Alesis AI-1 ADAT to AES/EBU, SPDIF and Sample Rate Convertor

This Alesis AI-1 is used and in good condition.

The Alesis AI-1 is a straightforward 1U box, at the heart of which is a two-channel sample rate converter. You can feed a 48kHz stereo digital signal in at one end and a 44.1kHz version comes out of the other -- or vice versa. Aside from sample rate conversion, the AI-1 is also able to convert between S/PDIF, AES/EBU and ADAT formats. When working with ADAT, the AI-1 is able to send or receive pairs of ADAT tracks as stereo signals, and the selection of track pairs is made using the AI-1's front panel. The AI-1 is also compatible with the Alesis BRC, and in multiple ADAT systems, the BRC may be used to provide remote control of the AI-1's functions.

Alesis have striven to make the AI-1 as intuitive to use as possible; the front panel hosts buttons for selecting the signal source, the signal destination and, if an ADAT is involved, which pair of tracks is concerned. The AI-1 automatically recognises the source signal's sample rate, and a pair of buttons allow the user to select a destination sample rate of either 48kHz or 44.1kHz. All the buttons include status lamps but, other than the power switch, there's nothing else on the front panel.

The rear panel is, if anything, busier than the front, with in and out connectors in all three digital formats: optical for ADAT; optical and phono for S/PDIF; and XLR for AES/EBU. There's also a BNC connector, which provides a 48kHz clock output, and a pair of ADAT 9-pin sync sockets for use when the AI-1 is hooked into a multiple ADAT/BRC system. In a BRC-driven system, the 48kHz clock feeds into the BRC and the AI-1 is also linked into the ADAT chain using the 9-pin sync connectors. Power comes in via a mains IEC socket, which makes a nice change from the dreaded wall-wart!