the DA-38 
manual.
1) From menu group 0, move the cursor to 
Trk 
Copy
 and press SELECT
:
Track Delay Time
01 000 msec
NOTE
The track number here may be set from 01
 to 48
. Tracks 
refer only to DTRS units, not to any other equipment which 
may be using the REC FUNCTION
 switches of tracks 41 
through 46.
Track Delay Time
1-8 000 msec
Track Copy Mcn 1
Input 12345678 (Ana)
Tape
Track 12345678 off
3898 
						

							Section 7.2 - Unit-related functions  
7-2 
2) To enable track copying on the selected 
machine, move the cursor to 
off and use the 
UP
 key to change it to 
on.
In the screen above, analog inputs 1 through 8 are 
routed to destination tracks 1 through 8 (shown on 
the bottom line of the display)on a “one-to-one” 
basis.
3) To change the routing of the inputs, use the UP
 
and DOWN
 keys to select the different inputs 
or tape tracks to be used as recording sources.
The screen below shows tracks 1 through 4 accept-
ing digital inputs 1 through 4, while the signals 
previously recorded on these tracks are copied to 
tracks 5 through 8.
7.1.3 Rec Mute function
The rec mute function allows you to prevent 
any input signals from reaching armed tracks, 
which would otherwise be recording. This may be 
used to record periods of silence, etc. This muting 
is available on a track-by-track basis.
1) From menu group 1, move the cursor to 
Rec 
Mute
, and press SELECT
:
2) Use the LEFT
 and RIGHT
 cursor keys to select 
a track, and the UP
 and DOWN
 keys to turn 
the muting on and off.
7.2 Unit-related functions
The following functions affect the settings of the 
whole unit, on a unit-by-unit basis.
7.2.1 Chasing to ABS sync
Units which are not the first unit in the chain will 
typically chase the first unit in the chain using the 
ABS synchronization facility.
This is different from chasing to timecode, which 
is described in 8.1.8, “Chasing to external time-
code”. Chasing to a DTRS master requires that 
there is a properly-terminated sync and control “daisy-chain” described in 3.1, “Connection to 
DTRS units”
To set sync chase mode on or off for a particular 
DTRS unit:
1) Press the CHASE
 key [31].
The word CHASE 
will start to flash in the 
LOCATE TIME/VALUE
 display.
2) Use the numeric keypad to enter the number of 
the DTRS unit that you want to set.
This will toggle the chase status of the DTRS unit 
between on and off.
The appropriate LOCK STATUS
 indicator [9] will 
now show the chase status of the DTRS unit, as 
will the CHASE indicators on the DTRS units..
When the master unit (ID 1) is controlled, the 
slave units which have their chase mode set will 
chase the master unit. As they lock, the LOCK 
STATUS
 indicators will light steadily, as will the 
CHASE indicators on the DTRS units.
Remember that DA-88 units, although their ID 
numbering starts at 0, should be regarded as start-
ing at 1. The IDs for DA-38 and DA-98 units start 
at 1 in any case.
7.2.2 Key Mode
Using this function, you can select either all 
DTRS units connected to the RC-898, or just one 
unit, to be controlled by the ALL SAFE
 [3], ALL 
INPUT
 [4] and AUTO  M O N
 [5] keys.
Track Copy Mcn 1
Input 1234 (Dig)
Tape 1234
Track 12345678 on
Rec Mute Mcn 1
On
Off »»»»»»»»
Trk 12345678
98
onChase mode is enabled, and the slave is now 
locked to the master.
fast flashChase mode is enabled, but the slave unit is not 
yet locked (the slave unit is in fast forward, 
rewind, etc.).
slow flashChase mode is enabled, but the slave unit is not 
yet locked (unit is in stop mode)
offChase mode is disabled (or the unit is turned off 
or not connected).
NOTE
If the 
CHASE key is pressed followed by the numeric key-
pad 
0 key, this will toggle the chase status of all slave DTRS 
units.