Schematic request: Alesis BRC (Big Remote Control)

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Jim Leach

Jim Leach

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#1
I looked around and can't find a good place to file this thread, so if I missed something, Mods, please feel free to relocate.

I am about to purchase an Alesis BRC which will (hopefully) control my HD24 [24-track hard disc recorder]. It was originally designed to control many ADAT machines, daisy chained together. ADAT uses SVHS tape for audio recording. Anyway the HD24 is 24 tracks od digital recording onto hot-swappable hard drives. But since access is orders of magnitude faster on the HD than spooling tape, there can be sync issues... (it CAN allegedly daisy chain HD24s to provide 48+ tracks, up to 128 max or something silly like that)

I have the Alesis service manual, and it indicates an appendix for the schematics, but they are not there. It must have been a separate file or insert added at the repair facility. I do have the "confidential" service tech final testing procedures at the end of the copy of the manual I have so it seems to be "complete".

Please have a look around and see if you have one or can point me to an online source. I can't find it anywhere and I was digging pretty deep...

Thanks in advance for any help!

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Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

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Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by Robert Harvey » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:16 am

This is my first post so Hi there, and I hope it doesn't look like I'm hijacking this, but I have an Alesis HD24 which I love and would heartily recommend to Ed, as well as a BRC which will only operate (without little random popping noises) when the two are synced to 44.1, If I were to get, say an ART Syncgen and uses it as the master clock would this enable them both to sync at 48?

Thanks,

Robert

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Re: Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by zenguitar » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:26 pm

Hi Robert,

Rather than keeping your question hidden in another thread I've split it off as a new topic. I've also renamed it. Hopefully that will get it seen and generate some useful replies.

Andy
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Re: Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by James Perrett » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:59 pm

It has been a little while since I dealt with ADAT sync but don't you just set the sample rate on the BRC and the ADAT's follow suit? Of course, if you are feeding digital signals to the ADAT's you will need to ensure that the ADC's are clocked from the BRC too.
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Re: Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by ed.king » Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:57 pm

The BRC needs a 48 clock via the wordclock in. If you check out the BRC user manual there is a refernce to this, the clock does of course get passed on downline.
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Re: Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by Robert Harvey » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:45 pm

Thanks Ed, (and Andy and James) The BRC has an internal clock at 48kHz which drives the slave HD24 but, and this is the infuriating thing, it will only sync (noiselessly) at 44.1kHz) which means you have to physically wind down the Pitch control on the HD24 to get them to sync. It works, but it’s just less than satisfactory. I’ve had the HD24 for about five years and love it: it’s bulletproof, the sound (or its ability to reproduce what I put into it) is faultless and it’s so easy to use; I also have an iMac and Logic but I just prefer the hands on-approach of a 24 channel mixer and the HD24 although I fully appreciate the Logic setup is far more powerful. (Old dogs, new tricks etc.) I got hold of the BRC on Ebay a couple of years ago but the syncing problems meant I left it alone and plodded on with the LRC which sadly has a mind of it’s own with its irritating hit and miss attitude to go zero or locate punch points so I thought I’d have another go with the BRC… So I’ve gone ahead and ordered an Art Syncgen and a couple of BNC cables in an effort to finally nail the syncing problem. I’m sure there will be sighs and raised eyebrows at my tenacity and reluctance to accept modern methods but I really love the simplicity of this thing and think it sounds fantastic. I find it irritating that the BRC is supposed to be be the master at 48kHz, but it will only noiselessly sync with the HD24 at 44.1kHz. I will report my findings whether anyone is interested or not!

Robert

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Re: Alesis HD24 & BRC sync question​

Post by ed.king » Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:42 am

I know exactly what you mean, when I was using this configuration the issue was resolved by using an Alesis AI-1 (discontinued but sometimes seen for sale on e-bay etc) taking the 48 w/c out into the BRC and configuring it as w/c master. I ran 2 DAWS downline from this and a digi desk back into the recorder with no problems once set up.
 
#5
I had found that thread (and others) prior to posting here.

The master word clock may not be needed- if the BRC is the latest revision. The service manual details some mods to improve performance but I think any later controller will have been built this way. I will of course confirm.

Also adding pre-roll on the tracks assists with synching at startup. I read about that as well since the BRC is made for tape and HD24 hard drive access is much faster.
 
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