Section 5.2 - Monitoring

5-2
tape from the beginning, you should wait until the
end of the tape before rewinding and ejecting it.

5.1.3 Arming tracks

The tracks of the DTRS units are armed using the
REC FUNCTION keys with their indicators.
These keys and indicators only work for tracks of
units that are actually connected.
Armed tracks, i.e. those which are ready for
recording, are shown by their indicators flashing.
Tracks which are actually recording are shown by
their indicators being steadily lit.
When a DA-88 or DA-38 track is recording, the
INPUT MONITOR indicator will light, showing
that the monitoring for the tracks is from the input
source, rather than being off-tape. The INPUT
MONITOR keys are not operational with a DA-88
or DA-38 unit.
When operating a DA-98 unit, the INPUT MONI-
TOR keys are operational, and can be used to
change between off-tape and source monitoring.

5.1.4 ALL SAFE

The ALL SAFE key [3] prevents accidental arm-
ing of tracks. When lit, all REC FUNCTION indi-
cators go out, and the keys of both the RC-898 and
the DTRS unit or units (see 7.2.2, “Key Mode”
below) are locked (pressing them will not arm
tracks).
When the ALL SAFE key is pressed to turn off
the safe operation, the arming status of all tracks
will return to what it was before the ALL SAFE
key was pressed.

5.1.5 Transport controls

The RC-898 shares a common interface with all
DTRS units with regard to transport functions
(including entering end exiting record mode).
Consult the relevant portions of the DTRS unit
manual if you are unsure of the way in which
transport operations are carried out.
One exception to this is the LOC key [41] which
does not appear on the front panel of DTRS units.
It is used to locate the tape to the value shown on
the LOCATE TIME/VALUE display [15]. For full
details of how this key is used and the location
facilities available from the RC-898, see 6, “Loca-
tion functions”.

5.1.6 Shuttle mode

The RC-898 incorporates a jog dial and shuttle
wheel to allow precise positioning of the tape in
the DTRS units.
When the DATA INC/DEC indicator [27] is not
lit, moving either of these controls will control the
selected unit(s) appropriately.
The indicators will go out 10 seconds after the
jog/shuttle controls are last used.
The shuttle wheel allows forward motion at the
following speeds (relative to normal speed): 8 x,
4 x, 2 x, 1 x, 1/2, 1/4. The same speeds, except for
1 x, are available in reverse mode. The further the
shuttle wheel is turned away from the center posi-
tion in either the clockwise or counterclockwise
direction, the faster the tape will be moved.
The jog dial allows very precise positioning of the
tape to frame accuracy.
Monitoring during shuttling is explained below
(see 5.2.3, “Shuttle monitoring”).
5.2 Monitoring
The monitoring of off-tape and input source sig-
nals is complex, and varies a little between the
DA-88 and DA-38 units, and the DA-98 units, due
to the latter being provided with track-by-track
switching facilities between source and off-tape
monitoring, as well as the confidence mode
method of off-tape monitoring while recording
(see 7.2.12, “Confidence mode”).
NOTES
The display shows a negative ABS time for a few seconds at
the beginning of the tape. While a negative time is shown,
no audio can be recorded on the tape.
We suggest that you leave a blank header of at least 30 sec-
onds at the beginning of the tape. This can be marked as a
virtual “zero point” if you like (see 6.3, “Setting a relative
time reference”).
NOTE
Before recording, you should make sure that either digital or
analog inputs, as required, have been selected (see 7.2.9,
“Input selection”) and the appropriate clock settings have
been made (see 7.2.6, “Clock selection”).
NOTE
When the currently-selected unit is recording, the jog and
shuttle controls are disabled (this prevents accidental inter-
ruption of a take).