Alesis ALESIS M20 owner manual Format a NEW Tape, Record Tracks While Formatting

Formatting Tape, Chapter 4

4.3FORMAT A NEW TAPE

Use only S-VHS blank tapes formulated specifically for Super VHS video or digital audio applications. Never use standard VHS tapes.

“Exercise” the tape: Before formatting, fast forward the tape to the end and rewind it to even out the tape pack and sweep any contaminants off the tape.

Operation	You press…	You see…
Insert blank tape	Tape into tape	Display shows “noFO,” Format button
	chamber. Do this	flashes
	gently; the
	machine will
	“grab” the tape
Enable formatting	Format button	All record lights turn on
	(with Edit button
	off)
Initiate formatting	Hold Record	Display message advises you of
	then press Play	formatting progress

What happens between initiating formatting and the actual process of formatting depends on the current tape status.

Tape status	The M20…
Unformatted, at start of tape	Begins formatting immediately
Unformatted, partway through tape	Rewinds, then begins formatting
While rewinding from current position,	Disables formatting to avoid re-
goes from unformatted to previously	formatting a partially formatted tape.
formatted portion	Either extend the format from this
	point on, or for a complete format,
	rewind, then initiate formatting
Formatted, in Leader or Data section of	Rewinds, then begins formatting
tape
Formatted, in Audio section of tape	Extends format after entering record
	(see section 4.5 for information on
	extending a format)

4.4RECORD TRACKS WHILE FORMATTING

The procedure is similar to standard formatting, except:

∙Record-enable (section 5.4) any tracks to be recorded prior to pressing the Format button.

∙No audio will be recorded before the counter shows 00:00:00.00 ABS time.

4-4 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06