Resources

Home
Tutorials
Software Projects
Project Studio
Contact The Staff
Admin

Music Technology Lab
"I love the MuseLab" -Euterpe, muse of music


Tutorial VI: DA-88

Home | Tutorials

Recording to the DA-88 is very similar to recording to the DA-45.



  1. Format the Tape
    1. You need a Hi8 tape (8-track) to record in the DA-88.
    2. Before recording the tape must be formatted. This will take the entire length of the tape, so allow time.
    3. Load a tape in the machine.
    4. Make sure the Digital In button is NOT on. (This should be the only time when it's not on)
    5. Make sure the Fs button is on 44.1k.
    6. Press the Format button twice.
    7. Press Play and Record and let the tape play all the way through.
  2. Playback
    1. The Playback concept is one of the most important concepts to grasp when recording with the DA-88.
    2. On the far right side of the Peak Meter Bridge on the O2R, press the button that says MIC. Now look on the far left side and notice there is a light on next to TAPE. This allows us to see the peak meter activity in tape Playback.
    3. Normally, the O2R is set so that all the faders control the mic inputs.
    4. Press the FLIP button.
    5. Now the O2R faders control the tape inputs.
      6. (Notice above each fader there is an On and Select button. Then above that is another On and Select button. The FLIP button switches the faders so that you go from controlling the bottom row of channels to the top row)
    6. During Playback you should be able to see on the Peak Meter Bridge which channels have signal on them. Turn the faders up and on for those channels to hear the audio.
    7. You can the see Audio signal on the Peak Meter Bridge, on the DA-88, and on the RC-848 Remote Control Unit.
  3. RC-848 Remote Control Unit


    1. To put a specific track into record mode, press the record function button.
      1. It will then blink red on the RC-848 and the DA-88.
      2. The track must be OUT of record mode in order for you to play it back and hear it.
    2. Shuttle
      1. Use this move forwards and backward in very small increments.
      2. You must press the button to the right of the actual shuttle wheel in order for it to work.
    3. Locate
      1. There are two display timers. The one on the top is where you are in the tape and the one on the bottom will display a time you can manually type in.
      2. If you want to jump to a certain point in the tape, type that timing in with the number pad.
      3. It will show up on the bottom display timer.
      4. Press the LOC button and the tape will rewind or fast forward to that point.
  4. Syncing the two DA-88 decks.
    1. The Project Studio has the capabilities of a 16-track recording facility.
    2. There are two DA-88 decks that can be synced up with one another, each providing 8-tracks of recording space.
    3. The top deck is the master deck and the bottom is the slave deck.
    4. After placing tapes in both of the machines, press the CHASE button on the second machine. (near the bottom)
    5. The 8 tracks from the second deck will come in on channels 9-16 on the FLIP side of the Master O2R.
  5. Odds to the left of me, Evens to the right, here I am, panned in the middle with you (Routing)
    1. Click the Routing button under Mixing, under the Display Access Panel on the left side of the O2R.
    2. Go to screen 1/2.
    3. Make sure you are on the front side of the O2R board (not the FLIP).
    4. The entire top row of number match up with the faders (1-24).
    5. Underneath each number is a column ( 1-8 , S [stereo bus] , D [direct]).
    6. Using the cursor and the enter button on the right side of the O2R board, route the signal from the faders to the DA-88 deck.
      1. If you have a signal coming in on channel 1 on the board and you wish it to be recorded to channel 1 on the DA-88 tape, select 1 under the first column (column 1).
      2. If you have a signal on 13 & 14 and wish it to go to channels 1 & 2 on the DA-88, select 1 under column 13 and 2 under column 14.
      3. It is very important that only odd numbers be routed to odd number and even numbers only be routed to even number.
        4. If they are not, then you may not hear sound because of the way the channels are panned. Remember: Odds to the left, Evens to the Right.
      4. If you wish to route them differently please be conscious of the panning for each channel.
    7. If you wish to record more than 8 channels at once, any channel above 8 must be direct.
      1. Channel 9 will automatically go to channel 1 on the second deck, etc...
      2. In the Routing screen, select "D" for channels 9-16.
        3. (D is under S near the bottom of each column)
    8. Making a backup copy of a DA-88 tape
      1. Insert the original tape into the first machine.
      2. Insert a formatted tape into the second machine.
      3. UNselect "S" from each of the first 8 columns in the routing screen.
        1. This allows you to hear what is actually being recorded rather than what is being played.
      4. Route channels 1-8 to channels 1-8. (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc...)
      5. Put channels 9-16 in record mode.
      6. Make sure the 2nd machine is in chase mode and the 2 machines are synced up.
      7. Press REC and PLAY on the first deck.
        8. (Anything you do to the first deck happens to the second when in chase mode. It will not record over the first tape though because none of those channels are in record mode. (Make sure of this!) It will only record on channels 9-16, which are in REC mode.)