Reader David C. responds to the 1/2/98 TTOTD on using a Gina card/audio DAT machine for computer backup:
| “I read the question from the person asking about using an audio DAT player for computer data backup. As far as I know, this is impossible. If it is possible, I doubt the resulting tapes would be compatible with a data-DAT drive. Here’s why: There are certain fundamental differences between DAT used for audio and for data:
In my opinion, even if you could find a drive that would handle both audio and computer data, it would probably cost more than if you would simply buy two separate DAT drives. Data DAT drives sell for between $750 and $2000, depending on the speed and storage capacity you want to buy.” |
Thanks for the information David! As several readers pointed out, there are at least two software packages that will allow an audio DAT and a digital audio card to serve as a computer backup device. Both of these packages are intended for backing up digital audio files, and as you point out, the resulting tapes are not compatible with data DAT drives.
Reader Jim B. correctly tells us that Digidesign has their DATa utility for backing up audio files using a Digidesign audio card, and any DAT machine with digital I/O. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help our original questioner who is using an Event Gina card (currently PC only), but if you are using one of Digi’s cards, Jim points out it is a workable (albeit slow) solution.
On the PC, reader Gordon G. tells us that the Zefiro ZA-2 audio card comes bundled with a utility that will perform data backup functions. We are not familiar with this card or utility, nor do we know if it is compatible with Event’s cards.
Gordon goes on to say:
| “One of the problems with using audio DAT as a backup media is reliability. This program uses additional Reed-Solomon error correction (on top of the R-S encoding already built into DAT) and a 32-bit checksum assures data integrity. A second problem is timing. When restoring data from DAT, sometimes the software requires the DAT tape to be rewound for a few seconds so that the hard disk can catch up. This is because there is no signaling between the two separate systems (i.e. the computer cannot tell the DAT to pause). I agree that a more “traditional” computer backup solution is more practical than audio DAT.” |
Thanks for your input guys!