Thank you very much indeed for all positive replies and good tips. Your help and response is much appreciated!!
After rethinking your suggestions and checking up on some of the links - I have decided to go with the following line:
my
DAT-audio-cassettes >>
Sony SDT-9000 tape drive >>
DAT2WAV software (Computall Services) >>
Adaptec SCSI card >>
older PC with Windows XP.
Although this seems to be the best solution for my purposes, especially since DAT2WAV software is said to create new WAV files at every DAT "start-ID", and since the Sony 9000 drive seems to be the most reliable drive(!?) - and best of all - it works in 4x the original DAT-speed. Still, I have a lot of queastion marks? From what is told on the net there appears to be A LOT of frustrating problems and mishaps with the DDS line of Xfer.
Anyway my plan will be to:
1. Buy a
refurbished Sony SDT-9000 on the internet from USA (not a single used one found at any European vendors or the European part of e-bay!); approx $150-200 + pp+import tax.
2. Buy a second hand
PC working under Windows XP.
3. Download the free
DAT2WAV software from Computall Services homepage (still working) .
4. Buy a new(?)/old second hand(?)
Adaptec SCSI card (what model?, 32 or 64 bit?) and install it in a free slot of the PC
5.
Update any neccessary firmvares/drives for the Windows XP PC (?) and for the Sony SDT-9000 (?).
6. ... ... Everything will work smoothly and in approx. 500 working hours my 1000 DAT:s (x120 min) and the their audio content are Xferred as approx. 100.000 separate WAV files into the harddisk of my computor.
Member "H₂O" suggested I needed ...
an Adaptec SCSI card (other SCSI cards may work but ASPI (the SCSI API DAT2WAV uses) was developed by Adaptec) ..., but when reading on the WAV2DAT-homepage I get the impreesion they are talking about upgrading the Windows ASPI drivers (software?) to better support third party hardware and software. I'm not a technician and I'm definately NOT a comuter-wiz, so please... could someone sort this out for me in simple words?
If I still need a separate Adaptec SCSI card -- what model should I use? Are the ones that are sold today by Adaptec
www.adaptec.com working with older Windows XP PCs? Or do I need to find an old and secondhand card on e-bay? If so, what model? What model of Adaptec SCSI card do you use "H₂O" ?
The WAV2DAT-homepage suggest that if the SDT-9000 has firmware version 1.11 or 1.13 you are likely all set, otherwise you have to get the audio firmvare for the drive. As far as I understand you can still downlod the needed firmware from Sony's homepage. BUT, when bying refurbished drives on the internet how do I know I get the 1.11 or 1.13 version. Is it printed on the ID-label on the drives (hence, I merely ask the seller to check it out before shipping?)?
Regarding the drives, several sources are positive in stating that earlier Sony SDT drives than 9000 do NOT work fo audio transfer, but it seems that no one have been testing if later models like e.g. SDT-10000 or SDT-11000 work for audio (the later ones are DDS4 drives and the 9000 a DDS3 -- I don't know if that matters???). The Pro's with the 10000 and 11000 are that they (according to specs) Xfrer your audio at a mich higher speed -- 1GB in less than 4 min, compared to 7 min in 9000. Any knowledge about this in the group?
Chris M, Stockholm, Sweden