Do I need a DAT? at DVinfo.net

SiuChung Leung · November 1st, 2007, 08:49 PM

I am working at a small studio; my job is working on production sound and post production sound. We mostly do wedding, MV for indi band and Internet video (short drama and documentary). For short drama, I would use boom mic plug into Azden FMX32 filed mixer then connect to camera. It works fine for me.

Now I am working on a short film project, 80% of audio will be in post-production. I am thinking should I get a DAT for this project. I would use that for location sound reference and ambient noise. Also some foley may need to record outdoor with DAT.

So should I get one?

David W. Jones · November 1st, 2007, 08:55 PM

I have not used a DAT in a number of years.

John Kary · November 1st, 2007, 09:05 PM

Go with a solid-state recorder... they are the future of location recording. Something like a Tascam HD-P2 should start you off well.

Steve House · November 2nd, 2007, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiuChung Leung

I am working at a small studio; my job is working on production sound and post production sound. We mostly do wedding, MV for indi band and Internet video (short drama and documentary). For short drama, I would use boom mic plug into Azden FMX32 filed mixer then connect to camera. It works fine for me.

Now I am working on a short film project, 80% of audio will be in post-production. I am thinking should I get a DAT for this project. I would use that for location sound reference and ambient noise. Also some foley may need to record outdoor with DAT.

So should I get one?

I'll second John's comments. DATs have largely been edged out of the market by file-based recorders writing directly to internal hard-drives and/or memory cards. DATs are still available but both the recorders and tape stock are expensive and they offer few if any advantages over the file-based alternatives.

Andy Wilkinson · November 2nd, 2007, 05:06 AM

Or what about using a Zoom H2 or H4? (there are other makes of these devices also.) Basically, they are flash media based digital recorders (not even a hard drive) with built in microphones and mic input sockets. The advantage is that you can put them where you want to record the sound/independent of the camera (theft considerations aside!) I don't own one (yet - thinking about the H2) but they might be suitable for your needs. I actually use an Archos AV420 (20GB hard drive media player/recorder) with microphone attached to it's line in socket (via a tiny mic preamp) for my off camera Audio stuff at present. Not sure if Zoom's are available in NZ but Google them to get more info.... or I'm sure someone who has direct experience will let us both know if they are any good.

Wayne Brissette · November 2nd, 2007, 05:36 AM

I recently worked on a feature film and we used the Zaxcom Deva as our recorder. At the end of the day, we would mirror (AKA copy) all the audio onto a DVD-RAM disc for Telecine to do the dailies. The first day I turned in a DVD-RAM to the film truck, the guy asked me what that was. When I told him the daily audio, he looked puzzled. I asked what he was expecting and he told me a DAT tape. I told him that I hadn't used DAT in 3.5 years and Telecine would know exactly what to do with it (they did).

DAT was wonderful technology in 1980, but today recorders are hard to find, repairing them even tougher. Go with the recommendation of a solid state recorder.

Wayne

SiuChung Leung · November 2nd, 2007, 04:59 PM

Seems like DAT is quite out of date.... I will look into those digital recorder. Thank you!

Jaron Berman · November 2nd, 2007, 06:19 PM

You could always make a BIG investment, and get a Sonosax. Nothing else quite like it! I'm no sound guy, but even I had equipment envy when I saw this little gem: In person, it's really impossible to believe how much it can do as well as it does, especially being so small! It's TINY!

http://www.libermansound.com/catalog...products_id=79

Ty Ford · November 4th, 2007, 06:27 AM

If you have that kind of money, I'd err on the conservative side and get a Sound Devices 744T. (or less expensive 702T)
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/744t.htm

The eight channel feature does look interesting though. I wonder if it writes poly wav files. The four channel 744T makes poly wav files, if you select that. That means you have one file icon that has four separate synchronized tracks. FCP sees the file on import and automatically drops all four on separate tracks on its timeline.

I like my 744T a lot. I records to BOTH HD and CF at the same time.

Just got the new firmware update which lets the recorder also record to a $200 external DVD drive that's powered from the 744T as well. Haven't tried that yet, but it also works for making daily audio available fairly quickly.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Bill Ravens · November 4th, 2007, 07:41 AM

Sound Devices rocks! That's the way to go.

Anna Harmon · November 4th, 2007, 10:44 AM

A funny story: some dude is selling an old Tascam DAT recorder on Ebay calling it the "wave of the future".

Thought you guys might get a chuckle out of that.

Wayne Brissette · November 4th, 2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

If you have that kind of money, I'd err on the conservative side and get a Sound Devices 744T. (or less expensive 702T)
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/744t.htm

My one and only complaint about the 744t is that it only has two preamps in it, so you can only use two channels to power microphones. I find the 702/722 useful as a backup to the Deva, but the 744 just needs to add two additional preamps to be super useful. OK, There is only more thing I don't like about the 7xx series, it's the menu system. But, that's more of something you either like, or dislike. I'm spoiled by the Deva and really like the touch screen. But it's not for everybody, which is why I think SD did a smart thing with the 744/722. However, the menus are now getting extremely long.

