Kolpak DA-98 Using this manual, Precautions and recommendations, Clock source in a digital studio

Section 1 – Introduction to the DA-98

•Shuttle mode enables “rock and roll” a udio positioning of key locations

1.3 Using this manual

We suggest that you take the trouble to read this manual through at least once before starting to use the DA-98. In this way, you will find out where to turn when you need answers.

We suggest that you make a special note of the section 1.4, “Precautio ns and recommendations” as these contain some information which is unique to the DA-98.

We also suggest that you also read 5, “Men u oper- ations”, as this will help you when you come to perform basic operations.

When referring to a control or a connector on the DA-98, the name of the control or connector will be written in bold type, and will often be followed by a num ber in brackets, as in the example below:

Holding down the PLAY [35] and pressing the RECORD [36] key will start the recording process.

The numbers refer to th front and rear panel illus- trations and description in 2, “Fr ont Panel con-

trols” a nd 3, “Rear Pan	l connectors” .
When referring to a w	rd or phrase which appears
on the LCD display scr en, the word or phrase
will be written as foll ws:
Move the cursor tooMem1		.

Sometimes the tape counter is used to display a message. This will be shown as follows:

The tape counter will show .

NOTE

Recording is an art as well as a science. A successful recording is often judged primarily on the quality of sound as art, and we obviously cannot guarantee that. A company that makes paint and brushes for artists cannot say that the paintings made with their products will be critically well-received. TASCAM can make no guaran- tee that the DA-98 by itself will assure the quality of the recordings you make. Your skill as a technician and your abilities as an artist will be significant factors in the results you achieve.

1.4 Precautions and recommendations

As with any precision piece of electronic equip- ment, common-sense precautions apply with the DA-98.

However, there are a few extra precautions which apply to the DA-98, and we suggest that you make a note of these, to prolong the useful life of the DA-98.

1.4.1Clock source in a digital studio

The DA-98 can be used in a variety of situations, and with a variety of equipment, either digital or analog.

If you are working with more than one digital audio unit in your setup, you should note that all units must be driven by the same central clock source (“ word clock” or “w ord sync”).

If different word clock sources are used through- out the setup, it is actually possible to damage speakers, etc. because of mismatches.

The DA-98 can be designated as the word clock master for your studio, or can be slaved to external word clocks, using a convenient front-panel switch and standard BNC connectors.

Even though AES/EBU stereo digital audio sig- nals are self-clocking, any AES/EBU format sig- nals converted and fed to or from the DA-98 must be synchronized at word level with the DA-98.

1.4.2 Confidence replay

Because the DA-98 can accept digital data and converts analog data with longer word lengths than it uses to record on tape (16-bit resolution), monitoring the input source during recording will not necessarily provide a completely accurate rep- resentation of what is recorded on tape.

The DA-98 provides a dither setting (see 8.13.1,

“Selecting dither settings”) whi ch provides improved total harmonic distortion figures. Since the dither is applied prior to recording, again, monitoring the input source will not allow you to hear the effect of the dithering process.

Accordingly, the DA-98 provides a confidence mode, allowing you to monitor off-tape as record-

1-2 – 1.00 – 06/97