DAT recordings > Mac

[busybeingborn]

Hi all,

I wanted to transfer my 70 DAT tapes to hard disk via optical cable.

 

Unfortunately, my MacBook does recognize regular 44kHz sampling rates from the DAT, but NOT recordings done in longplay mode with lower sampling rate. In other words: 99% of my stuff.

 

Anyone any idea how I might get around this?

 

Thanks a lot!

 

[DavidL]

Surprising that Mac core audio does not support 32kHz digital isn't it.

My solution was to buy the Edirol UA-1EX USB interface (£30 in UK) which works fine for recording at lower sample rates than 44.1kHz.

 

 

[Audio_ELF]

Have you tried manually selecting 32khz as the sample rate before beginning recording? Not sure if the MacBook will support 32KHz on it's SPDIF input. If not, a few options...

 

Behringer SRC2496 sample rate converter should allow you to input 32kHz at one end and output 44.1 or 48kHz at the other.

 

OR look at a Firewire (or USB) audio interface that will accept 32kHz on it's digital interface. One such interface (that I've found comments on other forums works at 32KHz) is the Edirol / Roland UA-1EX USB interface. I'm sure others are available but details on 32kHz support is sparse.

 

Eloise

 

P.S. in the UK the Behringer SRC is about £120 and the Edirol USB interface about £65

 

[alcina]

May I ask a really dumb question? It hadn't occurred to me that I might be able to do a digital transfer of my DAT tapes! I was going to go the analogue route. Mine are mostly 48kHz and 44.1KHz. What software on the mac are you using to do the transfer?

 

Alcina

 

[DavidL]

I started out with Peak LE but I'm sure many of the freely available audio recording programs can handle digital input (Audacity etc).

What do you intend to do with the music you record?

If you are going to import it in its native format (bit depth / sampling frequency) into iTunes (say) then any one of these is probably OK, however if you want to convert the sample rate e.g. to burn a CD, you need to be more selective in your choice of recording software. I upgraded from Peak LE to Peak Pro to get a very much better quality of sample rate conversion.

 

P.S. You only need extra hardware for the 32kHz: core audio can handle your 48 and 44.1 stuff.

 

[vortecjr]

.

 

[memphiskat]

I had the same problem. I have hundreds of DATs I recorded and one unfortunately was inadvertently recorded at 32kHz. I was using a Panasonic sv3700 to digital coax in of MAudio Fastrack Pro to usb into MacBook to transfer. The original DAT was recorded on a Sony D7 or 8. I couldn't get a digital connection to work. I don't remember if the Maudio wouldn't accept the 32kHz or the Pan 3700 couldn't output it through it's digital outs. The only way I could get it done was to use the analog outs of the Pan 3700 and the analog in of the Maudio. I captured the audio at 24/96 and then resampled and dithered to 16/44.1 It's certainly not ideal, but for just one DAT it worked fine. Listening to the master and the D>A>D copy I was hard pressed to hear a difference. Of course if all my DATs were at this rate I'd try to find a different way. Guess that doesn't really help then :-)

 

Karl

 

[busybeingborn]

thanks for your suggestions! The analogue connection is still an option of course, and I guess it will be my last one as long as I don't have a clue what additional hardware for some hundred $ would be good for afterwards. :-)

 

[Audio_ELF]

You can't get the DAT to resample and output at 44.1 or 48k can you - I vaigly rememeber this was a feature of some DAT machines.

 

The other thing - did you originally record them via analogue or digital -if digital then you're not coming up against SCSM limitations are you?

 

Eloise

 

[busybeingborn]

thank you for your comments!

 

No, unfortunately I can't change the sampling rate after recording. (They are from DSR - digital satellite radio - that used to provide uncompressed music - unlike today's compressed music streams.)

 

Peter

 

[Audio_ELF]

If you have a DAC that upsamples and will accept 32k (long shot maybe) it may output the upsampled data via digital output which could then be output into your Mac.

 

Other than that it's the Edirol device or analogue - only you can decide if the transfer is worth the money for the device, and can always eBay it to recoup some money.

 

Eloise

 

[DavidL]

The Edirol UA-1EX includes an ADC that goes up to 24bit / 96kHz so it may have longer-term value if you are ever likely to want to digitise high-quality analogue sources (e.g. LPs).

 

David

 

 

[alcina]

Many thanks to all for the advice about digitally dubbing DATs. I bought myself a bog standard glass fibre cable to go from the DAT player (Sony DATman...bless it!) to the Mac Mini, downloaded Audacity and started recording. Only with Audacity I found that it only imported the left channel Just to test I fired up Sound Studio which came free with one of my earlier macs, and it accepted the digital stream as stereo, so I've stuck with Sound Studio. Works a treat!

 

For information...I have some CD dubs onto DAT. The DATman does have SCMS...but the digital transfer onto the Mac via Sound Studio of these, effectively 2nd generation dubs, is unaffected by SCMS. (Chris, delete this paragraph if you deem it unsuitable!)

 

Alcina