REQ: DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few (if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

TIA

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

From personal experience I would avoid the Aiwa domestic DAT machine (dumped
by Richer Sounds some years ago).
Tascams are robust, have an excellent UK service agent, and are generally
built like brick sh*t-houses.
Available from Canford, Raper & Wayman & etc at decent prices.
Bear in mind they are complex mechanical devices, like a VHS, & I would
avoid buying secondhand.
Jolly useful kit though.
JB

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

From personal experience I would avoid the Aiwa domestic DAT machine (dumped
by Richer Sounds some years ago).
Tascams are robust, have an excellent UK service agent, and are generally
built like brick sh*t-houses.
Available from Canford, Raper & Wayman & etc at decent prices.
Bear in mind they are complex mechanical devices, like a VHS, & I would
avoid buying secondhand.
Jolly useful kit though.
JB

REQ: DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:35:42 +0100, "struan"
wrote:

I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few (if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

I have two DAT recorders, a Sony DTC690 and a Casio DA-R100. Both have
stopped working properly with different faults. A replacement machine
of a reasonable standard will cost the best part of a thousand pounds,
which I cannot justify.

As noted in another post, a secondhand machine is probably not a good
idea unless you know its provenance.

Tascam do a range of DAT machines intended for recording studios, etc.
(See, for example, http://www.studiospares.com/) and Sony still do one
consumer product, the DTCZE700. (See
http://products.sony.co.uk/productde...sp?id=7_59_346) The Sony
offering can be obtained for about 480 pounds and is much cheaper than
the Tascam machines. (Their DA40 is around 740 pounds.) However, my
experience suggests that it will probably not be as robust or
reliable.

Whilst I have found DAT to be very useful, with very good audio
performance and long playing times, my current view is that it does
not have a future - rather like VHS video which uses a very similar
helical scan technology. Despite having a reasonable number of tapes,
I will not be purchasing a new machine.


--
Chris Isbell
Southampton
UK

REQ: DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:35:42 +0100, "struan"
wrote:

I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few (if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

I have two DAT recorders, a Sony DTC690 and a Casio DA-R100. Both have
stopped working properly with different faults. A replacement machine
of a reasonable standard will cost the best part of a thousand pounds,
which I cannot justify.

As noted in another post, a secondhand machine is probably not a good
idea unless you know its provenance.

Tascam do a range of DAT machines intended for recording studios, etc.
(See, for example, http://www.studiospares.com/) and Sony still do one
consumer product, the DTCZE700. (See
http://products.sony.co.uk/productde...sp?id=7_59_346) The Sony
offering can be obtained for about 480 pounds and is much cheaper than
the Tascam machines. (Their DA40 is around 740 pounds.) However, my
experience suggests that it will probably not be as robust or
reliable.

Whilst I have found DAT to be very useful, with very good audio
performance and long playing times, my current view is that it does
not have a future - rather like VHS video which uses a very similar
helical scan technology. Despite having a reasonable number of tapes,
I will not be purchasing a new machine.


--
Chris Isbell
Southampton
UK

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I bought a Sony DTC-690 on Ebay a few months ago and I'm very pleased with
it. It's a full-size model and has a very good build quality. Bought it from
a guy in London for £120.

Check these websites:

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/edat.htm

http://www.solorb.com/dat-heads/

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/sonydek.htm


"struan" wrote in message
...
I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few
(if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been
checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or
have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

TIA

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I bought a Sony DTC-690 on Ebay a few months ago and I'm very pleased with
it. It's a full-size model and has a very good build quality. Bought it from
a guy in London for £120.

Check these websites:

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/edat.htm

http://www.solorb.com/dat-heads/

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/sonydek.htm


"struan" wrote in message
...
I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few
(if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been
checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or
have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

TIA

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I bought a Tascam rack model second hand and it has been totally reliable. I'd
second Tascam. you shouldn't have to pay much s/h its a dying technology.

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I bought a Tascam rack model second hand and it has been totally reliable. I'd
second Tascam. you shouldn't have to pay much s/h its a dying technology.

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

In article , Andy Evans
writes
I bought a Tascam rack model second hand and it has been totally reliable. I'd
second Tascam. you shouldn't have to pay much s/h its a dying technology.

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..
--
Tony Sayer

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

In article , Andy Evans
writes
I bought a Tascam rack model second hand and it has been totally reliable. I'd
second Tascam. you shouldn't have to pay much s/h its a dying technology.

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..
--
Tony Sayer

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

If Tony's asking me, I used it for recording LPs. I now need to transfer DATs
to CD. Any ideas?

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

If Tony's asking me, I used it for recording LPs. I now need to transfer DATs
to CD. Any ideas?

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..

I was wondering whether the price fall and second hand availability
now make purchasing a DAT machine a sensible route for me.

