VDAT?

fraz · Post by **fraz** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:47 am

Hi,

Please will someone explain what VDAT is? I have heard of it but that's it.

fidox · Post by **fidox** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:52 pm

What is a VDAT ?

VDAT is a virtual 8-track digital tape Replace your ADAT devices with VDATs
recorder that operates identically to the to take advantage of the capabilites
ADAT* multitrack digital audio recorder software has to offer. Or combine the
conceived and manufactured by Alesis. systems. Use the ADATs to complete
Each VDAT can play or record up to 8 certain production stages (i.e. live
audio tracks at a time. As with the ADAT, recording) while resuming production
VDATs can be cascaded–up to 16 VDATs later in the computer using VDATs (i.e.
can be cascaded to provide a theoretical mixing).
maximum of 128 tracks.
Just as several ADAT machines can be
controlled by a BRC* (Alesis’ Big Remote
Control) the VDATunits can be controlled
by our VRC (Virtual Remote Control).
But, better yet, it’s even possible to
combine our software modules with the
genuine hardware. You can control both
ADATs and VDATs with either the BRC
or the VRC in a single hardware/software
configuration. And transferring audio from
tape to disk or back is entirely lossless,
thanks to the ADAT ports on the DSP
card.

copied from manual , it's all there ....

[ This Message was edited by: fidox on 2006-08-16 13:53 ]

fraz · Post by **fraz** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:59 am

Thanks,

So if I want multi-track recording in the future I can use this, even if it's only eight tracks?

emzee · Post by **emzee** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:04 am

Consider these the comments of a beginner:

You can load up many more tracks than that. It depends on your card and resources. I record up to 24 tracks of midi programmed samples in one hit using my card with 6 DSP's. Then I start the eq/compression of the 24 tracks within SFP and record those 24 tracks to another 24 tracks within VDat. There are a few free Level Meter plug ins which I use for accurate metering.

It means bouncing tracks, but the quality is superb and it lets me use my Scope as a complete studio. I'm not really into VST's. I'm sure others have other ways of working so ask away.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:32 am

it's part of the regular SFP documentation - there's a chapter about VDAT
I also overlooked it for > 1 year

cheers, Tom

arela · Post by **arela** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:52 pm

aha
emzee - so you record back and forth (layers) and avoid the limitation of dsp's.
Are we talking 32bit?
With same high quality as 1. take?

I'm looking forward to start vdat

[ This Message was edited by: arela on 2006-08-17 13:53 ]

fraz · Post by **fraz** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:51 pm

Emzee and others,

As far as recording goes what I know about this subject is very little but I now I know about VDAT I can read up on this and expand my existing SFP projects.

Thanks for the replies, when I've read up on VDAT I'll ask away some more. Nestor was correct to say the power of these cards is phenominal in his thread "Routing The Mystery Unveiled" in the Scope Study forum.

[ This Message was edited by: fraz on 2006-08-17 14:54 ]

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:34 pm

VDAT recording quality is good but I find the suite rather buggy - especialy the VRC devices both of which lock my system up. VDAT doesn't do that but it does have some quircks that limit it's usefulness for me.

emzee · Post by **emzee** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:59 pm

There is always some frequency loss when you bounce, but I can't hear the cumulative effect. You can reduce bounces by eq/compressing samples/synths on the way into VDat on the first pass.

Yes, you can set your VDat to 16/24/32 bit. I think 32 bit is great as it gives me plenty of signal strength to play with. The files are bigger but you can/should back up anything important anyway.

The db level drops back each time you bounce so I boost a little every time. There are some great free plugs just for that. I use the free level meters to ensure I'm recording at a nice high level without peaking. The freebies are more accurate than the VDat meter. (I don't have the links to these at the moment but if you need them, just ask).

VDat doesn't suit everyone. And to steal a line from an equipment ad...."If your music sucks before you use this... it will still suck...... it's just that your sound will be better...."

_________________
I'd love to see things from your perspective.....but I can't get my head in that position.

[ This Message was edited by: emzee on 2006-08-17 18:09 ]

Post by **hubird** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:55 pm

On 2006-08-17 17:59, emzee wrote:
"If your music sucks before you use this... it will still suck...... it's just that your sound will be better...."

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:26 pm

There has been reported self-deleting/arming tracks when using the VRC in bigger projects.

arela · Post by **arela** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:26 pm

emzee

If your music sucks before you use this... it will still suck...... it's just that your sound will be better...."

Yes i was afraid of this.

emzee · Post by **emzee** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:14 am

Re: issues with VRC

Quite possible. For what I'm doing, I don't use the VRC at the moment. I'm not that advanced. I know I'll need to when I adjust tracking. I guess the secret is to always backup if the recording is important.

fraz · Post by **fraz** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:17 am

On 2006-08-17 16:34, Kymeia wrote:
VDAT recording quality is good but I find the suite rather buggy - especialy the VRC devices both of which lock my system up. VDAT doesn't do that but it does have some quircks that limit it's usefulness for me.

How do the bugs affect it's operatiojn? - Is it generally reliable?

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:45 am

Just that I gave up on the VRC devices - the small one doesn't work properly (doesn't recognise when there's a VDAT in the project much of the time) and the larger one causes my system to freeze. VDAT itself is fine apart from the annoying habit of starting up playing in a project when I open it if it's connected directly to the speaker outs.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:51 am

(doesn't recognise when there's a VDAT in the project much of the time)

ah yes, you can workaround this one making the project that contains VDAT the default one

emzee · Post by **emzee** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:30 am

It's more reliable than I am...! It has a few quirks but they don't seem a big deal to me. Sometimes when you press play after loading a new "tape" you get digital hiss. It's just finding the start point. Stop, rewind, start and it's fine. I can't name my tracks as I would like.....

Other than a few minor things I really like it. It fits in beautifully with the whole SFP concept ...... analog studio in digital.

VDat is certainly lower maintenance than the women I've had in my life.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:43 am

VDat is certainly lower maintenance than the women I've had in my life

hohoho, we're getting on to something here

mine definately reboots more often :hopeshedoesn'tseethis:

Post by **garyb** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:38 pm

the vrc is a bit buggy. vdat itself is reliable.

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:23 am

My predicament is these girls don't sing well while they dance. It is hard to control your breathing I understand, but these girls are not vocally inclined, with the exception of the lead dancer singer who is very beautiful, and talented. The wireless ear monitors is helping, but then I must do major adjustments till I can create a good monitor mixer project in SFP to deal with all of their differences in hearing. After I get this SFP PA/Monitor project up and running, can I use VDAT to record their background vocals, and trigger them in sync with my external MC-500MKII hardware sequencer? I'm sure it is do able, but how reliable would this scenario be? I don't want to have a milli vanilli night with thses PMS warriors now do I. But it would be nice to have their vocals sounding good. Right now I am the only person who knows they suck, as everyone says they are GGGRRREEEAATTT!!!! because of their flimsy outfits and excellant choreography. I am sure that this will help them while they flip around trying to sing their parts, for I will tell them that Brittany Spears does this, and that will settle that. If this is possible on a 3 card 18 DSP DAW, I will have been sucsessful at this endeavor. These broads are a high payong giant pain in my ass right now. I need to fix and forget them 4 6 months while I concentrate on my dance gig.

Strength And Honor,

_________________
Jimmy V.

[ This Message was edited by: scope4live on 2006-08-20 08:24 ]