From: kudla@acm.rpi.edu (Robert Kudla)
Subject: Re: EM reviews the Alesis ADAT... and loves it
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 20:48:26 GMT

In <2941@news.cerf.net> maurices@spock.dis.cccd.edu (Maurice Shihadi) writes:
>What does it cost to replace the recording mechanism once it goes bad?

What does it cost to replace a hard drive head when it crashes?  You
buy a new hard drive.  What about a DAT deck?  You get a new DAT deck
or pay a huge amount to replace the bad part.  It's a fact of life in
any hitech situation. 

> What happens to the other tracks when lets say track eight is being
> recorded on?  Are they being constantly written to as well during each
> punch in?

How does the implementation matter here?

> Dropouts in the anolog world can be masked out somewhat, what about
> digital dropouts?

What about digital dropouts on a DAT or hard drive system?

> Ever hear the difference between aliasing and distortion?  Lets use
> the 1622 with no peak meters with the ADAT and find out.

I'm not sure I trust Alesis' mixers either, but there's certainly no
law against using other people's mixers with the ADAT.  Or if you
can't afford 'em, you can record *real* carefully.  Just like on any
other digital system. 

>Are we going to be able to purchase S-VHS tapes allready formatted
>or will we have to constantly take the time to format store bought 
>tapes?

If Alesis doesn't sell them (or even if they do, if they overcharge)
there will be a cottage industry doing so pretty quickly, I'd say. 

>If one wants to punch in at a moments notice, how long does it take
>for the ADAT to engage the recording mechanism?

How long does it take on an analog machine?  On a DAT?

>How long does the information last on tapes in a digital format stored on S-VHS
>tape before the data is currupted?

How long does information stay on analog tape, or a DAT?

>How much outside noise will the machine generate when in record mode? 
>Do we need to buy a glass case for it also?

How much does a DAT or a computer system generate?

>Why can't the ADAT act as a backup device for direct to disc mastering
>workstations (it supposedly does everything else)?  

Because it just came out.  It took a while for DAT backup drives to
come about as well. 

>Why can't the ADAT read SMPTE without striping a track and without 
>purchasing the BRC controller?

Because it's not part of the design specification.  What exactly do
you want from a $4,000 digital 8-track system?  Be happy that it
supports frame accuracy.  That's better than you can *ever* get on any
analog system, and probably from DAT. 

>It isn't my intention to trash Alesis, I am just concerned about all
>the "wonderful" things I've been hearing from salesman concerning the
>ADAT over the past three years and the fact that I can't get the same
>answer twice unless I call Alesis.  Furthermore, I have my answers
>to the above questions but I really would like to compare notes before
>I go out and pay retail for this thing.

I really don't care much about the ADAI; it's way out of my price
range as a hobbyist.  But I see an awful lot of nitpicking going on.
*No* review can cover every aspect of a product using new technology.
I think it's ludicrous to try.  Wait till the initial frenzy passes
over and the bugs start getting worked out.  I'm sure that within a
couple of weeks someone on r.m.s will get one and start complaining. 

Besides that, a lot of your concerns are concerns that apply to
digital recording media of all kinds, and some to recording in
general.  It sounds like you're picking nits with digital recording as
a production method, and I think you should consider your own motives
before complaining under the guise of concern over a new product.  You
can still get a good 8-track for about half the price of an ADAT; if
that's what you want, go for it.  Me, I have a feeling that if hard
drive systems don't mature in the next few years, my first
multitracking deck will end up being an ADAT or a clone thereof. 

>In my oppinion Alesis has generated alot of excitement over their product
>in order to create the illusion that the ADAT is an industry standard.

When there is only one brand of a given device on the market, you bet
it becomes an industry standard.  Who is there to deviate?

>This concept should perpetuate itself so that demand is high enough
>to keep the product sold at retail or above for as long as possible
>in addition to taking market share from some of the other major players in
>the analog and digital domain.

Selling "at retail or above" is entirely based on demand.  People
think it's too expensive, it comes down.  People can't believe it's so
cheap, it goes up.  Advertising is designed to make the price go up if
possible.  Did you really think Alesis designed this thing out of the
kindness of their musical hearts? 

As for "taking market share from other players", if they can deliver a
quality product at a smaller cost than the other guys, more power to
them.  Success in a field like Alesis is in pretty well depends on
getting as big a market share as possible, and that means someone else
loses a share.  If more people end up buying units, no one loses.
Business is business. 

Rob


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