ADAT Error 7

[jgourd]

I was at a gig and I popped my preformatted tapes into my ADAT stack and one of the machines starting displaying Error 7. I know this means "clean the transport" so I did. The error still remained.

I tryed 3 other formatted tapes that were formatted in this machine only 1 month before. No go.

As a last ditch effort, I tried formatting while recording. This worked fine.

I was afraid that the deck was out of alignment which would suck because it has less than 20 hours on it. When I got it back to the studio I tried a bunch of tapes in it and all played just fine. I then swapped the #1 deck's tapes for the "Error 7" deck and again, the tapes played fine on both machines. So it isn't an obvious alignment problem.

What could be the problem?

[mnicoletti]

The company that made the preformatted tape had a batch problem (now fixed), so some tapes were not formatted properly at their factory. Just reformat (as you did) and you'll be OK.

Mike

[jgourd]

I guess I forgot to mention that I formatted the tapes myself. I bought a box of ten 62 minute tapes and formatted them using the format multiple tapes mode.

Since I do live recordings the 62 minutes tapes are essential to my work. I know the formulation on them is thinner and therefore more prone to problems.

[Blue Bear Sound]

I've had similar difficulty with some of the unnamed company's (er,um,basf-emtech,er,um) tapes. Even reformatting doesn't fix the issue completely, according to the rep I talked to, it was a problem in the basic tape formulation....

They sent me replacement tapes and I haven't had the issue since.... although I have one HHB tape that if I format on my 3rd machine, doesn't read very well in others.....

I normally use Maxell's broadcast stuff and it has never given me any problems.

Bruce

[mnicoletti]

Ah, two different issues...

There WAS a formulation issue earlier. Look at the batch code on the spine of your preformatted cassette's shell. If there is a letter in there somewhere, it is OK. If it is all numbers and no letters, you MAY have a problem, but you may not.

Later there was an issue with incorrect formatting of these tapes at the manufacturer's factory.

Both of these have been fixed a number of months ago, though dealers could have some old stock around....

Mike

[jgourd]

While that may be true, I did state twice that I formatted them myself, in the machine that was throwing errors.

[mnicoletti]

Right, I'm thinking you may have a FORMULATION, not a FORMATTING problem. Even if you reformat a formulation-problem tape you will get errors. But you said that reformatting during recording worked OK, so that is puzzling...

You may want to check the batch number on the tape anyway to see what you've got....

Mike

[engineear]

YIKES! What is exactly the deal with error 7? Tried recording with a Quantegy DM 42.... error 7, 1,2,3, different tapes... no go. Played back a recorded tape, played ok. Played an older DM 126, played ok. Recorded and formatted on the fly with an above "no go error 7" tape and it worked. Ok, here's why I'm confused.... the original DM42 "error 7 no go" tape that I was able to record on while formatting when I went to playback I could get sound BUT the display read error 7 while playing the tracks back!!! When I STOPPED the tape the display read the locate point but when I engaged PLAY, display read error 7, BUT played the music on the track?????? EPROM, software problem?? I'm totally confused. Had an Alesis tech install v 1.03 and a new chip last June, under warranty - 170 head hrs, blah, blah, blah. Now what's a putz like me to do? Alesis warranty... YIKES!! The tech I went to is owed THOUSANDS $$$$ by the former Alesis... he's "a little miffed". I don't use the ADAT that much anymore, but of course now I need it for a substancial amount of work I have on my plate. Can this be fixed? I'm gonna try a different batch of tapes. Suggestions? Bruce where r u getting those Maxell broadcast quality tapes? Anybody - I'm..... how'd ya say....DESPARATE @ this juncture. Thanx Brian

[Blue Bear Sound]

Taken from the "Care and Feeding of Your ADAT" video -

"Error 7 is very common and indicates that the digital data recorded onto tape can't be read properly by the electronics (although the sync information CAN be read)...

...this could be an indication that just the heads are dirty. It could something as simple as that, and it could run all the way through to that the headstack just isn't any good.... ...a faulty IC or something like that.

...the first thing I would do with an Error 7 is open the machine up and do a full cleaning. If that doesn't do the job, then I would call the service centre...."


As far as the broadcast Maxells, a local mastering place here carries them... BUT - they are closing up at the end of the month, so I'm going to have to find a new place to get them......

Bruce

[jgourd]

http://store.yahoo.com/blankmedia/index.html

Seems to have good prices.

[mnicoletti]

I've seen error issues with Quantegys...........

[man@work]

Hi all,
Stumbled across this today.
http://www.tangible-technology.com/m...1.html#ERROR-7
May be of help to some??

[engineear]

This BBS truly is a wealth of knowledge. Thanx e-body for the posts. Bruce, are those Maxell's on the site jgourd posted the same ones you were talking about? Also, man@work, remember reading that b4... forgot about that....worth a try, thanx. mnicoletti - any tapes you like in particular? Boy this can be a royal pain in the arse!! What would be the updated deal on Alesis/Numark - any support there?

[Blue Bear Sound]

Enginear, yes... I beleive those are the same tapes.

