I've retyped it, reordered it, and shortened some of the entries, to make a listing suitable for putting up on a wall where it's easy to see in your studio. Most folks will know some or all of these already, but they serve as a handy reminder every time you use your DAT machine. The Ten Commandments Of DAT Use 1. When using a DAT for the first time, fast forward it to the end and rewind it, to repack the tape on the reels and ensure smooth transport. Start every tape with one or two minutes of recorded silence, and don't go to the end of a tape either.
Error rates are much higher at the ends.
Avoid SCMS if at all possible, by recording to pro decks and dubbing from consumer decks to pro decks rather than vice versa. The 0 VU mark is more critical on DAT than on analog tape, but if your only overloads are very brief percussive transients, let your ears judge. It's much better for the tape. It's bad for the tape, and jams transports. The Ten Commandments Of DAT Upkeep 1.