Although Keyboard published a Hot Tips column on ADAT, a lot has happened since then, and it's time for an update. A lot of his ADAT tips get posted in my America Online site, and I thought they deserved a wider audience.
Tape is probably ADAT's most important mechanical component.
People often erroneously attribute reliability problems to the machine when the culprit is tape. If you suspect a bad tape, switch to another one immediately, and check whether the heads need cleaning as well. Incidentally, a bad tape doesn't mean you should give up on that brand. As soon as a company discovers a problematic batch, the remainders are taken out of circulation ASAP, and future runs are carefully scrutinized to make sure any problems are fixed. If you hear dropouts, digital clicks and pops, or changes in tone or level, back up and isolate the problem track by playing each track one at a time.