[Answered] Alesis ADAT: What would be the best way to...

...transfer old Alesis ADAT recordings to Sonar? 
 
Here is my project:  I want to bring 24-tracks of ADAT into Sonar.  I do not have an ADAT machine at this time, but I am willing to buy one to get the project completed.  My interface is a Tascam, with but two inputs.  I also have a Zoom R-16, which can be used as an interface, and, I believe, will do 8 inputs.
 
I understand that I am going to have to make multiple passed per song.
 
Is there a device that I can use to do a digital transfer into Sonar?  Or, am I basically stuck with recording the tracks from audio, two at a time?
 
Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.

Ideally you would get an interface with ADAT input to do a digital xfer. ADAT inputs are not super-common, but some of the MOTUs and the Presonus 1818VSL have them. As Johnny says, you might just want to find someone who already has the hardware to do it. I have the inputs, but not the player.
 
 

I don't know if recording the analog stream would be stable enough if you had a multi mic'd drum kit or something with more than two channels on the same instrument. There are many interfaces with multiple ADAT inputs (m-audio lightbridge) that can be had for not too much money. Buy used and resell it when you're done.

The best way to do it is to use a proper program that Alesis actually produced called 'Adat Connect '. It has a special PCI card installed (cost me $1300 at the time!) that has both the ADAT sync and optical connections both ways. The software actually takes control of the ADAT machine. You can transfer as many tracks as you want eg 24 tracks by just doing three passes. It is all sample accurate.You cannot do three passes analog only and expect everything to be in sync whereas the transfer software ensures all that is perfect sync.
 
I have the software and the ADATS too. I get a bit of work doing this from time to time.
 
You end up with a folder with all the files in it the same length. They are usually at 48 Khz so be aware of that. I can do it for you if you want but you will have to send the tape (s) to me in Australia which you may not want to do.
 
The digital transfer is best because it avoids any D to A and A to D stages and the levels transfer perfectly as they are on the tape. Be careful with analog transfers as you will have to play right through to find the loudest point on the tape to avoid any clipping.

+1

bapu you are correct. I have got that box too. It converts ADAT sync to Midi Time Code and yes you can lock your sequencer so yes you need that box though. That JLCooper box is good because it enables you to sync up a sequencer without using up any actual ADAT tracks for timecode. Notice how fast it starts the sequencer too even before the ADAT tape is up and running.
 
I am not sure but it might only be frame accurate whereas the PCI card I have is sample accurate but even so it should be fine.

If you don't use one of the digital input methods mentioned above, the natural variances in any A/D input method (as wmb points out) are likely to cause timing drift or phase issues because you need to do multiple passes.