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ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 17-1
CHAPTER 17
TIME CODE TUTORIAL
17.1 GENERATING TIME CODE ONTO A VCR
The first step in time code operations is to record time code onto a master and make sure the
slaves can read it. If you’re starting from scratch (i.e., no one is providing you with a video
tape already striped with time code), and you simply want to use the M20 as a time code
generator without simultaneously having it chase video, follow this procedure:
1 Press EDIT, then INT GEN. The display may read “1 GEN MODE:...”. If not, press INT
GEN again until it does.
2 Press the UP/YES key until the display reads “1 GEN MODE: Free Run”.
3 Press INT GEN again. The display will read “2 TC START REF:...” Press the UP/YES
or DOWN/NO keys until it says “User Set”.
Alternative: If you want to generate time code several times from the same starting
point, you may set the TC START REF to “Abs”. Unlike the User Set, this will keep
the same starting point if a tape is in the M20 and the transport’s stopped.
4 Press INT GEN again. The display reads “3 START: XX:XX:XX:XX” where X stands for
the last number generated in User Set mode. Using the keypad, enter the number you
want time code to start at. Optionally, you may press INT GEN again and enter the
User Bits following the procedure in section 11.7d. (Often, this is set to the month, day
and year the tape is being made.)
5 Connect the Time Code Out jack of the M20 to the input of the VCR (or analog audio
recorder) you want to record time code on. Usually, this is on audio track 2 of a VCR or
on the highest track of an analog multitrack.
If it’s a VCR, run a video output from the VCR to the Video Ref In of the M20. This
will be used as a clock source for the M20 so that the time code generated is “gen-
locked”, i.e., in sync with the actual video frames. If no other video units are connected,
turn on the 75 ohm termination switch below the jack. Set the M20’s Clock Source to
“VIDEO”.
Black burst generator: For the best results, use a video black generator connected to the
M20 and the VCR’s reference inputs instead of the VCR’s own video signal.
6 Press EDIT to leave edit mode. The blue light will turn off.
7 Set the desired SMPTE Rate and type (24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps, drop or non-drop).
8 Press the REFERENCE COUNTER button until INT GEN is shown in the right
numeric display. Press INT GEN to turn its light on. Press the TC INPUT button so its
lamp is on.
At this point, the M20 is generating time code. You can see the right display counter count
the time, and the M20’s TC meter will light (“SIG”). Check the meter of the VCR for a good
level (usually from -5 to 0 dB). The VCR will normally have its own input level control. If
not, adjust the M20’s TC Output level using UTILITY (see section 13.7).