DAT-heads Digest #517

Contents:
  DAT>PC Transfers:  What are people using now? (DATtrader)
  Re: Sony PCM 501ES and 701ES (Gary Gilliland)
  FS: Zefiro Inbox (aka denecke AD-20) ("Sanjay M. Suchak")


From: DATtrader <dattrader@comcast.net>
Subject: DAT>PC Transfers:  What are people using now?
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 17:56:34 -0400



Are there any USB devices that do DAT > PC transfers, much like the Opcode 
DATport did a few years ago with Win98?

I am trying to find the easiest way to transfer all my DATs to PC via USB, 
so I'm hoping I can stay away from having to purchase an additional soundcard.

Thanks in advance.

Dt





From: Gary Gilliland <garyg@use-email.net>
Subject: Re: Sony PCM 501ES and 701ES
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 01:05:21 +0000 (GMT)

  Steve Bennett asked: "If anyone has any experience using these outboard
PCM devices please contact me. I have come across one of each, and they
both play PCM tapes fine (MFSL Dark side of the moon on Beta PCM tape) but
I cannot seem to get the units to record."

  The Sony PCM units do not record, per se.  However, they have a cluster
of four video connections (RCA/Cinch with yellow insulators), the top two
are the Video In (which Steve is using successfully for playback) and
Video Out (which should be connected to the VCR's video input).  The other
two, Monitor Out and Copy Out can safely be left unterminated for the
moment and do not figure in Steve's problem even if inoperative.

  Unplug everything from the PCM Adapter (The 501 or 701) and power it up.

  The Video Out terminal will have NTSC (or PAL, depending on the unit's
overall format) video output at substantially all times.  Make certain the
Copy function is not engaged, then select the Mute function and connect
the Video Out to a video monitor.  There should be alternating very wide
white and black vertical bars across the screen, with some much narrower
bars toward the left side of the screen.  On a scope or waveform monitor
it will appear as a monochrome video signal, nominally 1vPP, 75 Ohms.
This is the signal to be recorded.

  Next, un-mute the unit and see how much white-and-black TV-snow-like
fringe appears as the wide bars narrow somewhat.  What you are seeing is
analog noise internal to the PCM adapter with unterminated input.  It
shouldn't amount to very much.

  Next connect an audio source to the Audio In L & R and advance the
Recording Level control until the bars are narrowed by half by the
TV-snow-like stuff.  This is the PCM-encoded audio.  What is left of the
wide bars is for error correction.  Note that at this time there will be
no indication on the front-panel "meter" that any audio is being
processed.

  Next move the monitor/scope connection to the Monitor Out connector and
the appearance should be the same.  Connect a jumper between the Video Out
and Video In connectors and the front-panel "meter" should come to life
and let you adjust levels.  Leave lots of headroom; Sony called for 20dB
and that is not a terrible place to start.  The less headroom, the less
error correction, and with Beta or VHS it's best to have plenty.

  Connect the PCM Audio Out to an audio monitor and verify that what's
coming out is what's going to the Audio In, making allowence for level
differences.  If the unit does as described to this point, it is
functioning as designed.

  Next connect PCM Video Out to VCR Video In and vice versa.  Now try
making a brief recording and playing it back.  If it doesn't work, there
is something about the VCR that is incompatible (very unlikely on VHS and
impossible on Beta) or malfunctioning.

  The Sony PCM Adapters were remarkable when new and have proven to be
reliable workhorses through the decades, pulling as much weight as they
ever did.  Nowadays 44.1/16 seems trivial, but it is all that CD-DA had
when it turned the music business upside-down and teansformed Sony from a
technology innovator into a copyright proprietor.

  Hope this helps.

Gary



From: "Sanjay M. Suchak" <sms21@geneseo.edu>
Subject: FS: Zefiro Inbox (aka denecke AD-20)
Reply-To: sms21@geneseo.edu
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 22:46:07 -0400 (EDT)

I have a Denecke AD-20 for sale.  I bought it from another taper and never
got to use it.  I would like to get $175 plus shipping and paypal fees.

Thanks!
-Sanjay
sms21@geneseo.edu


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