[engineear]

OK.... now I'm really baffled again. Bought a BASF, formatted on my machine, went to record... tape ran about 2 seconds.... ERROR 7 ( it's ALMOST become the the bluescreenofdeath). Tried PREformatting 4 Quant's and this 1 BASF... all no go. Took a previously recorded Quant with some spunk left in it (ie space to record) recorded ALL DAY - overdubs, punch-ins yada yada ya. Took3 other PREVIOUSLY recorded Quants ( mind you ALL of these tapes have been ALL formatted on this same machine!) with spunk and all recorded flawlessly????? Is this ADAT now improperly formatting tapes so I am unable to record ( ie software prob etc?)...... if the headstack etc, etc in kaputz I should NOT be able to record on all of these older preformatted tapes, yes/no????? I'm con-fuse-ed! I know, I know if I can't fix it ...... get a bigger hammer!... believe me this has passed thru the visualization synapses of my grey lump. Anyone? At this stage of the aggravation I'd buy anything - maybe even a slightly used cigar from Slick Willey.

[jgourd]

You can take this with a grain of salt. The best luck I've had with my ADATs is with cheap Maxells from Best Buy. They sell a four pack of SVHS 120s for $17 that have never failed me.

[Automaton]

from my personal experience Apogee tapes have worked best. I've suggested them to those that I know who use adat, and they've said nothing but good things since.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Same with the Broadcast Maxells!

Bruce

[engineear]

Thanx all. I'm gonna try all of the above and c if any work. Still wondering if my adat is not formatting these tapes properly now that software v 1.03 was installed. I'll post any results as they come in, thanks again. Brian

[jgourd]

Can ADATs have their Firmware flash upgraded or do they need a new ROM?

[mnicoletti]

Which ADAT do you have? Any deck OTHER than the original black ADATs will be able to display the errors for you by pressing and holding SET LOCATE then pressing Track 3.

Find a section of tape that plays with little or no errors. Record 10 seconds, no audio needed. Go back and play that section and look at the errors again. If they have gone up, you have a Writing problem that may be dirty (write) heads and which would need a good cleaning.

You should do this since you MAY be writing errors to tape that you are getting away with for normal recording but are screwing up the formatting (which lays down the control track).

Do you have any edge damage on the tapes? This is where the control track writes....

Mike

[mnicoletti]

Which ADAT do you have? Any deck OTHER than the original black ADATs will be able to display the errors for you by pressing and holding SET LOCATE then pressing Track 3.

Find a section of tape that plays with little or no errors. Record 10 seconds, no audio needed. Go back and play that section and look at the errors again. If they have gone up, you have a Writing problem that may be dirty (write) heads and which would need a good cleaning.

You should do this since you MAY be writing errors to tape that you are getting away with for normal recording but are screwing up the formatting (which lays down the control track).

Do you have any edge damage on the tapes? This is where the control track writes....

btw, I like Maxell BQ or XRS Black. I have not had any problems with the BASFs, though.

Mike

[engineear]

Well, first off I'd like to thank e-body for their genuine and sincere support. This BBS has always been a family even tho mired in BS from time to time. Let's face it life is messy and everything does not end up hunky-dorey like a 1950ish father-knows-best TV series. Having said that I'll drop the rally-'round-the-flag stuff and get off my soap box and give you my meat'npotatoes(see Dan Quayle for spelling).

I tried All suggested tapes. Nothing worked. However, I COULD record on some old already-been-formated tapes ( ie. tapes that had been formatted on MY machine B4 MY adat WAS UPDATED TO THE CURRENT "FACTORY SPECS"). ?????? This did not make sense until I called the tech again and found out he has had a 50 percent FAILURE with the "IMPROVED" eproms he and supposedly e-body else was installing for Alesis. Well either the eprom or headstack is fashimeled cuz I can't format a freakin' tape on my machine. The light @ the end of the tunnel....... those damn BASF 20 bit formatted tapes WORK!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! Although the deck is not working as it should ( mind you 171 head hours) I can still "use " it now that I need it. Thank God for Paris and hard disk - even tho I still like freakin' ADAT - AND DON'T ASK ME WHY!!!! But I do. Question: Is there any HOPE for recourse as far as support from Numark/Alesis once the dust settles? And if not, why would u want to buy an ADAT if you have a 50/50 shot of the thing going haywire and then have to look down the barrel of a former "disgruntled" service tech of Alesis' trying to fix the deck with NO warranty support from the company AND a shot of getting ANOTHER bad chip or headstack IF they can get it?????? I don't care how low they drop the pricing.... $400 - 500 to fix with NO guarantee of the damn thing working after being "fixed" ? Buyer beware and be informed. If anyone has any realtime info please enlighten me and anyone else considering buying an ADAT. Thanx all - Brian.

[mnicoletti]

At the time of my release from Alesis (6/15/01) there were no longer any ADAT techs in repair. As the person who ran Tech Support and Service, it pains me even now to know that. Yeah, I know: I need to let go...

For Alesis' sake and for the sake of their loyal customers, I hope the new owner shows some good business sense and rehires some or all of these people. Time will tell.

Mike

[engineear]

Mike, do you know of any way some of Alesis" loyal customer base could possibly impress upon the new management just how concerned and troubled many, many people are and just how important their support is for their business? Thanx for all your time and input.... I'm gonna continue to hope. Brian