Alesis ADAT-XT manual Adat Head Maintenance

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Appendix B: Troubleshooting

should also be aware that it is extremely easy to damage your heads and other sensitive parts of your ADAT. Do not open up your ADAT to clean the heads.

What it comes to is this: ADAT is a very sophisticated piece of digital technology. It is going to be used for your important projects so take the best care of your ADAT and your ADAT heads possible.

ADAT HEAD MAINTENANCE

The heads of each ADAT are pre-aligned at Alesis. No user adjustment is necessary. Over the course of time, depending on the quality of the tapes used and the environmental conditions where the ADAT and its tapes are stored, head cleaning may become necessary. Unlike analog or even video tape recorders, the actual sound quality of an ADAT recording will not be affected until there is quite a bit of dirt on the drum and heads. When the Interpolation Indicator (the sunburst at the end of the location display) starts appearing frequently, even on brand new tapes, we recommend that you bring your ADAT to an authorized Alesis Service Center for cleaning. If the indicator is not appearing and the unit is performing normally, there is no reason to clean the heads. Periodic or preventative maintenance should not be over done to prevent premature wear on the headstack.

If head cleaning is necessary and you are unable to bring your ADAT to a service center, you may try using a DRY VHS head cleaning cassette. We recommend

3M VHSHC Black Watch Head Cleaner Video Cassette or 3M ASD HC Digital Audio Head Cleaning Cassette.

•Do NOT use any other type of head cleaning cassette. They are abrasive and will damage or wear out your heads.

•Do NOT use head cleaning cassettes that require any kind of liquid.

•Do not use the Black Watch cassette any more often than necessary. Over- cleaning the heads wears them down, reducing their life span.

•Do NOT attempt to clean the heads yourself unless you are a skilled technician experienced in the maintenance of video cassette recorders. Information for such technicians is available from Alesis Product Support. ADAT head cleaning requires different materials and procedures from analog head cleaning, similar to VCR maintenance. Cleaning the heads with a cotton swab, or rubbing in the wrong direction, will destroy them. Opening the case of your ADAT will void the warranty.

Maintenance of the ADAT should be based on the Interpolation Indicator (or Error Count Display, see p. 74) or if the unit begins to behave erratically. To determine if these symptoms are caused by dirty heads, (not a defective or worn tape), keep a “benchmark” tape from the first weeks of operation set aside in a safe place (see page 40). If the Interpolation Indicator lights frequently when playing back this tape, it is likely that head cleaning is needed, particularly if several hundred drum-on hours have elapsed since the last cleaning (see page 74).

Call Alesis Product Support for more information about head cleaning and authorized Alesis Service Centers.

