8288 435 000 Eight-Track Digital Recorder Model Quick Operation Guide Welcome to D-108 Thank you for choosing the Fostex D-108. The D-108 is an eight-track digital multitracker equipped with sixteen additional tracks. It supports E-IDE hard disks and SCSI drive disks (such as a Zip drive, MO drive, or fixed disk) as the recording and playback media. Please read this Quick Operation Guide before using your D-108. This Quick Operation Guide introduces basic operations and preparation procedure.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide 2
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Table of Contents Package contents............................................................................................................................4 Recording media.............................................................................................................................4 Using an E-IDE hard disk...............................................................................................................5 Installing a hard disk in a removable case..
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Package contents Make sure that the package contains all the items listed below. (The illustrations may not precisely match the appearance of the actual items.) If you find that items are missing, contact your local dealer. D-108 main unit Detachable controller Hard disk fixing screw Use these screws to fix the hard disk to the removable case. (Refer to page 6 for more information.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Using an E-IDE hard disk The D-108 has a slot for an optional hard disk. First you need to install a hard disk into the removable case included in the D-108 package before you install it into the slot. The following instructions assume that you have already purchased an E-IDE hard disk unit.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide • A hard disk is a high-precision device. Do not apply any impact to the disk when and after you install it in the case. Do not leave the disk near a device that generates a strong magnetic field. Choose a level and stable surface for installation. Be careful not to injure yourself. Fostex is not liable for any malfunction or damage to the hard disk caused by mishandling.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Assembling the case When you assemble the case, follow the note below: If a projecting part on the hard disk touches the cover, apply the insulation seal (included in the package) to the surface of the case where the part would touch. If you use the disk with its part touching the cover, a short-circuit may occur, leading to a malfunction. 1.Assemble the case by installing the covers. After you assemble the case, store the case in a place not subject to magnetic fields.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Formatting a disk After installing the hard disk in the D-108, you need to format the hard disk for recording and playback. (This applies to new disks and those that have been used with a computer.) Connect the D-108’s power cable to the AC outlet. Be sure to connect the power cable to an AC outlet of the voltage specified in the User’s Guide. Turn on the power to the D-108. The display indicates the ROM version and date, messages [Initializing...
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Press the EXIT/NO key or the STOP button. The screen changes from the format menu in SETUP mode to the ABS Time Base display. ABS OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 44.1kHz ∞ 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 7 When you format the hard disk one Program (*1) is automatically set up, and “ABS 00m 00s 00f” (ABS Time Base - *2) appears, indicating that the top of the Program is located. Now, you can start recording, playback, and editing on the D-108 using the installed hard disk.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Using a SCSI drive The D-108 has a SCSI terminal to connect an external SCSI drive, which enables you to use an MO, Zip, or fixed drive as a current disk drive. For more information on SCSI drives supported by the D-108, refer to the “List of drives with guaranteed operation” in the User’s Guide. The following instructions assume that you already have an external SCSI drive and disk.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Be sure to install the SCSI terminator. ANALOG IN 4 3 2 MIDI ANALOG OUT 1 4 3 2 7 6 5 8 7 6 SCSI OPTICAL AC IN INPUT 8 DATA 1 OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT THRU 5 Connect the SCSI cable securely. • Before making connections, make sure that both the D-108 and the SCSI drive are turned off. • Up to two SCSI drives may be connected on a SCSI chain with the D-108. Connect one SCSI drive as a “current drive” for real-time recording/playback.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Formatting a SCSI disk After you make the connection, follow the steps below to format a removable or fixed disk in a SCSI drive. To perform real-time recording and playback on the D-108, you need to format a disk. The instructions here assume that only a removable SCSI drive is connected to the D-108 as the current drive, and an E-IDE hard disk is not installed. Connect the power cables for the D-108 and the SCSI drive to an AC outlet.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Use the JOG dial to select the desired Record mode. You may select [8track format] or [4track format]. [8track format] is a common selection. If you also wish to use the disk on a four-track multitracker, FD-4, for recording and playback, select [4track format]. SETUP SETUP FORMAT OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 FORMAT OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 44.1kHz SURE? ∞ 44.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Press the EXIT/NO key or the STOP button. The D-108 quits the format menu in SETUP mode, and the display changes to ABS Time Base indication. ABS ABS OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 44.1kHz 44.1kHz ∞ ∞ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 8 Formatting in [8track format] mode: Track indicators 1-8 light up on the display. 2 3 4 Formatting in [4track format] mode: Track indicators 1-4 light up on the display.