Alesis ADAT-XT F ORMATTING MULTIPLE T

Multiple ADAT-XT Operation: Chapter 5

ADAT XT Reference Manual 57

In a multiple ADAT system, the slaves will “chase” the master (CHASE icon will light

on the XT) and can only enter record once they are in perfect sample-lock. Audio will

not appear at the outputs of an ADAT until sample-lock sync is achieved. When an

XT is in lock, the LOCKED icon will light. To achieve the fastest chase-lock

performance from a multi-ADAT system, use the Locate points whenever possible.

INDEPENDENT SLAVE MODE

If the master XT is stopped, each of the slaves will function independently. For

example, press [PLAY] on one of the slaves and it will go into play mode (or press the

[AUTO INPUT] button on a slave, etc.); the other slaves and the master will not

respond to this command. However, any time you press [PLAY] on the master or

initiate any transport function, it will take over and control all the slaves.

FORMATTING MULTIPLE TAPES

Formatting works similarly to formatting on a single ADAT. However, it is necessary

to consider what the slave does when formatting is initiated on the master. See the

section entitled

Tape Formatting

in Chapter 4 for more information.

MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, COMPLETE FORMAT

If the master’s FORMAT icon is on, performing a complete start-to-finish format, and

the slave tape

is not

already formatted:

• If the slave’s FORMAT icon is on, the slave rewinds to the start of the tape and

does a complete format along with the master.

• If the slave’s FORMAT icon is off, the slave rewinds to the start of the tape and

plays, but the TIME counter reads “noFO” (no format) while flashing the

FORMAT icon.

If the master’s FORMAT icon is on, performing a complete start-to-finish format, and

the slave tape

is

already formatted:

• If the slave’s FORMAT icon is on, the slave rewinds to the start of the tape and

does a complete format with the master.

• If the slave’s FORMAT icon is off, the slave rewinds to the start of the tape and

plays in sync with the master.

J

If any channels are record-enabled, they will start recording at time 0:00:00.00.

MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, FORMAT EXTEND

If the master’s FORMAT icon is on, and you are extending the format, and the slave

tape

is not

formatted:

• The slave plays, but the TIME counter reads “noFO” (no format) while flashing

the FORMAT icon.

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