Looking for supplier for neurorecorder

[Gerry S. Oxford]

stenberg at cc.Helsinki.FI (Dag Stenberg) wrote:
>torsten jaehn-siebert (torsten at bio1.bio.th-darmstadt.de) wrote:
>} I am looking to buy a device that will store long recording sessions 
>} (electrophysiological) on tape, along with other channels (voice, trigger 
>} pulses etc.)  I have seen a videotape recorder (Neurorecorder?) that has been 
>} adapted for this purpose, storing 8 channels of data for 6 or more hours.
>
>Why do you want a tape recorder? Why not a PC-based system, e.g.
>Cambridge Electronic Systems' 1401 with the Spike2 acquisition program?
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>Dag Stenberg     MD PhD                    
>
>
There are good reasons to choose magnetic tape methods of 
long term recording vs. direct computer "streaming" A/D 
conversion (e.g. the CED system or AxoTape[TM]).  Both 
systems have their merits.  On the side of the computer 
acquisition, you have (1) more or less random access to the 
data following an experiment, and (2) you do not have to 
endure the time to "relive" the experiment during playback. 
 However, the tape solution has one *major* advantage.  
With the computer you generally must choose your analog 
filter settings prior to the experiment as you get one, and 
only one, chance to capture the data.  With tape you can 
record at full bandwidth (usually 44kHz on the PCM devices) 
and then play the tape back several times through analog 
filters until you get your settings to a desired level for 
the signal you wish to extract.  Of course, digital 
filtering after the fact is possible, but the ease of use 
of the tape devices is a bonus for many.  BTW, I noticed 
that TEAC makes a nice multi-channel unit using 4mm DDS/DAT 
tapes now.

Gerry Oxford
Professor of Physiology
University of North Carolina