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Section 10 – Operations related to timecode
06/97 – 1.00 – 10-1
10 – Operations related to
timecode
The DA-98 contains synchronization facilities,
including a timecode generator, which allow it to
act either as a timecode master or a timecode
slave.
If timecode is recorded, a special discrete subcode
track is used, which leaves all eight tracks free for
recording and playback of audio material.
However, the DA-98 is able to synchronize with
external timecode devices, even if the DA-98 tape
has not been striped, by converting its internal
servo subcode (ABS) to timecode “on-the-fly”.
A full range of options is provided for full com-
patibility with the widest possible range of other
equipment.
10.1 ABS and SMPTE/EBU
timecode
In some menus, by the time value, you may see
either
or . Here, we explain these two dif-
ferent timing reference methods and the differ-
ences between them.
10.1.1 ABS time
“ ” stands for “Absolute”, and is the absolute
time of the tape as recorded on the subcode of the
tape. This timing starts at the beginning of the tape
with a value of 00:00:00:00. This is the timing ref-
erence used when the DA-98 is not using SMPTE/
EBU timecode.
Timecode (whether SMPTE or EBU) contains a
fixed number of frames per second. However, the
ABS method of timing works in a slightly differ-
ent way.
In three seconds of time, there are 100 frames.
These frames are allocated as follows:
This pattern is repeated every three seconds, as
you will notice when you set frame values using
the menu system in ABS mode. When multiple
DTRS units are connected together in DTRS sync
mode, the master unit always outputs ABS tim-
ings to the slave unit(s).
10.1.2 Tape timecode
“ ” stands for timecode, and is shown whenever
a SMPTE/EBU timecode value is used rather than
the ABS value. The timecode may be internal or
external and can be SMPTE/EBU, received and
transmitted via the
TIME CODE IN/OUT
jacks [37],
or SMPTE/EBU timecode synthesized from the
ABS subcode (see 10.2, “Tape timecode mode”).
Whether the SMPTE/EBU timecode is generated
or synthesized, we will refer to it as “timecode” in
this manual, to distinguish it from ABS timing
values.
SMPTE/EBU timecode can be re-produced inde-
pendently of ABS timings and can be of any frame
format supported by common timecode standards.
When multiple DTRS units are connected, and the
master unit’s
CHASE
mode is set on, the master
will chase to any incoming timecode, regardless
of whether timecode or ABS timings have been
selected as the time mode (see 10.1.3, “Selecting
TC or ABS timing” below).
Timing information received and transmitted from
and to external controllers (e.g. RS-422, MIDI or
Bus) will always be referenced to timecode
values.
When the DA-98 is referenced to its absolute
timecode, the
ABS
indicator to the left of the tape
counter [2] will light, and when referenced to
timecode (internal or external), the
TC
indicator
will light.
10.1.3 Selecting TC or ABS timing
Second
Number of
frames
Maximum frame
value displayed
00 – 01 33 32
01 – 02 33 32
02 – 03 34 33
NOTE
This procedure is fundamental to synchronization oper-
ations. If you select absolute timing mode when you
want to synchronize with timecode, you will be unable
to synchronize the DA-98.