DAT Recorder | DAT Photos | DAT User Manual | DAT Service Manual

The Sony DTC-1000ES was the FIRST ever DAT recorder introduced in 1987.

This first DAT recorder proved very popular with both studios and musicians enabling them to produce their masters, ready for sending to the CD pressing plant.

Although it was not perfect, the DTC-1000ES was modified by several companies willing to improve on it's already impressive abilities.

Sony themselves produced a two box version for the professional market called the PCM-2500A/B


The DTC-1000ES could not record at 44.1kHz and pre-dated SCMS.

The DTC-1000ES was also sold by Aiwa as the Excelia XD-001. The XD-001 was identical to the DTC-1000ES except for the faceplate.

Advanced digital audio technology was introduced into the consumer audio field through the Compact Disc player, currently in wide use throughout the world.

And now, DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder, the second generation of digital audio recording equipment has been released.

Excellent sound quality
By digitalizing and accurate processing of the audio signal, the recording/playback is made with lower wow and flutter, wider dynamic range, lower distortion rate, and superb signal-to-noise ratio.
The audio signal is recorded and played back with the PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) system. For superior performance and higher fidelity, the four-times oversampling digital filter and D/A converter unit are employed for the left and right channels independently.

Smaller cassette
A small cassette of 73x54x10.5 mm with a tape width of 3.81 mm, which was developed and standardised exclusively for the DAT format, is used with this deck.

Writable sub codes
"Sub code" is the coded signal written on the tape independently from the audio signal, and is mainly used for convenience and variety of playback or tape editing. In the DAT format, you can write and erase the information in this "sub code" area.
With this deck, the following sub codes can be written or rewritten without affecting the PCM audio signal section.
• Start ID (code indicating the beginning of a selection)
• Program number (indicates the order of a selection)
• Skip ID (code for skip operation)


High-speed search
By detecting the sub code, the desired points on the tape such as the beginning of the selection can be searched for at high speed.

Skip operation
During playback, if a skip ID has been written, the unit skips to the point where the next start ID is located, and playback starts again.

Digital IN/OUT jacks
When this deck is connected to another DAT deck having digital input and/or output jacks, tape-to-tape dubbing is possible with no deterioration in sound quality. When a DA converter unit (such as the Sony DAS-702ES or DAS-703ES) is connected to this digital output, digital sound reproduction will be enhanced.

Four DD (direct-drive) motors for higher reliability
A direct-drive motor is provided for capstan, head drum and supply/take-up reels respectively. These motors enhance the reliability and provide higher stability over extended periods of use.

Multi-functional counter
You can select the following information to be displayed:
• Linear tape counter
• Remaining time
• Elapsed playback time

Easy-to-read multi-mode display
The status and operation mode indications of the deck, such as sampling frequency, emphasis ON/OFF indicator, copy prohibit, and warning of the moisture condensation, etc. are concentrated in the large display window.
• Start ID (code indicating the beginning of a selection)
• Program number (indicates the order of a selection)
• Skip ID (code for skip operation)