Fostex DMT8VL to ADAT for archive?

[Martin D35]

OK here goes... I'm new to the forum, been reading it for a while but finally found something that I had to ask about.

On 3-4-00, Dom Franco gave a reply and stated that he had a Fostex DMT8VL and a ADAT and they make a great combination. One of the reasons he bought the ADAT was for the storage capabilities of the tapes.

I have been using a Fostex DMT8VL for about two years now and really like it. Last week I got a deal on two new ADATs that I just couldn't turn down and bought them both! I was thinking about archiving all my tracks from the Fostex(and the extra hard drives I've filled) onto the ADAT. However I found out that the optical ports on the two machines are not compatable. The only way I can archive all 8 tracks separately is to use the 8 analog outs on the Fostex. This however takes me out of the digital realm.

So my question to Dom or anyone else is... Is there a way to archive all 8 tracks digitally to the ADAT with out buying a really expensive converter? Also, if I do use the 8 Fostex analog outs, how much do I lose going through the A/D D/A converters?

Thanks in advance, really love the forums!

 

[sonusman]

So the Fostex unit doesn't support the Alesis Lightpipe Digital I/O?

Are the lightpipes on the Fostex S/PDIF?

Ed

 

[Martin D35]

Yes. The Fostex light pipe is S/P DIF format. The manual says...to save and load data, you can only use a DAT machine that allows for digital recording with 16 bit/44.1kHz, non-compression recording, optical, S/P DIF format.

 

[sonusman]

Oh well....

Your only option at this point for any digital transfer is through the S/PDIF, and that will only be two tracks at a time.

Any machine with optical S/PDIF can archive your work. As I recall, Alesis made a box, the AI 1 or 2 or 3 (I have never used them...) that will convert ADAT lightpipe to any number of other digital formats. I believe you can find one of these boxes for around $300, used.

Otherwise, if you want to do all 8 tracks at a time, you will have to use the D/A converters, then of course another A/D conversion. I don't recommend this.

I would look at the Waves Frontier sound card, which has a ADAT I/O on it. Record to your ADAT's (which have much better converters at 20 bit then that Fostex machine does) then transfer to your computer and use software for editing, then transfer back to ADAT to mix. The price you could potentially get for your Fostexs unit would probably cover the cost of the Waves Frontier card (around $350 new). Plenty of affordable editing software out there to use to edit.

So really, your Fostex unit is holding you back from doing better things. Ditch it and move on....

Ed

 

[Martin D35]

That was my whole point in getting the ADATs! The Fostex was a great tool to learn on but its time to move on. I've already got a buyer for the Fostex so I think I'll just save some of the good scratch tracks and start over with the ADATs.

All I need now is a new mixer, some more effects units, a couple more compressors, a new computer, a few more mics.....&......&.....&...

thanks for the advice,

Nick