Topic: DAT to computer help needed

[dubdrop]

Can anyone tell me the simplest way for me to transfer DAT tapes to my Mac (non-intel)? I used to have an m-audio external firewire device that stopped working. I'm looking for something that is relatively inexpensive and is either firewire or USB, and most importantly that has decent software. I really am just looking for something very basic, without all the bells and whistles. All I am going to use this for is to transfer old tapes before they start to degrade.

thanks for any help...
Jon

[MarkyMark]

You might want to consider the M-Audio Transit. It's a USB device that has an optical input:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit.html

More, but has coax digital input:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWireSolo.html

Both of them include ProTools which is excellent software, but lots of people use Audacity which is free (and IMO) easier to use than ProTools. Hope this helps.

[keytohwy]

Can anyone tell me the simplest way for me to transfer DAT tapes to my Mac (non-intel)? I used to have an m-audio external firewire device that stopped working. I'm looking for something that is relatively inexpensive and is either firewire or USB, and most importantly that has decent software. I really am just looking for something very basic, without all the bells and whistles. All I am going to use this for is to transfer old tapes before they start to degrade.

thanks for any help...
Jon

Which Mac do you have?  Even before the Intel switch, Apple was putting in optical i/o ports that doubled as your analog i/o ports.  Most people don't even know they are there...just need a mini-toslink adapter.

keytohwy

[dubdrop]

Thanks for the tip. Turns out I have optical i/o on my mac. So I got a coax>optical converter and hooked everything up. I see the input levels moving in sound preferences, but it says "The selected device has no input controls" and nothing is coming out of my speakers. Any idea what I should do?

[keytohwy]

Thanks for the tip. Turns out I have optical i/o on my mac. So I got a coax>optical converter and hooked everything up. I see the input levels moving in sound preferences, but it says "The selected device has no input controls" and nothing is coming out of my speakers. Any idea what I should do?

When you fire up your recording app, you should get the audio coming through then.  I use this:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17392

It's free, lean, stable, etc.  There's also a nice "monitor" checkbox so I can turn the audio on and off while I am recording.

Hope that helps,
keytohwy

[dubdrop]

Thanks again. I actually found a different program called LineIn that did the trick. It's also free and very simple. cheers...

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/24/linein-audio-play-through-utility/