ADAT
{{Short description|Digital audio tape format}}
{{About|the digital tape format|the digital audio transfer standard|ADAT Lightpipe|Indonesian law|Adat|the tRNA-specific ADA|adenosine deaminase}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox storage medium
| name = Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT)
| logo = ADAT logo.svg
| image = Victor XG180 S-VHS videocassette.jpg
| caption = An S-VHS tape, which is also used for ADAT
| type = Magnetic cassette tape
| encoding = Lossless real-time
| capacity =
| blocksize =
| read = Rotating head
| write = Rotating head, helical scan
| standard =
| owner = Alesis
| use = Professional digital audio
| dimensions =
| weight =
| extended from = S-VHS
| extended to =
| released = {{Start date and age|1991}}
| discontinued =
}}
Alesis Digital Audio Tape, commonly referred to as ADAT, is a magnetic tape format used for the recording of eight digital audio tracks onto the same S-VHS tape used by consumer VCRs, and the basis of a series of multitrack recorders by Alesis. Although originally a tape-based format, the term ADAT later also referred to hard disk recorders like the Alesis ADAT HD24.{{cite web|last=Cooper |first=Michael |title=Alesis ADAT HD24 |url=https://www.mixonline.com/technology/alesis-adat-hd24-369644 |website=MIX |publisher=Future plc |date=July 1, 2002 |access-date=December 20, 2023}} In 2004, recognizing the ADAT for "beginning a revolution of affordable recording tools," it was inducted into the first-ever TEC Awards TECnology Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=TECnology Hall of Fame 2004|url=http://legacy.tecawards.org/hof/04techof.html#23 |date=2004|access-date=December 20, 2023}}
History
Alesis announced the first ADAT model at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 1991, with the first ADAT recorders shipping over a year later in February or March 1992.{{cite book |last=Peterson |first=George |editor-last=Robair |editor-first=Gino |date=1999 |title=Alesis ADAT: The Evolution of a Revolution |publisher=Mixbooks |page=2 |isbn=0-87288-686-7 }} This original ADAT model recorded up to 8 tracks of 16-bit digital audio on a standard S-VHS tape cartridge.{{cite magazine|last1=White |first1=Paul |last2=Mellor |first2=David |title=Alesis ADAT |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/alesis-adat/9503 |magazine=Sound On Sound |publisher=SOS Publications Group |date=September 1992 |access-date=December 20, 2023}} Additionally, up to 16 ADATs could be connected to each other to record up to 128 tracks simultaneously with sample-accurate timing. This capability and the ADAT's low cost (it was originally introduced at {{usd|3995}}) were largely responsible for the rise of project studios in the 1990s.{{cite web |last=Petersen |first=George |title=In Memoriam: Keith Barr 1949-2010 |website=Mix Magazine Online |url=http://mixonline.com/news/keith_barr_obit_2508/index1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829053857/http://mixonline.com/news/keith_barr_obit_2508/index1.html |date=August 25, 2010 |archive-date=August 29, 2010 |access-date=September 25, 2021 }}{{cite web |title=1991 Alesis ADAT Modular Digital Multitrack |url=https://www.mixonline.com/technology/1991-alesis-adat-modular-digltal-multitrack-383615 |website=MIX |publisher=Future PLC |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=December 20, 2023 }}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Alesis ADAT XT LRC Remote Control.jpg
| caption1 = LRC (Little Remote Control)
| image2 = Alesis BRC Master ADAT Controller.jpg
| caption2 = BRC (Big Remote Control) Master ADAT Controller
}}
Alesis produced several models of ADAT recorders. The original ADAT (later referred to as Blackface) and the ADAT XT record 16 bits per sample (ADAT Type I). A later generation of machines—the XT-20, LX-20 and M-20—support 20 bits per sample (ADAT Type II). All ADAT machines use the same high-quality S-VHS tape media. Tapes recorded in the older Type I format can be read and written in the more modern machines, but not the other way around. Later generations are capable of recording at a sample rate of either 44.1 or 48 kHz, common in the audio industry. Pitch control is available by varying the sample rate, and thus tape speed accordingly.{{cite web |url=https://alesis.de/sites/default/files/2018-04/adat_hd24_manual.pdf |title=ADAT HD24 Reference Manual |website=Alesis.de |publisher=Alesis |page=4 |date=August 2001 |access-date=October 24, 2022 }}{{Rp|42}}
With locate points it was possible to store sample-exact positions on tape, making it easy to find specific parts of digital recordings. Using auto play and auto record functions made it possible to punch in/out at predetermined points, rather than relying on human timing ability to start and stop recording at precisely the right instant.
ADAT machines could be controlled externally with the Alesis LRC (Little Remote Control), which could be attached to the ADAT with a 1/4" tip/sleeve plug, and featured the transport controls and most commonly used functions. Alternatively, the BRC (Big Remote Control) could be used, which included many more features that the stand-alone ADAT did not have.{{Rp|4}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}