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times since February 4th, 1997.
Index
Model: DA20mkII
1. How do I view error counts on the mkII?
- In the Stop or Play mode, press the COUNTER MODE button while pressing the REC MUTE button to display the error rate.
- Pressing the PLAY button starts error counting. "-----" blinks on the display. When error counting ends, the number of errors is displayed.
Display example:
AH 0030 A head error rate is 3x10-3
BH 0100 B head error rate is 1x10-2
AB 0007 mean error rate of A head and B head is 7x10-4
- Each time you press the AUTO ID button, the error rate display scrolls in the following sequence:
? A head ? B head ? mean rate of A head and B head ?
- Pressing the COUNTER MODE button resets the deck to the Normal mode.
Model: DA20
1. How do I disable SCMS?
- If applicable, eject tape and close door.
- Power off the unit.
- With unit off, depress & hold the "Execute" button and power unit on.
- The display will read "SC-OFF" indicating that SCMS is set at 00.
- The DA20 will remain in this mode until this procedure is repeated to set it back to SCMS xx. It will not return to SCMS xx by simple cycling the power.
2. Displaying Error Values - Exploratory...not verified.
- Set the Timer selector to the "AutoPlay" setting.
- Begin playing the tape in which the error count is in question.
- Depress & hold the "Record Mute" button.
- Keeping the "Record Mute" key depressed, push and hold the "Open/Close" button.
- The display will switch to error count mode.
- Note: both keys must remain depressed in order to continue monitoring error count.
3. Error Count Definitions - Exploratory...not verified.
Error Reading Definition
E 00 00 All systems normal
E xx xx Reading corresponding to amount of errors
E 94 94 Blank/Unused media
If anyone has any input on this, let me know. Someone suggested that because the numbers read higher than that of a Panasonic 3700 for example, that maybe it is measuring the errors in a different increment.
4. Once Used Tape Issues
Someone sent me what I guess is one of those "once-used" tapes on a B&P deal. When I try to pack it, the FF comes to a halt in a few seconds at a stop ID. If I try to record some leader over this, that works fine, but wherever I cease recording, the FF now comes to a halt at that point. It's like the entire tape is filled with stop ID's.
Anybody have a clue as to how to overcome this on a DA-20?
Answer - Provided by: Jon Corbet
The one-pass tapes are usually only recorded for a few minutes. When the deck is forwarding, it will hit the end of the recorded media, stop, and reverse for a bit. If you fast forward it will hit the end of the recorded media, and reverse for a bit. If you fast...
The trick is to hit "stop" immediately when the deck stops forwarding, before it has a chance to rewind. Then you can forward to the end.
5. My tape won't display ATIME (absolute time).
I have a tape with no ATIME. What happened and can I fix it?
Answer - Provided by: Jon Corbet
If the person making the tape wasn't careful to rewind it so that the deck knew it was at BOT, the tape doesn't get recorded with absolute time. The only way to fix that one is to copy it to another tape.
Miner Gleason suggests an alternative. The Panasonic 37/3800 decks can add ATIME after the fact. While this doesn't solve the problem directly on the DA20, a friend with a 37/3800 can save the time and trouble of cloning the tape to establish ATIME on the DA20.
6. Can I FF past an End-ID?
Answer - Provided by: Seth Breidbart
Try fast forwarding to the EndId, then hit Stop before it manages to back up and Fast Forward again. (There's no guarantee this will work, but it should.)
7. How do I clean my DA20's head manually?
Answer - Provided by: Jonathan Corbet
Note: Perform manually cleaning on any deck at your own risk. Any type of procedure that requires removing the cover of equipment is normally performed by professional, authorized persons. Please be aware that you may damage your machine and/or void your warranty by performing these tasks yourself.
1) Unplug the deck.
2) Check to be sure you've unplugged the deck.
3) Remove the screws on the sides holding on the rack-mount ears. Unless you actually rack-mount the deck (or like the "pro audio" look) you can leave the ears off when you're done. There are also some little screws on the bottom and the back, as I recall.
4) Remove the cover; it slides back, then lift it up. While you have the cover off, try not to touch the electronics inside. You don't want any static zaps in the wrong place.
5) Gently clean the heads with your *foam-tipped* swap (cotton swabs can leave strands behind) and cleaning solution. Use your finger to rotate the head, but only touch it on top. Bear in mind that the actual heads are the tiny little things in the middle of the drum. Clean both of them. In my case, there was no visible difference in the heads, even with a magnifying glass.
6) Look around while you're there for any other dirt that needs cleaning, but avoid getting the cleaning solution on the plastic parts.
