Archiving DATs to computer or server HD

Digital out from your dat player to any digital recorder that will create and store as a file......transfer file to your hard drive. Tascam....Sony.....fostex ...and m audio make many different ones ranging from a buck fifty to five hundred.

Or buy a digital interface and software for your computer. Look at a markertek or b and h catalog. Cost around a buck fifty to 700 depending on the software you buy.

Simple as pie.

There are two ways to get the data from the DAT playter to the PC. You can transfer the digital file directly or you can let the player convert to analog by playing the tape and capture the analog out and convert it to digital.

The digital transfer would be the best, but I do not know what format the DAT files are in. As Raymonda says there are mulitple optons for digital recorders that take in digital signals. They use S/PDIF inputs, so you would need a S/PDIF output from your player.

Capturing the analog means you go through a digital to analog conversion and then an analog to digital conversion.

To use the analog option, let your DAT player play the tapes and then capture the analog output with a recording system. All you need is a PC with a analog input and some software. The A to D converter in the PC may not be the greatest quality, but it is a start. An external analog to digital converter is also an option, although that will cost more. They are available at multiple prices from companies like m audio, Tascam, Korg. A decent one is availabe for a few hundred dollars. You can capture the audio with recording software like Audacity or Vinyl Studio.

Vinyl Studio is specifically meant for recording from vinyl or the analog output from a CD player. I use it for vinyl and like it because you can record the whole album (tape) and then it can split the tracks and has a lookup option to get the tag data. Few other audio editors have this lookup feature and the price is right at $29. Trial available.

A direct digital to digital transfer would be best, depending on the format in the DAT and your digital output option. Recording the analog output is an easy option if you have a computer with analog inputs.

Once you have the digital file, then you need either a dedicated music server or a PC with player software and a DAC. The music server is easier to implement but the PC approach is more flexible. For a windows PC, you can use foobar (free) or JRIver ($50) for a player. iTunes or Windows Media Player are options, but the quality is generally not as good. JRiver and Audiovarna are optons for Apple. You also need a DAC, either in a receiver or intergrated amp or stand alone. You can get a decent usb DAC starting DAC for $500 or less, depending on the rest of your system.

If you want a stand alone music server, you might want to look at the Sony HAP-S1. It copies digital files from your PC and then acts as a stand along system. Price $995.

Hope that helps. There are lots of options. Some of it depends on your computer expertise. But there are certainly mainstream options for much less than the Cocktail Audio.

Thanks RW for telling me about Google. I thought that it was something that Popeye used for a sore throat. Thanks Dtc for a very comprehensive answer. My DAT deck has XLR and RCA digital outputs. I can also convert to toslink. I still need to know exactly how to get the digital info into a laptop. Do I need to buy a computer that has digital audio inputs ? -- I haven't been able to find one. Or, do I need an audio interface -- and, if so, exactly what ? I do know that I will have to install software, and that there are several choices. I appreciate your time and trouble in answering. Thanks again. JTV

Buy a used m audio micro tracker......100 bucks. Then transfer to your hard drive. If you don't get what I've posted above......which is as simple as can be.....then leave it to someone else.

This is as about a difficult as sharpening a pencil.

What's with the insults? The OP clearly is not experienced in this area and is asking for help. When he does not know what he is looking for, just throwing out a bunch of manufactures names is not very useful. The Micro Track suggestion is a good one.

The Micro Track is a hand held device that has a digital input and then writes a digital file on a SD card. It is a good option, but not available new as far as I can tell. It is available used on ebay and Amazon. Most of the small handhelds do not have a digital input.

Their are also usb options like the Tascam US-1800 which has a S/PDIF input and outputs to a PC via usb. If you have long play 32KHz files the Tascam will handle them, I believe. Not sure if the Micro Track does or not.

If you have a PC with a S/PDIF input, you might be able to use that directly, as long as the digital input is visible to programs like Audacity or Vinyl Studio.

The usb or S/PDIF option is probably quicker as long as it works correctly. They usually do, but there can be timing issues when recording. The SD card option is relatively straightforward, although you have to manually transfer the card to your PC.

Whichever way you go you end end up with either a large wav or flac file or with indivual tracks. But to get record individual tracks you have to stand by the equipment and indicate when a new track begins, which is kind of a pain. I would suggest recording the whole thing and then use Vinyl Studio to pull them apart into separate tracks and to name the tracks.

Forget the insults and keep asking any questions you have.