Tascam D/a Converter IF-DA8 Owners Manual

							»
IF-DA8
D/A Converter
OWNER’S MANUAL
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.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the pres-
ence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying  the  appliance. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert
the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons..
This appliance has a serial number
located on the rear panel. Please record
the model number and serial number
and retain them for your records.
Model number
Serial number
Ü
ÿ
Ÿ
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS 
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
D00445400A 
						

							2    ––  TASCAM  IF-DA8
Important Safety Precautions
IMPORTANT (for U.K. Customers)
DO NOT cut off the mains plug from this equipment.
If the plug fitted is not suitable for the power points in your
home or the cable is too short to reach a power point, then
obtain an appropriate safety approved extension lead or
consult your dealer.
If nonetheless the mains plug is cut off, remove the 
fuse and dispose of the plug immediately, to avoid 
a possible shock hazard by inadvertent connection to the
mains supply.
If this product is not provided with a mains plug, or one has
to be fitted, then follow the instructions given below:
IMPORTANT: The wires in this mains lead are coloured in
accordance with the following code:
GREEN-AND-YELLOW :EARTH
BLUE :NEUTRAL
BROWN :LIVE
WARNING: This apparatus must be earthed.
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus
may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals in your plug proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured GREEN-and-YELLOW must be
connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the
letter E or by the safety earth symbol ç or coloured GREEN
or GREEN-and-YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the
terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured
BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to
the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured
RED.
When replacing the fuse only a correctly rated approved type
should be used and be sure to re-fit the fuse cover.
IF IN DOUBT — CONSULT A COMPETENT
ELECTRICIAN.
TO THE USER
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residental area
is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.
CAUTION
Changes or modifications to this equipment not
expressly approved by TEAC CORPORATION
for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equipment.
For the consumers in Europe
WARNING
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this
product may cause radio interference in which case the user
may be required to take adequate measures.
Pour les utilisateurs en Europe
AVERTISSEMENT
Il s’agit d’un produit de Classe A. Dans un environnement
domestique, cet appareil peut provoquer des interférences
radio, dans ce cas l’utilisateur peut être amené à prendre
des mesures appropriées.
Für Kunden in Europa
Warnung
Dies is eine Einrichtung, welche die Funk-Entstörung nach
Klasse A besitzt. Diese Einrichtung kann im Wohnbereich
Funkstörungen versursachen ; in diesem Fall kann vom
Betrieber verlang werden, angemessene Maßnahmen
durchzuführen und dafür aufzukommen. 
						

							 
TASCAM  IF-DA8  ––  
  
 3  CAUTION:
 
… 
Read all of these Instructions. 
… 
Save these Instructions for later use. 
… 
Follow all Warnings and Instructions marked on the audio
equipment.
1) Read Instructions 
 — All the safety and operating instructions should
be read before the product is operated. 
2) Retain Instructions  
— The safety and operating instructions should
be retained for future reference. 
3) Heed Warnings 
 — All warnings on the product and in the operating
instructions should be adhered to. 
4) Follow Instructions 
 — All operating and use instructions should be
followed. 
5) Cleaning 
 — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning.
Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for clean-
ing. 
6) Attachments 
 — Do not use attachments not recommended by the
product manufacturer as they may cause hazards. 
7) Water and Moisture 
 — Do not use this product near water — for
example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet
basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like. 
8) Accessories 
 — Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand,
tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a
child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart,
stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or sold
with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions, and should use a mounting accessory recommended by
the manufacturer. 
9) 
 A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick
stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart
combination to overturn. 
10) 
  
Ventilation 
 — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ven-
tilation and to ensure reliable operation of the product  and to protect it
from overheating, and these openings must not be blocked or covered. The
openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa,
rug, or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in
installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided
or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to. 
11) Power Sources 
 — This product should be operated only from the
type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of
the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local
power company. For products intended to operate from battery power, or
other sources, refer to the operating instructions. 
12) Grounding or Polarization 
 — This product may be equipped with
a polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having one blade wider
than the other). This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. This
is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet,
try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electri-
cian to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the
polarized plug. 
13) Power-Cord Protection 
 — Power-supply cords should be routed so
that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or
against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product. 
14) Outdoor Antenna Grounding 
 — If an outside antenna or cable
system is connected to the product, be  sure the antenna or cable system is
grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-
up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA
70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge
unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, con-
nection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding elec-
trode.  Note to CATV system installer:
 
