Alesis Launches New ADAT Models

LX20

XT20

Alesis Corporation announced the introduction and immediate availability of two new ADAT-format recorders, according to Jim Mack, Alesis Vice-President of Marketing. The new ADAT-XT20 has already begun shipping to Alesis dealers, and the new ADAT-LX20 will become available in March. Both recorders implement

Alesis' new ADAT Type II 20-bit recording format (see related release for more information on the ADAT Type II format).

"For the first time, Alesis can offer several choices in ADAT-format recorders," said Mack. "People can now use the model that works best for their applications, whether they're musicians recording simple demos at home, to medium-sized studios using ADAT for a variety of projects, to the highest end of commercial music and post production facilities."

The Alesis ADAT-LX20 is a brand new recorder that offers ADAT-format recording in an economical, lower-priced package. Designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to other affordable digital recording tools while offering better-than-CD sonic quality, the LX20 provides eight tracks of uncompressed linear digital audio. The LX20 allows musicians and home studio owners to take advantage of the powerful ADAT Type II 20-bit digital recording format to produce album-quality recordings.

The Alesis ADAT-XT20 replaces the ADAT-XT in Alesis' recording product line. Like the LX20 and the M20, the XT20 implements the ADAT Type II 20-bit recording format. The XT20 offers an improvement in audio quality over the current ADAT-XT model by providing state-of-the-art 20-bit A/D and D/A converters. Its feature set includes a fast tape transport, onboard digital editing, and extensive front-panel autolocation capabilities. Designed for project and professional studios, the XT20 will also offer a lower retail list price than that of the current ADAT-XT model.

The following differences between the LX20 and the XT20 should be noted:

• Digital Converters: Both the LX20 and the XT20 offer 20-bit A/D and D/A converters, but the XT20's converters provide a wider dynamic range and lower harmonic distortion than those of the LX20.
• Chassis: The XT20 offers a custom-designed, die-cast solid aluminum chassis with an isolated housing for its internal power supply, while the LX20 implements a conventional steel-cased housing.
• Audio Interface: The LX20 provides only unbalanced -10dBV input and output connectors on RCA jacks, while the XT20 also offers a balanced 56-pin +4dBu connector in addition to the unbalanced interface.
• Front Panel Controls/Features: While the XT20 offers similar controls to the current ADAT-XT model (onboard digital editing with Tape Offset, Track Copy and Track Delay, 10 locate points, meter ballistics control), the LX20 will provide controls similar to those on the original Alesis ADAT (limited onboard editing, five locate points, no selectable meter peak hold/clear controls).

Both the ADAT-XT20 and ADAT-LX20 are compatible with the Alesis BRC Master Remote Control.

Introduced in 1991 as the world's first affordable modular digital multitrack recorder, the award-winning Alesis ADAT has since become the most successful professional multitrack recorder ever made, with over 100,000 units in use worldwide as of July 1997. The ADAT format offers the ability to record eight tracks of linear digital audio onto standard S-VHS cassettes with amazing clarity and audio fidelity, exceeding the sound quality of any analog multitrack recorder, while remaining affordable and easy to use. Specifically designed for professional audio recording, ADAT recorders employ a modular design that may be used as a stand-alone 8-track device, or linked together to form a digital recording system from 16 to 128 tracks. ADATs inexpensive S-VHS tape offers recording times of over an hour, making it the perfect format to handle any application from demo tapes to film post production.