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Chapter 18, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 18-7
We do not recommend cleaning the heads with cotton or foam swabs, or chamois.
The safest and most effective cleaning is performed using a hydroentangled polyester
wipe (Techclean® Wiper #2350, available from Tech Spray) soaked in pure 99%
anhydrous (water free) isopropyl alcohol. This particular wipe is lint and particle-free,
designed for use in laboratory clean rooms. Note: other Techclean wipes are NOT
necessarily lint free; make sure you obtain this type or equivalent. If the head is severely
soiled or has been exposed to tobacco smoke or silicone-contaminated tape, you may
use a plastic-safe non-toxic VCR tape head cleaning solution such as Techclean
Professional Head Cleaner #1673 instead of isopropyl alcohol.
Hold the wipe against the head drum with your finger and rotate the drum counter-
clockwise. You should feel the head tips against your fingertip.
Do not move your finger on the drum; only rotate the drum. Moving
your hand may throw the heads out of alignment, requiring factory
service!
Clean all other objects in the tape path using the same materials, as instructed, paying
special attention to the linear head, and lower drum guide. Call Alesis Product
Support for more detailed information about head cleaning . Instructional videotapes
are available for a small charge.
18.2 ADAT HEAD LIFE
The expected head life for each ADAT varies according to a number of factors. Given
optimum conditions, tape quality, tape care, and operating environment, head life for
the average ADAT will always be better than if your ADAT is abused, placed in bad
environmental conditions and used with badly maintained tapes. Properly cared for,
your heads should last for thousands of hours; in fact, Alesis warrants the heads for a
period of 1,500 drum hours or one year, whichever comes first.
You should not subject your M20 to environmental extremes, humidity or moisture of
any kind, dust, dirt, extreme temperatures, extreme temperature fluctuations or any
kind of physical abuse (drops, shocks). Even though it has been built for heavy
professional use, ADAT is a very sophisticated piece of digital technology. It is going
to be used for your important projects so take the best care of your ADAT and your
ADAT heads possible.
Head replacement is not indicated unless a service technician cannot get an acceptable
signal from the head drum during a test procedure.
18.2A HEAD ALIGNMENT
The heads of each ADAT are pre-aligned at Alesis. No user adjustment is necessary.
Take care not to hit the rotary head drum or the linear head with any metal tools during
service.