Interpolation indicator?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wireneck
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Wireneck

Wireneck

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I recently had my adat worked on by alesis because something was up with the take up reel (they also cleaned the heads while it was there). I have only had the machine back for a few months. Now the little sunburst indicator is flashing (Interpolation Indicator). Im noticing static in my recordings when i play back tapes. The tapes didn't have this static before hand that im aware of. The troubleshooting section of the manual says clean the tape heads, make a backup copy of tape. I can't backup the tape since i only have one adat. Is there anything i can do to clean my heads without sending it back to alesis? It was a very long ordeal before. The manual says to use a Dry VHS cassette, where can i get one of these, and is there a certain one thats better than others. I guess that is my main question. Sorry for such a long explanation.
 
That indicator means that there is a problem in reading the data from the tape.... due to a variety of reasons....

Seeing it occasionally is qquite normal, as tapes shed - especially if you tend to reuse any tapes or do serious overdubs....

However, when it is constant or continuous it can mean something as simple as the tape itself is failing (in which case you back up the tape or risk losing the data!) or more serious as in a problem with the head, the tape path, or even a badly formatted tape...

Hopefully, you made a Benchmark tape when you got the unit so that you have a verifiable tape to compare against one that is failing (ie - you put the benchmark tape in the unit and see if you still get the interpolation indicator - if you do, then it is not likely the tape itself that is the culprit -- if you don't then very likely the tape IS the problem.)

Either way, it's probably a good idea to get your tape duped as soon as possible if the material is worth saving.... get a buddy with an ADAT or have it copied at a local studio....
 
Ok so

Ok so this isn't an issue of cleaning? The light doesn't stay on continuously but it does blink pretty regularly and I hear some static in places where its blinking alot. Bruce thanks for the info, what do you mean when you say the tape "sheds"? Just curious.
thanks again
chris
 
Any magnetic tape sheds its particles over time.... all over your tape path - which is why regular cleaning is necessary.


BTW - you DON'T want to use those crappy head cleaning cassettes - they're useless.... (yes, I know the manual recommends it - the manual's wrong!)

See if you can grab a copy of the Alesis/BASF/Emtech's video entitled "The Care and Feeding of Your ADAT" -- it provides an excellent tutorial on the proper manual cleaning method.... if you don't do learn to do this yourself, you'll have to take it into the shop for cleaning every 250 hours or so...!

And if you don't do the regular maintenance, you will see a lot of machine downtime!
 
?

Any idea where i can find that video? I did a search on some different places but didn't come up with anything. Thanks
chris
 
I still recommend the video.... in 10 minutes the process becomes CRYSTAL CLEAR....

I know ADAT maintenance and don't find their written instruction clear enough for someone who's unfamiliar with the unit.

Try emailing Alesis or EMTECH for a copy....

Email:
techsupport@emtec-multimedia.com

EMTECH 's site: http://www.emtec-usa.com/
 
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Well, I could have mentioned the hidden function to make the drum spin while cleaning, which is REALLY effective when it comes to getting all the dirt away, but I don't know if I want to recommend that to a novice...
 
lol

Yeah don't go giving me any "special tricks", i can barely afford the stuff i have. I dont need to go tearing it up.

Ill check out the site, and see about getting that video. I figure i can't go wrong with both.
 
one more question

SHould the hour counter on my adat ever reset? For some reason i think alesis may have reset it, when they worked on it. Im not at home right now but i think its reading something like
5 12. Is that only 5 hours? Maybe im just reading it wrong.
 
No... it can't be reset by a user - (a tech could...)

A reading of 512 means it has 512 hours on it...!
 
Re: one more question

Wireneck said:
SHould the hour counter on my adat ever reset? For some reason i think alesis may have reset it, when they worked on it. Im not at home right now but i think its reading something like
5 12. Is that only 5 hours? Maybe im just reading it wrong.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what Cuzzin' Brucie said! Similar to trying to set back the odometer on an automobile!

Yo Cuz' Bruce, prior to buying the HD, I normally had my beloved ADAT's serviced at an authorized Alesis service center located in NY. When Alesis fell into fiscal failure, my friend who was employed there, was laid off and re-located to a southern state.
I purchased one of them Maxell/ADAT recommended head cleaners,popped it in my XT and waited for the head-cleaner to perform it's job! Upon completion, inserted a tape and what did you know, hi-end loss accompanied by signal distortion with the interpolation indicator flashin' every minute or so! I inserted head-cleaner again then popped in another tape with same negative results! A 3rd time insertion of head-cleaner,yet rather than risk destroying my tapes, I turned off XT in frustration and waited several days before using unit. Few days later,pristine sound with
no interpol indicater appearing when recorded tape was played.
Now the Maxell cleaner is only good for 20 head-cleaning jobs which I used only 3, I figured I was good to go, however i learned that after 20-30 so hours of ADAT use, the inter pol light would flash every now and then followed by tape/signal degradation. After calling my friend for advice,he informed that even though head-cleaner was designed for ADAT's, the band-cleaner portion of the Maxell causes slight abrasions on ADAT's heads and that the SOLE purpose of these head-cleaners were to provide a "quick-fix" for temporary head-cleaning,but to avoid
at all cost's unless one doesn't have the access to pro service.
ADAT's are intricate and tempermental pieces of equipment,requiring the utmost of care. I prev'ly tried using a short-cut and realized that more harm than good came out of my decision to use a head cleaner.
Though, I now use the HD, just wanted to thankyou for ADAT-care advice U have provided in the past about proper maintenance of these recorders !

:cool:
 
thanks again bruce

Thanks again bruce, i figured that i was reading it wrong.
 
The other reason those head cleaning tapes are useless (in addition to abrasiveness) is because they usually simply move any debris from the head over onto the rest of the tape path - meaning you haven't actually cleaned anything, simply moved gunk off the heads and onto the capstan or pinch roller where it sticks itself onto your tape for next time!

Full manual cleaning using the proper technique is best and since ADAT service can be a pain - it's best to simply learn how to do it yourself!
 
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