Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: AlanChitlik on March 08, 2021, 11:06:31 PM

Title: DAT into laptop digitally?
Post by: AlanChitlik on March 08, 2021, 11:06:31 PM

Hey there,
I am interested in digitizing the music on my DAT tapes onto computer files. In the past, I used a LynxOne card in the PCI port of a desktop machine. But I no longer have a working desktop. So I'm investigating ways to get the music from my DATs into a laptop using USB. Is that even possible? I see a couple of products that I think SHOULD work: https://www.esi-audio.com/products/u24xl/ or https://www.amazon.com/ART-USB-Phono-Plus-PS/dp/B000BBGCCI.

I'd love anyone's ideas!
Alan

Title: Re: DAT into laptop digitally?
Post by: goodcooker on March 10, 2021, 11:34:27 AM

For this very purpose I use a Sound Devices USBPre the original version. It requires an aftermarket freeware driver to make it work with 64 bit systems but it has been rock solid and was very inexpensive (around 100$). There are lots of digital input USB external sound cards (interfaces) out there.

Assuming your DAT deck has a digital output (which almost all of them do - not all but most) you want a device with a digital input to skip any unnecessary AD conversion steps.

I record directly into Wavelab. Recently I got a Tascam DR680 for a really good deal used. It has a SPDIF input so my plan is to use two DAT decks at once to get more tapes done faster - Fostex D5 > SD USBPre > laptop and DA30 > DR680 running simultaneously.

Title: Re: DAT into laptop digitally?
Post by: jerryfreak on March 10, 2021, 02:18:22 PM

considering the cost and setup/ testing time of soundcards (many resample by default unbeknownst to the user - mac optical input comes to mind), the brick recorders like the marantz and tascam you can find around got under $200 are an easy solution