TASCAM DA-78HR
High-Resolution Digital Multitrack Recorder
by Emile Menasché
October 5, 2000
Summing it Up
Recording to tape may seem a little archaic in our random-access world. With storage prices coming down, tape's main advantages over disk -- recording time and archiving ability -- are diminishing, while disk-based recording enjoys the benefits that come with random access: superior editing, greater flexibility, and integration with desktop studio environments.
Even so, the Tascam DA-78HR shows that tape is not dead. It may not be as sturdy as the pro-oriented DA-98, and it doesn't enjoy format compatibility with the popular ADAT line, but with excellent 24-bit sound, extensive internal routing functions, and solid sync and MIDI implementation, the DA-78HR can integrate in both tape-based and desktop studios quite nicely. And for many applications, the simplicity of hitting that Record button can't be beat.
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The TASCAM DA-78HR offers up to 108 minutes eight track, 24-bit recording onto Hi8 tapes (click for larger image) |
The advent of the Modular Digital Multitrack (MDM) revolutionized the recording and production process by offering sound quality that approached professional levels -- at prices that did not. The line between demo and master recording has been sketchy ever since.
The Tascam DA-88 was part of that first wave, and although arch-rival Alesis's ADAT -- first to market -- got an early foothold in music production, the DA family of products has established solid niches in both the music and audio-for-video arenas, thanks in part to their fast transports and extended recording times.
Basic Features
The DA-78, which replaces the DA-38 as Tascam's entry-level eight-track, offers 16- or 24-bit recording at 44.1kHz or 48kHz. The medium is Hi8 tape, which can yield reliable recording times up to 108 minutes per cassette. Hi8s can be a little tougher to find than SVHS tapes (used by the ADAT), but they're by no means scarce -- and thanks to their extended range, they can be more cost-effective.
Because any 16-bit tape formatted on a Tascam-family machine will play back on any other, the DA-78HR integrates nicely into a Tascam-based studio. Note, however, that tapes formatted for 24-bit will not work with the older 16-bit machines. The DA-78HR can act as master or slave in an extended DA network (up to 16 machines can be linked without the use of an external device), and digital audio can be transferred between different models with the multi-channel TDIF connectors.
The DA-78HR's rear panel sports an impressive array of connections, including analog and digital I/O, MIDI, and Word Clock. Note the S/PDIF connectors, a nice feature for home and project studios. (click for larger image) |
The DA78HR's range of I/O and routing options is impressive. Both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced analog ins and outs are offered -- for the latter, you need to wire up a D-sub connector. Digital I/O includes Tascam's TDIF format, plus -- a pleasant surprise -- stereo S/PDIF in and out. You can use the S/PDIF to transfer digital audio from mixers or DAT machines not equipped with TDIF, as well as for output of individual or mixed tracks on the DA-78HR. In a computer-based environment, the S/PDIF I/O lets you use the DA-78HR as a 24-bit front end for your soundcard. S/PDIF and TDIF inputs cannot be active simultaneously. In addition to the internal programming, the level and pan of each channel can be controlled via MIDI -- nice.
Extensive internal patching and routing take full advantage of the I/O. You can route any input to any track or output, including the S/PDIF. This is of special advantage for folks with small home studios, who may be recording with a two-bus mixer, or transferring tracks from a soundcard with only two outputs.
Getting Around
The DA-78HR does not come with a remote control of any type, so you need to position the machine where you can get at it -- although you can access many important recording and internal mixing controls via MIDI. Three optional remotes are also available: the RC-808 ($245), the RC-828 ($760), and the RC-898 ($1,730); The RC-808 and RC-828 offer somewhat limited functionality with the DA-78HR, but Tascam reports that a new software upgrade to the RC-898 will let it access all of the DA-78HR's features. Considering the complexity of this machine, a full-featured remote will be welcome; a basic remote as a standard feature would have been nice as well.
There's good and bad news about the interface. On the negative side, there's simply no way to intuit your way around the machine. The LED display is pretty cryptic, and many of the functions are several menus deep. I've been using DA-88s for six years, and I still had to bury my nose deep in the manual. But on the plus side, the documentation is clear, intelligently organized, and well-written -- a big improvement over the DA-88's original documentation. Once you know which buttons to push, data entry is fairly simple.
Sync
One of the DA-78's advantages over the old DA-88 is its ability to sync without additional hardware. The machine can stripe a tape with SMPTE time code, and spits out or chases both SMPTE and MIDI Time Code (MTC). It responds to MIDI Machine Control as well, and though I always find MMC to be more cumbersome that it should be, I was able to arm tracks on the DA-78 directly from Cubase without too much hassle. For higher-end applications, the DA-78 can read, output, and throughput Word Clock.
Recording
Getting tracks to tape with the DA-78HR is simplicity itself. Taking advantage of the internal patchbay, I took the unit outside my control room, and with just a mic preamp for input and headphones amp for monitoring, I was able to record a multitrack guitar composition. The machine is light -- maybe too light for those enamored of the DA-88's hearty construction, but its weight is an advantage if you want to tote it around to remote locations. In fact, the straightforwardness and portability renewed my appreciation for working with tape. The unit gives off much less ambient noise than my computer, and there are no file names and folder paths to manage. You can preset two autolocate positions for instant recall, and use them to auto-set punch in and out points. You can also punch on the fly with an optional footswitch. For a straight-ahead project, that simplicity can keep you focused on the true task at hand -- the music.
Next Page: Sonic Preview, Vital Stats....
Emile Menasché is the Senior Editor, Guitar/Bass at Harmony Central. He previously served as Editor-In-Chief for
Guitar Shop magazine.
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