This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer’s attention to
Section 820-40 of the NEC which provides guidelines for proper grounding
and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the
grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as
practical. 
15) Lightning 
 — For added protection for this product during a lightning
storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time,
unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system.
This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line
surges. 
16) Power Lines 
 — An outside antenna system should not be located in
the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits,
or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an
outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touch-
ing such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal. 
17) Overloading 
 — Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or
integral convenience receptacles as this can result in risk of fire or electric
shock. 
18) Object and Liquid Entry 
 — Never push objects of any kind into
this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points
or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill
liquid of any kind on the product. 
19) Servicing 
 — Do not attempt to service this product yourself as open-
ing or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other
hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 
20) Damage Requiring Service 
 — Unplug this product from the wall
outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following
conditions: 
a) 
when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. 
b) 
if liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product. 
c) 
if the product has been exposed to rain or water. 
d) 
if the product does not operate normally by following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating
instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in
damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to
restore the product to its normal operation. 
e) 
if the product has been dropped or damaged in any way. 
f ) 
when the product exhibits a distinct change in performance – this
indicates a need for service. 
21) Replacement Parts 
 — When replacement  parts are required, be
sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the
manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. 
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards. 
22) Safety Check 
 — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this
product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine
that the product is in proper operating condition. 
23) Wall or Ceiling Mounting 
 — The product should be mounted to a
wall or ceiling only  as recommended by the manufacturer. 
24) Heat  
— The product should be situated away from heat sources such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.
ANTENNA
LEAD IN
WIRE
ANTENNA
DISCHARGE UNIT
(NEC SECTION 810-20)
GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
(NEC SECTION 810-21)
GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250. PART H)
NEC - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODEELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT
Example of Antenna Grounding as per
National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70
GROUND
CLAMP
  IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 
						

							4  TASCAM IF-DA8
IF-DA8 D/A Converter
The TASCAM IF-DA8 D/A convertor takes eight 
channels of digital audio in TDIF-1 format, and con-
verts them into balanced analog audio signals at pro-
fessional audio levels, in a compact 1U rack-mount 
unit.
The D/A conversion can be done at up to 24 bits of 
resolution for the highest possible sonic quality.
The digital audio levels can be referenced to one of 
three different analog levels, depending on the 
project setup.As well as the TDIF-1 input whose signals are con-
verted, another “pass-through” TDIF-1 connector is 
provided, allowing the audio signals to be used in a 
variety of ways. 
For example, a TASCAM TM-D8000 digital console 
could be used to make simultaneous DTRS digital as 
well as analog multitrack recordings. 
The word clock for the IF-DA8 can be taken from the 
source TDIF-1 connector or from an external word 
clock.
1.1 Front panel
1Power switch and indicator
Push the POWER switch once to turn on power, and 
again to turn it off. The POWER indicator lights 
when power is supplied to the IF-DA8.
2LOCKED indicator
When a valid clock signal is receved at the selected 
clock source, this indicator will light.
3CLOCK switch
This switch allows the selection of the word clock 
source for the IF-DA8.
When in the WORD position, the word clock used by 
the IF-DA8 will be the clock signal received at the 
WORD IN 8 connector.
When in the DI/O 2 position, the word clock used by 
the IF-DA8 will be the clock signal received at the 
DIGITAL I/O 2 (TO LINE OUTPUTS) 7 
connector.
WARNING
There should never be more than one word 
clock signal in a digital audio system. If there 
are not, at worst, damage may occur to 
speakers, amplifiers, etc. as a result of high-
frequency noise generated by word clock 
incompatibilities.
1.2 Rear panel
4LINE OUTPUTs
These male XLR-type balanced connectors are wired 
as follows:
Connect balanced professional (+4 dBu) level 
devices to these outputs.
1 GND
2 Hot (+)
3 Cold (–) 
						

							 IF-DA8 D/A Converter
  TASCAM IF-DA8 5
5OUTPUT LEVEL switch
This switch should be used in conjunction with the 
“reference level” settings on various pieces of TAS-
CAM equipment.
When an analog signal is at its nominal level (i.e. the 
meter reads “0 dB”), the signal level on digital equip-
ment must not read 0 dB—this would mean that any 
signals above 0 dB (analog) would produce unac-
ceptable clipping and distortion on the digital equip-
ment. Accordingly, there are a number of standards, 
which reference the analog 0 dB level to a specific 
level on a digital unit.
These standard levels are as follows, together with 
the settings of this switch which will match the refer-
ence level in use in your installation.:
NOTE
Make sure that the reference level settings on 
your other digital equipment and the switch 
settings here match, otherwise you may find 
yourself working with analog levels that are 
too high or too low.
6DIGITAL I/O 1 (AUX)
This connector is typically used to connect an auxil-
iary TDIF-1 device, such as a DTRS multitrack 
recorder.
WARNING
Note that you should always use genuine 
TASCAM cables, or cables which have been 
approved for use with TDIF-1 interfaces by 
TASCAM.
Although these cables appear similar to cer-
tain types of computer cables and use similar 
connectors, the cables themselves are very 
different, and the different electrical character-
istics of the cables can cause damage to the 
equipment connected with the wrong cables.If the use of cables other than TASCAM 
cables causes or results in damage, the war-
ranty is voided.
The signals received at this connector are passed 
straight through as outputs to the D I/O 2 connector 
7.
The signals output from this connector are the sig-
nals from the D I/O 2 connector 7, passed through 
unchanged.
7DIGITAL I/O 2 (TO LINE OUTPUTS)
This connector is typically used to connect the main 
TDIF-1 source whose digital audio will be converted 
to analog by the IF-DA8 (for example, a digital mix-
ing console).
The signals received at this connector are passed 
straight through to the D I/O 1 connector 6, as well 
as being fed to the D/A convertors.
The signals output from this connector are received 
from the D I/O 1 connector.
When the CLOCK switch 3 is set to the lower posi-
tion (D I/O 2 (TDIF-1)), this connector is used as the 
word clock source for the unit.
8WORD IN
An external word clock may be connected to this 
BNC connector (75
 
