you should not have to record to tape first. you can just use your dat as an analog to digital converter.

It's an old Sony TCD D7 and it doesn't provide pass-through A/D-conversion. I won't work unless I put a tape in. I suppose I could pause the tape but that would still wear out the tape and the drive mechanism.

it doesnt have a function that lets you monitor after the coversion to digital?

I would put your Sony Dat player in Pause/Record. I had an older Tascam Dat player that functioned the same way. Just get an old DAT tape with nothing important on it and label it "dummy Dat". You won't be adding additional wear on your DAT player, because when it's in Pause/Record mode, none of the transport mechanism is moving.

Perhaps the transport won't move in rec/pause, however the tape would still be loaded with the transport mechanism engaging/disengaging whenever the unit is turned on/off.

No, it does not, at least not that I know of. Not without the unit either recording or in rec/pause mode (with a tape loaded).

Its simple: Get a decent sound card.

drbam

"Perhaps the transport won't move in rec/pause, however the tape would still be loaded with the transport mechanism engaging/disengaging whenever the unit is turned on/off."

Is this really wear and tear? What good is a piece of equipment if you don't use it? What are you saving it for? It seems like you're afraid to touch the buttons or even turn it on, for what the device is intended to be used for. How much wear are you getting by turning on the device? Sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding this dilema?

If this is such a big problem, then what you could do is take a piece of tape and have it hold down the switch button, that senses that their is a tape in the transport, which will then allow you to put the DAT player in record and the mechanism engages with nothing.

My first DAT was a Sony D7. I can't imagine why anybody would possibly want to put a signal thru that A-D or D-A !

geoff

>>My first DAT was a Sony D7. I can't imagine why anybody would possibly want to put a signal thru that A-D or D-A ! <<

Same here. I still have the D7 that I purchased in '94 and it actually turned out to be quite a reliable workhorse for what I used it for (tapes for personal growth workshops) but I'd never use it for serious music projects. I've got an SV3800 that has few hrs on it and hasn't even been powered up for several months. Vegas 1.0 and a good computer changed my entire world! ;-)

drbam

The sound of the D7 may not be high-end but it works for my needs (recording voice for a commentary). Beats the soundcard (at least mine with the mic jack) hands down.

As I stated in my original post, getting a better (internal) soundcard is not an option, because the stuff needs to work with several different PCs and I am no going to buy three or four good-quality soundcards to install one in each of them. That is why I am looking into an external solution.

OK, I'll be more specific: As I said in my first response. Get a *firewire* card. Depending on how well you tweak your systems it should work on all of them. This is not a compicated decision as you have only 2 options: keep doing what you're doing or do the above.

drbam

**********I would put your Sony Dat player in Pause/Record. I had an older Tascam Dat player that functioned the same way. Just get an old DAT tape with nothing important on it and label it "dummy Dat". You won't be adding additional wear on your DAT player, because when it's in Pause/Record mode, none of the transport mechanism is moving.*********

Here's one for you:

A DAT machine's head assembly lives on a drum that rotates at about 2000 RPM and when you put the DAT machine in to any pause mode, the tape is engaged to the head drum and will wear the heads as much as when the transport is moving the tape.

Most DAT players have an input throughput mode which can be accessed in different ways on different players.

Also, most DAT players have a safety feature which will automatically disengage the Rec/Pause after a period of time so it doesn't ruin the tape or the heads.

Just a little bit of friendly information for my buddies at the Forum...

;-)

I would suggest to go ahead and get the 410, its a great solution and Delta cards work great for me...

You can get one at Bayview Pro Audio with an XT1 (an excellent large diaphragm microphone) for $414 delivered!

Very good Tmrpro, it's just like you to come into criticize my information, that's what you do best. Of course, again you only read "half" the information, to fit your criticism. So why didn't you criticize the rest of the information then?

"If this is such a big problem, then what you could do is take a piece of tape and have it hold down the switch button, that senses that their is a tape in the transport, which will then allow you to put the DAT player in record and the mechanism engages with nothing."

Oh, I remember, you can't read. Or else if you could then you would have read this statement that he posted twice now: "As I stated in my original post, getting a better (internal) soundcard is not an option". Yet again, the suggestion for the M-audio 410. Please get that hooked on Phonics book, that I suggested, it will help you understand the questions originally posted.

I post 2 solutions for him, yet you feel the need to criticize them, instead of helping with the solution....oh and then your solution is:

"I would suggest to go ahead and get the 410, its a great solution and Delta cards work great for me..."

