Gear / Technical Help > Recording Gear
Newbie question about DAT
morst:
--- Quote from: jbosco on December 22, 2021, 03:31:17 PM ---Back in the day I had all Sonys, D3, D7, D8, M1 and a 60ES, they have all died. A friend loaned me his Sony R300 however it no longer reads tapes it just says "No Tape". I'm not really sure if the deck is broken or it can't read "data grade" tapes, I used mostly 90 meter DDS tapes from Terrapin, KAO being the being the most popular at the time. I can't even find a "DAT" tape to try out at home. Does anyone know if the Sony R300 even reads DDS or 90m or am I wasting my time? If they should have that ability does anyone know where I can send this deck in for a tuneup and repair?
--- End quote ---
Up in the corner of a DAT cassette are some little holes, and they are matched by some little pins in the DAT machine, which activate switches when a DAT is inserted.
I think one switch detects when a DAT is inserted, one detects the "write protect" status, and one might have to do with tape length? If you can get your finger or a non-metallic tool (plastic knife?) in there, and manually exercise the switches, perhaps you will dislodge a bit of dirt which is preventing their function?
see diagram, holes 1,2,3,4 which I found here
https://www.4crawler.com/Hardware/Tape_Drives/DAT.shtml
jbosco:
--- Quote from: morst on December 22, 2021, 03:45:37 PM ---
Up in the corner of a DAT cassette are some little holes, and they are matched by some little pins in the DAT machine, which activate switches when a DAT is inserted.
I think one switch detects when a DAT is inserted, one detects the "write protect" status, and one might have to do with tape length? If you can get your finger or a non-metallic tool (plastic knife?) in there, and manually exercise the switches, perhaps you will dislodge a bit of dirt which is preventing their function?
see diagram, holes 1,2,3,4 which I found here
https://www.4crawler.com/Hardware/Tape_Drives/DAT.shtml
--- End quote ---
I think I found the probes you mentioned however there is a loose part in there with a couple of screws, on the photo it's in the lit area. Obviously this is not be design so perhaps a visit to a repair shop is in order.
rocksuitcase:
Reporting back about my "progress" understanding the limitations of this DA-20.
1] MOST "limitations" are that my DAT's have multitudinous digi zaps, drop outs etc, anything which is a "clone" and not recorded on my TC-D7 or TC-D8 probably has some of each.
2] Even shows recorded as a master can have issues, but most of them appear to be related to the mics > DMIC-20 cabling etc. and most of those tapes are OK to process
3] I found in the owners manual of the DA-20MkII (mine is an MKI) a section titled: Tape Loading and Removal, which states:
--- Quote ---This unit cannot be used with thin tapes (Longer than 120 minute tapes). If these kind of cassettes are used, the unit might malfunction
--- End quote ---
hmmmmmmm
https://tascam.com/downloads/tascam/289/DA-20mkII_manual.pdf
My strategy as a result after reading rigpimps advice and speaking with kindms:
1] Rewinding and FF'ing each tape before playback.
2] inspecting the tape window to ensure nothing is odd (I found one with the tape curled over and wound incorrectly, marked on the j card- BAD Tape)
3] If a tape has more than a minor digizap up to the two minute mark, I stop, RW, take it out and put it in its' case with a note, "Won't play on DA20" (kindms advises this for sanity sake) ;D
Any more serious DAT user advice or offers to sell me a Fostex D5 invited and encouraged! >:D
RyanJ:
I have a DA20, D8 and M1. I agree on the FF/RW prior to transfer. I find my D8 to be the best at transferring almost anything that may give problems in the other decks. But the DA20 is an absolute tank.
rocksuitcase:
I was talking about this with another taper friend who has his share of DATs, most transferred. HE says his M1 is the best at takeoffs of problematic tapes.
Re the OP- I am certain that my D8 had some signal path or cabling issues (DMIC20 -> D8 )and a lot of the digizap type noise I am hearing is on the master recording.
Best troubleshooting advice I received on this is: To make a recording on one and playback a few times. If it all tracks and plays then the issue trends toward the tapes, I now have several blank, sealed DAT's so I am going to do this.
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