Ecrix VXA or DDS-4 for tape backup?

[maxx]

I've checked out all the threads on the Ecrix VXA tape drives and get the impression that, attractive as it's spec's and price are (with the 30 day trial / $500 DAW user's discount), there's still some weirdness being experienced with extremely slow verify or restore functions in Retrospect.

I've heard that this might be an issue when using the LVD version of the Ecrix drive with ATTO SCSI accelerators.

I've also heard very positive things so far about DDS-4 - especially vs. AIT, DLT and other tape formats.

I need to make a decision soon - I'm hurting for the lack of large capacity backup. Have you VXA users out there gotten your kinks ironed out? Are you happy with your Ecrix drives or should I be looking at DDS-4?

Thanks for your feedback!

maxx
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[octophonic]

I chose the DDS-4 after working out the price per Gb for stock. DDS-4 was the cheapest here in NZ and so far no problems. The backwards compatibility was also a consideration. Local backup speeds of up to 130Mb per minute or 100mb across the network.

[maxx]

Thanks for the info, octophonic.

[molokoplus]

My VXA has been brilliant. Doing a rock and roll record entirely in pro tools isn't scary anymore. I really recommend the Ecrix. Close to AIT speeds but much less expensive. Though I'm not using the LVD, I'm using the 50 pin version bug free.

Check out the computer magazine reviews.

[maxx]

Thanks! That's reassuring.

I saw Ecrix's 30 day free trial/$500 discount and went for the external LVD.

Received the drive today. I'll let you know in a week or so what I think.

[actualsizeaudio]

I have the external VXA 68 pin LVD. I have not had a problem, but I also have not had to restore anything yet! Anything I should know about?

saxhole

[Danny Caccavo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">quote:<HR>Originally posted by saxhole:
I have the external VXA 68 pin LVD. I have not had a problem, but I also have not had to restore anything yet! Anything I should know about?

saxhole<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have you verified successfully? I had a problem with verifies/restores being REALLY slow with an ATTO UL2D and G4/450. Yet Ecrix says it's ok...

dc