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Author Topic: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)  (Read 4131 times)

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Offline IMPigpen

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So I have been out of the active taping community for a number of years now.  I would dust off the gear once in a while to tape a band or two but nothing like I was taping 10 years ago.  So I have been stuck in the DAT world and am completely lost.  First let me tell you what I've got for gear:

Neumann KM184 mics
Graham Patten DMIC20 (48 khz model) with eco-charge that probably doesn't charge
Tascam DA-P1 that isn't functioning
Tascam DA-20 homedeck

So right now my main interest is to transfer a number of DAT masters I've been sitting on that are probably decaying as we speak.  I've got a Dell Insprion 1501 notebook and a Dell Inspiron 853 desktop with the standard line-in and mic inputs (1/8").  I am looking for the most cost effective way to transfer using the Tascam DA-20 SPDIF coax out to either computer.  So either a soundcard with SPDIF input, a cheap solid state recorder like the Microtrack II or a something that will convert the SPDIF coax to USB.  Just had a new baby so the best value for my money is what I need.  Thanks in advance!
Mics: Neumann KM184s; ADK TLs; Naiant X-R omnis & cards; MM-BSM-7M omnis
Pres/Battery boxes: Sound Devices MixPre; Naiant IPA; Sound Professionals SP-SPSB-6
Recorders: Tascam DR-70mkii; Tascam DR-60Dmkii; Tascam DR-40; Roland R-07
Cassette Transfers:  Nakamichi CR-1A->Tascam DR-60Dmkii
DAT Transfers:  Tascam DA-20mkii->Marantz PMD-670

My LMA uploads:  https://archive.org/details/@brandon_smith

**Have any old Strangefolk or Eddie From Ohio shows not on the LMA?  Let me know!**

Offline NOLAfishwater

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2010, 10:09:13 AM »
  So either a soundcard with SPDIF input, a cheap solid state recorder like the Microtrack II or a something that will convert the SPDIF coax to USB.  Just had a new baby so the best value for my money is what I need.  Thanks in advance!

looks like you have done some good reading. The microtrack worked flawlessly for me when I used it as a recorder going SPDIF in. If you are only looking to transfer files and not tape anymore, I would go with a soundcard such as the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 sound card. the main question is whether or not you will be doing some taping in the future. I would get the microtrack so that if you decide to tape in the future you at least have a digital recorder.

runonce

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2010, 10:13:47 AM »
So I have been out of the active taping community for a number of years now.  I would dust off the gear once in a while to tape a band or two but nothing like I was taping 10 years ago.  So I have been stuck in the DAT world and am completely lost.  First let me tell you what I've got for gear:

Neumann KM184 mics
Graham Patten DMIC20 (48 khz model) with eco-charge that probably doesn't charge
Tascam DA-P1 that isn't functioning
Tascam DA-20 homedeck

So right now my main interest is to transfer a number of DAT masters I've been sitting on that are probably decaying as we speak.  I've got a Dell Insprion 1501 notebook and a Dell Inspiron 853 desktop with the standard line-in and mic inputs (1/8").  I am looking for the most cost effective way to transfer using the Tascam DA-20 SPDIF coax out to either computer.  So either a soundcard with SPDIF input, a cheap solid state recorder like the Microtrack II or a something that will convert the SPDIF coax to USB.  Just had a new baby so the best value for my money is what I need.  Thanks in advance!

I would go for the inexpensive portable - because then, you can still go out and record without taxing your remaining DAT deck - which you need to keep working for transfers.

More flexible than a soundcard and not much difference in workflow...


stevetoney

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2010, 10:35:43 AM »
I'd third the previous suggestions and add that the MTII is available new for something like $170 although if you did an ISO in the yard sale you might even find an MT2496 for used for less than $100.  (I have one I don't use, but for what I could get for it, I'd probably prefer keeping it for rare emergencies when I may need a portable SPDIF input device.)

Offline IMPigpen

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2010, 10:58:09 AM »
Thanks for the replies.  Right now I'm not doing to be doing much taping, but it would be nice to have the option since I still have the rest of the gear, just not a functioning portable recorder.  So I'll probably look at picking up a Microtrack II and an SD card.

Another question or two then.  So from what I've read, I should have no problem using the MII with my current setup, going SPDIF coax from the Graham-Patten DMIC20 at 48khz?  Also, I'm pretty sure that the two eco-charge batteries I have are completely dead (purchased July 1999), any suggestions for powering the DMIC20 (which provides the phantom for the KM184s)?

