Re: [ARSCLIST] DAT transfer question

[David Rice <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd typically get about 4 frames logged as errors per hour (not  
including the errors that occur when the recording starts and stops,  
there is often a little glitch there). This is for the DATs that were  
stored well. The advantage with the DDS drive is that the software  
(like DATXtract) can log exactly where the errors are, which helps  
automate quality control.
The speed of the DAT tape is related to the read / write speed used to  
do data backups so it's not related to the speed that DAT players use.  
They were separately developed technologies, DDS just happens to have  
the faster reads. Also the DAT player will play a 32kHz tape twice as  
slow, while a DDS drive doesn't slow down the speed for this playback.
Another advantage of the DDS drive method is that there is the ability  
to extract the metadata from the tape, like what time and date the  
original recording device was set to. Also you get the marker info on  
when each recording starts and stops, which I think aids in cataloguing.
Dave Rice


On Aug 19, 2008, at 7:39 PM, Tom Fine wrote:

> Given the high error rates and mutes I find on older DATs not stored  
> under ideal conditions, I'd be hesitant to run at faster than real- 
> time, the tought being that even more errors and mutes might result.  
> Is this a flawed theory?
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Rice"  
> <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 4:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] DAT transfer question
>
>
> > An audio-enabled DDS3 drive will read a DAT tape in faster than  
> > real time, this
> > is especially true for the 32kHz long play ones.
> > DATXtract (http://pdicamillo.org/~peter/datxtract/) is an example  
> > of software to
> > manage reading audio off of DAT tapes via an audio enabled DDS3 drive
> > translating the frame based data on the DAT tape into an audio  
> > stream and the
> > metadata part. It will also log the errors in the read process.
> > David Rice
> >
> > Quoting Jerry Hartke <jhartke@xxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> >
> > > DAT tracks are positioned diagonally on the tape. A static head  
> > > will not
> > > work. I am confused how a tape can be read in other than real  
> > > time. Why
> > > reinvent the wheel?
> > >
> > > Jerry
> > > Media Sciences, Inc.
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > > > [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Martin Fisher
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:19 PM
> > > > To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Subject: [ARSCLIST] DAT transfer question
> > > >
> > > > Ya'll "fergive" me if this is a completely idiotic question.
> > > >
> > > > Is there any way to transfer audio DAT tapes directly onto a  
> > > hard drive
> > > > without going through the process of playing and recording in  
> > > real time?
> > > > I'm thinking of the data backup and storage drives here which  
> > > might use
> > > > stationary heads.  Hey!....Never hurts to ask.
> > > >
> > > > Martin