Editing Digital Audio Tape (section)

{{about-distinguish-text|the specific format named Digital Audio Tape|tape-based digital audio formats in general, including [[Digital Compact Cassette]] or any of several [[Reel-to-reel#Digital reel-to-reel|digital reel-to-reel]] formats}}
{{short description|Digital audio cassette format developed by Sony}}

{{Multiple issues|
{{original research|date=September 2010}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2010}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox storage medium
| name        = Digital Audio Tape
| logo        = Digital Audio Tape (logo).svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| image       = Dat cartridge.jpg
| caption     = A 90-minute DAT cartridge, with a [[AAA battery]] (LR03) for size comparison
| type        = [[Magnetic cassette tape]]
| encoding    = Lossless real-time
| capacity    = Up to 120 or 180 minutes (consumer tapes on non-LP mode)
| read        = Rotating head, helical scan 
| write       = Rotating head, helical scan
| standard    =
| owner       = [[Sony]]
| use         = Audio storage
| extended to = [[Digital Data Storage]]
| released    = {{Start date and age|1987}}
}}

'''Digital Audio Tape''' ('''DAT''' or '''R-DAT''') is a signal recording and playback medium developed by [[Sony]] and introduced in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-21/h5.html|title=Sony History|website=Sony.net|access-date=19 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625232554/http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-21/h5.html|archive-date=25 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In appearance it is similar to a [[Compact Cassette]], using 3.81&nbsp;mm / 0.15" (commonly referred to as 4&nbsp;mm) [[magnetic tape]] enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73&nbsp;mm × 54&nbsp;mm × 10.5&nbsp;mm. The recording is [[Digital data|digital]] rather than [[analog signal|analog]]. DAT can record at sampling rates equal to, as well as higher and lower than a [[CD]] (44.1, 48, or 32 [[kHz]] [[sampling rate]] respectively) at 16 [[bit]]s [[Quantization (signal processing)|quantization]]. If a comparable digital source is copied without returning to the analogue domain, then the DAT will produce an exact clone, unlike other digital media such as [[Digital Compact Cassette]] or non-[[MiniDisc#Hi-MD|Hi-MD]] MiniDisc, both of which use a lossy data-reduction system.

Like most formats of [[videocassette]], a DAT cassette may only be recorded and played in one direction, unlike an analog [[compact audio cassette]], although many DAT recorders had the capability to record program numbers and IDs, which can be used to select an individual track like on a CD player.

Although intended as a replacement for analog audio compact cassettes, the format was never widely adopted by consumers because of its expense, as well as concerns from the music industry about unauthorized high-quality copies. The format saw moderate success in professional markets and as a computer storage medium, which was developed into the [[Digital Data Storage]] format. As Sony has ceased production of new recorders, it will become more difficult to play archived recordings in this format unless they are copied to other formats or hard drives. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of [[sticky-shed syndrome]] has been noted by some engineers involved in re-mastering archival recordings on DAT, which presents a further threat to audio held exclusively in this medium.