From: galanter@nyu.edu (Philip Galanter)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.audio.pro
Subject: Tascam DA-88 digital 8-track info from rec.audio.pro
Date: 7 Oct 92 19:26:38 GMT
Reply-To: galanter@nyu.edu (Philip Galanter)
Organization: New York University

Since there is a lot of interest in r.m.s I am cross-posting this.
Here is some info on the Tascam DA-88.  As I predicted it is more
expensive than the Alesis unit, and it looks to me like a simple
remote is an extra expense. I had also predicted the engineering would be  
sort of klunky.

Compare:

ADAT 3 rack spaces, 15 lbs, 50 Watts power
Tascam 4 rack spaces, 33 lbs, 90 Watts power

On the other, the audio scan is nice (like the Panasonic SV-3700
I assume), it has longer record time, and Hi-8 should handle
tape better.

I am still worried about drop-outs, actual delivery of product, and
state-side repair/support.  And of course I can hardly wait for the 
golden-ears to argue about which one _sounds_ better...

Phil


In article <1992Oct5.165113.29895@leland.Stanford.EDU>  
jay@cmn8.Stanford.EDU (Jay Kadis) writes:
| Here's the facts on the new Tascam DA-88 as presented at the San  
|Francisco AES meeting this week.  It will sell for $4495 list and is  
|scheduled to be shipping in quantity first quarter 1993. (It is a rotary  
|head Hi-8mm transport contrary to information to the contrary supplied by  
|our local dealer.  Tascam uses their own transport developed for their  
|data/instrumentation recorders which have been in use for some time.)
|
|
| MAIN FEATURES
|
|Hi-8mm cassette tape which allows approximately 100
|minutes of recording time on a standard 120 tape.
|Audio for feature length films and entire CDs can be
|recorded on one tape.
|
|Tascam rugged and proven professional transport.
|
|Large transport buttons for Fast Forward, Rewind, Stop,
|Play and Record functions under 15-segment LED
|meters.
|
|Large Jog/Shuttle wheel for easy locating on tape.
|
|No formatting of tape before recording.
|
|Single button record Punch-ln.
|
|Rehearsal mode allows user to rehearse without
|recording on tape.
|
|8-digit LED time display shows absolute time in Hours,
|Minutes, Seconds and Frames as well as displaying
|Memo times, pitch change, SMPTE Time Code and
|SMPTE Offset.
|
|Optional SY-88 Synchronization Board (attaches with
|two sets of screws to a rear panel of the DA-88)
|provides SMPTE synchronization, both as master and
|slave, video sync, a 9-pin RS-422 port, and MMC
|(MIDI Machine Control).
|
|Technical Specifications: 
|
|  Transport
| 
|   Recording System:           Rotary, 4 head Digital recording 8mm,
|                               Hi-8 cassette
|      Recording Time:          100 minutes approx per Hi-8 cassette
| Fast Forward/Rewind Rate:     80 seconds (xlOO)
|     Audio Scan Rate:          x1/4 - x9
|
|        Audio
|
|     Number of Tracks:         Eight
|     Audio Conversion:
|  Record (A/D) Conversion:     16 bit linear, one bit Delta Sigma x 64
|                               Delta Sigma
|   Play (D/A) Conversion:      18 bit linear, single converter per
|                               channel x 8fs
|       Sample Rate:            44.1 & 48kHz
|      Variable Pitch:          +/-6% & +/- 6%
|    Frequency Response:        20Hz - 20kHz +/- O.5dB
|      Dynamic Range:           Greater than 93dB
|        Distortion:            Less than 0.007% THD
|     Channel Crosstalk:        Better than -90dB lkHz
|      Wow & Flutter:           Unmeasurable
|
|        Digital I/0:           D-sub 25 pin
|       Analog I/0:             -lOdB RCA pin
|                               +4 Bal. D-sub 25 pin
|        Meter Out:             D-sub 15 pin w/DC
| System Lockup Connectors:     D-sub 15 pin
| System Lockup Capabilities:   Automatic lock between DA-88's up
|                               to 16 DA-88s (128 audio tracks)
|
|     Word Sync In/Out:         Std speed clock Digital domain
|
|General Information
|
|    Power Consumption:        90 watts
|  Dimensions (W x H x D):      19.0" x 6.89" x14.6"
|                               (4U)
|
|         Weight.               33 Ibs
|Optional Accessories
|         RC-848                System Remote Controller
|         RC-808                Single Remote Controller
|          SY-88                Synchronization Board
|         IF-88AE               AES/EBU Inrerface
|         IF-88SD               S/DIF-2 Interface


--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Philip Galanter         New York University    phone:    212-998-3041
Research Associate      251 Mercer             fax:      212-995-4120
Academic Computing      New York, NY 10012     internet: galanter@nyu.edu
 
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