Tascam DA-98 Digital Multitrack Recorder

The Industry Standard Just Raised the Standard. One session will prove it to you: the new Tascam DA-98 Modular Digital Multitrack (MDM) is the most advanced digital recorder in any class. The DA-98 builds on the phenomenal success of the DA-88 as the MDM standard within the global post-production community, where Hi8 cassettes have become the international exchange media for post-production facilities.

The Tascam DA-98 has an arsenal of exciting new features including confidence monitoring, individual track Tape/Source monitoring, an integrated electronic patchbay, digital track copy and much, much more. Its operational capability improvements and new interface flexibility combine to make the DA-98 the ultimate MDM for the audio production and postproduction professional.

The Tascam DA-98 utilises the DTRS® Hi8 format to deliver up to 116 minutes of superb digital audio recording on 8 tracks. With legendary TASCAM durability and compatibility with all DTRS format recorders, the DA-98 is designed to handle the most demanding recording environments. So, if you’ve only got rack space for one digital multitrack, reserve it for the new Tascam DA-98. And put a new standard of excellence in your productions.

Uncompromising Audio Quality
The sonic results you get with the Tascam DA-98 are simply astounding. With a flat 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response and a dynamic range that exceeds 92dB, the new Tascam DA-98 is unquestionably the best sounding digital multitrack recorder available. Using 20-bit Delta Sigma A/D converters with 64 times oversampling and 20-bit D/A converters with 8 times oversampling, the Tascam DA-98 produces the most natural and transparent record quality available. With the ability to enable or disable its dither function, this world-class recorder delivers the most faithful sound reproduction.

You Already Know How To Operate This Recorder
You won’t experience any steep learning curve when it comes to operating the new DA-98. The PLAY, RECORD, FF, REW and STOP transport controls are right where you expect them to be, and they work just as easily as any commercial analog recorder you’ve ever used. After inserting the tape, you’ll set your record levels using the 15-segment LED peak hold and release time meters, and then press PLAY and RECORD.

For searching through your program material, the Tascam DA-98’s variable speed shuttle control lets you examine your work from 1/4 all the way to 8 times normal play speed. Only DTRS format audio recorders offer shuttle capability throughout the entire product line — it’s a feature you won’t want to be without.

A New Window To The World
While the Tascam DA-98 offers a wealth of improvements over its DTRS predecessors, one seemingly small, but time saving new feature is its large, comprehensive LCD display. This new “window” makes navigating the various system parameters much easier than ever before and results in a faster, more intuitive interface. This new display, used in tandem with the Tascam DA-98’s dedicated function/numeric keys, make navigating the unit’s operating system easier than ever and makes configuring the DA-98 to your particular recording environment a pleasure.

The Only DTRS Format recorder With Confidence Monitoring
For the audio professional, the Tascam DA-98 delivers an unprecedented level of signal monitoring options. This exciting recorder is the first DTRS format recorder to feature confidence monitoring and individual input monitor select switches. By taking advantage of the Tascam DA-98’s new confidence monitoring capability, you’ll always know exactly what you’re listening to during mastering and layback. You’ll also appreciate the recorder’s Input Monitor switches which facilitate convenient checking of Source/Tape levels, and greatly simplify the process of alternating between the two signals.

Switchable Reference Levels
The new Tascam DA-98 is designed to be as easy to configure to your particular studio as it is to operate. As various recording facilities may use different reference levels, the DA-98’s new switchable reference level capability is sure to be a welcome addition. Now you can set the reference level that suits your particular recording environment. The DA-98 even incorporates an internal tone generator for checking your settings!

An Electronic Patchbay and Digital Track Copy Capability
New to the Tascam DA-98 is its unique electronic patchbay capability. By taking advantage of this new feature, you can route any input to any track at the touch of a button. The electronic patchbay enables you to leave a mic preamp permanently attached to, let’s say, input 1, yet route that signal to any track you want – freeing you from the tedious chore of constantly patching and re-patching.

As a function of the electronic patchbay, you’ll really come to depend upon the digital track copy feature. With the Tascam DA-98’s digital track copy capability, you can easily assemble multiple takes from various tracks into a “best of” performance – entirely in the digital domain, and the process is fast and intuitive.

Used in conjunction with Punch In/Out recording (either manual or automated), you can “lift” program material from one track and place it onto another. Take the first four seconds of material from track 1, the next 11 seconds from track 2 and create a perfect 15 seconds of program material on track 3! Digital track copy tasks can be executed within a single unit or between two machines.

Synchronisation and Communication with External Controllers
Synchronisation is not only robust and rock-solid on the Tascam DA-98 – it’s included as standard fare! The DA-98’s synchronisation capabilities include support for Sony P2 and MIDI Machine Control protocols. In a sound for picture environment, the Tascam DA-98 provides full support for Sony P2 protocol. Any video edit controller can communicate with the recorder — and through the entire process, the Tascam DA-98 will behave like a common VTR – transparent and trouble-free.

If you augment your recording with “virtual” MIDI tracks, you’ll like the way the DA-98 and your sequencer work together. Now your computer can function as the focal point of an integrated digital audio/MIDI system and control all transport and track arming functions of the DA-98. Similarly, if your recording console offers transport control via MMC, you can control your Tascam DA-98 without ever leaving your mixer.