Ω), and used as the word syn-
chronization for the IF-DA8, selected with the 
CLOCK switch 3.
9WORD THRU
This BNC connector echoes the clock signal received 
at the WORD IN 8 connector. If no device is con-
nected here, the word clock chain is automatically 
terminated.
1.3 Application examples
Since this unit provides two TDIF-1 connectors, 
there are a large number of uses to which it can be 
put effectively.
At its simplest, the IF-DA8 can be used to transfer 
tracks recorded on a project studio DTRS recorder to 
an analog recorder. The superior resolution and sonic 
quality of the conversion process makes it admirably 
suited for this role.
As briefly mentioned earlier, the same digital mixing 
console may be used to record on both analog and 
DTRS multitrack recorders simultaneously.
StandardReference 
level 
(0 dBFS)Nominal 
levelIF-DA8 
OUTPUT 
LEVEL 
(MAX:dBu)
TASCAM 
–16 dB  +4 dBu +20
EBU2 –9 dB +6 dBu+15
SMPTE –20 dB +4 dBu+24 
						

							 IF-DA8 D/A Converter
6  TASCAM IF-DA8
Another possible use might be in surround sound 
applications, where a TM-D8000 console is being 
used. The eight sub-groups of the console are used 
for the surround channels and also for the DTRS 
recorder. The IF-DA8 provides high-quality D/A 
conversion to drive the surround monitor amplifiers, 
while passing the digital signal transparently to the 
recorders.
1.4 Specifications
LINE OUTPUTs (1–8)
Output impedanceXLR-type, balanced 
outputs
75
 
Ω
Maximum output level (0 dBFS) +15 dBu, +20 dBu, 
+24 dBu
Nominal output level +4 dBu
S/N ratio (IHF-A) > 100 dB
Crosstalk between adjacent 
channels (10 kHz)> 70dB
T.H.D. (@ 1 kHz, nominal output 
level)< 0.01%
Digital I/O format TDIF-1
Sampling frequency 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, ±6%
D/A resolution 24-bit
Clock source D I/O2, external word 
clock
LOCKED indicator Lights when valid clock 
source received at 
selected input
WORD CLOCK IN
75
 
Ω
WORD CLOCK THRU
75
 
Ω (auto terminating)
Dimensions (w x h x d) 482 x 48 x 204.5 mm
(19 x 1-7/8 x 8-1/16 in.)
Weight 2.5 kg (5.51 lbs.)
Power supply 120V (U.S.A./Canada) 
230V (Europe) 
240V (Australia)
Power consumption 10 W
Supplied accessories Rack mounting kit
1.4.1 Dimensional diagram 
						

							 IF-DA8 D/A Converter
  TASCAM IF-DA8 7
1.4.2 Block diagram
1.4.3 Rack mounting 
						

							 
TEAC CORPORATION 
  
Phone: (0422) 52-5082 3-7-3, Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8550, Japan 
TEAC AMERICA, INC. 
Phone: (213) 726-0303 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, California 90640 
TEAC CANADA LTD. 
Phone: 905-890-8008  Facsimile: 905-890-9888 5939 Wallace Street, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1Z8, Canada 
TEAC MEXICO, S.A. De C.V 
Phone: 5-658-1943 Privada De Corina, No.18, Colonia Del Carmen Coyoacon, Mexico DF 04100 
TEAC UK LIMITED 
Phone: 01923-819699 5 Marlin House, Marlins Meadow, The Croxley Centre, Watford, Herts. WD1 8YA, U.K. 
TEAC DEUTSCHLAND GmbH 
Phone: 0611-71580 Bahnstrasse 12, 65205 Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany 
TEAC FRANCE S. A. 
Phone: 01.42.37.01.02 17 Rue Alexis-de-Tocqueville, CE 005 92182 Antony Cedex, France 
TEAC BELGIUM NV/SA 
Phone: 0031-30-6048115 P.A. TEAC Nederland BV, Perkinsbaan 11a, 3439 ND Nieuwegein, Netherlands 
TEAC NEDERLAND BV 
Phone: 030-6030229 Perkinsbaan 11a, 3439 ND Nieuwegein, Netherlands 
TEAC AUSTRALIA PTY.,LTD. A.C.N. 005 408 462  
Phone: (03) 9644-2442 106 Bay Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia 
TEAC ITALIANA S.p.A. 
Phone: 02-66010500 Via C. Cantù 11, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milano, Italy 
PRINTED IN JAPAN 1098U0.6 M-1425A 
» 
IF-DA8