Digital Audio Connections; About Digital Audio In/Out - Alesis ADAT-LX20 Reference Manual

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IGITAL UDIO
The digital input and output carries all eight tracks on a single fiber optical cable
(called the ADAT Optical Interface, and sometimes nicknamed the ADAT "Light
Pipe"). This powerful feature allows you to transfer digital audio between multiple
ADAT-compatible devices.
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BOUT
The ADAT Optical Interface cables carry digital audio between ADAT compatible
products such as multiple LX20s and ADATs, the QuadraVerb 2, Q20, many Alesis
keyboards, the ADAT-PCR computer interface card, and third-party products such
as the Digidesign ADAT Bridge and Yamaha 02R digital mixer. Since the fiber
optic connector carries the digital information for all 8 tracks, it is also useful for
backing up all tracks in one pass.
Digital bussing requires a fiber optical cable (included) for each LX20 in the system
(or any other ADAT-compatible product). Additional cables are available from
Alesis or your dealer in various lengths up to 16 feet. You can make this connection
while power is on or off, and the machines do not need to be turned on in any
particular order.
Examples: Probably the most common application is "cloning" one ADAT tape to a
second machine for backup. Basically, you patch the fiber optic output from the
machine with the tape to be backed up (the master) to the fiber optic input of the
machine doing the backup (the slave). Record-enable the slave tracks and press
play on the master to copy the original tape.
Another application is transferring all 8 tracks from an ADAT to a hard disk
recording system for editing. You would patch the ADAT fiber optic output to an
ADAT-PCR interface card's fiber optic input, press play on the ADAT, and record on
the hard disk system. To transfer the edited data back to the ADAT for storage
and/or backup, patch the ADAT-PCR interface's fiber optic out to the ADAT's fiber
optic in, and play back the hard disk data while the ADAT is recording.
These and other applications are described in more detail in Chapters 10 and 11.
To connect the digital optical network:
Locate the DIGITAL IN and DIGITAL OUT connectors.
Remove the connectors' plugs (if present) and store for later use.
Connect one end of the fiber optic cable into the DIGITAL OUT jack of the first
machine in the system.
Remove the clear, plastic tube covering each end of the cable (if present). The
cable is non-polarized, so either end can insert into the optical output.
Connect the other end of the fiber optic cable to the DIGITAL IN of the second
machine in the system.
Tip: if the machines are on, the end of the cable from the source machine will
glow red.
ADAT LX20 Reference Manual
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ONNECTIONS
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Chapter 1 - Setting Up and Making Connections
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