las wrote:
>
> Aren't 8mm video tapes (I believe that they use Hi 8 tapes) also a common standard
> in professional studios?
Yes, the DTRS format, introduced with the Tascam DA-88 (at least I think
they were first. Checkit...) Which is a deck far superior to the
original ADAT, which sucked big time. At least the newer ADATs have
become usable.
> Also, isn't the final stereo mix for an audio recording almost always stored on
> DAT?
Used to be, but more and more, final mixes are being stored on disk or a
tape format that has a higher resolution than DAT.
>
> We were sending out 30 copies, so it could have gotten costly. Art had single pass
> data grade (HP) DATs. At first i was concerned that there was a difference and
> with my background in MD was afraid that data and music DATs were not compatible.
>
> Fortunately it turned out that not only were DATA grade DATs compatible, they were
> what professional studios used.
First, yes, data DATs (DDS format) are compatible with audio DAT decks.
Second, only some professional studios use them.
This is the endless (it seems) debate of whether or not DDS tapes are ok
to use in audio decks. After wading through all of the ANECDOTAL
evidence (which is not worth a pitcher of spit) I have come to the
conclusion that I will only use High Quality Audio DATs in my audio DAT
decks in my studio, and I will use only High Quality DDS tapes in my
backup DAT drives.
About the only thing that people agree on, is that everyone has a
different opinion. Even when you ask the manufacturers themselves, some
will say that the tape is different, but the shell is the same, or vice
versa. Some say the DDS tape comes from the center of the spool, and
some say that the tape is a different formulation altogether. And it
could be that each manufacturer is telling the truth, they just all have
different ways of making their tapes.
Interestingly enough, about a week ago I spoke to a DAT service
technician and he swears that DDS tapes cause more wear on the audio DAT
deck heads than High Quality Audio DAT tape, but some decks are more
susceptible to wear from DDS tapes than others.
For me, the bottom line is until someone publishes a proper study of the
difference between audio DAT and DDS tape use in audio DAT decks
(preferably in the Journal of the AES) I will continue to only use High
Quality audio DAT in my audio DAT decks. I don't want to take a chance
with my very expensive DAT decks.
-steve
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word
"unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
