Topic: DAT spidf out to USB iMac in?

[CEddy10165]

Hello! I spent several hours researching this online and haven't come up with a solution, so I am hoping you can help.

I have been entrusted with the task of digitally transferring a large DAT to collection.

I need to go from SPIDF out to USB in on an iMac. I am using Adobe Audition for mastering/post.

How do I accomplish this? Thanks in advance for your help!

[page]

does the imac have an optical in or no? If not, then you've reduced yourself to just a couple of options that are bit-perfect in the conversion (SD's usbpre2 comes to mind).

[CEddy10165]

thanks so much for the reply - no optical in, just usb.

http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html

Thanks very much for the SD usbpre2 recommendation.

[page]

thanks so much for the reply - no optical in, just usb.

http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html

Thanks very much for the SD usbpre2 recommendation.

If you have a current revision iMac, then yes, you do have optical. My old 2008 macbook, and my mother's shiny new mac-mini both have them. It doubles as the analog 3.5mm jacks and doesn't use a toslink jack.

So that increases you options. There is a hosa box that will convert coax>optical and stay bit-perfect. I think it's the ODL-276. Might be able to pick up one in the yard sale section.

[CEddy10165]

thanks for correcting me page - this is my first project doing digital dat. I am used to doing analog sourced music production. here's the info from my machine from the "About" tab:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac11,3
S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio Input (is this the 1/8 input you're referring to?)

If I were to use the Hosa you mentioned, what is the cabling needed to go spidf out from the box to the 1/8 optical in? I'm guessing this?
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/custom-audio-and-video-cables/rca-to-3-5mm-s-pdif-cables/custom-spdif-cable-digital-audio-3-5mm-to-rca/prodSPDIF.html

Once I get the connection made, how am I am capturing? I am using Adobe Audition to capture analog audio in real time - is digital from dat the same process, or is there a strictly data capture application that I need?

Thanks so much for your help!

[page]

S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio Input (is this the 1/8 input you're referring to?)

yeah. It uses an optical cable with a 3.5mm plug on one end.

If I were to use the Hosa you mentioned, what is the cabling needed to go spidf out from the box to the 1/8 optical in? I'm guessing this?
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/custom-audio-and-video-cables/rca-to-3-5mm-s-pdif-cables/custom-spdif-cable-digital-audio-3-5mm-to-rca/prodSPDIF.html

You'll need two cables; The Hosa takes a coax spdif in, and outputs a toslink optical. Your imac takes a 3.5mm optical. There are optical cables with the standard toslink jack on one end, and the 3.5mm on the other. Google "Toslink to Mini Digital Optical SPDIF Audio Cable" and it should be the first couple results.

Once I get the connection made, how am I am capturing? I am using Adobe Audition to capture analog audio in real time - is digital from dat the same process, or is there a strictly data capture application that I need?

There is a way to do a strictly data dump off of the tape, but a special drive and other stuff is required. For your environment, I'd just play the tape as normal, through the spdif out, into whatever box you choose (either the usbpre2, the hosa, or something else), and then capture it as normal.

[CEddy10165]

Thanks very, very much Page - I truly appreciate your help!

[keytohwy]

You don't need to much horsepower to catch the stream.  You can use the new QuickTime X, or another that I use "Audio Recorder".  Super small apps that work perfectly for the capture.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

If I were to use the Hosa you mentioned, what is the cabling needed to go spidf out from the box to the 1/8 optical in? I'm guessing this?
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/custom-audio-and-video-cables/rca-to-3-5mm-s-pdif-cables/custom-spdif-cable-digital-audio-3-5mm-to-rca/prodSPDIF.html

You'll need two cables; The Hosa takes a coax spdif in, and outputs a toslink optical. Your imac takes a 3.5mm optical. There are optical cables with the standard toslink jack on one end, and the 3.5mm on the other. Google "Toslink to Mini Digital Optical SPDIF Audio Cable" and it should be the first couple results.

Between those 2x cables, you'll need a Digital Format Convertor...  The Hosa ODL-276 or 276A will do this for you...  The "A" version does 24bit, whereas the standard does 16bit...  I use a 276 to do SPDIF Transfers to a Nomad JB3 years ago via the JB3's TOSLINK input...  Works great...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/391236-REG/Hosa_Technology_ODL_276A_ODL_276A_Data_Link.html

These turn up used in the Yard Sale ever once in a while...

Terry