Alesis ADAT-XT manual Drum Time Display, Tape Maintenance Safe Tape, Maintenance/Service, Cleaning

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Appendix B: Troubleshooting

DRUM TIME DISPLAY

The XT keeps track of how long the head has been actively spinning against tape (i.e., threaded in stop, or play, or cue/review). This can help determine how long it has been since the last time it was serviced or cleaned.

To display the head time counter:

1Hold [SET LOCATE] and press [STOP]:

The number of drum hours will briefly appear in the TIME counter.

TAPE MAINTENANCE: SAFE TAPE

ADAT tapes are no different than any standard tape: they must be treated with care. Never expose ADAT tapes to temperature extremes, strong magnetic fields (such as speakers), high humidity, dust and so on.

You should always practice SAFE TAPE:

•At the end of every session you should rewind the tape all the way to the leader, stop, eject the tape, remove it from the ADAT and place it in its protective case. This cuts down on the amount of dust that can enter the transport and keeps wear on the tape at a minimum.

•Don’t leave your tapes near speakers, power amps or other potential magnetic fields such as televisions or electrical devices.

•Don’t subject your tapes to extreme temperatures or wild temperature fluctuations.

•Don’t expose your tapes to high humidity, moisture or high dust levels.

•Don’t leave your tapes on the dashboard of your car. (In fact, never leave ADAT tapes in a car EVER. Keep them with you at all times!)

•Certainly, no matter how tempted you are to open the shutter to see what is inside, NEVER TOUCH THE TAPE. The magnetic particles on your ADAT tape need to be preserved in the condition in which they were recorded. The oils from your fingers WILL damage your tapes as well as get on the heads and damage them.

•Never turn off the ADAT power while the tape is threaded. This leaves the tape bent around the rollers and head. Press [STOP] until the tape is unthreaded before turning off power.

Practice “safe tape” at all times because you can never retrieve lost data.

If you are archiving your tapes, make sure they are stored in environmentally stable conditions, i.e. a cool dry place. If you do archive your tapes, you need to check them once a year. Run each tape through your ADAT from end to end. This will prevent buildup that can occur when a tape is left simply “sitting”.

Of course, for your super sensitive or important material, nothing beats making multiple digital backups. Every year or so, simply do another digital backup onto a brand new tape.

MAINTENANCE/SERVICE

CLEANING

Disconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the keyboard’s metal and plastic surfaces. For heavy dirt, use a non-abrasive household cleaner such as

