8288 442 000 Digital multitrack recorder Model Quick Operation Guide Welcome to the VR800 Thank you for choosing the Fostex digital multitrack recorder Model VR800. The VR800 is a digital multitrack recorder that is designed to connect to a digital mixing console equipped with adat digital I/O. For recording media, it uses removable disks, such as SCSI Zip and MO drive disks, fixed disks, or 3.5-inch E-IDE hard disks, providing you with a maximum of eight track simultaneous recording and playback.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide CAUTION: CAUTION TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT. RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU' AU FOND. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER - SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Table of Contents Recording media........................................................................................................................................................4 Using an E-IDE hard disk..........................................................................................................................................4 Notes on handling a E-IDE hard disk.................................................................................................
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Recording media The VR800 is not equipped with recording media (also called “current drive” in this Guide), such as a hard disk. You need to prepare a current drive to make a recording The VR800 supports an E-IDE hard disk, and an external SCSI drive (MO, zip, or fixed hard disk drive) (that can be connected to the SCSI connector on the rear panel of the VR800). (Note: Using an MO, zip, or fixed disk may limit the number of recording tracks, depending on the disk capacity.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Installing an E-IDE hard disk in the VR800 Follow the steps below to install a 3.5-inch E-IDE hard disk as a current drive in the VR800. * Before you start, be sure to remove the power cable from the VR800. Also, NEVER let your hands or metal objects touch the motherboard or the connectors for the hard disk. * Wear gloves when you install the hard disk. Customers are not expected to touch the bottom part of the VR800, and the bottom is not designed to prevent injury.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Using a SCSI drive The VR800 has a SCSI terminal to connect an external SCSI drive, which enables you to use an MO, zip, or fixed disk as a current disk drive. For more information on SCSI drives supported by the VR800, refer to the “List of drives with guaranteed operation” in the Owner’s manual. The following instructions assume that you already have an external SCSI drive and disk.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide * Before making connections, make sure that both the VR800 and the SCSI drive are turned off. * Up to two SCSI drives may be connected on a SCSI chain with the VR800. Connect one SCSI drive as a “current drive” for real-time recording/playback. (Refer to “SCSI ID number setting” below.) Refer to the main Owner’s Manual for more information on connecting a SCSI drive as a back-up drive.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Formatting (initializing) a disk After you make connection, follow the steps below to format (initialize) the E-IDE hard disk (or SCSI disk) for use a current drive. The VR800 uses FDMS-3 (Fostex Disk Management System-3) as the recording format. To perform real time recording and playback on the VR800, you need to format the disk (regardless of whether the disk has been used). If you format a used disk, first make sure that the disk does not contain any important data.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide 3 When [SURE?] appears, press the EXECUTE/YES key. The VR800 displays [Pls Wait !] (Please Wait !) briefly, and then show the menu for Record mode selection. Initially, [ADAC 8ch] for Record mode appears. [SURE ?] flashes at the same time. DIGITAL DIGITAL 44.1kHz SETUP SURE ? SYNC OUT DRIVE AUTO A.PUNCH SYNC OUT DRIVE AUTO A.PUNCH SCSI SCSI 4 Use the JOG dial to select the desired record mode.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide 5 Press and hold down the RECORD button and press the EXECUTE/YES key. When the VR800 starts formatting, it displays the size of the unformatted area on the disk, and counts down as formatting progresses. Wait a moment. When the VR800 finishes formatting, it displays [COMPLETED !] and stops accessing the disk (The access LED turns off.). 6 Press the EXIT/NO key to quit the setup mode.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Checking available recording time on a formatted disk It is a good idea to check the available recording time after you format the disk. The following procedure assumes that the VR800 has exited Setup mode and is displaying the ABS time, with disk access stopped. 1 Press the DISP SEL key to change from the ABS time indication to the REMAIN time indication. The VR800 displays the available recording time and recording space in ABS time base.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide DIGITAL 44.1kHz SETUP SYNC OUT CLK 2 DRIVE SCSI AUTO A.PUNCH Turn the JOG dial to select [Format ?] and press the EXECUTE/YES key. The VR800 displays the ID number of the connected SCSI drive and flashes [SURE ?]. 44.1kHz DIGITAL DIGITAL SETUP 44.1kHz SETUP SURE ? SYNC OUT CLK 3 DRIVE SYNC OUT DRIVE AUTO A.PUNCH SCSI AUTO SCSI A.PUNCH Use the JOG dial to select the desired record mode.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Notes on 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 VR800 along with a SCSI drive connected to the unit. However, note the following points when you use two current drives. VR800 equipped with a 3.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Connecting a mixer The VR800 is a digital multitrack recorder that provides 8-track recording, and is designed to connect to a digital mixing console equipped with adat digital I/O. You can connect adat I/O connectors from a digital mixer to the DATA IN/OUT connectors on the VR800 using optical cables. You can also connect an analog mixer via an optional Model VC-8 (ADAT/ANALOG converter). Be sure to turn off the power to all devices before connecting the mixing console.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide When you change the VR800 digital-in clock setting from “ASYnC (asynchronous)” to “SYnC (synchronous),” be sure to set the clock setting of the digital mixer to “internal.” For example, if the VR800 digital-in clock is set to [SynC] and the digital mixer clock setting to “digital in (or word),” a digital loop will be generated between these two devices, preventing normal recording.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Basic recording After you finish preparing a recording media and connecting a mixer, you can start basic recording using the VR800. Initial settings You need to reset all the controls on the VR800 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 Owner’s Manual. The button and switches on the VR800 should be reset as shown below.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Basic recording procedure The following explanation assumes that an external SCSI device is connected to the VR800 as the current drive, and a digital mixer is connected to the DATA IN/OUT connectors of the VR800. (Refer to “Connecting a SCSI drive” and “Connecting a digital mixer” for details.) * Initialize the VR800. * Set the sampling frequency of the digital mixer to 44.1kHz.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide 6. Starting recording 3. Hold down the RECORD button and press the PLAY button. The top of the program is immediately located in LOCATE ABS 0 mode. The flashing RECORD button lamp and the RECORD TRACK select key lamp light up steadily. 7. Stopping recording 4. Press the PLAY button. The playback starts from the top of the program. Adjust the level of input signal at TAPE IN on the mixer and monitor the sound. Press the STOP button to finish recording.
VR800 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 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 record sound.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Mixdown After overdubbing and ping-pong recording, you can mix all tracks 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 VR800. * Do not change the sampling frequency of the digital mixer until you finish the session. 1.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Total available recording time is always the maximum available recording time on the disk, regardless of the number of programs you set on the disk. That is, if you use up the maximum recording time for one program, you will not be able to record any data on other programs. If you have set up multiple programs on the disk, you first need to select the target program prior to recording, playback., or edit.
VR800 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% in 0.1% increments. The VARI PITCH key turns vari pitch mode on and off. When the function is turned on, the [VARI PITCH] lights up on the display. When the function is turned off, the indicates turns off. * Initialize the VR800.
VR800 Quick Operation Guide Owner’s manual reference pages This section lists the reference page numbers for the VR800’s functions and features explained in the Owner’s Manual. Reference pages Main features..........................................................................................................................................................5 This chapter describes the main features of the VR800. Precautions.................................................................................
FOSTEX CORPORATION 3-2-35, Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan FOSTEX CORPORATION OF AMERICA 15431, Blackburn Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650, U. S. A. C PRINTED IN JAPAN MAR. 1999 8288 442000 FX.