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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Recording Media => Topic started by: roskile on September 20, 2004, 06:26:30 PM
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I need to buy some blank media and was wondering what brand I should go with. I'm leaning towards Sony or TDK. I do admit that I am a little confused about one point though:
Upon reading the manual that came with my Sony pcm-m1, it stated that unlike a conventional cassette player (which can be recorded on both sides), a DAT tape is only recorded on one side.
However, upon researching the Sony DT-120RA, it says: "120 minutes total recording time or 60 minutes per side"
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DT120RA&CategoryName=acc_RecordableMedia_AudioCassettes&DCMP=CNET_DF&HQS=HAA_DT120RA
(and not that I would buy from there as it is a bit pricey).
Can someone kindly tell me which is correct when recording on a DAT tape?
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sony's wrong -- dat is only single sided (like a vcr tape). There are a LOT of opinions on what kinda tape to buy. Before switching to a jb3, I went through MANY cases of japanese maxell 60 meter dds data tapes. These work great and are a LOT cheaper than audio dat tapes. 60 meter dds tapes are the same length as 120 minute audio dat tapes.
Several online retailers sell these -- I bought mine from the oades.
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I have found the most realiable DDS tapes are Fuji (Fujifilm), if you can still find them. Sony had some issues early last year with a batch of 60m DDS tapes. I'd stay away from them altogether.
The audio DATs are nice but as mentioned b4, quite pricey.
ANDY
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Maxell HS-4's 60's or 90's.
SOny's -= ick!
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Maxell HS-4's 60's or 90's.
SOny's -= ick!
what he said, except the sony part... i've had good luck with both maxells and sony's.
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sorry. bad experiences with Sony. atleast 3 masters hosed because of them. my current d8 HATES them.... eats them on the first press of "play"!
nothing but maxell for me.
-Jim
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Can I also ask now that it has been brought up, is audio DAT or DDS better in terms of the quality the recording would be?
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Same tape, different tax...
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I have had NO problems {so far} with the Japenese Maxell HS-4/90's over the last few years
I rarely use the 60 meter length because they cost very little less than the 90 meters {30 cents?}
these are DDS tapes and in MY opinion they are no different than audio grade - just cost alot less
I have had problems with Sony's in all my machines - even my D8 so I won't use them
my suggestion would be to try various tapes and see what is right for you and your machine{s}
Good luck! and have fun taping :D
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dds vs. audio..
same tape.. different shell.. the audio shell's are a bit sturdier i have found.. I use either hhb, quantegy or sony 60's in my dap1.. only problems i ever had were with the maxell 90meters..
ymmv
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ymmv
More like, ymWv. If something works for you, keep using it. If it doesn't, change. This isn't like the old days of DAT when DIC and Maynard DATs were a surefire recipe for disaster - there are enough brands that are sufficiently reliable for Joe Taper to be able to choose from several of them without serious problems...
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Thanks for all the responses. :) I ended up going with HHB as I read nothing but good things doing a search on those.
Cheers
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btw, there is another difference no one bothered to mention- audio tapes are wound from one side, dds tapes are wound from the center. doesnt make a bit of difference, but just something ive been told time and time again