- and other fine digital recorders
If you're working in the field of video or audio post production, you know exactly how important timecode is to lock picture and sound together. In fact, hardly any TV shows, music videos or films would exist without this ability. Of course, for many years, all this took place in the analog world. Today, ultra-sophisticated DAT machines are available that combine the accuracy and response of digital technology with the ability to read and write timecode.
As one of the world's largest producers of professional recording gear, TASCAM has a lofty reputation to maintain. With its new DA-60MKII synchronizable 4-head timecode DAT, the company continues its great tradition by retaining all the features that made the original DA-60 such a success, such as confidence monitoring, Memory Start and Rehearsal. The new unit includes an improved servo system that allows continuous timecode recording in Assemble Mode, plus improved signal-to-noise ratio, extended dynamic range and a built-in chase synchronizer supporting Sony P2 protocol. It lists for $6499, and of course we carry all the other great TASCAM DAT recorders.
From Fostex comes the D-30 Master Recorder, proudly sporting a large, high resolution, backlit LCD display which allows the status of the machine to be determined at a glance. What's more, the unit's two megs of internal RAM allow users to instantly and accurately hear what they are scrubbing, allowing them to find sync and edit points immediately. Add independent channel recording, variable length crossfades (0-300ms), Spot Erase and Auto Cue and the problems of assemble or insert editing become a thing of the past. The D-30 retails for $10,995. Also new from Fostex is the PD-4 4-head portable timecode audio recorder with integral three-channel mixer ($6995 list) and the D-25 Studio DAT Recorder with RAM and sync ($7995 list).
Another exceptional timecode DAT comes to us from HHB Communications. It's the PORTADAT PDR-1000TC ($6995 list), a portable DAT recorder designed to perfectly match the requirements of experienced audio pros out in the field, whether they're working on a documentary for the Discovery Channel or on a major Hollywood movie. The unit was designed with the input and feedback of many professional sound engineers, so you know the HHB folks built this thing right. There's even a non-timecode version available, the PDR1000 ($3995 list), for those of us who just happen to feel like recording music or sound effects in the great outdoors.
And speaking of non-timecode DATs, there's a number of exceptional machines out there these days. Case in point: the Otari DTR-8 DAT Recorder ($1995 list) which is built with the professional in mind. It comes standard with +4 dBu (switchable to -10 dBv) active balanced ins and outs with XLR connectors and has both AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital I/O. In search mode, the DTR-8 uses TOC information to locate up to 300 times normal play speed. Pretty impressive, but even more impressive is the special pricing we can offer you right now on this particular unit right now (it's even too low for us to print)!
The new Pioneer D-9601 Hi-Sampling DAT Recorder ($2300 list) is just that: a machine that can record at high sample rates - up to 96 kHz as a matter of fact. For those of you who understand digital audio, you'll appreciate the fact that this gives the unit a frequency response that stretches from 2 Hz to an incredible 44 kHz which improves sound localization and provides clearer attack transients.
Finally, from Panasonic comes the latest in a long line of great-sounding professional quality DAT recorders, the SV-3800 ($1695 list) with enhanced audio quality (thanks to a 1-bit, 64x oversampling A/D converter and special high resolution ladder-type 20-bit D/A converter) plus multiple digital interfaces, shuttle search and single program play function.
We're rapidly running out of space and we haven't even mentioned the many fine DAT recorders available from industry-giant, Sony. We suggest you call up our special Sony DAT Guide.
So whatever your needs may be in DAT recorders, be sure to call your Sweetwater sales engineer for more information, dependable advice and your special low pricing on these and the many other outstanding machines we stock from every major manufacturer.