Alesis ADAT
- Thread starter Sirion
- Start date
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Alesis ADAT
usable, but you'd need to get the ADAT tapes - not sure how much those run. and with used units, people like to say how many hours are on them, so I'm thinking so many hours could = time for maintenance, or poor performance past so many hours.
seems kind of pointless if you do have a computer that could handle recording, given what you can do on a computer nowadays.
but if someone gave me one, I'd probably play around with it.
if I was in the market for a stand-alone unit, I'd look into the all-in-one workstations with large storage capacities, on-board mixer, cd-burner, etc.
it does seem hard to pass up though - units that used to sell for hundreds are now pennies. seems like a good deal, but there's a reason that they don't have much value anymore.
usable, but you'd need to get the ADAT tapes - not sure how much those run. and with used units, people like to say how many hours are on them, so I'm thinking so many hours could = time for maintenance, or poor performance past so many hours.
seems kind of pointless if you do have a computer that could handle recording, given what you can do on a computer nowadays.
but if someone gave me one, I'd probably play around with it.
if I was in the market for a stand-alone unit, I'd look into the all-in-one workstations with large storage capacities, on-board mixer, cd-burner, etc.
it does seem hard to pass up though - units that used to sell for hundreds are now pennies. seems like a good deal, but there's a reason that they don't have much value anymore.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Alesis ADAT
They're still a usable recording format, and if you have an audio interface with ADAT lightpipe, it would mean that you could import all 8 tracks at once. They're a bit clunky though, and are not renowned for ease of integration, there are better ways to do it these days. I've still got one lying around somewhere! You also need to have a supply of good tape. They sound ok, but AD/DA conversion technology has come a long way since then. Money may be better spent elsewhere.
Cheers...................................wahwah
They're still a usable recording format, and if you have an audio interface with ADAT lightpipe, it would mean that you could import all 8 tracks at once. They're a bit clunky though, and are not renowned for ease of integration, there are better ways to do it these days. I've still got one lying around somewhere! You also need to have a supply of good tape. They sound ok, but AD/DA conversion technology has come a long way since then. Money may be better spent elsewhere.
Cheers...................................wahwah
innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
The Owl
New member
Re: Alesis ADAT
Definitely agree, the ADAT was a major breakthrough in its time but it does have its minues nowadays, namely the fact that even though the recording is digital it's STILL ona tape which will wear down and the data will be degraded, along with head wear and all. Plus, I'm sure Super-VHS tape is not real plentiful nowadays.
You're definitely better off with either a stand-alone DAW or computer nowadays.
Definitely agree, the ADAT was a major breakthrough in its time but it does have its minues nowadays, namely the fact that even though the recording is digital it's STILL ona tape which will wear down and the data will be degraded, along with head wear and all. Plus, I'm sure Super-VHS tape is not real plentiful nowadays.
You're definitely better off with either a stand-alone DAW or computer nowadays.
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: Alesis ADAT
The "ADAT tapes" referred to are VHS-S tapes; good luck finding these. The advantage over regular VHS is the stronger binder, which keeps the (finer) oxide particles on the tape longer. The blanks are formatted by the unit itself, but it takes a long time to do.
BITD, I recorded demos on an ADAT. The ADAT was the timecode master, SMPTE timecode locked to a pre-ME Windows computer running a sequencer. That computer stored the channel mutes for the mixer, and all the MIDI info. With a maximum 48k sample rate (don't know the bitrate), it sounded OK. Check this out -- our digital master was an Atari 1040ST running a Hybrid Arts 2-channel recorder! *smacking gums in old age*
If you score one, it's likely that you'll need some kind of workaround for storing punches, loops and such, since the optional Alesis control unit (BRC) might be hard to come by.
The "ADAT tapes" referred to are VHS-S tapes; good luck finding these. The advantage over regular VHS is the stronger binder, which keeps the (finer) oxide particles on the tape longer. The blanks are formatted by the unit itself, but it takes a long time to do.
BITD, I recorded demos on an ADAT. The ADAT was the timecode master, SMPTE timecode locked to a pre-ME Windows computer running a sequencer. That computer stored the channel mutes for the mixer, and all the MIDI info. With a maximum 48k sample rate (don't know the bitrate), it sounded OK. Check this out -- our digital master was an Atari 1040ST running a Hybrid Arts 2-channel recorder! *smacking gums in old age*
If you score one, it's likely that you'll need some kind of workaround for storing punches, loops and such, since the optional Alesis control unit (BRC) might be hard to come by.
Last edited:
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
J Moose
New member
Re: Alesis ADAT
I don't think many people, even back in the day thought they "sounded good" but YMMV. 10 years ago I owned four machines to keep three running... I had relatively good luck with mine but many friends had nothing but problems with tapes being eaten... It's a S-VHS format running at three times the speed it was originally designed for... a 120 min tape equals 40 minutes of record time.
Really, it's the worst of digital of analog all rolled together. I finally transferred anything of worth to the DAW & dumped my last machine & BRC for about $200 and I was all too happy to take it!
Originally, my first pair of decks... gently used... were $2500.
The 24-track Adat HD recorder... that's a pretty cool box for what it is.
BTW - Adat's are digital decks... NOT analog.
I see people referring to them as analog decks quite frequently...
I don't think many people, even back in the day thought they "sounded good" but YMMV. 10 years ago I owned four machines to keep three running... I had relatively good luck with mine but many friends had nothing but problems with tapes being eaten... It's a S-VHS format running at three times the speed it was originally designed for... a 120 min tape equals 40 minutes of record time.
Really, it's the worst of digital of analog all rolled together. I finally transferred anything of worth to the DAW & dumped my last machine & BRC for about $200 and I was all too happy to take it!
Originally, my first pair of decks... gently used... were $2500.
The 24-track Adat HD recorder... that's a pretty cool box for what it is.
BTW - Adat's are digital decks... NOT analog.
I see people referring to them as analog decks quite frequently...
Last edited:
KingMixer
New member
Re: Alesis ADAT
yea I've been interested in getting the ADAT HD 24 that records on hard drives, its got 1/4'' direct ins and outs so I think i know how it'd work with a mixer but the connection to computer is ethernet, which i don't think would really work with my computer or my Delta 1010 LT. I heard somewhere you can get some kind of adapter to send files over firewire from it is this true? anyone know anything about this? I would love to be able to have the freedom to record audio in the studio or go mobile or even do sound for film, but I'm not sure.
yea I've been interested in getting the ADAT HD 24 that records on hard drives, its got 1/4'' direct ins and outs so I think i know how it'd work with a mixer but the connection to computer is ethernet, which i don't think would really work with my computer or my Delta 1010 LT. I heard somewhere you can get some kind of adapter to send files over firewire from it is this true? anyone know anything about this? I would love to be able to have the freedom to record audio in the studio or go mobile or even do sound for film, but I'm not sure.
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