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Alesis ALESIS M20 OVERVIEW, SETUP, AND B

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ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 1-1

CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW, SETUP, AND

BASICS

The Alesis M20 is an 8-track digital tape recorder that records on S-VHS videotape

cassettes. It is compatible with the ADAT format used with several other digital recorders

(Alesis ADAT, ADAT XT, LX20, and XT20; Studer V-Eight; Fostex RD-8 and CX-8; and

Panasonic MDA-1).

1.1 M20 HIGHLIGHTS

• Direct-drive full-servo S-VHS transport, designed for continuous shuttling and heavy-

duty professional use

• Two available bit resolutions: 16-bit standard ADAT Type I, and 20-bit ADAT Type II

• 24-bit A/D and D/A converters

• +4 dBu balanced XLR and ELCO (multipin) connectors

• Selectable 16-bit dithered output for transfer to 16-bit systems

• Jog/shuttle wheel for fast navigation

• Analog Aux track for superb scrub and jog monitoring

• ADAT , SMPTE, video and word clock synchronization capabilities

• Dedicated SMPTE time code track

• Optional EC-1 8 channel AES/EBU digital audio interface

• Two custom vacuum fluorescent displays

• Extensive error reporting capability

• Optional CADI remote control

• Optional RMD remote meter display

Contents

Main ALESIS M20 P R Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Safety Instructions and Compliance Notices ......................................vii ii Track Record Enabling and Monitoring..............................................................1 Digital/Analog Input Selection and Routing ........................................................1 Metering 1 Transport Controls and Basic Recording.............................................................1 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 iii iv M20 SMPTE Synchronization Overview ..............................................................1 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 v Page IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLIANCE N S P PRODUCT: Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 ix I NSTRUCTIONS DE S CURIT I S Veuillez suivre ces prcautions lors de lutilisation de lappareil: x ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 BEIM BENUTZEN DIESES PRODUKTES BEACHTEN SIE BITTE DIE FOLGENDEN SICHERHEITSHINWEISE: INFORMATION TO THE USER FOR CLASS A DIGITAL DEVICE (FCC PART 15, CLASS A) INDUSTRY CANADA (DIGITAL APPARATUS) I ICES-003 ISSUE 2 xii CE DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 1-1 CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW, SETUP, AND B 1.1 M20 H Overview, Setup and Basics, Chapter 1 1-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 1.2 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION 1.3 AC POWER HOOKUP Chapter 1, Overview, Setup and Basics ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 1-3 1.4 LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS 1.5 ABOUT AUDIO CABLES 1.6 BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP 1.7 USE THE RIGHT TAPE 1.8 PREPARING THE TAPE PRIOR TO USE 1.9 EJECT TAPE PROPERLY 1.10 B 1.11 OPERATING ENVIRONMENT 1.12 AVOID ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 2-1 CHAPTER 2 C ONTROL AND C B 2.1 ABOUT THE FRONT PANEL Page 2.2 ABOUT THE REAR PANEL 2.2A PUNCH FOOTSWITCH 2.2B LOCATE/PLAY OR LRC REMOTE CONTROL JACK 2.2C ANALOG INPUTS AND OUTPUTS 2.2D TIME CODE IN AND OUT 2.2G VIDEO IN AND THRU 2.2H ADAT SYNC IN AND OUT 2.2I MIDI IN AND OUT 2.2J RS-422 IN (SONY 9-PIN) 2.2K METER BRIDGE/REMOTE PANEL OUT EDITING M20 OPERATING P 3.1 THE KEYPAD 