Used on eBay right now
Alesis M20 20-Bit ADAT Digital Recorder 921 Drum HoursUsed · Buy It Now$300
ALESIS ADAT XT20 8 Track Digital Tape Recorder RackUsed · Buy It Now$200
Alesis QuadraVerb 2 Multi-Effects Processor ADAT Rack Unit w Power Supply WORKSUsed · Buy It Now$250
Alesis LX20 20-Bit ADAT 8-Track ONLY 302 Hrs Digital Recorder w/ ADAT XT RemoteUsed · Buy It Now$220
Alesis M20 20-Bit ADAT Digital Recorder 1120Drum Hours Deck Missing ButtonsFor parts or not working · Buy It Now$250
Alesis Adat AI4Used · Buy It Now$295
The Alesis ADAT is the machine that put digital multitrack recording in home studios. Announced in 1991 and shipping in 1992 for $3,995, it recorded eight tracks of digital audio onto ordinary S-VHS videotape, and several machines could be linked for more tracks.
History
Before the ADAT, digital multitrack meant six-figure machines. Suddenly a producer could track a full song at home. Wikipedia credits it with being largely responsible for the rise of project studios in the 1990s, and it entered the TEC Technology Hall of Fame in 2004. Its optical ADAT Lightpipe connection is still found on audio interfaces today.
The hip hop connection
DJ Shadow made Endtroducing….. (1996), an album built entirely from samples, with an Akai MPC60 MKII, a Technics SL-1200 turntable and an Alesis ADAT recorder.
Buying one today
The original and XT machines are 16-bit, while the XT-20 and LX-20 are 20-bit. Check the transport and head hours, and that tapes format and play back cleanly.
Alesis ADAT videos: demos, history and breakdowns
