Alesis XT-20 ERROR

[Pianoman]

Hey guys, I was rewinding a show on my Alesis xt-20, when I suddenly got an error message that reads:
no 9o od tc

I looked in the manual and it says:

no 9ood tc No Time Code. The XT20 is reading control track pulses, but no helical
scan time code. Usually, a video tape has been inserted into the XT20. Format the tape
in the ADAT format.

NOTE: “No good tc” will also appear if you insert a Type II (20-bit) tape
into an older, Type I-only machine. Make a 16-bit clone of any 20-bit tapes for use in
older-generation machines.


It obviously wasn't a video tape inserted in the machine because I had just finished watching the show. I tried resetting to factory by holding play and record while powering up but it still brings up the error. Ocassionally ERROR 07 will blink on the screen which means the heads need cleaned but then it dissappears and the other error comes back. I've tried at least 10 different ADAT's and it says the same for all. What can I do? Anyone had a similar experience and know of a way to fix this? Please help!

Jonathan

[flecom]

possibly stupid question, but have you tried cleaning the heads?

[Pianoman]

I have not tried cleaning the heads because
1. Alesis states that it's very difficult to clean the heads and that only professionals should attempt it because they are so easy to destroy permanently.
2. I have no idea how to clean the heads.

They have two cleaning tapes recommended in the manual (you know the ones that you pop in that clean the heads automatically) but I haven't looked those up on ebay yet, I wanted to see if there is a way to postpone the cleaning further.

I REALLY don't think the heads HAVE to be cleaned YET. Because I was watching shows and there was no skipping or flaws in the signal quality. If the heads were really that dirty the Alesis indicator would have shown up. There is supposed to be an indicator light that lights to give you some notice b4 the heads have to be cleaned (like 50-100 hours notice). This light never came on until the error appeared.

Now, interestingly I can get the error to disappear by rewinding the tape all the way to the beginning. Then I can fast forward to the beginning of the show, and hit play and for about five seconds it will say its playing (although the scanners don't scan and there is no audio), and then the error 07 appears again.

[greenalien]

As far as I know, the data is recorded on the tape in helical format, as with video recorders; however, the time code track might be recorded on a linear track along the edge of the tape, in which case it is read by a separate head. If this is the case (can anyone confirm / deny?!) then the read head for this is much simpler to clean, and harder to damage.

[shrad]

is it really harder to clean such a head than a galvo mirror or a dichro?

[dave]

Cleaning ADAT heads isn't too much of a big deal. Although its been ages since I have worked on a ADAT, as for recording studios they are a relic of the past..

And yes, the data is recorded in a helical format..

[Pianoman]

Alright guys, I ordered a cleaning kit with some acetone based cleaning solution and tips for cleaning the heads. I was initially afraid to try this because of Alesis's over cautious manual. But I quickly realized it's simple if you have any level of confidence with electronics. Is it wise to turn the player on so that the head will spin, and then lightly touch the tip to the heads. I thought this might get more dirt off, seeing as the additional centripetal force from the high rpm would force more grime outward?

[LASERGUY]

Question.....

Has the unit been in a humid envirorment?
I had a problem last summer... I had my setup in my large garage for a BBQ I was hosting for my co-workers. Everyone was looking forward to a Laser show.. The day before I got an error on my XT... I was panaking... I thren realsied it was so humid!
I got a fan and simply got some air ciculating in the garage. Slowly the ADAT started to come back to life. Not sure this is the same problem as I can't remember the code.
But with the season it could be a problem for you... Just one more bit of troubleshooting advice.

LG

[Pianoman]

Thanks for that tip LASERGUY. That's a possibility but I'm doubtful that's the problem. I considered that, so I turned my airconditioner to dehumidify mode and let it run several hours. That got the air pretty dry, but the player still wouldn't run. I'll try it again just for kicks. I need the air dry for when I clean it anyway. My cleaning kit should be here thursday or friday, I'll let you guys know how it goes!

By the way, in reference to some of the previous comments, I think that the time code track is recorded on a linear track along the edge of the tape because I got the player to read the time. It said it was playing, but my scanners werent scanning and I wasn't getting any audio. The time was progressing as though it was playing. It will only do this for 5-10 seconds however, before the ERROR 07 appears and it stops playing.

Jonathan

[ImageLight]

I wonder if ADATs suffer from the same Sticky tape syndrom as analog reel to reel tape machines. Might have to "bake" the tapes to get rid of the problem.