Wayne

Ty Ford · November 4th, 2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Harmon

A funny story: some dude is selling an old Tascam DAT recorder on Ebay calling it the "wave of the future".

Thought you guys might get a chuckle out of that.

Wow! How old was that post? :)

I still have two working SV 3900 Panasonic DATS. My SV-255 "went away" last years sometime.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Petri Kaipiainen · November 4th, 2007, 01:08 PM

I agree SD7xx menus are long, but there is also a possibility of loading presets. I have not tried those yet, have to give them a shot.

Anna Harmon · November 4th, 2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

Wow! How old was that post? :)

I still have two working SV 3900 Panasonic DATS. My SV-255 "went away" last years sometime.

Regards,

Ty Ford

2 weeks ago the latest.

Are they still using DAT for playback on music videos? I haven't encountered any.

November 1st, 2007, 08:49 PM	#1
SiuChung Leung Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 231	Do I need a DAT? I am working at a small studio; my job is working on production sound and post production sound. We mostly do wedding, MV for indi band and Internet video (short drama and documentary). For short drama, I would use boom mic plug into Azden FMX32 filed mixer then connect to camera. It works fine for me. Now I am working on a short film project, 80% of audio will be in post-production. I am thinking should I get a DAT for this project. I would use that for location sound reference and ambient noise. Also some foley may need to record outdoor with DAT. So should I get one?

November 1st, 2007, 09:05 PM	#3
John Kary New Boot Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 11	Go with a solid-state recorder... they are the future of location recording. Something like a Tascam HD-P2 should start you off well. __________________ Titus Films \| Lawrence, Kansas www.titusfilms.com / blog

November 2nd, 2007, 05:06 AM	#5
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Zoom H2 or H4 Or what about using a Zoom H2 or H4? (there are other makes of these devices also.) Basically, they are flash media based digital recorders (not even a hard drive) with built in microphones and mic input sockets. The advantage is that you can put them where you want to record the sound/independent of the camera (theft considerations aside!) I don't own one (yet - thinking about the H2) but they might be suitable for your needs. I actually use an Archos AV420 (20GB hard drive media player/recorder) with microphone attached to it's line in socket (via a tiny mic preamp) for my off camera Audio stuff at present. Not sure if Zoom's are available in NZ but Google them to get more info.... or I'm sure someone who has direct experience will let us both know if they are any good.

November 2nd, 2007, 05:36 AM	#6
Wayne Brissette Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 383	I recently worked on a feature film and we used the Zaxcom Deva as our recorder. At the end of the day, we would mirror (AKA copy) all the audio onto a DVD-RAM disc for Telecine to do the dailies. The first day I turned in a DVD-RAM to the film truck, the guy asked me what that was. When I told him the daily audio, he looked puzzled. I asked what he was expecting and he told me a DAT tape. I told him that I hadn't used DAT in 3.5 years and Telecine would know exactly what to do with it (they did). DAT was wonderful technology in 1980, but today recorders are hard to find, repairing them even tougher. Go with the recommendation of a solid state recorder. Wayne __________________ Mics: KMR 82 i, NTG-1, MKH418S, MKH8040, SR77, QTC1, QTC40, SR30 Recorder: Zaxcom Deva 5.8 & MIX-12. Wireless: TRX900 stereo, Lectro 411

November 4th, 2007, 06:27 AM	#9
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	If you have that kind of money, I'd err on the conservative side and get a Sound Devices 744T. (or less expensive 702T) http://www.sounddevices.com/products/744t.htm The eight channel feature does look interesting though. I wonder if it writes poly wav files. The four channel 744T makes poly wav files, if you select that. That means you have one file icon that has four separate synchronized tracks. FCP sees the file on import and automatically drops all four on separate tracks on its timeline. I like my 744T a lot. I records to BOTH HD and CF at the same time. Just got the new firmware update which lets the recorder also record to a $200 external DVD drive that's powered from the 744T as well. Haven't tried that yet, but it also works for making daily audio available fairly quickly. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

November 1st, 2007, 08:55 PM	#2
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	I have not used a DAT in a number of years.

November 2nd, 2007, 04:59 PM	#7
SiuChung Leung Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 231	Seems like DAT is quite out of date.... I will look into those digital recorder. Thank you!

November 2nd, 2007, 06:19 PM	#8
Jaron Berman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 439	You could always make a BIG investment, and get a Sonosax. Nothing else quite like it! I'm no sound guy, but even I had equipment envy when I saw this little gem: In person, it's really impossible to believe how much it can do as well as it does, especially being so small! It's TINY! http://www.libermansound.com/catalog...products_id=79

November 4th, 2007, 07:41 AM	#10
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Sound Devices rocks! That's the way to go.

November 4th, 2007, 10:44 AM	#11
Anna Harmon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 127	A funny story: some dude is selling an old Tascam DAT recorder on Ebay calling it the "wave of the future". Thought you guys might get a chuckle out of that.

November 4th, 2007, 01:08 PM	#14
Petri Kaipiainen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Espoo Finland Posts: 380	I agree SD7xx menus are long, but there is also a possibility of loading presets. I have not tried those yet, have to give them a shot.