Thoughts on DAT tape? Any users?

Thanks Andy.
Yes I did read that some models had issues with alignment of the rotating head.
Looks like Sony built some good models.

The tech piques my interest.......

Hi Uber, I used R-DAT in studios without any issue. Fast, accurate cue-ing, indexing features and excellent SQ. One studio was NFL Films where all sound was shot using DAT. It worked flawlessly in the field and studio. First generation decks had some bugs.

I encountered a consumer grade DAT once while working in a studio, and although it had equally high quality sound, the transport wasn’t as accurate for cue-ing and some tapes had tracking errors.

In my friend’s home DAT sounded fantastic. He used it for archiving and mixed tapes for partys.
If you go DAT, my suggestion is to buy a professional-grade recorder. It has a time code channel for sync even if you don’t intend to take advantage of it, ie, editing.

You’ll have to weigh cost and benefit of tape vs other other digital recording devices.
Portable DATs are cheap on Ebay, I have no knowledge of their quality.

Thanks lowrider!

What are some of the brands of the pro grade units you might be thinking of as ebay does seem more to be full of consumer grade units.

I had a Sony DTC75ES I bought in 1990.  I found some of the DAT tapes I recorded had dropouts 5 years later.  A few years ago, I offered the Sony deck to my brother who is in a jazz band. He wasn’t interested and my thinking of it being a dead format, brought the deck and tapes to a place that recycles audio equipment. I am still kicking myself in the ass for that dumb mistake.  

Couple of nice looking Panasonic and Tascam units on Fleabay right now under the pro audio section.
I see the Panasonic has balanced XLR in/out only which is normally a sure sign of pro audio usage rather than home audio.