Great suggestion....what part of "getting a better (internal) soundcard is not an option" didn't you understand?

The other thing you fail to mention, is that when I gave the recommendation of using a dummy dat, and referring how I've had to do this with a Tascam Dat player, the Tascam dat player I used would go into "standby" mode after a period of being in Record/pause mode, where the head is no longer in contact with the dat tape.....but I know, that part doesn't fit into your 2000 rpm criticism. Most newer DAT players have a input through, like you mentioned....but his older Sony Dat player doesn't, just like he previously mentioned. Can you try to work with his options he gave for once to help out, instead of stating the obvious?

Hi Red!!!

;-)

How you doing today?

Did you not get your medication this morning?

....Ok let's start with your first stupid question/remark:

********So why didn't you criticize the rest of the information then?******

Because I wanted to give you an opportunity to be friendly and simply say: "Gosh, I didn't know that..."

Now, let's move on & get right into the meat of your new domain name; iDunnoCrap@HHGreggCarStereoInstallers.com ....

Too Funny!!!

Okay, your silly little solution that works for cassette players and consumer level tape machines is not a viable solution for a DAT player. But if it works on your car stereos, go for it..... HH Gregg needs those types of solutions.

But, if you want a reason why that isn't a good idea, open up any cartridge based, flying head assembly type tape machine sometime and take a look at what that tape machine does when it is put into pause.

I'll give you a description:

The transport grabs the tape and pulls it out of the cartridge and wraps it around the head of the tape machine that is spinning at 2000 RPM. There are sensors that verify this has happened, and tension test adjustments that will not allow the machine to do what you've suggested.

Your suggestion simply will not work because there are more mechanics involved in making the machine go in to a Record/Pause mode then simply fooling the machine into thinking there's a cartridge in it.

Okay, now lets move on to your other new domain name:

5thPeriodIsOver@RedsNotAnEngineer.com

*********Great suggestion....what part of "getting a better (internal) soundcard is not an option" didn't you understand?**********

Oh I understood. I think it was your thick skull that wasn't able to absorb the information because you think you know everything about everything.

I was referring to the same card he was; the M-Audio Firewire 410, which is not an internal card...

But I wouldn't expect my son's High School History Teacher to know that either...

...But, I might be able to find a car stereo installer who could build me a studio with balanced sound cards, isolation transformers and.... never mind....

LoL...

Just a little bit of love to keep it all in check....

;~)


This was what a couple other forum users' said about your answer:

Users' Responses

********Tascam dat player I used would go into "standby" mode after a period of being in Record/pause mode, where the head is no longer in contact with the dat tape.....but I know, that part doesn't fit into your 2000 rpm criticism. Most newer DAT players have a input through, like you mentioned*******

If I remember correctly, if you simply hit the rec button once on the Tascam, it will go into input/throughput mode...

Just a little more love for ya, Red....

LoL

;~)

oh man, it's like a comedy sketch.

red, he gave you an opportunity to be "normal"....and instead, tmr was right red...you went right back to your holier than thou sh*t.
I am floored at how goofy you are.

Lastly, to the original poster...
"distortion is noticable problem"....and "a new soundcard isn't an option" (?)...yet jerry-rigged dat recorder is?"
What are you an idiot? What kind of recordings are you doing?
It's like saying "I've got to make better recordings...but all I can use is this toothpick. What do I do?"
Listen to the reply by tmr, he's offering the best answer to your ridiculous post\question. You either get a f'n soundcard for better recording (one that allows you to accomplish the goal), or you don't.
Look at your posts subject "best way to record in vegas 5?"

Best way is using the tools designed to do the job (a f'n soundcard).

Common sense man, use it.

JD

Using the DAT is a first-stop, make-shift type of improvisation. It is not supposed to be end all be all. I was just trying to improve on the sound quality by using equipment I already owned before finding a better solution.

Back to my original point (again). Does anyone have any experience using either of the firewire cards I mentioned in my first post?

The issue is not really whether or not to get a firewire card but rather which one. I am/was asking for input on which of the two models I mentioned works best with Vegas (driver compatability) and provides the most bang for the buck (feature and performance-wise).

*****Does anyone have any experience using either of the firewire cards I mentioned in my first post?*****

I thought I made the suggestion clear.... maybe I had not ....

But here it is again from an earlier post:

I would suggest to go ahead and get the 410, its a great solution and Delta cards work great for me...

You can get one at Bayview Pro Audio with an XT1 (an excellent large diaphragm microphone) for $414 delivered!