7) Plug in the deck and give it a try while you have the cover off. That lets you try one more time if it didn't fix your problem. Besides, it's fun to watch the little mechanism do its thing. Make sure that the cleaning solution has completely evaporated first, and don't forget that there are live wires inside.
8) Unplug again, slip on the cover, put in the screws, and you are done.
Tip from Robert Reedijk
Wait awhile until the head is absolutely dry. Otherwise, the tape can stick to the head and you will have a nasty time pulling the garbled tape out. This happened to me with my DA88.
Model: DAP1 Portable
DA-P1 Service Manual
Fred Jan Kraan is maintaining a copy of Matthew Heydman's online DA-P1 Service Manual (link below) with current updates and new material.
DA-P1 Service Manual
Matthew Heydman is in the process of creating a www representation of the Service Manual for the portable Tascam DA-PA1.
Model: DA30
1. Which pin is hot on the balanced IO?
Answer - Provided by: Mark Plancke
Since I purchased my DA30 used and did not receive a users guide I assumed that Pin 2 on the balanced inputs/outputs is hot - no so!
Take note-Pin 3 is hot on the original DA30...
Apparently Pin 2 is hot on the DA30-MkII, maybe someone can verify that.
Verified by: Graham Newton
This is also correct... they've swapped pins 2 and 3 in the DA-30 MkII and this is specified in the owner's manual.
Note: Norbert Hahn
Even more, according to the service manual the pin assignment can be configured by jumpers.
Model: DA30mkII
1. Using 90m Tapes (PRE-firmware upgrade on old models) Using 90m Tapes (PRE-firmware upgrade on old models)
Zac Bolanasks:
The DA-30 MKII rejects 90m tapes with an error message indicating that the tape is too thin. I've looked through the manual and seen that the DA-30 MKII senses the tape thickness by reading the second hole on the bottom of the DAT tape. Although the DA-30 manual recommends not using 90m tapes, so does my SONY manual and I've never had a problem with the D7 and 90m. Has any DA-30 MKII owners out there tried blocking the "THIN TAPE" indicator hole and using it in the DA-30 anyway? If so, did it work?
Answer - Provided by: Steve Revilak
Yes the DA-30 mkII manual does say to avoid 90m tapes, and yes it will also refuse to play them. I seem to remember hearing once that Tascam upgraded the firmware in new units to accommodate longer lengths, I'd presume that it would change the way the transport deals with tape tension, rather than just a simple 'play the tape regardless of what the indicator hole says'.
Tascam's phone # is (213) 726-0303. You may want to call them and check.
Answer - Provided by: Mark Murgittroyd
I do not recommend this, endorse this, or make any claims other than I stumbled upon this odd little fact while messing around with my un-modified DA30mkII which has the old, original firmware installed. If you open the drawer of the deck, turn the power off, place your 90M tape in the drawer, and turn the power back on, the machine instantly closes the drawer and accepts the 90M tape and (I think) goes right into play mode. I haven't tried fooling it into recording on a 90M tape, and I will *not* be using this technique myself but in dire emergencies, as the deck is obviously not designed to handle 90M tapes.
2. What does the error 02 message mean?
Answer - Provided by: Gary Gilliland
Error 02: Error in reel/capstan motors.
Turn the unit off, then turn it on again. If the message does not go out, repeat the on/off switching several times. If the message still persists, please contact TASCAM or your nearest TASCAM dealer.
3. What does the Emphasis indicator signify when cloning?
Bill Gardner asked:
I was cloning a 3 hour tape last night from my D8 to Tascam DA-30 MKII. THe tape was recorded at 44.1 and at the start of cloning the emphasis indicator came on and remained on the entire time. The clone has no problems with it that I have noticed thus far, but I was just wondering what this means. Is this a good thing or a bad thing or neither. Any info on the subject is greatly appreciated.
Answer - Provided by: Seth Breidbart
The original tape is probably a digital copy from PCM. Emphasis is an early, primitive form of noise-shaping.
Just about any D/A converter (including those built into dat decks and cd players) can handle emphasis. Playing back a tape that has emphasis without emphasis sounds weird. (The Digital Domains FCN-1 lets me play with the emphasis setting, so I can compare easily. The difference is very obvious.)
4. How can I use 90m tapes in my DA30mkII?
Answer - Provided by: Philip S.