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Using two current drives In addition to using an E-IDE hard disk or a SCSI drive as the sole current drive, you may also use an E-IDE hard disk installed in the D-108 along with a SCSI drive connected to the unit. To format these two current drives, follow the steps below. When you turn on the power to all the devices, usually the E-IDE hard disk will start up as the current drive.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide 5. Insert an unformatted SCSI disk into the drive and press the EXECUTE/YES key. The display asks whether you wish to format the SCSI disk. (“#” represents the SCSI ID number, and “*****” represents the disk name.) The “?” mark of [SURE?] flashes. SETUP FORMAT OL 0 3 6 9 12 18 24 30 42 44.1kHz SURE? ∞ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6. Press the EXECUTE/YES key again. The Record mode selection menu appears on the display.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Connecting a mixer The D-108 features recorder functions and has eight analog inputs (ANALOG IN 1-8) and eight analog outputs (ANALOG OUT 1-8). To make multi-track recordings using the D-108, connect it to an external mixing console as shown in the figure below. Basically, the ideal mixer for this setup should have eight TAPE INs and eight BUSS OUTs (or GROUP OUTs). However, you may also use a mixer with eight TAPE INs and four BUSS OUTs.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Connecting a mixer that has eight TAPE INs and four BUSS OUTs (or GROUP OUTs) Connect TAPE INs 1-8 of the mixer to ANALOG OUTs 1-8 of the D-108, and connect BUSS OUTs (GROUP OUTs) 1-4 to ANALOG INs 1-4 of the D-108. In this case, first record Tracks 1-4, then re-patch the cables to record Tracks 5-8. It would be convenient to connect a patch bay between the D-108’s ANALOG INs and the mixer’s BUSS OUTs (GROUP OUTs) so that you can make connections from the front.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Basic recording After you finish preparing a recording media and connecting a mixer, you can start basic recording using the D-108. Initial settings You need to reset all the controls on the D-108 to their initial settings according to the controls and switches on the mixer before you proceed to the next step. This procedure is called “Initialize” in this Guide and in the User’s Guide. The buttons and switches on the D-108 should be reset as shown below.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide • Selecting a sampling frequency of 48kHz will cause the hard disk space to be used more than the setting of 44.1kHz, and the available recording time will be shorter. This will be reflected on the REMAIN value. • Do not change the sampling frequency during a session (except for a special case).
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Basic analog recording The following explanation assumes that the D-108 has been connected to an external mixing console (as explained in the “Connecting a Mixer” section), and that the audio is input from the mixer’s BUSS OUT (or GROUP OUT) into the D-108’s ANALOG IN. • Initialize the D-108. • Check the sampling frequency. Select the desired sampling frequency, if necessary. Do not change the sampling frequency until you finish the session.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Undo and redo recording Everybody makes mistakes. If you make a mistake in recording, you can restore and re-do the data that existed before the mistake occurred. These functions are called “Undo” and “Redo,” and are executed by the UNDO key and REDO keys on the control panel. The Undo function enables you to cancel the latest recording or edit and restore the previous state.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Multitrack recording using overdubbing Multitrack recording is a term for the series of processes in which you record various sound sources to different tracks and combine them into two mixes (L and R). This recording involves an important process called “overdubbing,” in which you record additional sound sources to different tracks while monitoring the input sound and listening to the recorded sound.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Mixdown After overdubbing and ping-pong recording, you can mix all track data into two channel stereo data and record it onto your master recorder. This final process of multitrack recording is called “mixdown.” The mixdown signals are usually output from the mixer’s STEREO OUT L/R. Connect the master recorder inputs to the STEREO OUT L/R connectors. • Initialize the D-108. • Check the sampling frequency. Select the desired sampling frequency, if necessary.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide If you have set up multiple Programs on the disk, you first need to select the target Program prior to recording, playback, or edit. To select a Program, follow the steps below. Do not select a different Program until you finish the session. 1.While the D-108 is stopped, hold down the HOLD/> key and press the STORE key. [Select PGM!] appears momentarily, then the number and title of the current Program appear. 2.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Playback using the Vari-pitch function This section explains how to change the playback speed of the recorder using the Vari Pitch function. You can set the playback speed in the range of +6.0% to -6.0% in 0.1% increments. The VARI PITCH key turns Vari Pitch mode on and off. When the function is turned on, the VARI PITCH LED lights up. When the function is turned off, the LED turns off. • Initialize the D-108. • Check the sampling frequency.
D-108 Quick Operation Guide Owner’s Manual reference pages This section lists the reference page numbers for the D-108’s functions and features explained in the Owner’s manual. Reference page Main features.......................................................................................................................................................................5 This chapter describes the main features of the D-108. Precautions.....................................................................
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