Kolpak DA-98 Operations related to timecode, ABS and SMPTE/EBU timecode, ABS time, Tape timecode

Section 10 – Operations related to timecode

10 – Operations related to timecode

The DA-98 contains synchronization facilities, including a timecode generator, which allow it to act either as a timecode master or a timecode slave.

If timecode is recorded, a special discrete subcode track is used, which leaves all eight tracks free for recording and playback of audio material.

However, the DA-98 is able to synchronize with external timecode devices, even if the DA-98 tape has not been striped, by converting its internal servo subcode (ABS) to timecode “on-the-fly”.

A full range of options is provided for full com- patibility with the widest possible range of other equipment.

10.1 ABS and SMPTE/EBU timecode

In some menus, by the time value, you may see either )*5or 6+. Here, we explain these two dif- ferent timing reference methods and the differ- ences between them.

10.1.1 ABS time

“)*5” stands for “Absolute”, and is the absolute time of the tape as recorded on the subcode of the tape. This timing starts at the beginning of the tape with a value of 00:00:00:00. This is the timing ref- erence used when the DA-98 is not using SMPTE/ EBU timecode.

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:

Second	Number of	Maximum frame
	frames	value displayed
00 – 01	33	32
01 – 02	33	32
02 – 03	34	33

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).

10.1.2 Tape timecode

“6+” stands for timecode, and is shown whenever a SMPTE/EBU timecode value is used rather than the ABS value. The timecode may be internal or external and can be SMPTE/EBU, received and transmitted via the TIME CODE IN/OUT jacks [37], or SMPTE/EBU timecode synthesized from the ABS subcode (see 10.2, “Tape timecode mode”).

Whether the SMPTE/EBU timecode is generated or synthesized, we will refer to it as “timecode” in this manual, to distinguish it from ABS timing values.

SMPTE/EBU timecode can be re-produced inde- pendently of ABS timings and can be of any frame format supported by common timecode standards.

When multiple DTRS units are connected, and the master unit’s CHASE mode is set on, the master will chase to any incoming timecode, regardless of whether timecode or ABS timings have been selected as the time mode (see 10.1.3, “Selecting TC or ABS timing” below).

Timing information received and transmitted from and to external controllers (e.g. RS-422, MIDI or Bus) will always be referenced to timecode values.

When the DA-98 is referenced to its absolute timecode, the ABS indicator to the left of the tape counter [2] will light, and when referenced to timecode (internal or external), the TC indicator will light.

10.1.3 Selecting TC or ABS timing

NOTE

This procedure is fundamental to synchronization oper- ations. If you select absolute timing mode when you want to synchronize with timecode, you will be unable to synchronize the DA-98.

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