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ALESIS M20
PROFESSIONAL 20-BIT DIGITAL
RECORDER
OWNER’S MANUAL
FIRST EDITION VERSION 1.06
APPLIES TO OPERATING SOFTWARE VERSION 1.11
INCLUDES SOFTWARE VERSION 2.10 ADDENDUM
©1999 ALESIS CORPORATION
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ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Safety Instructions and Compliance Notices ......................................vii Safety symbols used in this product ................................................................................................ vii Please follow these precautions when using this product: ............................................................ vii Instructions de Sécurité Importantes ...........................................................................................
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Table of Contents 3.3 Editing Conventions......................................................................................................................4 Tape Formatting...............................................................................................1 4.1 Sample Rate Selection....................................................................................................................2 4.1a Pull-up and Pull-down Sample Rate Selection ................................
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Table of Contents 8.8a Setting Auto Record Punch Points................................................................................8 8.8b Enable Auto Record.......................................................................................................9 8.8c Set Auto Punch Points “On the Fly”.............................................................................9 Autolocation ....................................................................................................1
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Table of Contents 13.8 Rewind/Fast Forward TC Output (Page 8)...............................................................................3 13.9 Unthread Timeout (Page 9).........................................................................................................3 13.10 Search Enable (Page 10).............................................................................................................4 13.11 Locate Before Play (Page 11) ..........................................
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Table of Contents 16.3a SMPTE Chase Offset ....................................................................................................5 16.3b Internal Generator ABS Offset .....................................................................................6 16.3c Tape Offset....................................................................................................................6 16.4 SMPTE Time Code Rates and Types...........................................................
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Table of Contents MIDI Thru .............................................................................................................................................6 New Utility page order ........................................................................................................................6 CADI display changes..........................................................................................................................6 Cassette Auto-Inject ...................
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLIANCE NOTICES SAFETY SYMBOLS USED IN THIS PRODUCT This symbol alerts the user that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit. This symbol warns the user of uninsulated voltage within the unit that can cause dangerous electric shocks. PLEASE FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS WHEN USING THIS PRODUCT: 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instr
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Safety Notices 9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. When the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. 10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience re
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Safety Notices INSTRUCTIONS DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES SYMBOLES UTILISÉS DANS CE PRODUIT Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateur qu’il existe des instructions de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation jointe avec ce produit. Ce symbole avertit l’utilisateur de la prèsence d’une tension non isolèe à l’intèrieur de l’appareil pouvant engendrer des chocs èlectriques. Veuillez suivre ces prècautions lors de l’utilisation de l’appareil: 1. Lisez ces instructions. 2. Gardez ces instructions. 3. T
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Safety Notices 16. Ce produit, utilisè avec un amplificateur et un casque ou des enceintes, est capable de produite des niveaux sonores pouvant engendrer une perte permanente de l’ouïe. Ne l’utilisez pas pendant longtemps à un niveau sonore èlevè ou à un niveau non confortable. Si vous remarquez une perte de l’ouïe ou un bourdonnement dans les oreilles, consultez un spècialiste. BEIM BENUTZEN DIESES PRODUKTES BEACHTEN SIE BITTE DIE FOLGENDEN SICHERHEITSHINWEISE: 1. Lesen Sie die Hinweise. 2. H
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Safety Notices INFORMATION TO THE USER FOR CLASS A DIGITAL DEVICE (FCC PART 15, CLASS A) This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the ins
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Safety Notices CE DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY Manufacturer’s Name: Alesis Corporation Manufacturer’s Address: 1633 26th Street Santa Monica, CA 90404 USA declares, that the product: Product Name: M20 Product Type: Modular Digital Multitrack Recorder conforms to the following Standards: Application of Council Directive: 89/336/EEC; 73/23/EEC Safety: EN 60 065 (1993) First Edition, Amendment No.1 (1994) EMC: EN 55022:1988 Class A IEC 801-2:1991 2nd Edition, 4kV direct, 8kV air IEC 801-3:1984 2; 3V/
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CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW, SETUP, AND BASICS The Alesis M20 is an 8-track digital tape recorder that records on S-VHS videotape cassettes. It is compatible with the ADAT format used with several other digital recorders (Alesis ADAT, ADAT XT, LX20, and XT20; Studer V-Eight; Fostex RD-8 and CX-8; and Panasonic MDA-1). 1.1 M20 HIGHLIGHTS • Direct-drive full-servo S-VHS transport, designed for continuous shuttling and heavy- duty professional use • Two available bit resolutions: 16-bit standard ADAT Type
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Overview, Setup and Basics, Chapter 1 1.2 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION Please retain the M20’s shipping carton, which is designed to protect the unit during shipping, in the unlikely event that you need to return the M20 for servicing. Some carriers have restrictions on shipping electronic equipment without the original packing. The shipping carton contains: § M20 with the same serial number shown on shipping carton § Power Cable § Optical Cable § M20 LRC (remote control unit) § This instruction ma
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Chapter 1, Overview, Setup and Basics Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the M20 or any associated equipment with improper AC wiring. 1.4 LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS Although the M20 tolerates typical voltage variations, the AC line voltage may contain spikes or transients that can possibly stress your gear and, over time, cause a failure. There are three main ways to protect against this, listed in ascending order of cost and complexity: • Line spike/surge protector
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Overview, Setup and Basics, Chapter 1 1.6 BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, turn off all devices in your system and turn down your monitor system’s volume controls. The M20 provides 10 pairs of XLR connectors (8 pairs for audio in/out, 1 pair for the auxiliary analog channel, and 1 pair above for SMPTE time code). The nine sets of audio XLRs connect to your mixer’s tape or line inputs and outputs. An additional multipin ELCO connector , wired in
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Chapter 1, Overview, Setup and Basics 1.11 OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Mount the M20 in an equipment rack (requires 4 rack spaces) or place it on a table or shelf. Alesis advises against tilting the recorder; keep it horizontal. Also remember that heat shortens the life of electronic equipment. Please observe the following: • The M20 is designed to perform properly over a range of ambient temperatures from 10° C to +40° C (50° F to 104° F), in up to 80% non-condensing humidity. These are not absolute
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Overview, Setup and Basics, Chapter 1 Figure 1 (M20 Front Panel) 1-6 ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06
