Is it okay to use DDS tape ?

That depends. If you are talking about 90 meter DDS tape or used "one pass" DDS tape the answer is no. The reason is that no AUDIO machine is designed to handle the longer, thinner, heavier tape. All machine manufacturers say not to use it. We ask of the "one pass" vendors, "Why do the pros, entrusted with the preservation of data, feel these tapes are only good for one pass ?" I have seen many premature machine failures due to the use of these tapes. Many of our customers are aware of this and factor the convenience, the lower tape and storage cost into the equation. This might make sense for you. Bear in mind that 90meter DDS tape also deteriorates faster than 60 meter or shorter tape, so they will have to be replaced more often. The 90 meter DDS tape also develops slack on the reels easily, requiring retensioning of the tape to avoid data loss. This increases head wear and therefore reduces head life. The use of 60 meter DDS tape is fine in any DAT machine. They are the same basic design as the audio grade tapes. The design of the shell is as important as the design of the tape and there are differences between the various manufacturers' shells. Many times the failures I see on cheap tape is due to shell incompatability or failure.

If you have any doubts or are confused by DDS retailers telling you that 90 meter DDS tape is better or even as good as audio grade tape, call the manufacturer of the machine you are using for the truth!

Here is what Tascam (and all DAT machine manufacturers) say about tapes longer than 120 minutes (124 minutes are okay). "Do not use cassette tapes with playing time of over 120 minutes to record important material since such tapes are subject to the following problems:

• Sound distortion
  Unstable tape speed after repeated AMS, rewinding, fast-forwarding, cueing or reviewing operations.
  Incorrect writing and eraseing of start ID's "

I feel this is VERY GOOD advice, as do all DAT machine manufacturers.