3.1A 0 THROUGH 9 BUTTONS 3.1B UP ARROW/YES/UPPER CASE 3.1C DOWN ARROW/NO/LOWER CASE 3.1F ENTER/NAME 3.1G SELECTING PAGES 3.1H SELECTING PAGE PARAMETERS 3.1I ENTERING PARAMETER VALUES Editing M20 Parameters, Chapter 3 3-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 3.2 THE EDIT BUTTON 3.3 EDITING CONVENTIONS ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 4-1 CHAPTER 4 TAPE FORMATTING Formatting Tape, Chapter 4 4-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 4.1 SAMPLE RATE SELECTION Chapter 4, Formatting Tape ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 4-3 4.1A PULL-UP AND PULL-DOWN SAMPLE RATE SELECTION 4.2 WORD LENGTH SELECTION Formatting Tape, Chapter 4 4-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 4.3 FORMAT A NEW TAPE 4.4 RECORD TRACKS WHILE FORMATTING 4.5 EXTEND A PARTIALLY-FORMATTED TAPE 4.6 END FORMATTING 4.7 CERTIFY TAPE FORMAT 4.8 REFORMATTING: CAUTION! 4.9 LOCK OUT FORMATTING (SAFE MODE) 4.10 BULK ERASING 4.11 RECORDING A BENCHMARK TAPE ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 5-1 CHAPTER 5 TRACK RECORD ENABLING AND M 5.1 TRACK BASICS Track Record Enabling and Monitoring, Chapter 5 5-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 5.2 TRACK INPUT ENABLES 5.3 AUTO INPUT SWITCH 5.4 RECORD ENABLE 5.5 SAFETY MODE (ALL SAFE) 5.6 MONITOR INPUTS (ALL INPUT) Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6-1 CHAPTER 6 DIGITAL/ANALOG INPUT SELECTION AND ROUTING 6.1 DIGITAL SOURCE 6.2 INPUT SELECT 6-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6.3 TRACK OUTPUT SELECTION 6.4 INPUT SIGNAL ROUTING (ANALOG AND DIGITAL) Chapter 6, Input Selection and Routing ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6-3 6.4A ANALOG INPUT ROUTING 6-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6.4B DIGITAL INPUT ROUTING Chapter 6, Input Selection and Routing ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6-5 6.4C RECORD-ENABLING THE DESTINATION TRACKS 6-6 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 6.5 AUX ROUTING (INPUT AND OUTPUT) ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 7-1 CHAPTER 7 M 7.1 METER MODE SELECTION 7.1A CLEARING PEAKS Metering, Chapter 7 7-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 7.2 METER SETUP ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8-1 CHAPTER 8 TRANSPORT CONTROLS AND B ASIC R 8.1 ABOUT THE TAPE COUNTER 8.2 S 8-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8.3 P 8.3A PLAY BUTTON AND SYNC STATUS 8.4 JOG/SHUTTLE WHEEL AND SEARCH 8.4A JOG MODE ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8-3 8.4B SHUTTLE MODE 8.4C SEARCH BUTTON 8-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8.4D SEARCH MASTER ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8-5 8.5 OTHER TRANSPORT BUTTONS 8-6 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8.6 R 8.6A PUNCHING INTO RECORD 8.6B PUNCHING OUT OF RECORD ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8-7 8.6C RECORD WRITE-PROTECTION 8.7 REHEARSE MODE 8-8 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 8.8 AUTO RECORD 8.8A SETTING AUTO RECORD PUNCH POINTS 8.8B ENABLE AUTO RECORD 8.8C SET AUTO PUNCH POINTS ON THE FLY Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 9-1 CHAPTER 9 A 9.1 ENTERING, SELECTING, AND EDITING LOCATION P 9.1A S 9.1B COPY TAPE LOCATION Autolocation, Chapter 9 9-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 9.2 DEFERRED PLAY AND RECORD 9.3 PLAY-AFTER-LOCATE (AUTO PLAY) 9.4 LOOP BETWEEN START AND END LOCATE POINTS (AUTO RETURN) Autolocation, Chapter 9 9-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 9.5 SET PRE-ROLL Chapter 9, Autolocation ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 9-5 9.6 SET POST-ROLL 9.7 FOOTSWITCH-CONTROLLED LOCATION ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 10-1 CHAPTER 10 V Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11-1 CHAPTER 11 SMPTE, SYNC, AND OFFSET F 11.1 CLOCK SOURCE 11-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11.2 SMPTE R 11.3 TIME CODE SOURCE 11.3A INTERNAL ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11-3 11.4 CHASE REFERENCE 11-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11.5 REFERENCE COUNTER 11.6 SMPTE C 11.6A SET SMPTE OFFSET VALUE (PAGE 1) 11.6B SET SMPTE CHASE MODE (PAGE 2) 11.6C SET FLYWHEEL DURATION (PAGE 3) 11.6D PARK AHEAD (PAGE 4) 11-6 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11.7 INTERNAL GENERATOR 11.7A GENERATOR MODE (PAGE 1) ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11-7 11.7B TIME CODE START REFERENCE (PAGE 2) 11.7C ABS/START OFFSET (PAGE 3) 11.7D USER BITS (PAGE 4, OR PAGE 3 IF THE PAGE 2 VALUE 11.8 TAPE OFFSET ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11-9 11-10 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11.9 TRACK DELAY ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 11-11 Page MIDI F 12.1 MIDI DEVICE (PAGE 1) 12.2 MMC OUTPUT (PAGE 2) 12.3 MTC FOLLOW GEN (PAGE 3) 12.4 SEND SYSEX DUMP? (PAGE 4) 12.5 RECEIVE SYSEX DUMP? (PAGE 5) 12.6 SEND SOFTWARE? (PAGE 6) 12.7 LOAD SOFTWARE? (PAGE 7) Page Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 13-1 CHAPTER 13 UTILITY MENU 13.1 DIGITAL OUT (PAGE 1) 13.2 ONLINE SOURCE (PAGE 2) 13.2A ONLINE BUTTON 13.3 ONLINE CONTROL (PAGE 3) 13.4 ONE-BUTTON RECORD (PAGE 4) 13.5 INPUT MONITOR (PAGE 5) 13.6 CROSSFADE TIME (PAGE 6) 13.7 TIME CODE OUTPUT LEVEL (PAGE 7) 13.8 REWIND/FAST FORWARD TC OUTPUT (PAGE 8) 13.9 UNTHREAD TIMEOUT (PAGE 9) 13.10 SEARCH ENABLE (PAGE 10) 13.11 LOCATE BEFORE PLAY (PAGE 11) 13.12 MUTE UNTIL LOCK (PAGE 12) 13.13 DYNAMIC PUNCH (PAGE 13) 13.14 TRACK GROUPS (PAGE 14) 13.16 LOAD DATA FROM TAPE? (PAGE 16) 13.17 TAPE TYPE (PAGE 17) 13.18 ID STATUS (PAGE 18) 13.19 USER BITS (PAGE 19) 13.20 ERROR RATE (PAGE 20) 13.21 FRONT PANEL SOFTWARE VERSION (PAGE 21) 13.22 SOFTWARE VERSION (PAGE 22) ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 14-1 CHAPTER 14 THE LRC REMOTE CONTROL Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 15-1 CHAPTER 15 TUTORIALS AND APPLICATIONS TUTORIAL 1: MULTIPLE M20 OPERATION O SYNCHRONIZING MACHINES AUTOMATIC ID RENUMBERING MASTER/SLAVE INTERACTION ACHIEVING LOCK INDEPENDENT SLAVE MODE FORMATTING MULTIPLE TAPES MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, COMPLETE FORMAT MASTER FORMAT ENABLED, FORMAT EXTEND MASTER FORMAT DISABLED MASTER FORMAT DISABLED, FORMAT EXTEND ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 15-5 TUTORIAL 2: MAKING DIGITAL BACKUPS DEALING WITH DAMAGED TAPE MAKING A 16-BIT COPY FROM A 20-BIT MASTER ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 15-7 TUTORIAL 3: RECORDING DIGITAL AUDIO FROM OTHER SOURCES DIGITAL CLOCK CONSIDERATIONS 15-8 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 TUTORIAL 4: COMBINING M20S AND ADATS M20 T SAMPLE RATE VS. PITCH CONTROL INPUT MONITORING ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 15-9 POLARITY DIFFERENCES 15-10 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 TUTORIAL 5: SETTING UP INPUTS ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 15-11 TUTORIAL 6: UPDATING M20 SOFTWARE TUTORIAL 7: USING THE M20 WITH UNBALANCED INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16-1 CHAPTER 16 M20 SMPTE SYNCHRONIZATION OVERVIEW 16.1 SYNCHRONIZATION BASICS MASTER OR SLAVE? DIGITAL TIMING REQUIREMENTS 