[rec.audio] What format is digital out on DATs?

martin@esacs.UUCP (Martin Guy) (06/03/91)

Hi
   I am trying to find out what format is spoken by Digital Audio Tape machines
so that I can take the digital data into a computer for processing.

There seem to be three current formats:

- RF Coaxial  on home DAT machines
- Optical     on professional DAT machines (which usually also have RF output)
- AES/EBU     on professional digital multitrack recorders

I guess that the RF and optical interfaces have the same logical data format.
By the way, do CD players with digital outputs have the same interface(s)?

If you either know where I can get a copy of these standards or (better)
already have the info, I'd be delighted to hear from you.

If you post a reply, please mail me as well, as our article expiry time is
rather short here and I can miss articles while I'm away over the weekend
(wonderful, eh?).  I'll summarise replies to the net.

Thanks in advance

	Martin