Topic: DAT transfers

[Jhurlbs81]

Hey guys-

A friend has a HUGE collection of master DATs he wants to begin transferring, but all I have are a couple D7/8's.  I'd like to find a reliable DAT deck to do these digital transfers.  So what are some of the HQ home DAT decks from a few years back?, what are they worth today?

Thanks
Jesse

[easy jim]

I'd look for a Sony PCM-R500.  They're built like tanks and have very good playback, and the menu allows you (or the seller) to get the drum hours on the machine to have a good idea of prior use.

[H₂O]

There is one on ebay now with low hours and at a low price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110302891839

[Kyle]

That is a great price. The R500 has an hour counter but it can not be accessed with the standard remote control unless the remote is modified. There are instructions around on the web somewhere (I will try to locate them). Always handy to know exactly how long those heads have spun for.

Good luck!

FWIW, I have one of these and it is a tank, just as easyjim mentioned. I absolutely love it. I have a friend who calls it "Darth Vader's DAT machine" whenever he stops by.

Fantastic piece of gear. Have no fear running one of these.

[JasonSobel]

If I were you, I'd call Paul at Pro Digital and buy a refurbished deck.  I bought a Tascam DA-20mkII from him not long ago.

[H₂O]

That is a great price. The R500 has an hour counter but it can not be accessed with the standard remote control unless the remote is modified. There are instructions around on the web somewhere (I will try to locate them).

I don't own one, but I always thought the drum head counter was accessible from the main menu (not the remote).  I thought the "hidden" button on the remote was to access the "hidden" error counter feature of this deck.  Am I correct?

Just curious as I frequently ask ebay sellers to supply the drum hours and if it you have to hack a remote to get this info I will stop asking them.

BTW there is another R500 (with unknown hours) and includes the remote:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330280454415

These decks go from any where between $100-200+ depending on how hot ebay is.

I would think anywhere around $150 for this deck with low hours is a good deal.

[indietaperwloo]

I currently use a Fostex D-5 and it's been great.  I actually got it from a guy who plays in a band called The Speakeasies and he was planning on using it to record some live stuff with his band and bought it when he was working at a music store in Guelph ON.  I guess he wanted to get rid of it rather badly and he sold it to me for $100.  Very good deal considering I've seen them as high as $600 on eBay and back in the day it retailed for around $2500.  I've used it for several DAT transfers for a couple clients and both times the D-5 performed amazingly, considering the deck is probably almost 10 years old.

[Kyle]

That is a great price. The R500 has an hour counter but it can not be accessed with the standard remote control unless the remote is modified. There are instructions around on the web somewhere (I will try to locate them).

I don't own one, but I always thought the drum head counter was accessible from the main menu (not the remote).  I thought the "hidden" button on the remote was to access the "hidden" error counter feature of this deck.  Am I correct?

Just curious as I frequently ask ebay sellers to supply the drum hours and if it you have to hack a remote to get this info I will stop asking them.

BTW there is another R500 (with unknown hours) and includes the remote:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330280454415

These decks go from any where between $100-200+ depending on how hot ebay is.

I would think anywhere around $150 for this deck with low hours is a good deal.

You are correct - thank you much! I was posting late and my mind tends to wander 


+t for straightening my dumbass out

[popskull]

I still have a Panasonic 3700 I bought in 1992

Pro Dig put new heads in it a few years ago and the thing keeps on running

You can check error counts without too much fuss

I would have a few decks ready to roll.........some tapes that do not track on the 3700, will do fine on the D8 or Sony R500

Oxide shed is a real problem with old dats..........heat seems to exarbate the issue. I place a small fan pointed at the 3700 to keep things cool

[H₂O]

There is one on ebay now with low hours and at a low price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110302891839

anybody here win this?  Bidding ended at $182.50 - still not bad for a R500 with only 19 drum hours