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

So would DAT be a good idea or are there mini disks available that
have a longer recording time these days?

Advice welcome.

Regards

David

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..

I was wondering whether the price fall and second hand availability
now make purchasing a DAT machine a sensible route for me.

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

So would DAT be a good idea or are there mini disks available that
have a longer recording time these days?

Advice welcome.

Regards

David

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

"David Houpt" wrote in message
...

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..

I was wondering whether the price fall and second hand availability
now make purchasing a DAT machine a sensible route for me.

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

So would DAT be a good idea or are there mini disks available that
have a longer recording time these days?

Advice welcome.


Hi David,

Consider a VCR with an 'Audio In' setting - Philips did one with Recording
Level displays a short while back which was very good.

These things cost flumpence now, extremely high quality tapes are abundant
and also dirt cheap and you get 3 hours continuous of very good sound indeed
without any need to mess around with settings. With a bit of dilling around
you can even set it to record on the timer (like set the VCR's timer and
just have a timer plug to switch your radio/tuner on well beforehand....).

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

"David Houpt" wrote in message
...

If you don' mind me asking what do you plan to use it for?..

I was wondering whether the price fall and second hand availability
now make purchasing a DAT machine a sensible route for me.

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

So would DAT be a good idea or are there mini disks available that
have a longer recording time these days?

Advice welcome.


Hi David,

Consider a VCR with an 'Audio In' setting - Philips did one with Recording
Level displays a short while back which was very good.

These things cost flumpence now, extremely high quality tapes are abundant
and also dirt cheap and you get 3 hours continuous of very good sound indeed
without any need to mess around with settings. With a bit of dilling around
you can even set it to record on the timer (like set the VCR's timer and
just have a timer plug to switch your radio/tuner on well beforehand....).

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

In article ,
Andy Evans wrote:
If Tony's asking me, I used it for recording LPs. I now need to transfer
DATs to CD. Any ideas?

Most would use their computer. But record off LP direct into it rather
than using DAT as an intermediate.

--
*Eat well, stay fit, die anyway

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

In article ,
Andy Evans wrote:
If Tony's asking me, I used it for recording LPs. I now need to transfer
DATs to CD. Any ideas?

Most would use their computer. But record off LP direct into it rather
than using DAT as an intermediate.

--
*Eat well, stay fit, die anyway

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

"struan" wrote in message
...

I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few
(if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been
checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or
have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

Can't read between the lines very well, eh?

DAT has been pretty well killed off as other than a narrow niche product by
newer, better technology.

At the high end DAT was killed off by ADAT, RDAT and then by computers with
high end multichannel sound cards. In the mainstream it was killed off by
computers with better quality sound cards. For portable applications DAT was
killed off first by portable Minidisc recorders, then by memory and
hard-drive based portable recorders, as well as laptop computers with PCMCIA
and firewire audio interfaces.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

"struan" wrote in message
...

I am thinking about getting a DAT recorder, and as there seem to be few
(if
any?) consumer models still available for new purchase, I have been
checking
out Ebay - there usually seems to be a few available (professional &
consumer - Tascam, Panasonic, Sony (DTC690, DTC750 etc.)); as the consumer
ones are old models, I don't have any information on feature etc. - Does
anyone know of any good websites which may contain such information, or
have
any recommendations of particular models (remote controlled, LP, for home
use)?

Also some good sites about DAT in general?

Can't read between the lines very well, eh?

DAT has been pretty well killed off as other than a narrow niche product by
newer, better technology.

At the high end DAT was killed off by ADAT, RDAT and then by computers with
high end multichannel sound cards. In the mainstream it was killed off by
computers with better quality sound cards. For portable applications DAT was
killed off first by portable Minidisc recorders, then by memory and
hard-drive based portable recorders, as well as laptop computers with PCMCIA
and firewire audio interfaces.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

Consider a VCR with an 'Audio In' setting - Philips did one with Recording
Level displays a short while back which was very good.

Thanks Keith

That seems like a good idea.

I will follow it up.

Regards

David

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

Consider a VCR with an 'Audio In' setting - Philips did one with Recording
Level displays a short while back which was very good.

Thanks Keith

That seems like a good idea.

I will follow it up.

Regards

David

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

Got a Nicam vcr? The sound quality's pretty good, though you're
unlikely to be able to bypass AVC.

Or record to your computer. If you're using Windows XP with NTFS file
system, the filesize limit in FAT32 won't be a factor. Do a test
recording first, just to be sure.

DAT Recorder Information & Advice
 

I like to record opera from Radio 3 but the 80 minute limit on mini
disks is a bit limiting.

Got a Nicam vcr? The sound quality's pretty good, though you're
unlikely to be able to bypass AVC.

Or record to your computer. If you're using Windows XP with NTFS file
system, the filesize limit in FAT32 won't be a factor. Do a test
recording first, just to be sure.