HOW TO RECORD TO YOUR PC FROM A DAT USING S/PDIF

For clarity's sake, we will use a DAT recorder as our digital audio source 
in these instructions.  However, any digital audio recorder will work in a
similar fashion.  Some examples of digital audio recorders are MiniDisc
recorders, CD-Recordables, and Digital Audio Workstations ("DAW"). 

1) Verify that your equipment is capable of making a digital transfer:
   * The SOUND CARD must have a S/PDIF input.
   * The DAT recorder must have:
     - A S/PDIF output
     - The ability to send word clock (or sample clock) data out from 
       its S/PDIF connectors to the soundcard's S/PDIF connectors 
       (most pro-quality digital audio gear can do this - however,
       less-expensive portable DAT and MiniDisc recorders often cannot).

2) Connect the DAT to the soundcard:
   DAT recorder's S/PDIF OUT  =>  Soundcard's S/PDIF IN

3) Enable the soundcard's S/PDIF input as the active recording (input) 
   device.  You may need to do this in your soundcard's Mixer, or in its 
   driver software. 

4) Set both the sound card and the DAT recorder to the exact same sampling
   rate (typically 16-bit 44.1 kHz or 16-bit 48 kHz).

5) Launch your PC audio recording program.  You may need to put the program in
   Record/Pause, Monitor, or Record Ready mode if you want to hear the audio
   play while you record it to your PC.  Make sure that the software is set to
   the exact same sampling rate as the DAT recording you are transferring to 
   the computer.  For instance, if your DAT tape was recorded at 16-bit
   44.1 kHz, you will need to set your PC's audio software to match this. 

   Note: "CD-quality" is stereo, 16-bit 44.1 kHz sampling rate. 
     Not all software supports 48 kHz sampling rates.

6) Hit [Play] on the DAT recorder.  When the sound card receives the 
   digital signal from the DAT, it should automatically select the appropriate
   bit-depth and sample rate (e.g. stereo, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz).  You should now
   hear the audio coming from the DAT playing through your soundcard, and you 
   should also see its levels displayed on the VU meters in your PC audio
   program. 

7) Start recording in your PC audio program.


HOW TO RECORD TO A DAT FROM THE PC USING S/PDIF

1) Open the wave audio file(s) in your favorite PC audio editing program
   (e.g. Voyetra AudioView or Digital Orchestrator Pro).

2) Set the DAT recorder to record from its Digital or S/PDIF Input (the
   exact name of this function may vary - see your DAT recorder's 
   documentation for details). 

3) Make sure that the DAT recorder is set to record at the exact same 
   sampling rate at which the wave audio file was recorded at on your 
   computer (typically this will be 16-bit 44.1 kHz or 16-bit 48 kHz.)

4) Put the external DAT recorder in Record/Pause mode (see the external DAT
   recorder's documentation for instructions on how to do this, if necessary).
   
   Note: The DAT recorder's record level controls will not affect the volume
     of the recording.  What is happening is that a digital "clone" is being 
     made of the original audio data.  Therefore, make any necessary volume 
     adjustments in your PC audio software *before* transferring it to the 
     DAT tape.

5) Verify that the S/PDIF audio data transfer is working.  Start playback of
   the wave audio file in your audio editing program.  The DAT recorder's 
   record level meters should move in time with the sound.

6) If the external DAT recorder's record level meters moved, you are ready to
   record the S/PDIF audio from the PC's hard drive to DAT tape.  Stop
   playback of the wave audio file in your PC, and "rewind" to the beginning
   of the file.

7) Press [Record] on the DAT recorder, and verify that the tape is rolling.

8) Start playback of the wave audio file in the audio editing program.  If 
   the DAT recorder's record level meters are moving, the wave audio file 
   is successfully being transferred from the PC to the DAT recorder.


NOTE: S/PDIF comes in two varieties: 
             
1) Coaxial S/PDIF uses RCA phono connectors (just like the ones on your home
   stereo). 

2) Optical S/PDIF ("TOSLink") uses small, black plastic connectors with 
   black plastic glass fiber cables. 

The Montego II Home Studio Digital I/O daughterboard has both types of 
connectors.

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