Chapter 4: Basic Operations
50 ADAT XT Reference Manual
AUTO LOOPING
Auto Looping is not a feature in and of itself, but is made up of two important features
that, when used together, provide a very useful tool. These two features are: Auto
Return and Auto Play. When both are enabled, and set correctly, a section of tape of
any length may be continuously repeated.

AUTO RETURN

When Auto Return is enabled, and the transport reaches the Locate 4 point (the end
of the loop), it will automatically rewind to the Locate 1 point (the start of the loop).
Notice the arrow on the front panel connecting the [LOCATE 1] and [LOCATE 4]
buttons.
To turn Auto Return on or off, press the [AUTO RETURN] button. The AUTO-RTN
icon will light when turned on. If Locate 1’s position is after Locate 4, the AUTO-RTN
icon will flash, and the transport won’t rewind as it passes through Locate 4. For Auto
Return to work, Locate 1 must be before Locate 4.

AUTO PLAY

The Auto Play function determines whether or not the transport will automatically go
into play when a locate function is completed. This function can also be used in
conjunction with the Auto Return function (see above) to create a “loop”, whereby a
section of tape is played over and over.
To turn Auto Play on or off, press the [AUTO PLAY] button. The AUTO PLAY icon will
light when turned on.

LOOP LIMIT

There is, however, a built-in safeguard that protects the tape and the XT‘s heads and
transport from unnecessary wear and tear by automatically disabling the Auto Loop
feature after completing 100 consecutive loops. If this is not to your liking, this
safeguard may be disabled. This is done by holding the [SET LOCATE] button and
pressing [AUTO RETURN]. However, Alesis recommends doing so

only

when you
absolutely have no other alternative. The 100 loop limit will be enabled again once
[STOP] is pressed.
While the Auto Loop feature is engaged, you may have a “loop count” displayed
temporarily by holding the [SET LOCATE] button and pressing [AUTO PLAY].