Random access media (such as hard disks, optical cartridges, Bernoulli cartridges or WORM drives) can produce a true digital copy of your data, because every bit value is maintained. Sequential media (such as DAT tapes) use error correction schemes to fix the occasional bad data that is received in a digital transfer. These corrections are deviations from the actual data, and with successive reproductions, represent a subtle form of generation loss.You can avoid this loss by creating and maintaining masters on random-access digital media (such as a hard drive) and transferring them to sequential digital media (such as DAT tapes) only as needed.To configure Pro Tools for direct digital stereo mastering:1 Connect your digital recorder to your system’s digital outputs. If your system has multiple digital outputs, use channel 1 and 2 of the audio interface.2 In Pro Tools, set the appropriate digital format and output from the Hardware Setup dialog or I/O Setup dialog. (See Configuring Pro Tools Hardware Settings.)3 Set the clock on the master device to slave to Pro Tools digital clock, or to provide master clock to Pro Tools. (See Configuring Pro Tools Hardware Settings.)4 On your digital recorder, choose the appropriate digital format for the connections.5 In Pro Tools, set all audio tracks you want to your master outputs 1–2 path.6 Click Return to Zero in the Transport to go to the beginning of the session.9 When your session has finished playing, stop the digital recorder.