OT: Audio Recording w/a DAT

[r]Evolution wrote on 11/9/2006, 10:36 PM
I was organizing/taking inventory of some equipment I have... when I came across an Aiwa HHB 1 Pro DAT. It's been a while since I used it for anything and I honestly can't remember ever using it for any video work.

I'm thinking of selling it but I want to be sure I don't have a use that I've been overlooking.

Does anyone here use a DAT?
Why?
How?

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 11/10/2006, 5:26 AM
> Does anyone here use a DAT?

Not here.

> Why?

Because tape doesn't run at a constant speed so it can cause sync problems in post.

> How?

I use a Marantz PMD660 which records on solid state CompactFlash cards. A 2GB card gives me 3 hrs of PCM stereo. If the venue will let me, I take a feed right off of their mixer (tape outs) into the PMD660 line-in. If not and there is a single mic that a presenter is using, I have a mic splitter box that allows me to tap into the mic and feed the PMD660 XLR input. Otherwise I use it on a boom. This gives the boom operator total freedom because they are not tethered to the camera.

Sell the DAT while it is still worth something (if it's not too late already). Flash media is the future for audio recording.

~jr
baysidebas wrote on 11/10/2006, 9:55 AM
I'll agree that recording on memory is the wave of the future, however, there's still life in those DAT machines. I regularly use DAT for audio in recording the Movies 101 classes (movies101.org). The video camera(s) [ up to 3 PD-150s] use the on board mic for audience reactions, and the line in (Ch 2) for a reference monoaural feed from the FOH. The DAT is a stereo mix of the audio. Never had a problem of maintaining synch in post. I use the reference audio (Ch 2) to match up the peaks on the DAT audio and take it from there.
farss wrote on 11/10/2006, 1:18 PM
John,
DAT is the audio equivalent of DV, it's about as good (or bad) at running at constant speed. Even HDD recorders are only as 'constant' as their clock frequencies. For most of us though they're pretty damn accurate.

BTW, even R2R analogue tape can be locked to vision via a T/C track and motor speed controller.
winrockpost wrote on 11/10/2006, 1:43 PM
not worth a darn I'd sell it real CHEAP to some sucker,,, email the sucker at my profile .
John_Cline wrote on 11/10/2006, 3:07 PM
I still use my Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder for video projects all the time. The mic preamps are excellent. It is and always has been a great sounding recorder and I've never had any problems syncing it to video, even on hour+ long single takes. I'm sure I'll upgrade soon to the Tascam HD-P2, which basically an updated flash version of the DA-P1.

If you have one, particularly one as nice as the HHB, use it!

John