Alesis ALESIS M20 Basic Audio Hookup, USE the Right Tape, Preparing the Tape Prior to USE, Backup

Overview, Setup and Basics, Chapter 1

1.6BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP

When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, turn off all devices in your system and turn down your monitor system’s volume controls.

The M20 provides 10 pairs of XLR connectors (8 pairs for audio in/out, 1 pair for the auxiliary analog channel, and 1 pair above for SMPTE time code). The nine sets of audio XLRs connect to your mixer’s tape or line inputs and outputs. An additional multipin ELCO connector , wired in parallel with the 8 XLR audio pairs, can connect to a “snake” that goes to your mixer. Several manufacturers make ADAT/M20-specific cables that break out the ELCO connector into individual ins and outs.

1.7USE THE RIGHT TAPE

Use only premium quality, name brand S-VHS cassettes such as Quantegy 489 DM Digital Mastering Audio Tape, or Alesis ADAT Mastering Audio Cassettes. Other acceptable brands include Maxell XR-S Black, JVC XZ, Sony DASV, BASF Digital Master 938, Apogee AA-40,HHB ADAT45, and TDK SP Super Pro. The cassette shell, hubs, rollers and tape guides in S- VHS cassettes are precision devices that properly handle and protect the tape within them.

Caution: Do not use VHS cassettes. While they may appear to function properly at first, their less-than-premium formulation will decrease the reliability of your recording. They may also shed oxide and leave behind a coating of dirt that will interfere with future recordings, even if you switch back to premium quality tape. Defective tape may even clog the head, requiring service. Trust your work only to premium quality S-VHS tape.

1.8PREPARING THE TAPE PRIOR TO USE

Fast forward and rewind all new tapes at least once from end to end before attempting to format and record on them. This important step “unpacks” the tape properly, and leads to far more reliable operation (this is also recommended practice for DAT tapes).

1.9EJECT TAPE PROPERLY

After a session, eject the tape and put it in a protective case. Do not:

∙Leave the tape in the M20 when power is off.

∙Leave the tape halfway ejected in the well. Always remove completely after ejection.

∙Eject in the middle of recorded material. Malfunctions that could possibly damage the tape are statistically most likely to occur when inserting or ejecting a tape, so always eject where nothing is recorded.

1.10BACKUP

Accidents can happen ó so, like computer floppy disks and hard disks, back up your M20 tapes to another M20 or ADAT using the fiber optic digital connector (see Tutorial 2 for step-by-step instructions on backing up M20 tapes).

1-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06