I've been looking into some recording stuff and these keep poping up. Are the different from a DAT,? and if so, how? I was looking through Musicans freind or AMS or something and saw they were selling an Alessis Mixer and ADAT machine as a recording package. I Allready have a mixer so I was thinking I could get An ADAT and use it with the mixer I have (mackie CFX-12). Would this work for multi track recording??

an ADAT is an 8 track digital recorder that records on SVHS tape. they are excellent pieces, and have sold over 100,000 units over the past 10 years or so.

we have 5 :D

oh, and to answer your second question, yeah, that would work fine - give you 8 tracks to work with.

Thanks alot John.
Anybody got any more info I should know?? How much does one cost??? How would using one compare to using a digital 8 track recording console?

Originally posted by john turner
an ADAT is an 8 track digital recorder that records on SVHS tape.
we have 5 :D

5?? Bastard!;)

We have 3 LX20's. Do you ever have any problems? One machine is in constant need of repair and almost always refuses to sync up with the other two. We're ready to go back to tape!

Guess that's what we get for getting the LX20... ;)

JHMAVRO, what kind of recording are you planning to do?

ADAT=Alesis Digital Audio Tape
good stuff

i don't really dig the lx20s, we use the elco connectors to hook up, and the lx20 doesn't have any.

we drive the adats via cakewalk running sequences of our songs - cakewalk is the "location master" (tells the adats where to go) and the adats are the "timecode master" (the sequencer follows the adats to keep synchronized). we have 2 xt20s, 1 xt and 2 blackface adats. the only one that gives us problems is the xt, and only if it is the master unit. the xt20s are great - we've logged well over 1000 hours on our adats and we've only had to get them cleaned and serviced at around 500-600 hours.

you can get new lx20s for around US$999
new xt20s for around US$1700 with the rebate that they are offering.

i would advise the xt20s, or else getting an older xt or blackface off of ebay, and then getting the elco snake.

Originally posted by Stingray5
[QUOTE]

JHMAVRO, what kind of recording are you planning to do?




Recording songs. Like do the guitar 1st, then bass,, etc. Ive had plenty of experiance with Portastudio type devices
And I usually pick up on how to use new things pretty easliy. Ive allso mastered bouncing tracks back and fourth between tape decks. Not my preferred method ;) .

just sending this back up with hopes someone has more info. ;)

thanks guys

Originally posted by JHMAVRO
Originally posted by Stingray5
[QUOTE]

JHMAVRO, what kind of recording are you planning to do?




Recording songs. Like do the guitar 1st, then bass,, etc. Ive had plenty of experiance with Portastudio type devices
And I usually pick up on how to use new things pretty easliy. Ive allso mastered bouncing tracks back and fourth between tape decks. Not my preferred method ;) .

If you have a computer, you may also want to consider hard disk recording in lieu of purchasing an ADAT. ADAT's are wonderful things --particularly in the hands of professionals-- but they are expensive and, in terms of editing, are more limited than hard disk recording. If you have access to a computer with a pentium III and lots of hard drive space, you should consider disc recording. Also, there are stand alone hard disk recorders that are getting cheaper and cheaper. The one thing I would advise against is investing in a mini disc-based recorder.

So, I guess my bottom line is that ADAT's are great, but there are other options out there for improving the quality of your recordings and another option may or may not work better for you than an ADAT. Take your time and do some research.

saint makes some good points. if i were to redo my studio now, with the same amount of money that i've spent, i would probably go digital, either protools or digital mackie board + harddisk.

not that i don't like my studio now, i love it, it's just that the technology now has really advanced since when i bought the stuff.