TASCAM (like other manufacturers) counsels against the use of 90 meter tapes. They claim that these tapes are "too thin and can cause winding problems, crimping, wrinkling, and other damage to the tape which will destroy your work". When they built the DA-30 MK II, they designed it to produce an error code if you insert a 90 meter or 180 minute tape. If it detects such a tape, all functions are disabled except for the door open button. The trick is to fool the tape deck into believing that you are not using a thin tape.
Every DAT has a series of holes on the bottom front edge of the tape. Some are open and some are closed, depending on the type of tape. When the tape is fed into your TASCAM, the deck automatically searches for open holes to read the tape. This function is similar to the tabs on analog tapes that tell the deck whether the tape is normal bias, chrome or metal, and whether it is write protected.
If you've ever had to over-dub an analog tape that has the tabs punched out of it, then you know what to do with your DA-30 MK II. Cover the second hole from the left on the bottom of the tape with a piece of tape label. When the deck tries to detect the thickness of the tape, it will read it as "thick" instead of thin, and allow you to use it. The counters on the deck will then read and write up to the full length of the tape, just like any other deck. If you're not sure which hole is which, read page 6 of your owner's manual. It provides a detailed picture and description of the structure of a DAT.
My DA-30 MK II has, admittedly, crunched a couple of 90 meter tapes. Both times that this happened, I was removing the tape without rewinding it first. Since then, I've made a practice of always rewinding to the beginning before ejecting a tape, and have not had a problem so far.
If you're uncomfortable with this procedure, then you can resign yourself to not playing or recording 90 meter tapes in it. This is unacceptable to me, so I'm willing to take what I believe to be a small risk of damaging a DAT. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line.
5. Can my DA30mkII display an error count?
Answer - Provided by: Norbert Hahn
The error count is internally available at a socket and you can easily connect a counter without touching the warranty. However, the counter display meaningful data only when the deck is in play mode, in all other modes the counter advances by some 16,000 counts per second! If you are familiar with simple TTL logic chips you can AND the counter signal with the play tally which is available at the rear socket and you have a more realistic counter. I don't know why TASCAM didn't supply it. You can as well buy an error monitor from TASCAM, I need to look up the part number when I'm at home.
Note: In other words... NO there is no easy way to display an error count.
6. Does my DA30mkII need the firmware update?
Answer - Provided by: Norbert Hahn
If you buy a used DA-30 mkII make sure you have the latest firm ware release. Decks manufactured after April 95 should have it anyway. You can check it by pressing and holding SHIFT and pressing AUTOID several times. It cycles from AUTO-46 to AUTO-52 down to AUTO-72 and then to either AUTO-46 (old firm ware) or AUTO-dd (new firmware).
The goodies of the new firm ware are among others the AUTO-dd function. This causes START-IDs to be accepted from S/P DIF input and translation of track change ids sent by CD players translated into START-IDs. Other handling of the mechanics is simplified by this firmware update as well.
In the case this deck needs the firmware update you should contact TASCAM for a replacement MPU. It can be done by TASCAM but every computer repair shop can also replace the MPU because it sits in a socket. However, a PLCC extractor tool is required. It got a replacement MPU for free about a year ago because my deck was still under warranty and I assured the TASCAM people that I'm capable of replacing it properly.
7. Why is my counter displaying only 4 digits instead of the normal 6?
Sandy Santra asked:
The "counter" readout seems to be a 4-digit number, rather than real time, unlike all the other readouts (absolute time, track time, time remaining, etc.). Even my D8 has a real time counter! Is there a fix for this?
Answer - Provided by: Norbert Hahn
The usual display is Absolute Time when it is found on the tape. In order to write it during record you must either continue an existing recording which has already abs time, overwrite an existing recording which has abs time or fully rewind the tape by hitting the rew key twice! The DA-30 write a lead-in piece when you either hit rec/pause or rec/play.
When there is no Absolute Time on the tape the display switches to "Counter Mode" which is roughly Centimeters. Without abs time some functions are not available: Memory, Goto abs. time.
Miscellaneous
How to obtain a Tascam Service Manual
Answer - Provided by: Matthew Heydman
As far as the service manual goes, try calling 800-366-8868 (recently reported to be a fax machine) or 323-726-0303. The Tascam people are extremely helpful. Just ask for the service manual or any other literature available on the DA20. Should be like 35 bucks. Most of it is tekkie mumbo jumbo that goes way over my head. Lots of schematics and such. But there is definately some tasty trinkets in there, and I'm sure it'd be worthwhile for the DA20.
If you would like to add to this information, or suggest a link, please email your suggestion to Mike Wagner.
Go to the Portable Power page.
Go to the DAT Repair Facilities page.
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