Alesis ADAT-XT I, HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

ADAT XT Reference Manual 3

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Alesis ADAT-XT Digital Multitrack Tape Recorder. To

take full advantage of the XTÕs functions, and to enjoy long and trouble-free use, please

read this userÕs manual carefully.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the

XT. Though we recommend you take time to read through the entire manual once

carefully, those having general knowledge about multitrack recorders should use the

table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using the XT.

Chapter 1: Introduction. Deals with the necessary preparation before recording and

playing, including connections to external devices. This chapter also discusses the

difference between ÒthreadedÓ and ÒunthreadedÓ tapes.

Chapter 2: Your First Session with the ADAT-XT. This section provides a brief tour of

the XT, shows you how to format a tape, record and playback, set locate points, auto

punch-in and out, bounce tracks, and points out other various features.

Chapter 3: Connections. Details rear panel connections (like inputs and outputs,

footswitches and the ADAT Optical Digital Interface), and proper hook-up procedures.

Chapter 4: Basic Operations. Covers the user interface of the XT and the way to use its

basic control features, how to read the display, and how to navigate through and edit

parameters.

Chapter 5: Multiple ADAT Operation. How to lock together multiple ADAT

Compatibleª devices, and how to record and transfer digital audio between them.

Chapter 6: Applications. Describes several real-world examples of how the XT may be

used.

Appendices. Features an explanation of digital audio recording concepts, trouble-

shooting, maintenance and service information, specifications, a Glossary and an Index.

CONVENTIONS

All front panel buttons, LEDs, display icons and rear panel connectors are referred to in

this manual just as their names appear on the XT, using all capital letters and in

brackets (Examples: [PLAY] button, [AUTO INPUT] button, EDIT icon, etc.).

✪

When something important appears in the manual, an icon (like the one on the left)

will appear in the left margin. This symbol indicates that this information is vital

when operating the XT.