I feel so old right now.  haha.  Of course, I still have a pair of AKG C1000S and a Sony D6C analog deck somewhere in storage.
Mics: Neumann KM184s; ADK TLs; Naiant X-R omnis & cards; MM-BSM-7M omnis
Pres/Battery boxes: Sound Devices MixPre; Naiant IPA; Sound Professionals SP-SPSB-6
Recorders: Tascam DR-70mkii; Tascam DR-60Dmkii; Tascam DR-40; Roland R-07
Cassette Transfers:  Nakamichi CR-1A->Tascam DR-60Dmkii
DAT Transfers:  Tascam DA-20mkii->Marantz PMD-670

My LMA uploads:  https://archive.org/details/@brandon_smith

**Have any old Strangefolk or Eddie From Ohio shows not on the LMA?  Let me know!**

Online jbell

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2010, 11:03:06 AM »
Heres an MTII in the YS http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=137878.0

As for batteries you might want to look into 9V DVD batteries! 

Thanks for the replies.  Right now I'm not doing to be doing much taping, but it would be nice to have the option since I still have the rest of the gear, just not a functioning portable recorder.  So I'll probably look at picking up a Microtrack II and an SD card.

Another question or two then.  So from what I've read, I should have no problem using the MII with my current setup, going SPDIF coax from the Graham-Patten DMIC20 at 48khz?  Also, I'm pretty sure that the two eco-charge batteries I have are completely dead (purchased July 1999), any suggestions for powering the DMIC20 (which provides the phantom for the KM184s)?

I feel so old right now.  haha.  Of course, I still have a pair of AKG C1000S and a Sony D6C analog deck somewhere in storage.
Mics: DPA ST4011ER, 4018ER | Neumann kk 184, kk 185 > Nbob/PFA
Preamps: DPA MMA 6000
Recorders: Sound Devices Mixpre-10 II | Sony PCM A10

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Offline NOLAfishwater

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2010, 11:32:34 AM »
If you decide to go analog into the MTII you want to make sure you have a specially wired cable or else your recordings will sound like a sprinkler is running in the background.  And you definitely want to get a 9V DVD battery. You could probably hack your old ecocharge battery cable and make a power cable with parts from Radio Shack. The adaptaplug tip for that fits the DVD battery is B.

Here is what you will need for battery cable hack:
tip:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3780266

cable with leads
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3807941

edit:
You can find info on the special cable here http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=106690.0
« Last Edit: August 19, 2010, 11:38:00 AM by NOLAfishwater »

stevetoney

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2010, 12:17:06 PM »
I'm pretty sure that the two eco-charge batteries I have are completely dead (purchased July 1999), any suggestions for powering the DMIC20 (which provides the phantom for the KM184s)?

I feel so old right now.  haha.  Of course, I still have a pair of AKG C1000S and a Sony D6C analog deck somewhere in storage.

FWIW there are still plenty of DAT tapers in taper-land, so don't put one foot in the grave just yet. 

I can't really address powering the Graham Patten, although the battery of choice these days is the Tekkeon 3450, which has a pretty good capacity, switchable voltage, and comes stock with a variety of the most widely used tips.  I'd say that you're probably right about the eco-charge batteries.  If they've just sat and you've left them either fully discharged or never kept them partially charged or never put them on trickle charge, chances are pretty good that if you haven't used them in a number of years that they're gone.  OTOH, if you've kept up with some level of maintenance charge (charging them every six months or so even though they're sitting) or had them on trickle charge, they could possibly be almost as good as the day you bought them.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2010, 12:20:56 PM by tonedeaf »

Offline NOLAfishwater

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2010, 02:56:01 PM »
upon reviewing the technical specs of the unit. I am not sure if a 9V is the way to since it only requires 6V.

http://www.gpsys.com/products/DMIC24.htm

Power: 300mA @ 6Vdc (phantom power off), 500mA @ 6Vdc
(phantom power on) 

Offline rowjimmytour

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Re: Old DAT taper trying to enter the 21st Century (a couple of questions)
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2010, 03:22:18 PM »
How about replacing the DMIC20 w/ a UA5 no mod and record/transfer w/ computer. I am not sure whats cheaper a UA5 or mt but I would go w/ cheapest cleanest signal you can find ;)
http://www.archive.org/bookmarNo
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