Info on "Blackface" ADATs

[alloutdrummer]

Hey--
I'm a Newbie with a very low budget and one of my friends recommended I get a "Blackface" ADAT to go with my Analog mixer. What's the scoop on these machines? What are their capabilities? Some info on these ADAT's or links to a page that provides some are much appreciated. Thanks a lot!
--Ned, the 14 Year-Old Engineer

 

[housepig]

Allout -

"Blackface" ADATs refer to the original, first generation ADAT recorders, because they had a black faceplate, as opposed to silver.

I like ADATs, I think they are great machines. Depending on your budget, though, I'd look for at least the second generation, ADAT XT. (from there you go to the third gen, XT-20 and LX-20 - XT-20 is 20-bit, LX-20 is also 20 bit but skimps a little on the controls to keep price down - if you have an XT-20, the theory was you'd add LX-20s for more tracks and use the XT as the master recorder, and the LXs as slaves.)

The benefits for going for an XT :

- it's younger
- it'll probably have less hours on the heads (they do wear out)
- it'll have some control options that the original blackface ADATs do not
- consider it like the 2.0 version of software - the one they release to fix all the bugs in version 1.0
- they aren't that much more expensive on the used market than a blackface

If you have a good library system around, check for a book called "Alesis ADAT - Evolution of a Revolution" that covers everything you'd possibly want to know about ADATs. Also check the website - www.alesis.com - go into their support pages, I'm sure they have downloadable manuals for all thier models - get the original and the newer manuals and compare!

hope this helps - good luck.

- housepig