Contents

Main I H OW T O U SE T HIS M C Page I HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL Page C 1: SETTING UP7 2: YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH THE ADAT XT 13 3: CONNECTIONS 23 4: BASIC OPERATIONS 29 5: MULTIPLE ADAT-XT OPERATION 55 6: APPLICATIONS 67 APPENDIX A: DIGITAL RECORDING CONCEPTS 73 APPENDIX B: TROUBLESHOOTING 75 Page CHAPTER 1 SETTING UP any UNPACKING AND INSPECTION AC POWER H OOKUP AVOIDING GROUND LOOPS Page LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS ABOUT AUDIO CABLES BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP INPUT NORMALING THREADED VS. UNTHREADED bandwidth Making Backups premium quality, name brand A WORD ON ADATS S-VHS CASSETTE TAPE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT THERMAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RACK MOUNTING MOUNTING ON A SHELF OR NON-R ACK ENCLOSURE AVOIDING ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH THE ADAT-XT FORMATTING A TAPE A MUST! SAMPLE RATE SELECTION F ORMATTING A N RECORDING WHILE FORMATTING MAKING A RECORDING TRACK SELECTION AND SETTING LEVELS TIME COUNTER TRANSPORT BUTTONS R P REVIEWING AND CUEING L Page CREATING A LOOP D AUTOMATED RECORDING D R 1 70. 0 mS D TRACK COPY DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS C ANALOG AUDIO UNBALANCED INPUTS ANALOG AUDIO UNBALANCED OUTPUTS ANALOG AUDIO BALANCED INPUTS AND OUTPUTS Larger Key Notch Note: INPUTS OUTPUTS ANALOG AUDIO INPUT MODE SYNC IN/OUT DIGITAL AUDIO IN/OUT F THE XT REMOTE CHAPTER 4 BASIC OPERATIONS T APE F J FORMATTING CONSIDERATIONS COMPLETE FORMAT RECORDING WHILE FORMATTING FORMAT EXTEND WRITE PROTECT OVERRIDE READING THE DISPLAY DISPLAY ICONS format extend Page TIME COUNTER & ABS/REL BUTTON The Locate Points addresses are displayed in the format of the display mode youve selected. 0 : 03 : 28 : 15 Autolocation minutes seconds 100ths-of-seconds BASIC EDITING EDIT V Examples: s AND t BUTTONS ENTERING NUMERIC VALUES INPUT SELECT ANALOG INPUT TRACK COPY Digital In/Out DIGITAL INPUT Page INPUT MONITOR AUTO INPUT MONITOR ALL INPUT MONITOR Transport Function Auto = Off All = Off Auto = On All = Off Auto = Off/On M PEAK MODE B UTTON PEAK CLEAR BUTTON FINE METER MODE RECORDING A B ENCHMARK TAPE RECORD ENABLE Transport Controls SETTING LEVELS Be sure the output level of your mixer matches the inputs connected to the XT (+4 or -10). TRANSPORT CONTROLS E The button will not operate while recording or formatting to avoid interrupting these processes. REWIND/R EVIEW RECORD/PUNCH IN OR OUT S SAMPLE RATE (CLOCK) before , and , Each time the DISPLAYING FRAMES VS. 100THS/SECONDS PITCH CONTROL The icon should be off. Note: This is not possible while recording. TRACK DELAY D Repeat steps through D AUTOLOCATION CONTROLS Each Locate Points address can be displayed and set using either Absolute or Relative Time. ABSOLUTE (ABS) TIME VS. R ELATIVE TIME LOCATE 0 SETTING LOCATE POINTS L AUTO LOOPING AUTO RETURN only AUTO PLAY LOOP LIMIT AUTO RECORD LOOPED RECORDING R FOOTSWITCH CONTROLS FOOTSWITCH CONTROLLED PUNCHING FOOTSWITCH CONTROLLED AUTOLOCATING USING THE XT REMOTE CHAPTER 5 M O O SYNCHRONIZING MACHINES Combining XTs and ADATs Sync In/Out MASTER/SLAVE INTERACTION but do not have any master tracks record-enabled A CHIEVING L INDEPENDENT SLAVE MODE F ORMATTING MULTIPLE T MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, COMPLETE FORMAT MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, FORMAT EXTEND MASTER FORMAT DISABLED MASTER FORMAT DISABLED, FORMAT EXTEND RECORDING DIGITAL AUDIO B MAKING DIGITAL BACKUPS is selected and there is no optical input, the If RECORDING DIGITAL AUDIO FROM OTHER SOURCES clock DIGITAL CLOCK CONSIDERATIONS TAPE OFFSET D COMBINING XTS AND ADATS XT T after S INPUT MONITORING POLARITY DIFFERENCES Possible problem: C Here are some possible solutions: Page Page CHAPTER 6 A O COMBINED MULTITRACK/M ASTERING DECK LIVE/LONG-TERM RECORDING continuous recording Note: and , LOCKING TO VIDEO: CODE ONLY MASTER C OMPUTER C MIDI SYSTEMS: VIRTUAL TRACKING MIDI MACHINE CONTROL: VIRTUAL REMOTE CONTROL LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES MODULAR RECORDING USING TRACK COPY AS A DIGITAL ROUTER CALCULATING TAPE OFFSET USING THE LOCATES D APPENDIX A D IGITAL R ECORDING C ANALOG RECORDING BASICS DIGITAL RECORDING BASICS A/D WHY S-VHS? APPENDIX B T TROUBLE-S HOOTING INDEX Symptom Cause Solution RE-INITIALIZING CHECKING SOFTWARE VERSION E RROR RATE D error rate The TIME counter will briefly read: ADAT HEAD MAINTENANCE D RUM TIME D The number of drum hours will briefly appear in the TIME counter. TAPE MAINTENANCE: SAFE TAPE MAINTENANCE/SERVICE C M R EFER ALL SERVICING TO A OBTAINING REPAIR SERVICE Page APPENDIX C ERROR CODES Automatic Brake Calibration Procedure STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE CALLING FOR HELP APPENDIX D S Transport Audio Analog Inputs/Outputs Digital Inputs/Outputs General G A B C D Page N O P Q R S Page INDEX