Recording from DAT at 48kHz

Special Interest Groups Recording Techniques
1

Hi: (New member…)

I am trying to transfer the contents of several DAT tapes recorded at 48kHz, into Audacity 1.3.9. but not having any success. I have gone into Preferences and set the default sample rate to 48kHz/16bit. I am squirting the digital signal out of a Sony 60ES DAT machine via optical cable into an Edirol N225 digital interface unit (set to 48kHz) and then, via USB into my iMac using OSX.4.11.

When I copy DATs recorded at 44.1 (CD standard) everything works fine (with everything set to 44.1 sample rate of course), but at 48kHz, Audacity is recording but nothing shows up on the waveform display.
I want to record the 48kHz material into audacity for editing but then I am hoping to be able to convert it to 44.1 for transfer to CD.

I assume there is something I have overlooked. All help greatly appreciated

NDS

2

Try going to Audio Midi Setup (in the Utilities folder). Under Audio Input, set the Source to Digital Input and the Format to 48000 Hz.

– Bill

3

Hi Bill : thanks for that. Unfortunately it didn’t make any difference. (Bear in mind that I am not using the MIDI inputs but USB). Not being a musician I have no experience of using MIDI, but in any case with the Edirol box selected in the MIDI setup page, it only offers 44.1 in the drop-down menu. Other sampling rates are available if you are using Built-in Audio and/or an analogue input.

I’m still stumped I’m afraid!

Thanks anyway… NDS

4

Apple just calls the setup application “Audio Midi Setup”. I wasn’t asking you to do anything with MIDI. Click the “Audio Devices” tab at the top of the window. Now you’re looking at all the audio options available on your Mac. Try first setting the Edirol box to 48000, plugging it in to the USB, then starting Audio Midi Setup. On my Mac, with nothing plugged in to the optical digital port (which I know you’re not using), 48000 is an option.

If you can’t select 48000 for the Edirol in Audio Midi Setup you may want to contact Edirol support and see if they have any suggestions.

–Bill

5

There are people using the S/PDIF connection on a Mac to capture right from the AES/EBU output of the DAT machine. The Mac Line-In also has an Optical S/PDIF back there. I’ve never tried it, but I should because it will let me interface directly with the digital videotape machines in the building.

Koz