Aha !!... The first ever DAT machine added to Dancetech, and the honours go to the Tascam DA20 MK2.... Tascam advertise this machine as their budget model for studio's, and it uses un-balanced outs, compared to balanced and XLR's on the next model up.
The reason I added the TASCAM DA20-MKII first is simple... reliability... My mate works for a LARGE UK studio supplier as a manager... I asked him - "Which is the best DAT unit to buy"... and without a seconds hesitation he came back with the DA20-MK2...
In one year his company has only had 2 returned units... and that is very little considering a certain mixer manufacturer sent them one batch of mixers which were ALL faulty !!... gives you an idea about Tascams quality control and build... and after all, Tascam have been making recorders for the industry since most DT readers were just a twinkle in their old-man's trousers !!... Anyways, my mate who works at the Studio suppliers he liked them so much he bought one himself... so i've gotten to hear it and see it in action regularly... a great machine, and makes me a bit sick frankly that it is superior to my Denon (albeit an old Denon & 20 bit)... everytime I see his Tascam in the rack, I droll a little, cos it really does look the nuts and sounds it too !!...
So, what do you get for the hard-earned ??... Well, you get a shiny new Tascam DAT, which rack mounts without having to buy a rackmount kit (note - good point that one!!) .... Unbalanced analog In/OUT is the norm at this price-point.. but you also get S/PDIF which is a great bonus at the price.
Available recording rates are 48kHz, 44.1kHz & 32kHz... and the unit has a built in switchable SCMS on the S/PDIF section (SCMS = digital-audio protect code created by the recording industry to placate & shut-the-fuck-up the whining record industry - i think it stands for 'Serial Copy Management System')...
SCMS means you can encode/record a DAT with SCMS switched ON that you send off to anyone such as record companies, and a digital S/PDIF copy cannot be made... Fine... but what happens when you need to transfer over to the PC via S/PDIF, then re-compile back to DAT to make back-up production safety-copies, re-master, remix, re-eq, etc?.... well kiddies... the DA20-MKII allows the SCMS to be switched OFF... wicked touch, so you can make as many digital backups/copies as you like at home but still reasonably protect your handed-out DAT's... (although yes, you can go out and buy an SCMS stripper box... but still - a nice touch)
lastly, you get beleive it or not, a wireless remote unit... awesome !!!... I've got one for both my DAT & cassette machines, and they are superb and make life so easy as you can cue and work the DAT all from your armchair or studio seat... allowing you to quickly bump the DAT unit into record without having to wander over to it's rack...
There's not alot more to say... I could find out all the facts like 'certain' mag's, and quote what type of motors it uses etc, but does brushless DC motors mean anything to most people ?... not me... the best I can say is what I said at the start... it's built like the proverbial brick shite-house, looks superb to make your mates green with envy, and is reliable, reliable, reliable..... it really does look the bollox this unit... and ok, you have to pay a bit more for a balanced I/O system on the next model up, but for most of us home semi-pro studio users this DA20-MKII model is DAT heaven offering everything you need in a DAT machine beleive me !!!.... and after all, does 'balanced' studio mean anything in our genre anyways ?.... when was the last time a record company asked you if the studio was built around balanced connections?... yup... don't bother as a newbie about that issue, just keep your leads short from the desk/system to the DAT and all will be ok....here's some spec's...
- 3 sample rates 48kHz, 44.1kHz & 32kHz - 16 bit.
- Freq' Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.5dB - Standard Play.
- SN: 91dB
- Dynamic range: 91dB
- Total Harmonic Distrotion(WRMS): less than 0.0045% @(1kHz)
- Inputs/Ouputs: analog RCA unbalanced + S/PDIF Coax.
So... there it is, the Tascam DA20-MKII... DT's first recommendation for a DAT machine... more to follow... any users out there.. comments please !!....
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