TASCAM has three Hi-8 digital eight-track recorders to choose from. The format is called DTRS. At $3,499 list, the DA-38 is the most affordable. It slaves to another DA-38 or to either a DA-88 or DA-98 but does not have built-in SMPTE. You can purchase an MMC-38 ($499) which converts absolute time to MIDI or SMPTE, Playback only. SMPTE is standard on the DA-98 ($5,999 list) with access to all user-parameters via display window plus "confidence" monitoring — a.k.a. read-after-write. The RC-848 remote control can address up to six DTRS machines. FYI, the MMR-8 is a hard-disk eight-channel recorder with a 24-bit digital interface and 20-bit converters. At $12,999 list, it is not competitively priced.

DA-88 A La Carte

As a product, the DA-88 ($4,799 list) is a mature five years old. The SY-88 card ($650 list) provides SMPTE and MIDI capability. There are two "firmware" options: V3.10 is for typical music-oriented projects while V4.01 expands the option horizon for Audio Post-specific tasks. The SY-88 sync card has two firmware options — Version 3.19 and 4.01 — each respectively mated to the main operating firmware. You can find out more about features and options via TASCAM’S Fax-back service: 800-827-2268. Up to three documents can be requested during each "session."

MODEL	List Price If Applicable	DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
The Fax Back Index	800-827-2268	List of ALL documents	Press "1"
DA-88 / SY-88 / RC-848		Version 3.xx	1120
DA-88 / SY-88 / RC-848		Version 4.xx	1130
SY-88	$650.00	SMPTE & MIDI I/O
DA-88		Error messages	1140
DA-38		Operation basics	1150
RC-848		Remote Control
IF-88AE		TDIF to AES interface
IF-88SD		SPDIF to AES interface
MMC-38	$499.00	MMC interface unit	9140
MMC-88	$499.00	MMC interface unit	9150
DA-38	$3,499.00	Digital 8 track	2530
DA-88	$4,799.00	8 track w/optional TC	2550
DA-98	$5,999.00	8 track w/confidence	2570
MMR-8 Designed & built by TimeLine	$12,999.00	Digital 8 track hard disk recorder	5080

Table One: Detail of TASCAM DTRS products and Fax Back documents relative to this article

PROJECT versus POST CONFIGURATION

In the Project environment, specifically when more than eight tracks are required, any combination of machines — a DA-38, a DA-88 or a DA-98 — can be used. To chase a MIDI sequencer, for example, only the master machine needs to be SMPTE capable. The DB-15 connector on the rear panel provides machine-to-machine sync and remote control via RC-848.

If you’re planning to do serious audio "post" production, don’t try to save money by skimping on the "slave" machines. Sure, audio slaves typically "chase" the video master, so a DA-88 (with SY-88 card) or a DA-98 will happily be the submissive audio boss. But, post houses require that ALL tapes have SMPTE on a dedicated track, not on audio tracks 1 ~ 8, a job only a DA-88 or a DA-98 can handle. In addition, a video edit controller via Sony 9-pin (RS-422) can also access both the DA-88 and DA-98.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Start with the Serial Number. It is on both the left side, by the ventilation holes and on the rear by the power connector. TASCAM has never provided (to me) a correlation between serial numbers and manufacturing dates, so the information in Table Two is for reference purposes only.

Serial  Number Range	Approximate Manufacturing Date	Pay no more than $$$ without sync card	Pay no more than $$$ with sync card	Notes
see note #1		see note #2a	see note #2b
1 0,000 ~ 9 9,999	1993	$1,000	$1,250
10 0,000 ~ 19 9,999	1994	$1,250	$1,500	Self-cleaning kit added. Servo board modified to reduce noise.
20 0,000 ~ 29 9,999	Early 1995	$1,500	$1,750	New head design Starting at Lot #28 April '95
30 0,000 ~ 39 9,999	1995 ~ 1996	$1,750	$2,000	New Slant Block on take-up side of head
40 0,000 ~ 49 9,999	1996 ~ 1997	$2,000	$2,250	New slide cam and sector gear spec

Table Two: Approximate correlation between serial number, manufacturing date and production changes.

Note #1: The first digit (of five-figures) or two digits (of six-figures) is called the "Lot" number as indicated by a "space" for demonstration purposes.
Note #2a and #2b:  These prices reflect my own opinion of what a machine is worth assuming it has between 200 hours and 750 hours of head use.  Neither honesty nor the power to "see" the future can predict head life, which is an unfortunate issue especially with the da-88 yet not with other models.  No matter what price you pay, always keep $750 socked away for a head replacemnt and make sure the technician follows my guidelines for tension and air filtering.

WHAT"S UP, DOC?

Total head hours can be queried by pressing "Stop and Play" during power up. Press "Stop and Fast Forward" for Total Search hours. (Subtracting the two yields "total play hours.") The DA-88 also keeps track of the number of times the cleaning tape has been used. Press the "up/down" buttons during power-up. Wait for the text to scroll by on the level meters, then press "up/down." Total number of cleanings should be no more than once for every 50 hours. Therefore, a machine with 500 hours should have ten cleanings.

Note: On an older DA-88, if no hours are indicated, it is less likely that the machine has never been used and quite possible that the back-up battery has failed.

ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES

The only "design flaw" of the DA-88 is that its fan draws dirt in through the tape insertion hole. No matter how low the mileage, if the machine was powered for a year, the transport should be thoroughly cleaned. In addition, I recommend reversing the fan direction and installing a filter. The clean up and modification is easily an hour-long project for an experienced technician.  Click here for complete details of the fan mod.

THIS IS THE LIFE

Head life for a machine in a project environment is approximately 1000 hours. You can avoid Doctor Kevorkian by doing the "fan mod" and checking tension. The preferred supply tension is 8 gram-centimeters (g-cm) — no more than 10 g-cm. Take-up tension can be slightly higher, falling between 10g-cm and 15 g-cm. The tension gauge is TEAC part number MTT-86131 (213-726-0303, ext. 840) priced at $235. A controlled environment such as a dedicated "machine room" (as found in better video and post houses) will expand the life expectancy of a DA-88 head assembly to approximately 2500 hours.

TYPICAL SERVICE CHARGES

Routine service for the DA-88 is about $325, a head replacement/major overhaul, $825. Both include parts and labor. These are major metro area prices. You might find a better deal out-of-town, in which case these prices may include shipping. There is almost no such thing as "just a head cleaning." By the time the heads need to be manually cleaned, there is always some additional house keeping to do.

When preparing for "travel," always tape a detailed account of the machine to the top cover. Include your name, address and phone number. Always insure for the full list price, wrap the machine in a plastic bag (to keep packing material out) and make sure there is no room for movement (rattle is not OK).

HOW MUCH IS FAIR?

List prices are posted earlier in this article. To be realistic, however, the street price of new and used gear will be how people make decisions. A new DA-88 alone (or with SY-88 sync card) "walks the street" for about $3,500 ($4,125). A new DA-38 is being competitively priced with its "S-VHS" alternative at somewhere between $2000 and $2400. With those two products as competition, a used DA-88 would fall into a similar price range. (A new DA-98 "walks" for about $4,500.)

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

Of course wear and age are major negotiating factors. Sometimes people buy gear for one project. Such a DA-88, with a recent serial number and less than 150 hours, will obviously command a higher price. Whenever buying used gear, the point is to always consider the worst case. If all sales are final, try to get "such a deal" that a premature repair doesn’t put you too close to the street price of a new machine. Considering the cost of a major overhaul, an "old" machine with close to 1000 hours would be appropriately priced at $1200.

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