What is a ADAT recorder?
The ADAT (Alesis Digital Audio Tape) was an eight-track recording machine first introduced in 1992, which used consumer S-VHS (video cassette) tapes to store data. The first, rather quirky, ADAT recorders played a key role in wresting the levers of music power from major labels and commercial studios.
What does ADAT stand for audio?
Alesis Digital Audio Tape
Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) is a magnetic tape format used for the recording of eight digital audio tracks onto the same S-VHS tape used by consumer VCRs.
What is ADAT audio interface?
What is ADAT? ADAT is an optical audio protocol designed to transfer digital audio to and from two audio devices. At 44.1/48kHz sample rates, ADAT can transport 8 channels of uncompressed digital audio to and from an interface and peripheral device with just one Toslink cable.
Does ADAT Sound good?
First, in a setup that’s working properly there should be no fundamental difference in sound quality between digital audio transmitted over ADAT and the same transmitted over Firewire or USB, with the exception that the basic ADAT protocol is limited to a 48kHz maximum sample rate.
Is ADAT still used?
Though the ADAT may no longer be with us, it does live on through the ADAT Lightpipe protocol with its fibre-optic transmission of up to eight channels of digital audio at once. Nearly 30 years on, that’s not to be sniffed at.
What is a ADAT input?
What is ADAT? ADAT is short for Alesis Digital Audio Tape. ADAT inputs are typically used for adding more input channels via additional microphone preamps and audio interfaces.
Does ADAT reduce quality?
Many interfaces have ADAT connections that allow you to connect external mic preamps and converters — and as ADAT is a digital format, a cheap interface will not compromise the quality of a more expensive external unit connected to it via ADAT.
Will any optical cable work with ADAT?
The optical interface of TOSLink and ADAT Lightpipe are not compatible with each other.
Is ADAT and TOSLINK the same?
ADAT Lightpipe or simply ADAT Optical uses an optical transmission system similar to TOSLINK, and is used in the professional music/audio industry. While the ADAT Lightpipe format uses the same JIS F05 connectors as TOSLINK, the ADAT Lightpipe data format is not compatible with S/PDIF.
What is the difference between ADAT and optical?
Cables and interface S/PDIF is mostly used for transferring stereo or multi-channel surround sound audio, whereas the ADAT optical interface supports up to 8 audio channels at 48 kHz, 24 bit.
What cable do you use for ADAT?
optical digital audio cable
Optical audio cables are compatible with 2-channel S/PDIF connections and ADAT connections. Using ADAT with your optical digital audio cable allows you to transmit up to eight tracks simultaneously.
Is ADAT the same as optical cable?
ADAT Lightpipe uses the same type of optical cables and Toslink connectors as the S/PDIF two-channel optical digital audio protocol (discussed shortly). These cables can be purchased at your local recording-equipment store.
Can I use any optical cable for ADAT?
You can use digital optical cables for almost anything, including transferring audio from your TV to a home stereo system. Optical audio cables are compatible with 2-channel S/PDIF connections and ADAT connections.
What is ADAT Lightpipe?
This interface was originally developed by Alesis. ADAT Lightpipe gets its name from the fiber optic cables it uses to carry data. Toslink connectors are found at either end of the cables, which means they are identical to S/PDIF optical cables.
What is the Lightpipe protocol?
The protocol was first used to transfer digital audio between ADATs, but it was always intended to be improved over time. No matter the audio depth, all Lightpipe signals are transmitted at 24 bit resolution. The most significant bits hold the audio information, and the remaining bits are comprised of a string of zeros.
What is the difference between adat and S/PDIF?
The ADAT optical interface can support up to eight channels at 48 kHz, 24 bit. The S/PDIF interface, on the other hand, is primarily used to transfer stereo or multi-channel surround sound audio. Lightpipe devices have recently been interfaced via FireWire.
What is the difference between adat and TOSLINK?
Toslink connectors are found at either end of the cables, which means they are identical to S/PDIF optical cables. Even so, the data streams of these two protocols are completely incompatible. The ADAT optical interface can support up to eight channels at 48 kHz, 24 bit.