5
D-108 Owner’s Manual (Introduction/Main features/Precautions)
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Fostex Model D-108.
The D-108 is a 8-track digital multitrack recorder with
sixteen additional tracks that employs a 3.5-inch E-IDE
type removable hard disk, or external SCSI device
(removable or fixed) as the recording media, instead of
conventional type.
The D-108 achieve high-quality recording/playback with
16-bit linear quantization and a non-compression
recording technique with “adat I/O” (switchable for S/P
DIF), which enables 8-track simultaneous recording (6
analog, 2 digital or 8 digital) as well as 8-track
simultaneous recording and 8-track simultaneous
playback.
You can easily configure a fully digital recording system
by combining the D-108 with various types of digital
mixing consoles. You can backup recordings from the
current disk to an adat machine, or to a DAT machine.
Also, high speed backup is available via a standard SCSI
terminal.
The D-108 features a +/-6% Vari-pitch function, and
various non-destructive edit functions, such as copy,
move & paste, erase, etc., that use three time bases.
Furthermore, it facilitates a complete MIDI environment
by supporting MTC and MMC, output of MIDI clock and
Song Position Pointer via an internal Tempo Map, and
advanced controls by FEX (Fostex System Exclusive
message).
Installing an optional 8345 TC/SYNC card enables the
D-108 to support slave operation for the incoming LTC,
and synchronization with video reference signals and
Word Clock, as well as to output Word Clock signal to an
external digital device. Installing an optional 5040
balanced 8-8 I/O card would add +4dBu analog, balanced
I/Os.
Main features
The D-108’s recorder section uses a recording format
called FDMS-3 (Fostex Disk Management System-3). It
uses an E-IDE hard disk, external SCSI device (stationary
disk or removable disk) as the recording media.
• The D-108 features non-destructive audio editing (a great
advantage of digital recording) such as Copy & Paste, Move
& Paste, Erase, etc. You can choose Time Base (ABS or MTC)
or MIDI bar/beat/clock as the unit.
• A “Preview function” allows for an intuitive fine-adjustment
of an editing point (locate point).
• An “Undo/Redo function” enables you to easily correct
recording and editing mistakes.
• A “Vari Pitch function” allows you to fine-tune the pitch.
• The D-108 has a “digital input track setup” function that
enables you to input S/P DIF or adat digital signals and record
them on any two tracks or all eight tracks.
• The D-108 has a “digital output track setup” function that
enables you to output digital data as S/P DIF or adat digital
signals and record them on an external digital device (DAT,
MD, adat, etc.).
• You can also use the DATA IN/OUT jacks to an external DAT
or adat, and to save and load songdata (audio data and
SETUP mode settings) to and from the DAT or adat.
• High-speed SCSI Save/Load is also an option by connecting a
non-DAT or adat SCSI backup drive. WAV file Save/Load is
possible by using a DOS formatted SCSI type disk.
• A maximum of 99 Locate Pointers can be programmed for a
LOCATE only feature. Simply select the LOCATE number
desired for swift location.
• MIDI clock and Song Position Pointer can be transmitted
according to the internal programmable Tempo Map.
You can set up a synchronization system with a sequencer or
a rhythm machine without wasting a track.
• You can use the D-108 as a sync slave machine by sending
MTC from a connected device.
• The D-108 supports MTC, MMC, and Fostex System Exclusive
Message, which allows for advanced control and high-
precision synchronization from external sequencing software.
You can set the device number and MTC frame rate for MMC
and Fostex System Exclusive Message. Also, “MTC Offset
function” and “Offset Mode function” are useful for setting
up a sync environment using an external sequencing software.
• Auto Punch In/Out and Manual Punch In/Out functions offer
two modes: “Take” for a real recording, and “Rehearsal” for
monitoring the part between the in and out points.
• The “Program Select function” enables you to select a song
from up to 99 songs and name the songs.
• A “Bar/Beat Resolution function” is used to edit audio at the
beginning of the beat (round up or round off to a beat).
• The “Metronome function” can be used as a rhythm guide
for recording.
• Various edit functions using an edit point (locate point), such
as Copy & Paste, Move & Paste, Erase, Auto Punch In/Out,
Auto Locate, are available. You can also locate ABS 0 or REC
END regardless of the edit point (locate point).
• You can set a preroll time of 0 to 10 seconds.
• A “Disk Remain Display function” offers a clear indication
of available recording time and disk space (in mono track
recording). You can choose the Time Base from ABS, MTC,
and BAR/BEAT/CLK.