anonymous
14 February 2002
I was searching for a good price on a Studio Projects C3 and came across this http://pw1.netcom.c…"]website[/]="http://pw1.netcom.c…"]website[/] that states "Audio goes to 2 track DAT in the digital domain at 20 bits, bypassing the usual 16 bit A/D converters on 2 track DAT machines." Now I know DATs store audio at 16 bits, but what is this guy talking about? Has anyone ever heard of any experimental 20 bit DAT products? I know Tascam has a 24 bit DAT but has anyone ever done one at 20 bits?
Comments
Here is the full paragraph: "2 Track & Multi-Track Live Recor
Here is the full paragraph:
"2 Track & Multi-Track Live Recording: In a 2 track situation the mixer would only be used at balanced line level with external mic pre-amps directly feeding compressors (if desired) and then direct to console inputs, bypassing console mic-pre's and unbalanced inserts for cleaner audio. Audio goes to 2 track DAT in the digital domain at 20 bits, bypassing the usual 16 bit A/D converters on 2 track DAT machines. Up to 24 individual mics or a combination of individual mics and several sub-mixes can be isolated to 24 tracks on DA-88 for backup and/or later mixdown."
They might be referring to several possible things.
I suspect they are referring either their use of a 20 bit converter like an Apogee AD1000 (I was using one today) or a Mytek or some such 20 bit device that samples at 20bit but sends "noise shaped / dithered 16 bit to the DAT recorder...
Or perhaps their DA88's at 20 bit, but then a DA88 is not a "2 track DAT"
Anyhow, you CAN get better sound into your DAT by using a HIGH QUALITY converter, these can sample up to 24bit but send a 16 bit version of it to the DAT player.....
The DAT master remains at 16 bit however.