#945136 - 06/29/00 01:08 PM
Newer Dat Machines
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johnnypro@aol.com
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Registered: 05/09/00
Posts: 36
Loc: ,,US
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I've got a shot at picking up a new tascam DA-20 mk2 DAT machine for fairly cheap. I currently have a 7 year old Sony DTC-700 Consumer DAT machine that works fine and has served me well. I'm wondering the advantages I would be getting in the new DA-20 over the Sony (44.1 recording would be one). Basically, I'm wondering if the newer machines actually sound better than machines made 5-7 years ago. Thanx!!!! JP
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#945137 - 06/29/00 04:34 PM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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Dylan
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Registered: 02/28/00
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The only thing that the DA-20 will give you is A/D conversion without the need for a tape put into record/pause mode. You're probably better off investing in a better set of new converters for your Sony than buying the DA-20.
Good luck,
Dylan
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#945138 - 06/30/00 04:41 AM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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Anderton
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Registered: 01/28/00
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Originally posted by johnnypro@aol.com:
I've got a shot at picking up a new tascam DA-20 mk2 DAT machine for fairly cheap. I currently have a 7 year old Sony DTC-700 Consumer DAT machine that works fine and has served me well. I'm wondering the advantages I would be getting in the new DA-20 over the Sony (44.1 recording would be one). Basically, I'm wondering if the newer machines actually sound better than machines made 5-7 years ago. Thanx!!!! JP
I think 44.1 would be a pretty compelling advantage if you can currently do only 48 - no sample rate conversion required when going to CD. I haven't heard the machines, but I would expect that the converters would be marginally better; there's been a lot of progress in the past 7 years.
Then again, I think something like an Alesis MasterLink would be a better alternative than DAT right now if you need portable. If portability is not an issue and you have a computer, a two-track digital recording program is light years ahead of DAT except when it comes to storage. That's the advantage of MasterLink; you can store to CD-ROM at any resolution, including 24-bit and 96 kHz.
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#945139 - 06/30/00 05:33 AM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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Uh Clem
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Registered: 03/13/00
Posts: 3442
Loc: Atlanta, GA USA
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Craig, I think the Masterlink just stores the hidef audio as AAIF files and it seem like you could do all this with a compter with CDR drive. I cannot see what all the fuss is about this product unless you don't have a computer.
If you know differently, let me know. Thanks.
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#945140 - 06/30/00 07:56 AM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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fokkie@xs4all.nl
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Registered: 06/21/00
Posts: 8
Loc: ,,NETHERLANDS
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DA20:
RecMute + Mode shows ERROR RATE.
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#945141 - 07/06/00 04:57 PM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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bobkeiser@ieee.org
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Registered: 07/06/00
Posts: 122
Loc: Bowie, MD, UNITED STATES
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One nice feature of the Masterlink, in addition to portability, is that you can simply drop a CD24 (recorded up to 96/24) into it, push play, and listen to your playlist like you would a Redbook CD.
After a run through the manual & some hands-on recording & editing, I find the Masterlink very easy to use. I'd pick it over a DAT any day, especially with the v2.00 OS release from Alesis 01 July. I think the converters sound great.
Have fun!
_________________________
Best regards,
Bob
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#945142 - 07/10/00 12:27 AM
Re: Newer Dat Machines
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Jim Tavegia
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Registered: 04/23/00
Posts: 83
Loc: Villa Rica, GA
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Hey Johnnypro,
I just had a smiilar dilema with my old Sony consumer DTC-690 with Pulse DACs. As time goes on I listen more and read specs less. I also own a Sony's portable DAT model "7" and the difference between the DACs in that and the 690 is very audible.
If your machine is still physically sound consider outboard DAC's like the Flying Calf which would get you digital in at 44/1 for about $200,or the Flying Cow for $350 which has AD & DA.( they only have coax I/O), or the Lucid ADA1000? 20 bit for under $500. I hear it sounds great .
Like you, my 690 will accept digital in at 44.1 but will only record analog in at 48KHZ. You should be able to play back the 44.1. I would take your machine to a store that would let you make some recordings and let your ears decide. You should also listen to your machine as compared to the Tascam. Go where the sonic rewards are, outboard AD/DA or used Tascam.
My thought process was not to make small incremental jumps any more, so I found a good buy on a 533 mhz computer jumped the RAM to 190 megs and bought a Delta 66 and went 24/96. I have done this for less than a grand and the closest thing is the 24 bit tascam for $1800.00...DAT tapes are $5-$10 and blank CD-R's are 70 cents.
Even my wife hears the difference in 24/96 much easier than I. Even analog streaming the audio back into my DAT, the sound is marginally better. That was only a test, though.
Good luck...I know what you're going through.
Jim T.
_________________________
Jim T.
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