Alesis ALESIS M20 owner manual Adat Head Life, 18.2A Head Alignment, 18-7

Chapter 18, Maintenance and Troubleshooting

We do not recommend cleaning the heads with cotton or foam swabs, or chamois.

The safest and most effective cleaning is performed using a hydroentangled polyester wipe (Techclean® Wiper #2350, available from Tech Spray) soaked in pure 99% anhydrous (water free) isopropyl alcohol. This particular wipe is lint and particle-free, designed for use in laboratory clean rooms. Note: other Techclean wipes are NOT necessarily lint free; make sure you obtain this type or equivalent. If the head is severely soiled or has been exposed to tobacco smoke or silicone-contaminated tape, you may use a plastic-safe non-toxic VCR tape head cleaning solution such as Techclean Professional Head Cleaner #1673 instead of isopropyl alcohol.

Hold the wipe against the head drum with your finger and rotate the drum counter- clockwise. You should feel the head tips against your fingertip.

Do not move your finger on the drum; only rotate the drum. Moving your hand may throw the heads out of alignment, requiring factory service!

Clean all other objects in the tape path using the same materials, as instructed, paying special attention to the linear head, and lower drum guide. Call Alesis Product

Support for more detailed information about head cleaning . Instructional videotapes

are available for a small charge.

18.2 ADAT HEAD LIFE

The expected head life for each ADAT varies according to a number of factors. Given optimum conditions, tape quality, tape care, and operating environment, head life for the average ADAT will always be better than if your ADAT is abused, placed in bad environmental conditions and used with badly maintained tapes. Properly cared for, your heads should last for thousands of hours; in fact, Alesis warrants the heads for a period of 1,500 drum hours or one year, whichever comes first.

You should not subject your M20 to environmental extremes, humidity or moisture of any kind, dust, dirt, extreme temperatures, extreme temperature fluctuations or any kind of physical abuse (drops, shocks). Even though it has been built for heavy professional use, 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.

Head replacement is not indicated unless a service technician cannot get an acceptable signal from the head drum during a test procedure.

18.2A HEAD ALIGNMENT

The heads of each ADAT are pre-aligned at Alesis. No user adjustment is necessary. Take care not to hit the rotary head drum or the linear head with any metal tools during service.

ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 18-7