ADAT and HI-FI VCRS

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Datura

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Well it seems like everyone is going after the ADAT. However, when you don't think you want or CAN shelve out 2 grand for one and need the format of ADAT you ask this!.... Ok. I have always been recording my songs onto a simple Tascam 4 track which works very well because I EQ and make sure I get good sound everytime. However, I have recently been asked by a well established musician to join his new CD compilation.Since my material is just Tascam quality, he asked me to get my material onto ADAT so that he could add a template of music. I however could not get my hands on one nor do I really want to. I take all my music from my Tascam and digitally record it onto Minidisc. It works well. However, I need this song to be ADAT accessable. I was toying around and noticed that I could record my finished song from Minidisc onto a VHS tape. I used a good quality tape and my VCR is a HI-FI one so the sound quality blew me away! It was louder and stronger then the Minidisc! So...What I want to know is that if I record my song from a Minidisc to a VHS tape, can it be played onto an ADAT machine and even moreso, can a template of more music be ADDED to the average VHS tape with my song on it?
Thanks for reading..
DATURA
 
Regular VCR tapes, regardless of the quality is not designed to play on ADAT's (although it can be done,but it will ruin the ADATS heads).
If you can't afford an ADAT (and now you can get them for as low as $700 with extremely low head hours), why not try renting 1
1 thing! I don't understand why this established musician wants you to put your demo's on ADAT tapes.
They are used for recording tracks of which is eventually
mixed down to either a C/D,DAT,or Hi-Bias tape. Unless perhaps he wants you to re-record your tracks by using
an ADAT then burn down to a mini-disc or whatever.
Does he want your 2-track mixdown put on ADAT tape??? Why??
 
you sure he didn't mean a DAT tape? afterall ... they sound the same if you say it fast enough :)
It just doesn't make sense why he'd want you to mix to a multitrack format. Maybe he meant DAT instead of mini-disc ... just a guess.
 
Yeah! What BigK said. Did the "established musician" meant "DAT"???.
 
ADAT HELL

ADAT or DAT.. Whatever.... I told you I don't know anything about them. That's why I'm writing. Now... I was just asking for info on ADATs because I was told that I needed to get my Tascam tracks onto the DAT tape. Then he would add a template of background guitar. Or perhaps it was the other way around. He told me that he would send an ADAT tape ( or are they called DAT tapes?) with a template and could I get my four tracks from my 4 track master tape onto the DAT. Then he would downmix it on his new console. So that's what he told me. Now I need to figure this out as I have only done low-key recording Trust me.. He is a WELL established musician. It's myself that doesn't know anything. I'm surprized he even is asking me to contribute to his compilation.
DATURA
 
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OK DAT-ura,take it easy! :)
ADAT and DAT tapes are 2 different formats.
ADAT tapes are used in Alesis 8-track ADAT recorders.
These are originally used to record a signal from each channel of your mixer up to 8 tracks (or more if you are using multiple ADAT recorders).Similar to when you record your tracks with your Tascam,but in the20-bit
digital forum.
DAT tapes (digital audio tape) are used when you take your 4-8-16 etc.track recording to your final mixdown to 2-track,or in stereo. Think of DAT tapes as cassette tapes but also in the digital forum.
I'm pretty much sure "Mr. Established Musician" want's you to re-record your demo to a DAT tape as some recording studio's use this format to produce a master 2-track of a multi-track recording (most produce glass masters/burn to C/D).
Again,if you can't afford a DAT recorder,try renting 1 or inquire into any project studio in your locale and see if they have the means to replicate your demo to DAT format.
Good Luck dude.
Peace
Mr.Q
 
it kinda sounds like the established musician does, in fact, want Datura to mix his stuff to an ADAT tape so he can add guitar to it and then mix it down later. However, I don't really get the "template" he refers to.
That makes more sense, though ... but getting your tracks onto ADAT and keeping them separate can either be easy or difficult depending on your 4-trackers capabilities. If you can take an output from each track simultaneously off the 4-tracker, then you could just plug them each into a separate track on the ADAT ... however, if you can't do that with your 4-tracker ... you'd have to sync your machine up to his ... which could be pretty complicated as well as pretty expensive.

...
Having said that ... I gotta say that this is kinda tough ... because I'm still not sure if we're all talking about the same thing (so many DAT, ADAT, and DATuras flying around ;)).

This single statement:
"Since my material is just Tascam quality, he asked me to get my material onto ADAT so that he could add a template of music. "

... leads me to believe that he wants you to re-record everything from scratch onto an ADAT .. not just transfer your 4-tracker stuff to one. Even if you can transfer each Tascam track to ADAT ... it's still going to be the same, original quality of the Tascam. I still don't get the template reference, though.
If it were me, and I was approached to have one of my tunes on a comp CD ... I'd just give him the mixdown (tape, mini-disc, DAT, wire, whatever) to the guy and let his mastering house deal with the format and quality issues. I wouldn't re-record the whole thing. But, that's just me. :)

I want to help ... but I really don't want to tell you to use and apple when you really should use an orange. Ya know what I mean? :)

Now that I think about it, it sounds like he wants you to start from scratch on ADAT ... not mix or transfer your existing tracks.
I could be missing the boat entirely, though. :(
 
DATURA is a Tori Amos song.

Thanks for figuring this out.. You are NOT missing the boat Big Kahuna you are right on the money. It's just this musician. (Who is on the Cleopatra Records label, and that is all I can tell ya!) Wants it on ADAT.Not DAT or anything else. He cannot or chooses not to take it from Minidisc or cassette. Figures huh...? I on the on the other hand can't afford an ADAT and can't even seem to rent one.! I live an hour outside from Chicago, so I might have to head in there and look, but I was just basically asking if there were any options OTHER then ADAT.
But there isn't soooo. Yes I have to transfer my music onto ADAT, but... the vocals will be re-recorded onto the ADAT if I can ever get one.. Everything else will stay the same..The other three tascam tracks are good enough quality to be funneled. He was that impressed. Then "Mr. Musician" will add a template of distorted guitar (Also!..That word Template was wierd to me too!) It is hard to communicate with this guy cause he his pretty established and he is REALLY busy setting up a new studio and is working on two projects at once so I can't ask him dumb questions. He has lived in germany for years and I guess that doesn't help the communication either. So that why is my posts look so unbelievable. But it is true and I thank you for the help. I know what I have to do, but money is my enemy right now. I have none! Perfect timing huh? I just was trying to find an easy way out. "Datura" a really cool song from Tori's last CD.
P.S. Maybe I should ask MR. MUSICIAN if he will LEND me an ADAT if he wants me so much. Trouble is. Does he like my song that much? ....
Thanks
DATURA
 
That's what I've been saying all along....
He wants a ADAT,not DAT ok DAT-ura!!! TA-DA!!!!! :) :) :)
 
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