Thanks a bunch H2O and everybody - this helps a ton and I'm on the hunt for an R500/R700 or 7040 now! (And a cheap Tascam or Fostex as a backup)
I believe these tapes have P-TIME, yet the DDS drive was still having trouble in some spots. And actually now, it's gotten worse. After it loads a tape, it just sits there silently with the Tape light blinking forever, and no programs are able to interface with it. Could just be a bad drive?
Here's two general DAT questions - somebody I was talking about transfers with mentioned a potential issue with "hidden audio" between track IDs if the tape wasn't recorded correctly. He said decks will skip over it during normal playback, and that you have to manually seek into that area to hear it. Is that a real issue to look out for during transfers, and how would you spot it?
Finally, is there danger in creasing a tape when stopping a fast-forward or rewind partway through? I read that in a Panasonic manual, and it sure does feel harsh when you stop it on a dime like that.