Does anyone remember software called DATa?

[Pangolino]

I found some DATs that contain backups of ProTools sessions / audio / fade files from the mid-late 90's. If I recall, they were transferred with an OS9 application called "DATa". Google, being case-insensitive, doesn't seem to be able to provide me much help tracking down information about that software.

I'd like to recover these sessions somehow. Has anyone had this problem, or does anyone have any suggestions about how to recover data that was backed up to DAT with that software? Thanks for any help you can give me.

[mix109]

http://download.digidesign.com/suppo...a_30_Guide.pdf

[jeffro]

Here's a classic carried over from the Answerbase...

http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/F...sions-for-DATa

Do you have the app?

[jeremyroberts]

Originally Posted by Pangolino

I found some DATs that contain backups of ProTools sessions / audio / fade files from the mid-late 90's. If I recall, they were transferred with an OS9 application called "DATa".

Try "System 6"

They didn't call it MacOS back then.

Most of us bailed on DATa as soon as retrospect came out. I think that was by 1991/92

The "problem" with DATa is that the restore was at real time PER TRACK. but there was a 2x speed option.

It was a brilliant piece of engineering -- using actual audio to and from the DAT and then converting file headers to audio (like a modem). But it did NOT back up session files -- only audio files. Then DDS tapes came out and that was the end of DATa.

[chooser]

I too have quite a few albums that we recorded in the 1990's backed on DAT via DATa.

Is there anyway of getting this data back using another application?

If not, I am thinking, of re-setting up a similar system to our 1990's original one.

PCI Mac running OS9.

Couple of questions.

1: can I use an old sound designer II card to do this (software required/drivers)?
2: How can I get a copy of the last version of DATa

Any help appreciated.

Thanks Kai

[Bob Olhsson]

Do I ever remember DATa!

DATa had the wonderful "feature" of applying an additional layer of mono dither everytime you backed up and restored something. This happened often because 600 meg. hard drives cost 2-3000 dollars back then. DATa made a huge contribution to Pro Tools reputation for horrible sound quality.

It's funny that I often sound like a Pro Tools fanboy today whereas prior to Avid taking over I was among their most vocal public critics.

[chooser]

OK, so after further research, it seems like I can can run set up Sound Designer II to run on an Audiomedia III card in a PCI Mac running OS8.

Needs to be set up in system 7.6 though, as per the instructions below.

Does Sound Designer run on PCI PowerMacs with the Audiomedia III or Pro Tools III PCI?

This SDII 2.8.2 updater and the authorization used for SDII versions 2.8, 2.8.1, and 2.8.2 require that you boot from System 7x.

Once authorized, SD II 2.8.2 has been reported to run on either OS 7 or OS 8 systems, but was released before OS 8, and therefore was not tested on OS 8 by Digidesign. Sound Designer II was discontinued several years ago, and is no longer available.

Have also found the download link for the last version of DATa

http://archive.digidesign.com/download/legacy/

Only question is, will that last version of DATa work on a PCI Mac running OS8 Anyone remember?

If not, then its an AudioMedia II card on a Nubus Mac running 7.6.

Thanks

[chooser]

Found the last version and have downloaded.

http://archive.digidesign.com/download/legacy/data/

Does anyone remember using it on a PCI Mac running OS8?

The last version of DATa was released in Dec 1997.

Mac OS8 was released in July 1997.

So theoretically, it is quite possible that it was updated to run on OS8.

Anyone remember?

If it does, then I can buy an old PCI mac with an AudioMedia III card and get to work.

Alternatively, if it only runs on Mac OS7 will need to get a Nubus Mac with a AudioMedia II card.

Thanks in advance for any advice received.

Kai

[chooser]

Does anyone remember if the last version of DATa 3 released in 1997 will run on a PCI mac with OS8?

[Bob Olhsson]

I'm pretty sure I used it with system 9.