Topic: Transfering old DAT tapes to computer

[__Neo__]

I have some old 48 kHz / 16 bit DAT tapes I would like to read into my computer to make CDs from.  I will be using a Sony DTC-690 DAT deck with optical and coax S/PDIF outputs.  I have an old desktop with PCI slots and a modern laptop with USB 2 ports.  I would like to find something cheap to get these tapes into my computer as wav files and then work with them in Adobe Audition or CoolEdit Pro.  Ultimately they will be downsampled to 44.1 kHz for burning onto CD.  Is there some cheap gizmo I can find on Amazon or Ebay for getting these files from my DAT deck into my PC?  I imagine this is a fairly common question but I couldn't find anything on it during a quick scan of this forum.

[bombdiggity]

My preferred option is a recorder with an optical input (in my case my R-44).  I run them out of the Sony component deck straight into the recorder onto a 32GB card.  Fill the card (which at native resolution, the only way they copy when making a direct digital link, is roughly 30 tapes), then copy those to the computer.  I don't trust the interfaces/gizmos and what they are likely to do to the quality. 

[rocksuitcase]

Neo, bombdigitty's answer is "best" given today's technology. If I had a working DAT deck I would be going straight into my PMD 661.
Before recorders got so capable, I did purchase two interface boxes:
Internal = ESI Juli@ 24/96- http://www.esi-audio.com/products/julia/
External (old, but new models should exist) = Echo Gina - modern version: http://proaudiotoys.com/echo-gina-3g-pci-audio-recording-interface-p-237.html
Although I read on the Echo site they are no longer designing sound cards: http://echoaudio.com/

[bryonsos]

See if twatts will do it for you, it's his taping hobby now that he doesn't have mics etc.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I have some old 48 kHz / 16 bit DAT tapes I would like to read into my computer to make CDs from.  I will be using a Sony DTC-690 DAT deck with optical and coax S/PDIF outputs.  I have an old desktop with PCI slots and a modern laptop with USB 2 ports.  I would like to find something cheap to get these tapes into my computer as wav files and then work with them in Adobe Audition or CoolEdit Pro.  Ultimately they will be downsampled to 44.1 kHz for burning onto CD.  Is there some cheap gizmo I can find on Amazon or Ebay for getting these files from my DAT deck into my PC?  I imagine this is a fairly common question but I couldn't find anything on it during a quick scan of this forum.

How may DATs do you have???  I'm falling behind on my PH Project(s), but I might be able to help...

Send me an email:  twatts1000@gmail.com

If you have a list, that would be great...

Terry