Machine Name; Aiff File Support; Deva Files Naming Convention Addition - Tascam MMR-8 Owner's Manual Update

Machine Name

A new setup menu in Version 4.0 permits each MM series unit to have a Machine Name. This
name is used by the ViewNet software as a convenient way to refer to a particular machine, and
is shown in the Network and Project View screens of ViewNet. The MM series Machine Name
setup menu operates whether or not the ViewNet network is in use. This name is stored as part of
the system init file on the hard disk of the MM machine.
01234567890123456789
940 Machine Name
*Unnamed machine

AIFF File Support

As of Version 4.0 of the MM series software, Pro Tools and OMF EDLs may reference standard
AIFF (Audio Interleaved File Format) files for playback or file utility (export) operations. To be
recognized, these audio files must end in one of the following suffixes: .aiff, .AIFF, .aif, or .AIF.
No mixed case suffixes may be used (e.g. Aiff). Both AIFF files and Sound Designer II (SDII)
files can be recognized and played in the same EDL, even in the same track. Note that the MM
series machines will only read or play back AIFF files, and will not export or record to the AIFF
format. If a Pro Tools track containing AIFF files is loaded, any new recording made to that track
on the MMR-8 will be made in the SD II format.
To properly play back on the MM series unit, the file which has the .aiff suffix must actually be a
real AIFF audio file. On the Pro Tools system, a Macintosh system file identifier is used by the
software to understand the true identity of a file. Thus, if a Sound Designer II file is erroneously
named xxxx.aiff, the Pro Tools application will understand that it is actually an SDII file and will
play it back correctly. This is a service provided by the Macintosh operating system. This is not
the case for an MM series machine. If a file which is not an actual AIFF audio file is named
xxxx.aiff, the MM unit will try to play it as a true AIFF audio file. The result will be "garbage"
audio because of the difference between the actual file type (e.g. SD II) and the .aiff file that the
MM series machine is attempting to play. File names are in important in this regard, particularly
the suffix after a period. Do not rename files without regard to this fact.

DEVA Files Naming Convention Addition

Audio files created by the Zaxcom DEVA hard disk field recorder can be played on the
TASCAM MM Series machines. These must be in the EBU standard Broadcast Wave format on
a DOS-FAT16 formatted disk in a directory labeled /ZFILES. The name of the DEVA track files
must conform to the naming conventions used by the DEVA recorder. The format is six
characters, followed by either a dash or underscore, followed by a track number (which must be
1, 2, 3, or 4), followed by the .BWF suffix. For example: take17_1.BWF or take17-1.BWF.
Previous to Version 4.0, only the underscore character was recognized but the Version 4.0
software adds support for names using a dash as well.
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TASCAM MMR-8/MMP-16 Version 4.0 Owner's Manual Update
LCD characters indicate:
Top: (menu name)
Bottom:(name)