I figured as much. Of course, I'm not gonna mess w/this particular DX-8. I assume finding another DX-8 is difficult nowadays. I don't see them offered up for sale ever.Without the remote cable connected, the dx-8 is either stuck in record or playback mode. I don't remember which. Should you find another unit, you can switch that one to the other mode. I don't know the mod but I know it exists because an engineer down in LA had such a rig.