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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 Unpacking and Inspection Setting UPAC Power Hookup ChapterSetting Up About Audio Cables Line Conditioners and ProtectorsBasic Audio Hookup Input NormalingThreaded VS. Unthreaded Word on ADAT’S S-VHS Cassette TapeMounting on a Shelf or NON-RACK Enclosure Operating EnvironmentThermal Considerations in Rack Mounting Avoiding Electromagnetic InterferenceABS 0H 15M 48S POWER-UP,AND Tape InsertionYour First Session ABS n0 F0Formatting a NEW Tape Formatting a Tape a MustSample Rate Selection Recording While FormattingREL 0H 01M 29S Track Selection and Setting LevelsTo record-enable a track Making a RecordingTo make a recording Transport ButtonsRecording Record LED turns off, while the Play LED remains litPlayback To engage Review modeTo engage Cue mode Reviewing and CueingREL 0H 00M 00S LocatingPage Creating a Loop To loop a section of tapeTo automatically punch in and out Automated RecordingRehearsing Measure twice or more, and cut only once70 mS Track DelayABS 00 % 00 C Pitch ControlDisplay Brightness To adjust the display brightnessTrack Copy To bounce audio from one track to anotherAnalog Audio Unbalanced Inputs Input Jack CharacteristicsConnections Analog Audio Unbalanced OutputsAnalog Audio Balanced Inputs and Outputs Additional groundsAnalog Audio Input Mode Input ModeSync IN/OUT To synchronize multiple XTs and/or ADATsDigital Audio IN/OUT To connect the digital optical networkXT Remote FootswitchesRehearse and Auto Record features VersaFormatting Considerations Basic OperationsTape Formatting Complete FormatFormat Extend Be sure the tape is completely rewoundWrite Protect Override ABS Pr 0t 0 FFABS Pr 0t 0 n To extend the format on a partially formatted tapeReading the Display Display Icons Basic Operations Locate 01M 29STime Counter & ABS/REL Button SelectedEntering Numeric Values Basic EditingEdit Value Button Editing Individual DigitsDigital Input Input SelectAnalog Input Track CopyBasic Operations Auto Input Monitor Input MonitorALL Input Monitor Meters Peak Mode ButtonFine Meter Mode Recording a Benchmark T APERecord Enable Setting LevelsRewind /REVIEW Transport ControlsEject Fast Forward /CUEWhether the tape being played is formatted or not RECORD/PUNCH in or OUTStop To start recordingPositions as before Sample Rate ClockRecord Crossfade Time To select the sample rateDisplaying Frames VS THS/SECONDS FA dE 2To set the Crossfade Time About Pitch Changing To set multiple tracks to the same Track Delay value To turn Track Delay on and offTo set the Track Delay amount 10 mSAbsolute ABS Time VS . Relative Time Autolocation ControlsLocate To store a Locate Point memory on the fly Setting Locate PointsLocating To edit a Locate Point memoryAuto Play Auto LoopingAuto Return Loop LimitLooped Recording Auto RecordTape Length RehearsalEuropean equivalents and approximate recording times To set the tape lengthErroneously selected, to avoid damage to the tape Footswitch Controlled Punching Footswitch ControlsFootswitch Controlled Autolocating Using the XT Remote Overview OperationSynchronizing Machines Master /SLAVE Interaction Achieving LockMaster Format ENABLED, Format Extend Independent Slave ModeMaster Format ENABLED, Complete Format Formatting Multiple TapesMaster Format DISABLED, Format Extend Master Format DisabledBefore punching into format record Bouncing Tracks Between Adats Making Digital BackupsRecording Digital Audio Reassigning Channels to Different TracksTo make a backup tape Recording Digital Audio from Other SourcesTape Offset Digital Clock ConsiderationsSetting the Machine Offset ABS 0H 00M 00SSample Rate VS. Pitch Control Combining XTS and AdatsXT Transport Speed Input MonitoringPolarity Differences Here are some possible solutionsConnections Multiple ADAT-XT Operation Chapter Multiple ADAT-XT Operation Adat XT Reference Manual Applications Combined MULTITRACK/MASTERING DeckLIVE/LONG-TERM Recording Computer Control Midi Machine Control Virtual Remote ControlLocking to Video Code only Master Midi Systems Virtual TrackingLibraries and Archives Modular RecordingUsing Track Copy AS a Digital Router Calculating Tape Offset Using the LocatesPress Edit VALUE, then press Locate Digital Recording Basics Digital Recording ConceptsAnalog Recording Basics Appendix aWHY S-VHS? RE-INITIALIZING TroubleshootingTROUBLE-SHOOTING Index Appendix BABS d1 SP E rr Error Rate DisplayAbout Error Rate Readings ABS d1 SP r E9Adat Head Maintenance Cleaning Tape Maintenance Safe TapeMAINTENANCE/SERVICE Drum Time DisplayRefer ALL Servicing to Alesis MaintenanceObtaining Repair Service Customers in the USAAppendix B Troubleshooting Error Codes Appendix CAutomatic Brake Calibration Procedure Steps to Take Before Calling for Help SpecificationsAppendix D Audio Digital Inputs/Outputs Glossary Or Analog-to-Digital ConverterBus DATMidi MMCOutput SMPTE/LTCVHS VitcIndex Index Adat XT Reference Manual
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