O.K. Lets get real basic, How do i record using DAT

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dipsy

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I have just purchased a Tascam Portable DAT recorder for my girlfriend as she is a journalist who still uses a regular cassete recorder for 1 to 1 interviews. Just recently she has been doing work for NPR who prefer to work with DAT. Neither I or my girlfriend know anything about Digital recording so i have a few basic questions:

(1). Can she use her old sennhiser microphone or is their a special microphone needed to record digitally.

(2).To which input would she connect her microphone in order to record digitally; on the side of the DAT machine there are Digital IN and OUT, Line IN L and R and XLR IN L and R.

(3). On top of the DAT machine are several switches (this is where it gets really complicated), firstly ANALOG INPUT MIC PAD 20db or LINE, secondly PHANTOM (+48) OFF or ON, thirdly FS 44.1k or 48k, and forth INPUT ANALOG OR DIGITAL; to record a 1 to 1 interview in Digital how would these switches be set. Also i'm guessing their is a converter in the machine that takes the analog voice signal and turns it into a digital format recorded on to the tape.

Hoping someone can help me with this stuff.

Thanks.
 
(1). Can she use her old sennhiser microphone or is their a special microphone needed to record digitally.
Click to expand...

You should be able to use any standard dynamic mic in the XLR input, and maybe condensor mics too depending on whether or not the recorder supplies phantom power.

Oh. I see later in your post a bit of data that tells me that there is phantom power for condensor mics.

(2).To which input would she connect her microphone in order to record digitally; on the side of the DAT machine there are Digital IN and OUT, Line IN L and R and XLR IN L and R.
Click to expand...
Should be the XLR, either left or right -- take your pick.

(3). On top of the DAT machine are several switches (this is where it gets really complicated), firstly ANALOG INPUT MIC PAD 20db or LINE, secondly PHANTOM (+48) OFF or ON, thirdly FS 44.1k or 48k, and forth INPUT ANALOG OR DIGITAL; to record a 1 to 1 interview in Digital how would these switches be set. Also i'm guessing their is a converter in the machine that takes the analog voice signal and turns it into a digital format recorded on to the tape.
Click to expand...
The first will pad (reduce) the mic signal or set it to line level. The second turns on phantom power-- on or off depends on the mic you use but it probably won't hurt a dynamic if it's on. The third is the sampling rate -- NPR should be able to tell her which is the preferred one. Finally, it's a analog input -- a mic -- son analog is the correct setting.
 
What's digital then?

Thanks for the info, although i'm still a little confused where the digital side of things come in, if i'm recording in analog what makes it different than a regular cassete recorder?
 
It converts the signal to digital. So, it lacks that "analog cassette warmth..."

And noise...

And Wow & flutter...

And crosstalk...

Etc., etc.
 
Right, a DAT only records digitally. It can take a direct digital signal of the correct type from another device and it can digitize analog audio coming it its mic input or line input via analog-to-digital converters.
 
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