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Description

The TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder represents a benchmark in studio recording technology, offering a reliable solution for musicians and sound engineers aiming to capture pristine audio. As a part of the DAT Recorder category, the DA-30 is designed for those who require high-fidelity audio reproduction and precise mastering capabilities. This device is ideal for mastering, archiving, and long-term storage of important audio projects.

With the ability to record at both 44.1kHz and 48kHz sampling rates, the TASCAM DA-30 ensures that your recordings are preserved in exceptional detail. The unit supports both SPDIF and AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs, providing versatility and compatibility with various audio systems. It includes features like SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) for digital data transfer and a time code option for synchronization in professional settings.

The front panel is user-friendly, featuring transport controls that are intuitive and responsive. The display offers clear visibility of important information such as time, sample rate, and track numbers, making the DA-30 straightforward to operate in any live or studio environment. This recorder is a reliable choice for anyone who values high-quality digital audio recording and playback.

Key Features:

  • Supports 44.1kHz and 48kHz sampling rates
  • SPDIF and AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs
  • SCMS for digital data integrity
  • Optional time code synchronization
  • Intuitive front panel interface with responsive transport controls
  • Clear display for time, sample rate, and track information
Venga-Vintage

Venga-Vintage

Tascam DA-30 Digital Audio Tape Deck (DAT Recorder) Testing

Video thumbnail for Tascam DA-30 Digital Audio Tape Deck (DAT Recorder) Testing by Venga-Vintage

Tascam DA-30 Digital Audio Tape Deck (DAT Recorder) Testing

Venga-Vintage

Venga-Vintage

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder.

User experience

  • Owners describe the TASCAM DA-30 as pivotal for creating DAT clones and first-gen cassette tapes, often used for trading and preserving rare live recordings.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The DA-30 is praised for its ability to clone DATs, with many users relying on it for real-time digital transfers.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Repairing old TASCAM DAT players is challenging; owners often resort to buying working used decks or seeking specialist repairs from trusted technicians.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The DA-30 was integral in live concert taping setups, often paired with portable DAT recorders like the Sony D8 for on-the-go recording and cloning.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Tascam DA30 (SOS Sep 90)

muzines.co.uk

Tascam's DA-30 is a standout in the professional DAT recorder market. With its solid build and features like 44.1/48kHz sampling rates, oversampling D/A conversion, and balanced audio connections, it appeals to both pro users and enthusiasts. While it lacks a timecode track and error-rate display, its reliable operation and ease of use offset these drawbacks. The DA-30 delivers clean, precise audio, making it a worthy choice for mastering and live recording. Despite concerns about DAT's long-term reliability, this unit's performance and affordability make it a frontrunner for those not requiring advanced editing capabilities.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Klaus Schulze uses TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder

Klaus Schulze

Guitarist, Bassist

Tangerine Dream

...
Verified via Muzines

The equipment list for Schulze's Royal Festival Hall concerts, featured on his latest CDs, was as follows:

Akai S1000KB Roland JD800 Prophet 2000 Korg T3 Moog MiniMoog EMS Synthi A Atari Mega ST4 Zeck FMS 16-channel mixer Dynacord reverb Boss Echo Delay 2x Tascam DA30 DAT recorders Meyer PA BGW monitor amp 2x custom built monitors

See how Gareth Jones (producer) uses TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder

Gareth Jones (producer)

Music Producer

Depeche Mode

...
Verified via Futurestyle

Tascam DA 30 is included in the list of Gareth Jones' equipment.

See how Marius de Vries uses TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder

Marius de Vries

Composer, Music Producer

The Blow Monkeys

...
Verified via Soundonsound

It can be seen in the eleventh photo, captioned "Some of Marius de Vries' outboard gear. From top: Digitech Vocalist II effects, Yamaha SPX900 multi‑effects, Alesis Quadraverb GT and Quadraverb multi‑effects, Mutronics Mutator compressor, Avalon input channel, Yamaha REV7 multi‑effects, Alesis 3630 compressor and Tascam DA30 DAT recorder."

J

Jeehun Hwang

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Gear

Kurzweil K2500 (two) "I use one K2500 as my controller keyboard and I have an additional rackmount K2500. I use those to control my sound library of real orchestral sounds." Akai S2000 Roland JV1080 "I use this with the orchestra expansion card for some of the orchestral sounds that are mostly in the background — in other words those that don't require so much authenticity. It allows me to layer up sounds without having to use up any of the memory I need for my better CD‑ROM orchestral samples." Studio Electronics ATC1 "This one I use when there's a need for analogue sounds. You can switch from one type of sound to another depending on what cartridge you put in." Roland Juno 106 "I used the Juno 106 for Mercenaries and a bunch of other titles that needed more industrial types of sounds." Tech 21 SansAmp PSA1 "This is great for recording guitar sounds. It has a whole bunch of different guitar distortions and effects and plugs straight into the board — you don't have to go through a separate amplifier, but it creates the sound just as well." Alesis ADAT XT "Occasionally when I have all the samplers filled up and I don't have any more memory I dump them on to different tracks on the ADAT and record them that way." Tascam DA30 DAT recorder JVC Pro Series Digital S video deck "I use this half‑inch deck to sync up films and timecode." Apple Power Mac 4400 running MOTU's Digital Performer "I've been trying various different sequencers to see which one I like the best and, although they all have their pros and cons, I find that Digital Performer works really well for what I'm doing." Digidesign Pro Tools "I don't use Pro Tools that much. Sometimes I will if I need to sync up different dialogue and sound effects to the music, but mostly I do the final mix onto DAT and if necessary I'll load that back into Pro Tools to burn CDs."

T

Terry Pulliam

Music Producer, Audio Engineer

...
Verified

Terry Pulliam, a notable music producer and audio engineer, utilized the TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder in his work at SoundMarket Studios, as confirmed by the studio's equipment listing.

Album Usage

The TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use TASCAM DA-30 Professional Digital Audio Tape Recorder, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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