Panasonic SV-3700

The Panasonic SV-3700 is a professional DAT (digital audio tape). I haven't done very much recording at all with anything other than a computer based digital system, but have used the SV-3700 a few times, mostly just for testing old DAT tapes and seeing if they still work and can be transferred. In terms of the connections on the SV-3700, it's got a stereo set of XLR inputs and outputs as well as a set of AES/EBU and an output for a remote control which I have not used or even seen. It comes in a rack mountable casing that will take up four spaces in a traditional rack space. I haven't had a need to really delve too deeply into the configuration of the SV-3700, but the transport section is easy enough to use, which is mostly what I used with the SV-3700. The rest of the parameters and controls I haven't really had a need to check out, but it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to use everything here with a bit of practice. Really the SV-3700 is an outdated and obsolete piece of equipment, but for the time and the medium it is a very sturdy and reliable DAT recorder. I don't know why anyone would want or need to use this now other than for checking out previously recorded DAT tapes, but for what it does it definitely seems like it will do the job very well. Panasonic is of course a very well known and respected company, so you can rest assured knowing that this is built well and should last if you so decide you need it. If you don't want to work in a DAW medium I'd recommend going further back and working on analog tape, as I really don't see any advantages of using a DAT recorder over any other medium really. So while the Panasonic SV-3700 is a respectable unit and will do the job of recording DATs well, there really won't be many people out there who will ever need something like this again...