I believe they can only playback on that machine. No hard drive either. I've been using the masterlink to capture 24/96k files. it works nicely as a playback or recorder if you are using external converters. What are you looking to capture?

Thanks Michael.

I'm looking for a machine to make DSD masters on. Of course, I could also use it as a means to make 16/44.1 and 24/96 (or 192) masters as well.

If it plays back on the machine, I'm okay with it. However, if it will record DSDIFF, but not play them back, I'm a little leary.

I'm not too worried about the lack of hard drive though, since all of my clients have a hard disc dedicated to their projects - I can still copy the contents of the DVD (whether it be WAV, AIFF, DSDIFF) to their hard drive and make dups of the DVD for safety.

For everything shy of DSD, I would be using my own converters. (I've never been impressed with anything Tascam, especially their converters. I think I'm one of a few who didn't like the stock converters in the DA88). But of course, I'm limited to my choices with DSD converters and while I would love to own a Prism Dream ADA - 8 or some Meitners, I'm afraid I'm stuck with what I've got for the moment. (Though I'm dying to hear the new Mytek DSD stuff!)

As for what I'm looking to capture - I hope to run my signal chain like so:

DAW (Sequoia) with pre-master - all fades, gain riding and "in-the-box" effects and calculations already performed.
-->
Weiss Linear Phase EQ -->
Mytek D/A conversion (possibly Grace too)--> (only if necessary)
Manley or Amek compression (haven't decided yet)
-->A/D conversion (master converter yet to be decided - until then, I have Lynx Aurora (surprisingly VERY good) and RAMSA)
-->Master Recorder (Multiple possibilities - Tascam DVD, Masterlink, Tape, another instance of Sequoia, etc.)

Of course, if any of you guys see any fatal flaws in my concept, please poke it full of holes.

My playback chain will likely be:
Rotel amplification
B&W 804 monitors
REL ST Subwoofer

Thanks!!!!

Jeremy

Well, if you use the tascam unit in DSD, you have to use their converters I believe. I don't think you can do any editing on it either ( start or end adjustments) but could be wrong. It seems like a new unit in that it's missing some things that would make it really good, like a hard drive.

the masterlink is usefull in that I can creat CD24 discs on my computer that will playback in the masterlink. this is great for playing back 24/96k mixes, processing them, SRC, Capture into the daw at 16/44.1. If you are looking to just Capture DSD for SACD release, there are probably better units out there. It seemed to me when i took a look at the tascam unit, it was geared towards analog tape replacement for printing mixes from consoles. Not really as a mastering machine. It's been out for a couple of years so i'm betting were do for a newer model in the near future.

It will play back the DSD discs - Really an amazing machine...

I did a "non-techie" review [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.studiore…"]HERE[/]="http://www.studiore…"]HERE[/] if it helps at all.