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Anybody know about ADAT machines?

South Mad Sab

South Mad Sab

Mar 13, 2019
69
136
near Detroit
#1
I have a recording of a old band of mine from 20 years ago. It is on 2 unmarked VHS looking ADAT tapes. I have no idea if it was recorded in 16, 18 or 20 bit. I am willing to buy a used machine to extract the tracks... but, I need an idea of what to get. Will a 16 or 18 bit recording play on a 20 bit machine? Any help is appreciated?
 
#3
Don't buy a used machine unless you know for certain you can get it serviced before you use it.

When I was faced with the same issue - original recordings on 2 tapes, needing to be copied to computer disk - I went back to the studio where the recordings were made. The engineer had 1 of his 2 original machines still working, so we copied the 8 tracks from tape A all in sync with each other, then 8 tracks from tape B. There was no sync between the 2 tapes (required 2 machines working in sync with each other) but I was able to re-sync them in my DAW.

If your recordings were made as 16 bit, then you can play them back on either a 20 or 16 bit machine. If they're 20 bit, then only a 20 bit machine can read the tape correctly.

I don't think there ever was an 18 bit ADAT machine.
 
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#5
Tosh said:
Don't buy a used machine unless you know for certain you can get it serviced before you use it.

When I was faced with the same issue - original recordings on 2 tapes, needing to be copied to computer disk - I went back to the studio where the recordings were made. The engineer had 1 of his 2 original machines still working, so we copied the 8 tracks from tape A all in sync with each other, then 8 tracks from tape B. There was no sync between the 2 tapes (required 2 machines working in sync with each other) but I was able to re-sync them in my DAW.

If your recordings were made as 16 bit, then you can play them back on either a 20 or 16 bit machine. If they're 20 bit, then only a 20 bit machine can read the tape correctly.

I don't think there ever was an 18 bit ADAT machine.
Click to expand...

That is the dilemma. The original studio does not exist anymore, nor am I able to locate the original engineer.
So... These will have to be on a different tape machine. Thanks for the info, I will look for a 20 bit.
 
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#10
Tosh said:
Don't buy a used machine unless you know for certain you can get it serviced before you use it.
Click to expand...

This is good advice. ADAT machines were unreliable even back in the day. Most of them are junk now if they haven't been regularly serviced.

At the very least test the machine with some other tapes before you risk ruining your old band recordings.

Your safest option BY FAR would be to find at studio that still has a well maintained ADAT machine. Don't expect ANY old ADAT machines you find used to actually work or be reliable. This is one piece of equipment that will NEVER achieve "vintage" status. As for used prices anything that doesn't involve the owner giving YOU money is too much IMO. :laugh:
 
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#11
Used ADATs are almost a disposable item. I bought one a few years back for about 89 dollars, and it worked pretty well. I managed to lay down about 10 tunes on it. And then it started to have problems with rewinding and fast forwarding.

I found mine in a used shop, but now it just sits in a case. I have not been tempted to try it again.
 
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#13
Mine still work, can't tell you how many pc's, o/s's, daws or protools versions I have gone through but my Blackface ADAT's take a lickin and keep on tickin, (although adat tapes are hard to come by) still use em...I'd offer to x-fer them for you but am in-between pc's right now lol, grab a cheap 20bit xt, x-fer to wav and rock on! GL
 
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#14
They're essentially VCR's connected to AD/DA converters. They run at higher speeds than normal VCR's, and the tapes are very finicky. Sometimes you can't play a tape on a machine that didn't record it. They are not a good investment, UNLESS it's the only way to playback a recording that is genuinely valuable.

Question is - would it be cheaper to pay for someone else to do it, than buy a machine to use once or twice?

I think it would be.

EDIT - did some goog'ling. You can get 2 tapes dubbed for $60..

ADAT Tape to DVD, Transfer Umatic Tape to DVD, Convert ADAT Tape to DVD
 
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#17
Tosh said:
Alesis ADAT-XT20 Type II 20-Bit 8-Track Digital Audio Recorder | Reverb
Click to expand...

$1000 for that? Wow. I thought bass prices were getting irrational...

Back in the 1990s I worked at a busy studio. We had one room with 2" 24 track, and another with 24 track ADAT. We had 4 machines, because 4*8 = 24, right?

No, because one was ALWAYS in the shop. The ADATs simply couldn't hack the pace of daily use in a pro facility.

Later I ended up at another studio, same problem. It was the happiest day of my career to send those pieces of junk into the dumpster.

Lousy machines then, most are likely worse now. OP: By all means take the advice of several posters here : Pay the $ & get someone to transfer it for you.

GT
 
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#20
If this is just a one-off deal it might be cheaper and faster to Google “ADAT transfer services” and see who is offering that service in your area.

I doubt getting two tapes dubbed to WAV files by people who know what they’re doing, and who already have the properly maintained equipment, would cost more than buying an ADAT machine.
 
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