Alesis MASTERLINK ML-9600, Reference Manual

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Chapter 3
A
LESIS
ML-9600 R
EFERENCE
M
ANUAL
7
HD M
ODE
O
PERATION
3.1 HD
OR
CD M
ODE
?
Because the ML-9600 has both an internal hard disk and an internal CD-R drive, the ML-9600 has two
fundamental modes of operation:
HD mode and CD mode. The HD/CD button in the upper right-hand
corner of the unit toggles between those modes, and changes the functions of the transport control
buttons (
PLAY , REC , STOP , SKIP , SKIP , SCAN , and SCAN ).
HD mode is used when recording to or playing back from the internal
H ard D isk, and when creating
compact discs from audio recorded on the hard disk.
CD mode is used when playing back pre-recorded
C ompact D iscs, or when you want to copy tracks
from a CD to the internal hard disk.
3.2 HD R
ECORDING
S
ETTINGS
Before recording any audio to the hard disk, it is important to choose the desired input source, sample
rate, and word length for the recording. The ML-9600 offers great flexibility with respect to these last
two parameters, allowing a total of 12 different resolutions to be recorded.
3.2
A
I
NPUT
S
OURCE
Two input sources are possible: Analog or Digital. Pressing the INPUT SOURCE button on the front
panel will toggle between the two. Analog audio can either be input via the XLR or RCA jacks. The
XLR jacks are +4dBu nominal input level, while the RCA jacks are –10dBV nominal input level. Both
sets of inputs have 15dB of headroom from nominal input to clipping, resulting in a maximum of
+19dBu at the XLR inputs, and +5dBV at the RCA inputs.
Digital audio data is expected in IEC958 Type 1 format (professional) input either via the balanced XLR
inputs or via the unbalanced RCA inputs.
Important: The ML-9600 does not switch between its balanced and unbalanced digital audio
inputs. Both inputs are active simultaneously, and if digital audio data is sent to
both inputs simultaneously data corruption will occur.
When the input source is set to Digital, the system word clock rate is automatically set to the rate of the
incoming digital audio signal. This is true whether in playback or record, and in all modes of operation.
This allows the ML-9600 to operate as a clock slave in an all-digital setup. Caution must be used,
however, as all audio playback while in digital input mode will be at the incoming clock rate, despite
the rate at which the audio was recorded. For instance, if audio is recorded at 96kHz to the hard drive,
and then the unit is placed in digital input mode with the incoming sample rate at 48kHz, that recorded
audio will play at ½ play speed.
NOTE:
If the ML-9600 is in digital input mode and the incoming digital data is interrupted (by
removing the cable, for instance), the input source will switch automatically to Analog, with the sample
rate set to the last valid sample rate detected on the digital input, and with the word length remaining
the same as what it was set to in digital input mode.