Editing Digital Audio Tape (section)

=== Development ===
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The technology of DAT is closely based on [[video tape recorder|video recorders]], using a rotating head and [[helical scan]] to record data. This prevents DATs from being physically [[edited]] in the cut-and-splice manner of [[analog tape]]s, or open-reel digital tapes like [[ProDigi]] or [[Digital Audio Stationary Head|DASH]]. In 1983, a DAT meeting was established to unify the standards for recording digital audio on magnetic tape developed by each company and in 1985, two standards were created: '''R-DAT''' ('''Rotating Digital Audio Tape''') using a rotary head and '''S-DAT''' ('''Stationary Digital Audio Tape''') using a fixed head. The S-DAT format had a simple mechanism similar to the [[Compact Cassette]] format but was difficult to develop a fixed recording head for high-density recording while the rotating head of the R-DAT had a proven track record in VCR formats like [[VHS]] & [[Betamax]]. As the S-DAT version was never released, R-DAT had been renamed as simply "DAT" by the time of its launch. However, Philips and Matsushita (Panasonic) would later release their own stationary head digital format in the form of the [[Digital Compact Cassette]]. Sony would later introduce another rotating head format in the form of [[NT (cassette)|NT]] which was intended to replace the [[Microcassette]] and [[Mini-Cassette]].{{fact|date=July 2022}}

The DAT standard allows for four sampling modes: 32&nbsp;kHz at 12 bits, and 32&nbsp;kHz, 44.1&nbsp;kHz or 48&nbsp;kHz at 16 bits. Certain recorders operate outside the specification, allowing recording at 96&nbsp;kHz and 24 bits (HHS). Some early machines aimed at the consumer market did not operate at 44.1&nbsp;kHz when recording so they could not be used to 'clone' a compact disc. Since each recording standard uses the same tape, the quality of the sampling has a direct relation to the duration of the recording – 32&nbsp;kHz at 12 bits will allow six hours of recording onto a three-hour tape while HHS will only give 90 minutes from the same tape. Included in the signal data are subcodes to indicate the start and end of tracks or to skip a section entirely; this allows for indexing and fast seeking. Two-channel [[stereo]] recording is supported under all [[sampling rate]]s and bit depths, but the R-DAT standard does support 4-channel recording at 32&nbsp;kHz.{{fact|date=July 2022}}

DATs are between 15 and 180 minutes in length, a 120-minute tape being 60 metres in length. DATs longer than 60 metres tend to be problematic in DAT recorders due to the thinner media. DAT machines running at 48&nbsp;kHz and 44.1&nbsp;kHz sample rates transport the tape at 8.15&nbsp;mm/s. DAT machines running at 32&nbsp;kHz sample rate transport the tape at 4.075&nbsp;mm/s.{{fact|date=July 2022}}