Hi Karl,
Re 32kHz capture without decoding or resampling - if you don't want to invest in a DDS drive and SCSI-FireWire bridgeboard to do the transfer via standard data buses and software, which is the best way to transfer DATs, there are a few legacy capture devices that support 32kHz that won't break the bank like e.g. the RME device you mentioned would. The optical input on Power Mac G5 towers can, for example, if you have one of those lying around. The Edirol/Roland UA-1EX from the early 2000s can also do this, and works through OS X 10.9, and on Windows 10 (though there is a specific way to get the drivers to work on that OS). I picked up a couple of them on eBay, gifted one of them to my former employer, and kept the other one. They went for between $20-50 US at the time and I wouldn't spend more than that. Checking, there aren't any up now, but they could show up. There are other models of this make from that era that might also work with 32kHz input, but I haven't personally tested this.
I had a couple of threads on this last year about this very question with much more detail (or at least more conversation?) first here:
https://listserv.loc.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1705&L=ARSCLIST&P=11148
With an update here:
https://listserv.loc.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1706&L=ARSCLIST&P=5977
I don't think I mentioned the UA-1EX in those threads as a possible capture device, though I did rule out a few others (the Mac Mini mini-TOSLINK input, the M-Audio FireWire Solo, and el-cheapo USB devices based on the CM6206 chipset).
Note that when capturing a mixed frequency tape, your capture software may crash on frequency switches. This is what happens e.g. with Audacity. Nice thing is that Audacity reopens straight away with everything lost, at which point you may save and export.
Cheers
Eli
August 30 2018 4:41 PM, "Karl E. Fitzke" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi, everyone.
>
> Anybody out there want to venture what DAT machines are more or less gentle with tapes? And/or talk
> about their experience with tape breakage?
>
> I broke two tapes earlier this week, both of then near the end of recorded program, I think when
> trying to fastforward past the end of recorded program.
>
> Inspecting the breaks, the remaining portion of blank tape took some careful effort to unravel a
> bit and repair. So I'm guessing each tape hadn't been exercised beyond that point since the day the
> tape was manufactured!
>
> So, best to just play DATs (slow/gentle pull away from supply reel) - no fastforwarding
> (fast/abrupt tugging from supply reel)? Might some make/model handle a situation like this better
> or worse?
>
> While we are at it, any recommended means of Digital-to-Digital at 32kHz? Same goes for 32 kHz data
> playback in DAWs that (in my mind rightly) don't employ SRC like Quicktime or VLC will. Neither of
> my two converter box make/models support 32kHz. Looking at RME ADI-2 already.
>
> Of course we could do SRC, but I'd rather not. See for instance, ARSC Guide to Audio Preservation
> page 112.
>
> -Karl
>
> Karl Fitzke
> Audio/Visual Specialist
> 214 Olin Library
> Ithaca, NY 14853
>
> 607-255-5521
> [log in to unmask]
Eli Bildirici
(347) 837-8337
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