Using DAT Recorders http://www.indiana.edu/~emusic/dat.

htm

Using Digital Audio (DAT) Recorders

Panasonic SV-3800 Front Panel

To Playback DAT Tape:

Press OPEN/CLOSE button and insert tape (please be certain you are using an audio
DAT, not a DATA DAT -- DATA DATs are usually marked in meters, audio DATs by
time)

Check mixing console settings with DAT faders up, master Stereo (RED) fader up,
channel not flipped and assigned to L-R, with studio monitor levels (CR knob) at
moderate volume.

Press PLAY button, or use forward or backward SKIP button to skip to next start ID, or
use fast-forward or rewind buttons to cue tape. You can press the SKIP buttons several
times in succession or use the numbers on the remote control to skip several ID
numbers.

Once tape is playing, the large shuttle knob (on Panasonic SV-xxxx) can be used to
audibly fast-forward or rewind to an exact spot. Great for finding location to write a
Start ID.

To Record to your DAT tape:

To be certain your new tape will contain Absolute Time information, helpful for
locating material, start at the very beginning of the tape. Even if you plan to record with
DIGITAL INPUT, record several seconds of silence with ANALOG INPUT selected or
your tape may not begin with ABS timecode. For each subsequent receding segment, be
certain to start where the timecode last left off, or you will end up without timecode
(indicated by dashes ---- in the counter). For this reason, it is a good idea to leave
several seconds of silence after each recorded segment. Many audio experts advise
leaving a minute or two of silence at the beginning of your tape in case it becomes worn
and stretched from frequent rewinding to the beginning.

IMPORTANT SETTINGS BEFORE YOUR BEGIN TO RECORD

Set SAMPLING RATE -- Slide SAMPLING RATE switch to either 44.1 K or
48K. We recommend doing all recording at 44.1K to avoid sample rate
conversion when ultimately burning CDs.
Using the INPUT button, select between ANALOG or DIGITAL Input depending

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on your source. If you are recording from the mixing console, select ANALOG.
If you are recording from a digital device (another DAT player, Pro Tools or
Sound Designer, the digital output of a synthesizer), make certain the digital
signal is routed properly to the DAT using our Digital Patchbay software and that
the device is set to the identical sample rate. If the DAT is not receiving a proper
digital signal, then the light under the INPUT label will be flashing -- recheck the
routing and sampling rates.
For ANALOG recording, set the REC LEVEL knobs. Because of the way we
have matched levels between the DATs and the mixing console, these knobs can
usually be set at maximum volume and the overall recording level controlled
from the mixing console. For DIGITAL input, the level is fixed by the input
device and no further control is possible.
You will usually want to have the PNO/START ID AUTO button off, or it will
generate a Start ID at each silence.

SET RECORDING LEVELS (for analog input)

Unlike analog recording devices, DAT players have no "headroom" for signal beyond 0
dB on the meters. Press RECORD button on DAT -- this will put the machine into
RECORD-PAUSE mode (the tape will not run yet). Using the mixing console, audition
your sounds. If you see nothing on the meters, check the above steps (analog input,
REC LEVELS turned up, signal flow from the mixer, tape not record-disabled, yes,
even POWER ON). Once you see signal on the meters, adjust the mixing console
channels or MASTER so that peaks are between -6 and -3 dB. If they are too high, you
may see an OVER or CLIP light come on...this may very well distort your sound. If the
levels are substantially too low, then digital noise or the system noise required to
amplify a weak signal may become a problem.

When the recording level is optimized, you are ready to record. If the recorder is in
RECORD-PAUSE mode, press the PLAY button to begin recording. If not, press the
REC, then PLAY button.

A Start ID will automatically be generated. If you have several short selections that you
would like to begin with START ID's, simply press PAUSE, then PLAY between
selections.

Continue to record several seconds of silence after your selection so you can begin the
next segment before the ABS timecode runs out. Always start your next recorded
segment with timecode in the window, or you will loose timecode for the rest of your
tape. The "tape counter" display mode is not very acurate and abs timecode is extremely
handy.

ID Numbers:

There are three types of ID's stored in the subcode area of a DAT -- START ID, END
ID and SKIP ID. Start IDs may be sequentially numbered (at which point they become
Program Numbers or PNO's). If more are added at the end or in between existing
numbers, or any are erased, they may be renumbered. You will see Start ID light up in
the window each time the tape arrive at or passes over one.
As mentioned above, Start ID numbers are generated automatically at the beginning of
each recorded segment or after RECORD-PAUSE then PLAY. These IDs may be
assigned PNO's if the tape was run from the beginning. If you would like to add
additional Start ID's with PNO's use the following procedure:

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Adding Start ID's with PNO's:

If you wish to manually add a start ID to existing recorded material, first do not
be concerned about erasing the recorded sound--the ID's are put in a separate
subcode area of the tape and do not effect pre-existing audio.
Make certain the PNO/START ID AUTO button is disabled (you may end up
with hundreds of IDs unintentionally)
Press the Start ID button. The Start ID light should be flashing in the display.
Listen to the tape and adjust to approximate position where you want to write the
ID. You may use the PAUSE button or write the ID while in PLAY mode, but in
either case the machine must be in PLAY or PLAY-PAUSE to write the ID. Press
the ID WRITE button at the appropriate spot (this is not an exact science).
Do not stop the tape while the ID is being written (this take about 9 secs.
during which the ID Write light will be illuminated).
To write more ID's, repeat the last two steps above.
When you are done writing IDs, and if they have not been numbered sequentially
with PNO's, press the RENUMBER button. The tape will automatically be
rewound to the beginning and PNO's assigned to each Start ID. This may change
the number of some existing PNO's if you added Start ID's in between them.

Erasing IDs

If you wish to erase a Start ID, press the Start ID button (the display should flash
Start ID)
Shuttle or skip to the ID you want to erase. Start ID will illuminate on display.
Press the ID Erase button. The tape will rewind to the beginning of the ID and
begin the process of erasure. Again, do not stop the machine while erasure is in
progress.
Press the RENUMBER button to resequence the PNO's if desired.

END ID's and SKIP ID's are rarely used. SKIP ID's will cause the machine to go into
FAST FORWARD mode until the next Start ID is reached unless the SKIP PLAY
CANCEL button has been depressed. The End ID will cause the tape to stop, making
you mad that you paid for a two-hour tape that will now only play or record for 15
minutes. In some rare instances you may want to use and END ID to protect material
further along the tape, but unlike other ID's, adding and End ID will cause some
erasure of sound. A SKIP or END ID can be removed in a similar manner as a Start ID
(substitute either for the words "Start ID" immediately above).

Return to CECM Main Menu

Prepared by Prof. Jeffrey Hass, Center for Electronic and Computer Music, Indiana University, September 12,
1998.

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