Re: [ARSCLIST] Risk assessment tool Q3--DAT

["Scott D. Smith" <sdsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hmm, where to start.

We have had extensive ezperience with DAT tapes since they first came 
out, mostly for film production use. Not my favorite medium, for a 
number of reasons:

1. There are definate problems with interchange between various decks. 
We have even had problems with interchange between decks of the same 
manufacturer. (And not neccesarily the lowest price ones!)

2. We have also encountered rather serious probelms with the tapes, 
mostly relating to the shell construction. Again, not just with the 
cheapest brands, either (although the DIC-DAT tapes get my vote for the 
worst crap to be foisted on the public!)

3. I have seen the dropout count go up significantly with age on various 
tapes, even stored under the best conditions. Some we can adjust for, 
others simply can't be fixed.

4. Typically, the shorter lengths will have fewer issues. The biggest 
enemy of DAT's are mis-adjusted guides and take-up/feed tension. 
Although the better machines (like the Sony PCM-7030 and 7040) are very 
sophisticated, there are still plenty of ways for things to go wrong.

My best recommendation: transfer them ASAP to a more stable medium! 
Unlike analog recordings, once the ones and zeros get fouled up, you 
will get nothing, where at least with most analog recordings you can 
retrieve a signal, even though it may be degraded.

By the way, these same caveats apply to the Sony F1 and Mitsubishi X-86 
formats as well. I haven't had enough of a base of comparison to judge 
the Sony DASH formats yet, but my guess is that they are going to suffer 
some of the same issues. So far, the PCM-3324 tapes we've transferred 
have played back fairly well, althouth we have experienced some problems 
with shedding on a few reels.

Scott D. Smith

Chicago Audio Works, Inc.
Chicago, IL


Casey, Michael T wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Again, I very much appreciate the responses to my last two posts. 
>
> Here is the last set of questions, concerning DAT:
>
> 1. What problems are encountered in transferring DATs?
>
> 2. Have you noticed tape deterioration with this format?
>
> 3. Are there any brands that are more problematic than others?
>
> 4. Are there problems with thinner tapes (probably 120 minute or above)?
>
> 5. Playback compatibility problems between machines?
>
> 6. Have you noticed any age-related problems?
>
> 7. If you had to choose between preservation transfer of a DAT tape from
> the mid-1990s, an open reel tape with sticky shed, an acetate-based open
> reel tape from the late 1950s, or an audio cassette from the 1970s,
> which would you choose and why? 
>
> [Assume that the content is different on each but each has been rated as
> equivalent in value. Assume also that you are conducting a visual survey
> of your collection and you have no further information on the individual
> recording. Therefore, your choice is based solely on what is known about
> how the format itself deteriorates and the risk that it represents, or
> on factors relating to the obsolescence of the format.]
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mike
>
> --------------
> Mike Casey 
> Associate Director for Recording Services 
> Archives of Traditional Music 
> Indiana University 
>
> micasey@xxxxxxxxxxx 
> (812) 855-8090
>
> Co-chair, ARSC Technical Committee
>
>
>