Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) was introduced in 1987 but proved to be a very expensive option, recording in digital rather than analogue, and was somewhat less popular than other recording formats. Nevertheless this material is still occasionally found in archive collections today. Over the years it has become increasingly difficult to access the content contained in Audio DAT but this is where TownsWeb Archiving’s specialist digitisation services can help. TWA use expert scanning technicians to capture and convert Audio DAT to digital. Tape formats have always been prone to deterioration, so converting this material is a prudent step towards protecting your material and safeguarding it from loss. It also primes it for online publishing and access, which can be achieved through our PastView platform.

Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek, Miriam Bolliger Cavaglieri, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hear what our clients have to say about our digitisation services

For us, knowing that VHS tapes were degrading at such a rate, meant the loss of crucial, firsthand, eye witness testimony. This stressful fact was relieved whilst working with Townsweb who dealt with all aspects of this project with expertise, thought and care.

Aneesa Riffat

Curator

We are delighted with the results. Without TownsWeb Archiving’s services we could not have completed the work in time and on budget. Their staff have been nothing but approachable, helpful and attentive and I can strongly recommend their services.

Martin Devereux

Head of Digital

TownsWeb offered us a complete end-to-end service, from scanning and transcription, to web design and content management software. Their work was completed quickly and to a high standard, and we are extremely pleased with the results.

Lisa Keys

Exhibition and Display Officer

Capture the data within your DAT collection

Learn more about Audio Visual Transcription

Publish your DAT collection online

PastView is the perfect platform for publishing your DAT online, offering great potential for access and discovery. Manage and publish your collection with:

Media Player: create engaging ways to discover your digitised and born-digital AV collections
Item Metadata: assigning attributes to create an efficient collection structure
Linked Relations: making the connections between your items that will broaden search results
Digital Downloads: making select items uniquely accessible in order to generate revenue