Multiple Adat-Xt20 Operation; Overview - Alesis ADAT-XT20 Reference Manual

Chapter 5: Multiple ADAT-XT20 Operation
C
HAPTER
M
ULTIPLE
XT20 O
O
VERVIEW
By itself, a single ADAT-XT20 provides a lot of flexibility. However, a
multiple ADAT system greatly expands your recording and editing
possibilities. Keep in mind that since the XT20 is an ADAT-compatible
machine, you can intermingle any number of XT20s and other types of ADAT
together—up to 16 machines total for 128 tracks (see the section entitled
Combining XT20s and ADATs on page 73). When linking multiple XT20s and/or
ADATs together, the first ADAT in the chain is referred to as the "master",
and the rest are called "slaves". Each slave is locked to the master, and relies
on the time reference from the master machine to keep the system synchronized.
Connections are easy to make; one 9-pin D connector cable for each slave. A
slave will automatically detect a master and go into slave mode.
Using the 8-channel proprietary ADAT Optical digital bus, you can also bounce
tracks between machines in the digital realm. Not only does this result in a
perfect copy, but one that is perfectly synchronized with the original. This
means you can make perfect safety backups and archives of recordings. One
creative way of using a multiple ADAT system (though it can be done with just
one XT20) is to dedicate two tracks of one machine for stereo mix-down. Since
these mix tracks are always in sync with the rest of the system, you can execute
a seamless punch at any time. For example, you could mix-down different
sections of a recording independent from one another, making changes in the mix
as you go along.
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ADAT-
PERATION
INPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
OUTPUT
ADAT XT20 Reference Manual