As an added benefit for integrating the Tascam DA-98 with other equipment, the unit also sports a 37 pin D-sub connector for establishing a parallel interface with an external device. Whether you opt to control your unit from TASCAM’s optional remote controller, a parallel interface, Sony P2 or MMC (MIDI Machine Control) protocols, the DA-98 gives you the control you need — easily and effortlessly.

The Most Advanced Tape-to-Head System
Only the DTRS format, featured on the Tascam DA-98, provides the safety and security of Auto Track Finding (ATF). This system embeds timing information into the tape’s subcode area during the helical scan. There’s no analog control track as on some competing systems.

With ATF, your tape and the program material on it is far more secure – freeing you from the worry of tape stretching, fraying or other failure. With ATF, you are guaranteed of perfect tape inter-changeability between different DTRS format recorders. ATF is one key factor that has made the DTRS format the industry standard for layback and format interchange.

Precision Editing — Seamless Punch In/Out
Because digital recording is so precise, you can select tighter punch in/out points than previously available in the analog world. The Tascam DA-98’s variable digital crossfade technology promotes seamless overdubbing and error correction. Crossfade time is adjustable from 10 to 200 milliseconds in 10 millisecond increments.

As expected, the Tascam DA-98 offers a sophisticated rehearsal mode for practicing your punch recording prior to committing it to tape. All in all, the Tascam DA-98 represents the state-of-the-art in digital multitrack technology. This results in a far more robust and reliable recorder – with the sound and features that will carry your business for years.

Easy To Maintain — Easier Than Ever to Access
The Tascam DA-98’s innovative design makes it easy for qualified service personnel to work on the unit. And with the optional RM-98 rackmount ear with handle, the recorder can now be setup to work with the Accuride 200 series rail system – providing convenient access to the Tascam DA-98 without having to physically remove the unit from the equipment rack. Pull the DA-98 forward and you’re ready to inspect the machine.

8 to 128 Tracks
The Tascam DA-98 digital multitrack recorder provides eight simultaneously available recordable tracks with which to capture your masterpieces. And if your plans are ambitious or a client requires more tracks, it’s easy to expand. You can interconnect any combination of DTRS format recorders, including TASCAM’s DA-88 and DA-38 recorders, to create a 16-machine system for a grand total of 128 tracks. Best of all, they lock up lightning fast. Of course, the DA-98 is fully compatible with all DTRS format recorders — so tapes can be exchanged with owners of DA-88s, DA-38s or other machines.

Optional Equipment and Accessories Complete the System
The Tascam DA-98 is well-supported with optional accessories and equipment that enables you to get more from your recorder, make some operations quicker and easier, and allows you to integrate the DA-98 into environments using other digital formats.

The RC-848 Comprehensive System Controller
The RC-848 Remote Control Unit coordinates the simultaneous operation of up to six Tascam DA-98s from one space-saving, high-tech control station. With one RC-848 you can drive an entire rack full of DA-98s, maintaining complete transport synchronisation with access to all 48 tracks. It controls all transport functions, provides 99 locate points for added convenience, and adds frame accurate jog capability to the DA-98’s arsenal of features.

The RC-848 incorporates dual LED tape position displays and can also address track delay, locate preroll time and numerous other system parameters. As an added benefit, the RC-848 features three accessory ports – one each for controlling parallel devices, other TASCAM equipment (such as an MSR-24) and RS-422 equipped machines.

MU-8824 24-Channel Meter Bridge
The MU-8824 24-Channel Meter Bridge centralises 24 tracks (three machines) of Tascam DA-98 or Tascam DA-88 recorders. The unit can be either rack-mounted with the optional RM-8824 rack-mount accessory or mounted to the RC-848 Remote Controller by means of the optional MK-8824 mounting accessory. Because the MU-8824 is a vertically modular meter unit, you can easily stack two MU-8824s to accommodate a total of six machines or 48 tracks. PW-88M cables handle the connections between the recorder and meter bridge.

The IF-88AE and IF-88SD Digital Interfaces
The ability of the Tascam DA-98 to integrate digitally with other digital equipment is easily accomplished with the IF-88AE and IF-88SD Digital Interfaces. The IF-88AE provides 4 XLR connectors each for input and output, enabling the simultaneous digital transmission of 8 tracks of data either into or out of the Tascam DA-98. The S/PDIF digital format is also supported by this unit and transmits or receives data over coaxial ports.

On the front panel, The IF-88AE provides select switches for determining which pair of tracks you wish to send to or from during any given pass. For connecting with DASHTM format recorders, the IF-88SD Digital Interface enables the DA-98 to transmit or receive digital data to or from these machines. Used in conjunction with the PW-SD1 DASH Output cable and the PW-SD2 DASH Input cable, the IF-88SD makes connecting to a DASH format recorder effortless.

Key Features You Won’t Want to Be Without

• Confidence monitoring for layback and mastering
• Individual input monitor select switch facilitates easier checking of Source/Tape levels
• Switchable reference levels for integration into a variety of recording environments with internal tone generator
• Digital track copy/electronic patchbay functionality
• Comprehensive LCD display for easy system navigation
• Dedicated function/numeric keys make operation easier
• Built-in synchroniser with support for MMC & Sony P2
• D-sub connector (37-Pin) for parallel interface with external controller
• Optional RM-98 rack-mount ear for use with Accuride 200 system