New VDAT Video Tutorial by Babaorum

[dante]

Always looking to enhance old ScopeRise articles, and this new video by Babaorum is a great example of what can be done :

ScopeRise Link :
http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_07/vdat_mst.htm

Direct Link:
http://youtu.be/NIS2ywFEnXQ

[astroman]

to be honest... I don't have a glimpse of an idea what's going on in that clip
(needless to say I know vdat)
there's even wrong information at the end: you don't need to close the project, but eject the tape
(the whole concept of virtual tapes isn't mentioned at all)

cheers, Tom

[babaorum]

Ok I'll correct the end ! Thanks.

It's not an exhaustive capacities tuto for vdat it's just for the basic function destinated to the newbees.

But I'm available to any suggestions to improve the tuto

[dante]

Good suggestions thanks Astro

[babaorum]

A new clip is modified :
http://youtu.be/NIS2ywFEnXQ

>Dante could you change your links ? I apologize for the inconvenience ...
As soon as it's done I'll remove the old one.

[dante]

Done ! No inconvenience I can asure you. I'm all up for improvements to any ScopeRise content. Thanks Astro.

[yayajohn]

thanks for the tutorial. Always appreciated, never actually used a real DAT machine so the process is a little unfamiliar. I was in the process of upgrading my TEAC and about to drop a few grand on a DA-88 when I saw an ad for the Pulsar and thought hmmmm I wonder.

[dawman]

VDAT was mimicking the old Alesis ADAT machines using SUper VHS Tape read at an angle instead of straight up and down. It was the thing back in 92-93.

VDAT getting controlled by an external hardware MIDI sequencer for background Vocals or whatever you choose is really fun and avoids the PC as host, whoich IMHO is the way to go live, although Reaper has had a 100% revord for me when I have used it.

[astroman]

that's correct Jimmy, and together with the VRC 128 controller they have succeeded with 99% correctness
it does every little detail of the Alesis machine, and probably would even process the 'Data' part
(if you read in a physical tape)
anyone who wants to understand VDAT should read the Alesis BRC documentation, it's online.
When the device was first released many studios still had large tape libraries
VDAT was a perfect tool to integrate that material into the DAW world, with all tape markers and stuff.

Obviously this is not it's main purpose any more, but it's still an extremely useful device for tracking without DAW.
For me it's more convenient, you have you takes and markes and no distraction from the recording process.
I've added an original Alesis BRC and this device (the physical representation of the VRC 128) in fact can control VDAT.
Sync plate requiered and you should setup such a system for 48khz, otherwise it will calculate the track time wrong.
The BRC will 'unlock' one extra function with repeating takes (iirc) that the VRC doesn't cover.
(at least I only found this single one, which is not a showstopper of course)

it's very convenient that you can route any part of a Scope project directly to a VDAT input
makes it easy to capture perfectly aligned data in maximum precision.

I handle it that way that I make my takes, eject the tape and physically copy the relevant tracks to new files
(for cutting in the DAW)
Then I reload the same tape for the next takes etc...

it's also a great tool for live recording, as it leaves out the DAW overhead.

cheers, Tom

[dante]

Great info, Ive added that (Dawman and Astroman's posts) to the article as the intro (origins) :

http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_07/vdat_mst.htm

[astroman]

great job Dante
I will amend my post above after checking the manual which function is missing
(didn't expect it to be published in a more useful context)
but please add an 's' to my nick in the quote above, it reads sick that way...

cheers, Tom

[dante]

Fixed. Any more corrections to article let me know. Having the origins and link to original manual takes VDAT article to a new level.

I now have an iPad and subscribed to Future Music and Music Technology mags online they are my benchmark and I want to bring ScopeRise standard up by reworking existing articles with new input from everyone here.

Thanks again.

[astroman]

thanks

the function I mentioned is called 'Auto Group Record'
it works this way:
you select a group of tracks (say 8 ) and set 'Auto Group Size' to (say 2)
set loop and punch points and click the loop and auto puch button
start recording
it will record tracks 1 and 2 on the first run of the loop, then switch to track 3 and 4 on the second,
5 and 6 on the third and 7 and 8 on the fourth run, then it will stop

I cannot enter anything into the Auto Group field on the VRC 128 surface
(tried all combinations and button settings, it remains unresponsive...)

maybe someone can check this out if it's a specific flaw on my system only

cheers, Tom

[at0m]

Though basic, the vid explains well. Here's a couple more options. Cherry on the cake etc.

When used with DAW like Cubase, you can sync DAW and VDAT using ASIO Clock. That solves all time offset issues between DAW and VDAT. Give both of them a couple empty bars at the start of the song, that makes sure they're sync'd ok by the time the tune/recording starts.
This sync supports looping, and loop recording, too. But without the couple empty bars mentioned before, the setup will stutter around the loop points. So provide some empty space before loop end and after loop start, and you can loop record just fine.

Clock 2 Click is a free tool by Adern to provide metronome for players and to slave sync modulars. Great when VDAT is used without DAW sequencer and in live situations.

Keep 'em coming