ADAT XT Reference Manual

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Contents Alesis ADAT-XT Introduction Adat XT Reference Manual Conventions Adat XT Reference Manual Contents Basic Operations Analog Recording Basics Digital Recording Basics Why S-VHS? Index Maintenance/Service Cleaning Obtaining Repair Service AC Power Hookup Setting UPUnpacking and Inspection ChapterSetting Up Line Conditioners and Protectors About Audio CablesInput Normaling Basic Audio HookupWord on ADAT’S S-VHS Cassette Tape Threaded VS. UnthreadedThermal Considerations in Rack Mounting Operating EnvironmentMounting on a Shelf or NON-RACK Enclosure Avoiding Electromagnetic InterferenceYour First Session POWER-UP,AND Tape InsertionABS 0H 15M 48S ABS n0 F0Sample Rate Selection Formatting a Tape a MustFormatting a NEW Tape Recording While FormattingTo record-enable a track Track Selection and Setting LevelsREL 0H 01M 29S Making a RecordingRecording Transport ButtonsTo make a recording Record LED turns off, while the Play LED remains litTo engage Cue mode To engage Review modePlayback Reviewing and CueingLocating REL 0H 00M 00SPage To loop a section of tape Creating a LoopRehearsing Automated RecordingTo automatically punch in and out Measure twice or more, and cut only onceABS 00 % 00 C Track Delay70 mS Pitch ControlTrack Copy To adjust the display brightnessDisplay Brightness To bounce audio from one track to anotherConnections Input Jack CharacteristicsAnalog Audio Unbalanced Inputs Analog Audio Unbalanced OutputsAdditional grounds Analog Audio Balanced Inputs and OutputsInput Mode Analog Audio Input ModeTo synchronize multiple XTs and/or ADATs Sync IN/OUTTo connect the digital optical network Digital Audio IN/OUTRehearse and Auto Record features FootswitchesXT Remote VersaTape Formatting Basic OperationsFormatting Considerations Complete FormatBe sure the tape is completely rewound Format ExtendABS Pr 0t 0 n ABS Pr 0t 0 FFWrite Protect Override To extend the format on a partially formatted tapeReading the Display Display Icons Basic Operations Time Counter & ABS/REL Button 01M 29SLocate SelectedEdit Value Button Basic EditingEntering Numeric Values Editing Individual DigitsAnalog Input Input SelectDigital Input Track CopyBasic Operations Input Monitor Auto Input MonitorALL Input Monitor Fine Meter Mode Peak Mode ButtonMeters Recording a Benchmark T APESetting Levels Record EnableEject Transport ControlsRewind /REVIEW Fast Forward /CUEStop RECORD/PUNCH in or OUTWhether the tape being played is formatted or not To start recordingRecord Crossfade Time Sample Rate ClockPositions as before To select the sample rateFA dE 2 Displaying Frames VS THS/SECONDSTo set the Crossfade Time About Pitch Changing To set the Track Delay amount To turn Track Delay on and offTo set multiple tracks to the same Track Delay value 10 mSAutolocation Controls Absolute ABS Time VS . Relative TimeLocate Locating Setting Locate PointsTo store a Locate Point memory on the fly To edit a Locate Point memoryAuto Return Auto LoopingAuto Play Loop LimitTape Length Auto RecordLooped Recording RehearsalTo set the tape length European equivalents and approximate recording timesErroneously selected, to avoid damage to the tape Footswitch Controls Footswitch Controlled PunchingFootswitch Controlled Autolocating Using the XT Remote Operation OverviewSynchronizing Machines Achieving Lock Master /SLAVE InteractionMaster Format ENABLED, Complete Format Independent Slave ModeMaster Format ENABLED, Format Extend Formatting Multiple TapesMaster Format Disabled Master Format DISABLED, Format ExtendBefore punching into format record Recording Digital Audio Making Digital BackupsBouncing Tracks Between Adats Reassigning Channels to Different TracksRecording Digital Audio from Other Sources To make a backup tapeDigital Clock Considerations Tape OffsetABS 0H 00M 00S Setting the Machine OffsetXT Transport Speed Combining XTS and AdatsSample Rate VS. Pitch Control Input MonitoringHere are some possible solutions Polarity DifferencesConnections Multiple ADAT-XT Operation Chapter Multiple ADAT-XT Operation Adat XT Reference Manual Combined MULTITRACK/MASTERING Deck ApplicationsLIVE/LONG-TERM Recording Locking to Video Code only Master Midi Machine Control Virtual Remote ControlComputer Control Midi Systems Virtual TrackingModular Recording Libraries and ArchivesCalculating Tape Offset Using the Locates Using Track Copy AS a Digital RouterPress Edit VALUE, then press Locate Analog Recording Basics Digital Recording ConceptsDigital Recording Basics Appendix aWHY S-VHS? TROUBLE-SHOOTING Index TroubleshootingRE-INITIALIZING Appendix BAbout Error Rate Readings Error Rate DisplayABS d1 SP E rr ABS d1 SP r E9Adat Head Maintenance MAINTENANCE/SERVICE Tape Maintenance Safe TapeCleaning Drum Time DisplayObtaining Repair Service MaintenanceRefer ALL Servicing to Alesis Customers in the USAAppendix B Troubleshooting Appendix C Error CodesAutomatic Brake Calibration Procedure Specifications Steps to Take Before Calling for HelpAppendix D Audio Digital Inputs/Outputs Or Analog-to-Digital Converter GlossaryDAT BusMMC MidiSMPTE/LTC OutputVitc VHSIndex Index Adat XT Reference Manual
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