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A Query

Do DAT machines work in the same way as cassette four-tracks. is there a specific type of DAT machine that i would need to do multitrack recording on. just i saw a few cheap DAT recorders on ebay and was wondering, as i want to replace my digital 8track.

i think i really should have said ADAT, not dat

i'm by no means an expert on this, but i would say that no ADAT should be purchased by anyone, ever. my experience with them was the worst i've ever had with any format. the sound was pretty awful, the reliability (these were grey alesis units, circa 1996 or 7) was awful, and the tapes typically lasted almost long enough to finish mixing. maybe these particular machines were from a bad lot or something, but even the replacements that alesis sent out while servicing the bad ones would still destroy tapes rather quickly. the little sun-looking light, the interpolation light, was my absolute nemesis when working with those machines. maybe it has something to do with the rotating head that's abusing the tapes even more than other tape formats. just picture what it looks like when you watch a videotape that you rented from blockbuster, and pretend that's your (or worse, your clients') music.

but if you do get one (again, i only know about the alesis), what i can tell you is that the instant you see the interpolation light come on, even briefly, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING. and then hook it up to your other ADAT machine, a necessity, and make an exact duplicate of your master tape. that way, shortly thereacfter, when your master tape becomes unreadable, you'll have another copy to work from... until it too starts suffering from interpolation problems. i will never again use an ADAT machine.

there are, btw, DAT multitrack units out there. we have a TEAC one where i work, that records 16 track audio onto a normal DAT. the frequency range is pretty bad though, i think they cut off at 8K or 4K or something like that? i dunno, i wouldn't use that thing unless i was forced to. and i don't really like DAT so much either.

but other than a good PC workstation or an 8tk reel-to-reel, i don't have anything that i would recommend, so... sorry about that. maybe i'm the only one who had such a terrible experience with ADAT's.

good luck

an alternative to the sucky adat would be the tascam DA-38, DA-88 or DA-98. they are no longer being made but you can pick them up on ebay fairly cheap. they are a digital 8 track and record onto a hi-8 video tape.
i have a pair of DA-98's here and although the 2" machine sounds better the 98's are fine for quick low-budg/ demo sessions when the band wants to save a few bucks. i have about 1500 hours on my machines and have had no problems with them.

-elisha

Are DAT machines even worth it anymore, in anyones opinion?

In addition to all the problems above, they deteriorate and play at different speeds on different machines. My friend and I have been using a Sony 33 CD recorder and it's been far less of a headache. Burns fast, take it anywhere, plays the same everywhere.

they're pieces of shit. there is certainly no need for them, as there exist 4- and 8-track cassette recorders. somehow companies manage to keep selling these low quality dat machines, long after their inferiority to every other format has been realized.

-noah

i have used both and would take a tascam DA-98 over an 8 track cassette any day.

fair enough. 1/32" per track is pretty insufficient.

-noah

I'm a (frustrated) owner of a portable DAT - a Sony TCD7 - and would have to say that with a mini mixer and a few good mics they're great for recording ad-hoc. Actually, with enough technical nous you could knock off a fairly good live recording this way. ANYWAY, this is what I think DAT's most useful feature is at the moment. Until HD recording becomes more affordable DAT is still the medium of choice for recording high quality audio on the fly.
Multitracking? Get a decent soundcard and a laptop and you have a studio-in-a-box. Of course, if you want multiple inputs, be prepared to shell out a fair amount for the added pleasure.
I think I've just stated the obious here. If I have and any of you are spraying coffee over your monitors in disgust, my apologies.
Anybody have any idea where I can get hold of a 7-pin digital cable for the aforementioned DAT in order to transfer audio to my PC digitally? If you do, there's a CD of artless noise in it for you.
(Really, it will just be random noise - made to order)