From its early beginnings as a leading manufacturer of professional analog audio tape recorders, Otari has long since made the leap to becoming the foremost supplier of advanced digital audio products for the recording, broadcast, fixed
installation and postproduction markets.
That reputation is maintained and rightfully enhanced by the introduction of the Otari DR-100 48-track digital audio hard disk recorder with Version 2.0 software at this NAB show (Booth N4511).
The DR-100 features 48-track recording at 24-bit, 44.1/48 kHz sampling, and
24-track at 24-bit, 88.2/96 kHz, direct to a super high-performance 15,000 rpm,
72 GB SCSI hot-swappable hard drive that enables seamless/gapless punch in/out
throughout all 48 (or 24) tracks (48/24 channel crossfade). In addition, there
are 208 virtual tracks that can be used for each project, with 5 editing layers
totaling 256 tracks including 48 nominal tracks.
The DR-100 features industry-standard MADI digital audio interfacing, and a
dedicated 48-track direct access remote control that closely models the look
and feel of a traditional multitrack remote, yet allows instant access to the
advanced features of the product and is connected to the audio recording engine
via a standard 100Base/T Ethernet network and TCP/IP protocol. Any remote controller
can choose and control any audio recording engine as long as they are online.
The system has an auto detect function for network error and auto save function
to protect important projects from network problems or human errors.
The DR-100 also features an advanced graphical interface for easy-to-use recording
and editing with cut, copy, paste, move, delete and other features accessed
at the touch of a button. The recording waveform can be displayed for 48 channels
and display/edits are within a 1 sample accuracy.
A concern with many of the hard disk systems currently available is how to
back up the enormous amounts of data from the hard drive, but in the case of
the DR-100, this problem is solved simply by connecting the DR-100 to SCSI storage
devices such as an HDD or a tape drive for full project backup/restore functionality.
The DR-100 supports BWF import and export function and can exchange audio data
with DAW. The DR-100 can import and export audio files from/to other PC’s
or Mac’s via network as well as via hard drives or DVD-RAM discs.
Unlike many non-linear recording systems that rely on a conventional general-purpose
desktop computer, the Otari DR-100 is based around a custom-designed rack-mount
recording engine that was developed specially for the purpose. Again unlike
many recording systems that rely on the notoriously error-prone Windows operating
system, the DR-100 processor runs the Unix-like Linux operating system, offering
superior reliability, efficiency and the proven ability to work around the clock
under the pressures of a professional recording environment.
The DR-100’s advanced recording features include repeat recording, time
advance recording and auto punch in/out recording, while play features include
+/-12.5% vari-speed, repeat play and even reverse play. Further, the DR-100
implements timecode chase at all standard SMPTE and EBU/PAL frame rates for
both linear and vertical interval timecode formats with less than +/-5 sampling
accuracy. Furthermore, the highly precise recording engine latency is theoretically
zero.
The intuitive CB-179 remote controller features 48-track Input/Repro(Disk)/Mute/Solo
monitoring and arming control and a 2-line by 20-character LCD display for the
system’s menu options. Dedicated edit function keys are provided along
with 2 timer displays for cue location and editing, plus 999 locate points with
5 direct keys and 5 macro keys to help automate complex operations. An optional
48-track LED bargraph meter bridge is available.
The provided hard drive offers up to 170 minutes of 48-track recording time,
and the system will sync to internal clock or to standard external word clock
and video. RS-422 serial interface (D-sub 9-pin) and MIDI interfaces are provided
along with 68-pin Ultra 160 SCSI and Ethernet LAN. The recording engine is standard
19-inch rack mount, 3U high.
