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6 – Basic Operations–Formatting a tape
32 TASCAM DA-98HR
NOTE
If varispeed is set to on (7.5, “Vari speed (pitch control)”) or
FS shift is selected (9.4.1, “Pull up and pull down (Fs
shift)”, the clock source is set to the same as the Wide set-
ting (i.e. the LC oscillator), regardless of what settings are
made in this menu.
6.2 Formatting a tape
Before you use a tape in the DA-98HR, you must
first format it. This marks internal synchronization
patterns for the servo to follow on subsequent passes
through the tape as well as the subcode data (ABS).
No audio data is normally recorded during a format-
ting operation (but see below).
When formatting, the tape is prepared for use in HR
(high-resolution; 24-bit) or normal mode (16-bit res-
olution).
The formatting operation also determines the sam-
pling frequency or sampling frequencies that will be
used on the tape, and hence, the number of available
tracks (see 6.2.1, “Available tracks” below).
While formatting is proceeding, you cannot perform
any other transport operation except stopping the
tape.
You cannot change the sampling frequencies or the
recording resolution while formatting is in progress.
NOTE
Once you have started to format a tape, it is strongly sug-
gested that you allow the format process to continue to the
end of the tape. Changing the sampling frequencies, the
number of tracks, or the recording resolution in the middle
of the tape will almost certainly lead to problems later on.
Even if you do not change any of these parameters, but
stop and start the tape in the middle of a format process,
there will be a discontinuity which will produce unpredict-
able results if you attempt to record over it.
6.2.1 Available tracks
Because of the way in which the DA-98HR records
tracks at sampling frequencies which are different
from the base frequency, the number of tracks which
are available for recording varies according to the
sampling frequency selected.
The
AVAILABLE TRACK 8 indicators above each
track meter show the current status of the corre-
sponding track. When the indicator is unlit, the track
is not available for use. When red, the track will be
recorded at four times the base sampling frequency
(quad-frequency), when orange at twice the base
sampling frequency (dual-frequency), and when
green, at the base sampling frequency.
The different combinations of available tracks are as
follows:
These combinations are selected as explained below
in 6.2.2, “The format process”.
Note that all sampling frequencies are related to a
base frequency, which may be either 44.1 kHz or
48 kHz. It is not possible to mix sampling frequen-
cies based on different base frequencies on the same
tape.
All track combinations other than the eight base-fre-
quency track combination must be in HR (24-bit)
mode. It is not possible to make 16-bit dual or quad-
frequency recordings using the DA-98HR
NOTE
See 7.10.3, “Setting the high-frequency AES/EBU I/O
transfer mode” for details of how to output high-frequency
AES/EBU data.
6.2.2 The format process
1 Switch on the DA-98HR and load a tape into
the tape loading slot
2. As the tape is loaded
and threaded, the tape counter shows
--LOAD--.
For details of tapes that you can use in the DA-
98HR, see 1.5, “Recommended tapes”.
2 Press
REW T to take the tape to the beginning.
When the beginning of the tape is reached, the
tape counter shows
BoT (“beginning of tape”).
3 Press the FORMAT/Fs key 7. The indicator
starts blinking. Press the
FORMAT/Fs key
again within five seconds. The indicator then
lights steadily.
If you do not press the
FORMAT/Fs key twice
within five seconds, the indicator goes out. This
is a feature designed to stop you formatting a
tape accidentally.
Track
12345678
4x 4x ——————
2x 2x 2x 2x ————
2x 2x 2x base base ———
2x 2x base base base base ——
base base base base base base base base