Anyone still use MiniDisc, DDC tape or DAT tapes?


These were more obscure formats, but still had some kind of following. Since hipsters only like analog, these other formats remain virtually "dead," but they were fun to play with. Anyone still use them?

chris_g

Sony never made a DCC machine, Philips and clones plus Matsushita yes.

An era where Sony and Philips parted.

Still using my MDS-JA333ES, MD was a nice format.

@chris_g ,

The unit I gave away was a Sony DTC 75ES. Had I known tape was going to make a comeback, I would have saved it.

@petg60,

I had that same Minidisc recorder. I bought mine from the Sony outlet, it was a B stock.  It died 2 years after purchasing it. 

I have a pair of Tascam DA20’s DAT players that are not operational — the tray won’t open. Normally an easy fix but the last time I looked a few years ago there was no one who was still repairing them. I thought about giving it a try myself but there’s also a ‘shedding’ problem w/ DAT tapes after about 5 years where they gum up the heads. So I wouldn’t be able to listen to any of my old tapes.

It was a lot of fun while it lasted. RIAA killed DAT but it still had a big following with tape traders. There were a few bands like the Grateful Dead that encouraged taping of their performances. The very first time I heard Dave Matthews Band was on DAT, before they had a record contract.

My DA 20’s are gathering dust. If anyone has any ideas on a good home for them I’d appreciate it.