16-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16.2 THE ONE CLOCK PRINCIPLE 16.2A HOUSE SYNC 16.2B GENLOCKED TIME CODE Chapter 16, SMPTE Synchronization Overview ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16-3 16.3 REFERENCE COUNTERS VS. CLOCK SOURCES 16.3A LOCATION REFERENCE 16.3B REFERENCE CLOCK 16-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16.3 OFFSETS IN THE M20 16.3A SMPTE CHASE OFFSET 16-6 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16.3B INTERNAL GENERATOR ABS OFFSET 16.3C TAPE OFFSET Chapter 16, SMPTE Synchronization Overview ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16-7 16.4 SMPTE TIME CODE RATES AND TYPES 16.4A DROP FRAME 16.4B AUTO-DETECTION OF SMPTE RATES 16-8 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 16.4C VITC (VERTICAL INTERVAL TIME CODE) 16.4D MTC (MIDI TIME CODE) ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 17-1 CHAPTER 17 T IME CODE T 17.1 GENERATING TIME CODE ONTO A VCR Time Code Tutorial, Chapter 17 17-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 17.2 SYNCHRONIZING WITHOUT A T/C TRACK Chapter 17, Time Code Tutorial ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 17-3 17.3 RECORDING A TIME CODE TRACK 17.3A RECORDING SMPTE FROM ABS TIME Page CHAPTER 18 M T 18.1 ADAT HEAD CLEANING 18.1A HEAD CLEANING CASSETTES (OPTIONAL) 18.1B MANUAL HEAD AND TAPE PATH CLEANING Chapter 18, Maintenance and Troubleshooting ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 18-7 18.2 ADAT HEAD LIFE 18.2A HEAD ALIGNMENT Maintenance and Troubleshooting, Chapter 18 18-8 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 18.3 TAPE MAINTENANCE: SAFE TAPE 18.3 18.3B CARE OF ADAT TAPES Chapter 18, Maintenance and Troubleshooting ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 18-9 18.4 MAINTENANCE/SERVICE 18.4 18.4B MAINTENANCE 18.4C REFER ALL SERVICING TO ALESIS Maintenance and Troubleshooting, Chapter 18 18.4D OBTAINING REPAIR SERVICE ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 A1-1 APPENDIX 1 M20 HIDDEN FUNCTIONS POWER-ON BUTTON COMBINATIONS MISCELLANEOUS BUTTON COMBINATIONS Page M20 Software Version 2.00 M20 ADDENDUM 2.0 MA-3 ADVANCED FUNCTIONS Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 A2-1 APPENDIX 2 USING THE M20 DATA SECTION OF TAPE GENERAL DATA SECTION CONVENTION ON THE M20 M20 LOCATE POINTS AND SMPTE OFFSETS BRC M20 SONG START / SMPTE START OFFSET AND LOCATE POINT MAP BRC M20 PARAMETER MAP Page Page ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 A3-1 APPENDIX 3 M20 TRANSPORT & S Appendix 3, M20 Transport & System Error Messages A3-2 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 Messages ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 A3-3 Appendix 3, M20 Transport & System Error Messages A3-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 Messages ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 A3-5 Page M20 ADDENDUM 2.1 MA-1 M20 MAJOR FEATURE UPDATE: VERSION 2 RS-422 (SONY 9-PIN) SLAVE OPERATION RS-422 TRACK ARM: ON/OFF RS-422 MAPPING: 1-2, ODDEVN, (LOCAL) M20 ADDENDUM 2.1 MA-2 ID 1 OFFLINE WITH THE CADI REMOTE CADI TAPE AND REFERENCE COUNTER INDICATIONS WHEN ID 1 IS OFFLINE STORING LOCATE POINTS WHEN ID 1 IS OFFLINE M20 ADDENDUM 2.1 MA-3 TAPE TC DETECTION IN FAST WIND MODES TAPE TC IN THE TAPE COUNTER FIXED MODE TIME CODE GENERATION: TC START REF: F DIGITAL SCRUB: DIG SCAN: ON/OFF, NN dB I/O C SMPTE CHASE WITH THE STOP BUTTON TAPE TC UPDATING WHEN IN INPUT MODE VARI-SPEED AND PULL-UP/DOWN MIDI T NEW UTILITY PAGE ORDER CADI CASSETTE AUTO-INJECT DECK STANDBY MODE AUTO-PARK AFTER FORMATTING DEFERRED EJECT NEW RS-422 DEVICE ID IMPROVED SMPTE CLOCK SOURCE RECOGNITION