Alesis Implements New ADAT Type II 20-Bit Format On All ADAT-Model Recorders

January 29, 1998 -- Alesis Corporation announced that all three of their ADAT-model digital multitrack recorders will use the ADAT Type II 20-bit recording format, according to Jim Mack, Alesis Vice-President of Marketing. Previous to this announcement, the Type II 20-bit format had only been used in Alesis' professional M20 recorder, scheduled to begin shipping in February 1998. The Type II format will now also be implemented in Alesis' recently-announced ADAT-XT20 and ADAT-LX20 (see related release for more information on these new products).

"The resolution of 20-bit recording, combined with the additional signal-to-noise ratio over 16-bit formats, makes a dramatic improvement in audio quality," said Mack. "Audio professionals know that using a higher digital recording resolution allows them to ensure the highest possible quality when mastering to consumer playback formats. The advent of ADAT Type II brings that level of quality to every recording musician."

The ADAT Type II format records eight tracks of true, linear 20-bit digital audio onto tape, without using external converters or multiplexers. No other modular digital multitrack recorder currently manufactured offers this capability. 20-bit recording offers much greater sonic detail than 16-bit recording since each additional bit doubles the number of values that may be recorded, resulting in an increased dynamic range and lower quantization distortion.

All ADAT Type II-format recorders, including the M20 and the recently-announced XT20 and LX20, offer compatibility with the original Alesis ADAT, the ADAT-XT and other ADAT Type I-format 16-bit recorders. The M20, XT20 and LX20 will automatically detect whether an S-VHS tape has been formatted at the ADAT Type II 20-bit format or the ADAT Type I 16-bit format. The ADAT Optical ports and ADAT Sync jacks on the back of the new Type II recorders are exactly the same as those on older ADAT models. Audio that has been recorded in the ADAT Type II 20-bit mode may be converted to 16-bit ADAT Type I audio through the ADAT optical output, so the M20, XT20 or LX20 may be combined in a system with all existing ADAT-format recorders.

For more information, visit their web site at www.alesis.com.