8mm data cartridges

[Chuck Guzis]

On 8 May 2007 at 17:50, Pete Turnbull wrote:

> Although I see lots of 8mm video tapes used for data, and relatively few 
> genuine 8mm data tapes, whereas I see lots of DDS data tapes and very 
> few audio DAT tapes.  In fact, I seem to remember that you can't use DAT 
> for data, (or was it can't use DDS for audio?) straight off.  I stand to 
> be corrected on that, of course :-)

I should have put Pereos 2.5 mm media after QIC.  I'll wager that 
audio cassette is more reliable.

I think there's an explanation for that.  DDS tapes typically have an 
"ID Burst" recorded right at BOT, which is supposed to tell the drive 
what kind of tape it is.  Some older 4mm drives could get by without 
the burst, but later ones required it (i.e. wouldn't load the tape).  
Stick a new DDS tape into your DAT drive and you can usually hear the 
(caution:  very loud) burst--at least I can on my Sony DAT.

The other reason is that RIAA fought DAT in the USA tooth and nail to 
prevent importation of DAT equipment with the result that DAT was 
fairly rare in the USA. It was much easier to find DDS media than DAT 
media. 

I've had decent experience with MO media, but miserable experience 
with the equipment.  In particular, the 4.3G Pinnacle Apex drives 
would quit functioning for no apparent reason.   At one point, 
Pinnacle had a swapout policy that they would give you a refurb drive 
in exchange for your bad drive and $300.  I remember calling them to 
arrange the swap and being told that they had an 8 week backlog of 
bad drives.  I borrowed a drive and copied my MO carts to hard disk 
and recycled the Apex drive.

Cheers,
Chuck