Topic: DAT to MAC Transfers?

[magicsalsa]

Currently, I'm a PC user.  Due to my soundcard's many input options, including S/PDIF, and this handy-dandy, hot-wired Sony 7-pin input/output cable (that was oh-so cheap, let me tell you) - DAT transfers are simple.  However, I'm preparing to "go Mac" soon for all my audio processing needs.  The new Apple G5 only has an optical input/output and I've checked with many music, electronic, and computer stores for some kind of 7-pin or RCA adapter, but I've had no luck.

Does anyone know the best way to transfer audio from a portable DAT onto a MAC (G5, G4, iBook, Powerbook, etc.)?

magicsalsa

[checht]

You don't specify your DAT machine, but a Sony 7 - pin to optical connector is for sale in the yard sale:
http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=23213.0

Seems like that would work with the G5 optical in.

The other way would be to stay coax and use a USB interface, such as a UA-5 or a Firewire box.

aloha

[Chris K]

if your soundcard is supported by mac, why not throw it into your new mac

[RRobar]

I use a Edirol UA-1D. No it's not bit perfect but it is easy to use and runs with the G4 iBook I have with no problems. Can find them pretty cheap on ebay quite often. it uses USB if your interested. You also don't need anything more than the sony 7 pin you have now.

[scb]

get a cheap 30 dollar coax > optical converter. 

[magicsalsa]

DAT:  Sony PCM-M1 Portable DAT recorder
Sound Card:  Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS (doesn't look to be supported by Apple...so far)
Cable:  Sony RK-DA10P coaxial to 7-pin cable (normally just an input cable, but modified to have output).

Looks like my only option is the 7-pin to optical (didn't even know one existed).

It's weird - I'm trying to connect a DAT, a digital recording unit of choice by many professionals (albeit out of production - this might be key here), to the #1 computer in the world for audio processing.  Does anyone else find the difficulty in doing this...strange?


magicsalsa

[John Kelly]

It doesn't seem so difficult.  The sound card you have resamples so you wouldn't want that anyway.  Just get a cheap format converter from ratshack and you're all set.

[scb]

>>It's weird - I'm trying to connect a DAT, a digital recording unit of choice by many professionals (albeit out of production - this might be key here), to the #1 computer in the world for audio processing.  Does anyone else find the difficulty in doing this...strange?
<<

1. if it's a g5, why are you using a creative card?
2. you already said the card isn't supported, so isn't that your answer on why that doesn't work?

[magicsalsa]

John K - are you saying the soundcard I have loses bit depth when recording, and that's why I wouldn't want to use it in the first place?

Scott - I bought my Creative card for my PC, on which I currently do all my audio processing.  I do NOT own a Mac yet, but plan on getting one this year.  The last thing on my mind was trying to use my current sound card.  I really thought there was a good, pure, clean way to transfer audio from the DAT to the Mac out there - liike a quality cable or adapter.  The Edirol UA-1D will get the audio there, but it'll lose some quality on the way.  And to me, that's not the way it would be professionally done.  Therefore, yes, this is difficult.  Maybe I'm missing something.

Cheap format converter from ratshack?  What format are we talking about?  What's ratshack?

Thanks for your help - I truly appreciate it.

magicsalsa

[scb]

>> I really thought there was a good, pure, clean way to transfer audio from the DAT to the Mac out there - liike a quality cable or adapter.  The Edirol UA-1D will get the audio there, but it'll lose some quality on the way.  And to me, that's not the way it would be professionally done.  Therefore, yes, this is difficult.  Maybe I'm missing something.<<


there are plenty of "good, pure, clean" ways to transfer the audio from the DAT to the mac, just like on a pc.  most pci/usb/firewire devices will work (with the exception of creative's stuff, which isn't the "pure" or "clean" you're looking for anyway)

[greenone]

Ratshack = Radio Shack. Check out this thread for a *possible* solution:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22675.0

It's cheap, but unproven, so if you're not willing to do a lot of tinkering, I wouldn't go that route.

The sound card that you have doesn't lose bit-depth, but it takes the incoming signal and resamples it to its OWN 44.1kHz signal, even if the original incoming signal is also 44.1kHz - i.e., what's coming out of the DAT isn't the same as what's being recorded to the HD. The same thing happens with the Edirol UA-1D (and all Edirol products).

Try a search on "bit-perfect" here and you'll come up with some solutions that will definitely work on your Mac. For what it's worth, I've got an emi 2|6 just lying around that will work on Mac AND PC if you're interested, but poke around and see what's got the features you're looking for in the price range you want...

--Dave

[John Kelly]

Ratshack = Radio Shack. Check out this thread for a *possible* solution:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22675.0

It's cheap, but unproven, so if you're not willing to do a lot of tinkering, I wouldn't go that route.

Unproven?  How so?  All it does is convert a signal.  What else does it have to prove?

And the only tinkering required would be hooking it up.  After that you're done.

[nic]

Ratshack = Radio Shack. Check out this thread for a *possible* solution:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22675.0

It's cheap, but unproven, so if you're not willing to do a lot of tinkering, I wouldn't go that route.

Unproven?  How so?  All it does is convert a signal.  What else does it have to prove?

And the only tinkering required would be hooking it up.  After that you're done.

unproven as in no one knows if it is bit-perfect or drops samples like most format convertors

[John Kelly]

Ratshack = Radio Shack. Check out this thread for a *possible* solution:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22675.0

It's cheap, but unproven, so if you're not willing to do a lot of tinkering, I wouldn't go that route.

Unproven?  How so?  All it does is convert a signal.  What else does it have to prove?

And the only tinkering required would be hooking it up.  After that you're done.

unproven as in no one knows if it is bit-perfect or drops samples like most format convertors

Ah, I thought format converters were all bit perfect... 

[checht]

Ratshack = Radio Shack. Check out this thread for a *possible* solution:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22675.0

It's cheap, but unproven, so if you're not willing to do a lot of tinkering, I wouldn't go that route.

Unproven?  How so?  All it does is convert a signal.  What else does it have to prove?

And the only tinkering required would be hooking it up.  After that you're done.

unproven as in no one knows if it is bit-perfect or drops samples like most format convertors

Ah, I thought format converters were all bit perfect... 

And I thought We were all a bit imperfect.

All this anthropomorphism: sound cards with something to prove.
Or virginal, pristine sound cards which are "good, clean & pure", What, made by monks???

I still say that the hardware is crying out for an optical out from the M1 into the G5. No converters required, no resampling, just using the hardware that's already built-in and (theoretically) optimized for use with the rest of the system.

All other solutions seem unnecessarily complex, and like work-arounds for the native hardware solution.