From: maurices@spock.dis.cccd.edu (Maurice Shihadi)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: EM reviews the Alesis ADAT... and loves it
Date: 26 Sep 92 13:27:38 GMT
Organization: Coast Community College District, Costa Mesa, CA

In article <53603@dime.cs.umass.edu> barrett@gleep.cs.umass.edu (Daniel Barrett) writes:
>
>	I haven't seen this mentioned in r.m.s. yet, so here goes.  After
>months of vapor and smoke, the Alesis ADAT has been reviewed in ELECTRONIC
>MUSICIAN magazine.  In short, they think it's absolutely terrific.  Wow.
>
>                                                        Dan


Not to burst any bubbles but EM thinks everything is terrific.


Let us discuss how long the recording head that uses helical scanning
lasts.  

Additionally:

What does it cost to replace the recording mechanism once it goes bad?

 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?

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

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

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

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

Is the OPTIONAL AES/EBU module shipping yet?  Is it the only module
that will interface with the ADAT because of its proprietary interface
or can lets say NeXT users purchase the AD2400 (?)  digital interface
from Stealth for half the retail price and take the digital out from 
the ADAT into the digital input of the AD2400(?) into the NeXT and back
out again through the AES/EBU of the AD2400(?) to a DAT or other archiving
device that other studios can press CD from?

Has anyone seen a working BRC controller and is it shipping yet?

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

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

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.

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.
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.

I hope the ADAT is all that it says it is; I guess more time will tell.




maurices





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