ADAT head cleaning... help

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ssseals

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I'm getting the dreaded "Error 7" (head cleaning) message on my ADAT XT20. This happened not long after I played back a friend's tape that he did his demo on. I figure his tape was dirty. I made sure it was an S-VHS tape. It sounded fine when I was playing it and I recorded on my own tape for about an hour after that until suddenly a couple of tracks cut out and I got the error message. The machine only has about 95 hours total.

I've heard dreaded things about sending items to Alesis to be fixed, like not getting them back forever. Musician's friend has an ADAT head cleaner for $16 and AMS has a big one for $100. Any suggestions? I tried a normal dry VHS head cleaner and it didn't help. Thanks.
 
The only tapes that play back universally well in all ADATs are the BASF pre-formatted ones, where the alignment tolerances are very strict.

Passing tapes formatted by your friend's machine will work, MOST of the time, provided that the alignment of both machines is not too dissimilar.

I'm just throwing around numbers here... but let's say your friend's machine work great for his stuff but his alignment is out of spec by +3%. And your machine works great for you, but is out of alignment by -3%. When formatting tapes on each of your respective machines, there's no issue - but if you try to bring over your friend's tape, the machine balks because it can't read a tape whose format is off by 6%!

90% of the time, tolerances between machines are much tighter, meaning people can freely exchange tapes, but machines DO go out of alignment (just like people!) and a small percentage of users experience tape-swapping issues.

As far as cleaning, you shouldn't use ANY consumer-oriented dry cleaning cassettes - they are abrasive and will tear up your heads. There is the Blackwatch cleaning tape made FOR MDMs in emergency cases, but really the ONLY way to clean the machine's heads and tape path is picking up a copy the of "Care and Feeding of Your ADAT" video tape and learning how to clean it yourself. The video is only $10 and the procedure isn't hard once you learn how.

(But it is too difficult a process to try and describe via a post, otherwise I would have... )

Bruce
 
Good post, but it still doesns't describe the procedures as clearly as the video...

I know it's more money, but considering a pro cleaning job will run at least $50, and you should do it at least every 6 months, it's a worthwhile investment.........

Bruce
 
I agree, that one should purchase the video. Just shows what one will be getting into. Cheers!

Fangar
 
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In the 4 years I have owned ADAT's, I have never, ever cleaned my heads myself! In NYC, we have an ALESIS auth service center
which a good friend of mine cleans mine for $10!
Lord know's I'm in trouble if he ever decides to leave or go's and visits that GREAT BIG ADAT in the SKY!
:cool:
 
Contacting Alesis

I wanted to get a copy of that ADAT video for reference, but the e-mail I send to Alesis (both parts dept and their general address)keeps getting bounced back. Do they have a new e-mail address?
 
Thank y', thank y' very much!

Thanks for the info, Bear!
 
just a guess

It's probably the idler wheel..that fucker dirties up quicker than the heads..

--Sal
 
Actually... when the idler gets dirty it usually means more flaky transport issues, but yeah - it gets gummed-up pretty good and the debris can fly around..........

The Idler is a user-maintenance item that should be cleaned, if not replaced at every head cleaning. Most people don't think about it and when they get all kinds of transport/drive problems, it's usually the first thing to check!

Bruce
 
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yeppers

I read that in the head cleaning thingie from Alesis..I bought the special rubber cleaner and everything :P I should order 50 or so just so I can replace them instead of cleaning, as they suggest..especially if Alesis goes any further 'under'.

--Sal
 
where d'ya get this stuff?

Can anyone suggest a good source for cleaning supplies (Lint-free chamois, pure alcohol, etc.). As well as a source for idler wheels for ADATs? Thanks!
 
Idler Wheels you'll have to order from Advanced Musical Electronics (the company the bought all of Alesis parts stock).

I don't have the contact info handy though....

The cleaning solutions you can get from any pro audio or electronic component/parts shop. You'll want pinch roller cleaner for the rubber parts -- DON'T use alcohol on the rubber - it will dry it out and cause it to crack.

And you MUST use at least 90% isopropyl alochol - rubbing alcohol is NOT the same at all..... (rubbing alcohol contains lubricating additives - for the skin - that make it useless on tape heads and actual can cause more harm than good...)

Bruce
 
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