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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: symon on April 03, 2020, 05:44:59 PM

Title: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: symon on April 03, 2020, 05:44:59 PM

I'm looking at transferring my DATs from DAT machine to Mac. Does the Zoom U-44 allow me to do that without going through any conversion to analogue?
The Zoom U-44 is particularly attractive because of the spdif and toslink inputs - I've got some minidiscs I'd like to transfer, too.

If the Zoom doesn't achieve a digital transfer, what does for a similar price?

I'm happy to be educated if I'm talking nonsense.

Thanks

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: Dirtybiz on April 19, 2020, 08:59:15 PM

Following - I've got a rather large DAT collection that needs to be transfered. 

I've got a Sony D-100 Deck and a HHB Stand Alone DAT unit and pretty unclear on how to go from DAT to Windows?

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: rippleish20 on April 19, 2020, 09:16:25 PM

It can be used for SPDIF > U-44 > SPDIF (and thus to a Mac with SPDIF) but Macs apparently re-sample the digital stream anyways. I have a U-44 for sale if you are looking for one, but I changed to using a Marantz PMD670

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: symon on April 20, 2020, 06:22:00 PM

Well, I got one anyway because they are getting a bit scarce. Haven't had chance to use it yet. I want to transfer my minidiscs first and my deck doesn't work (replacement arriving tomorrow  ::))
I'd be interested to know more about Macs resampling. I'll go looking anyway, but is there a good source of info about this?

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: symon on April 20, 2020, 06:49:03 PM

Quote from: rippleish20 on April 19, 2020, 09:16:25 PM

It can be used for SPDIF > U-44 > SPDIF (and thus to a Mac with SPDIF) but Macs apparently re-sample the digital stream anyways. I have a U-44 for sale if you are looking for one, but I changed to using a Marantz PMD670

I've just read this again. Why would you use SPDIF out of the U-44? I thought it was possible to do a straight digital transfer via USB - so SPDIF (or TOSLINK) > U-44 > usb > Mac.

I'll report back here  on how I get on, because I think It'll be useful to have the information available.

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: jerryfreak on April 20, 2020, 07:26:41 PM

if the mac usb is bit accurate you should be able to take the same file you recorded on the mac, slap it back on the U-44, and then get the same results, pretty easy to test

https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=194031.0

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: symon on April 20, 2020, 07:54:01 PM

Thanks. I had noted to myself that I needed to look at your posts about this.
By the way, the Zoom U-44 is just an audio interface. It's not a recorder. But, I understand what you meant. 

Title: Re: Zoom U-44: good for making digital transfers?
Post by: symon on April 22, 2020, 08:36:19 PM

Well, after much struggle and head scratching (one broken minidisc player and one dud optical cable) I finally got some test audio recorded from a minidisc via the Zoom U-44 into my mac. it wouldn't do it in Audacity, I have no idea why not. But, the Zoom came with Ableton Live Lite and that did, finally, record some audio.
It's been a bit of a struggle getting to this joyous moment, but I'm quite relieved it all worked. I haven't tried doing a DAT transfer yet. I'm going to assume it will work in principle and leave it to another day before I try it. I'm quite relieved, and now looking forward to transferring my minidiscs, finally. Phew