ttuTRoDUcTtotrf: your Before unpacking newDigital Reverb, a moment look take to through instructhis tion manual. We'vemade it briefand informative. Somehelpful setupthoughts are includedalongwithsomeapplication hints. The MICROVERBo represents clear breakthrough signalprocessing II a in technology. (Reduced Utilizing AlesisR.l.S.C. the Instruction Computer) Set architecture, the MICROVERB provicies II clean,quiet, professional digitalreverberation the with costand simplicity springunits. entire processing of The digital is system contained on a s i n g l ec h i p , d e v e l o p e db y A l e s i sR e s e a r c h e p a r t m e n ts p e c i fi c a l l yf o r t h e D , M I C R O V E R I I . U s i n gh i g hs p e e dc o m p l e m e n t a r y - m e t a l - o x i d e - s e m i c o n d u c t o r B (CMOS) siliconprocessing, MICROVERB chip replaces the II several circuitcardsof components, whileconsuming verylittlepower. The reverbprogramsweredeveloped our interactive rogmsimulation develon and opmentsystem.Philosophically, objectiveof reverberation to enhancea dramatic the is performance, adding space,power, depth.Natural spacestendto soundmorepleasingthanthe simulated reverb typessuchas springsand plates, and forthisreason, we useroomterminology describing programs. programs in our The coverawiderangeof sizesand qualities, includesuchunnatural and conceptsas gatedand reverse types. ,wSTA[|'LATtONt Guitars, Keyboards: TheMICROVERB has highimpedance II inputsideally for suited usewithinstrument pickups.Further, the leftinputonly is used,the inputsignalwillappearas mono if (present bothchannels) in atthedry sideof themixcontrol. Adjusttheinputlevelforthe levelindicator flashingto red on occasional transients. greencondition the indiA of catorshowsthatthe signalis sufficient good signalto noiseratios. for MixingGonsoles: The MICROVERB handlesmono or stereosendsat all systemlevels. II The input circuitry the MICROVERB can easilyhandle +4 levels 20 dB peaks), II (+ of while havingenough inputgain to interface with the extremely signallevelsof budget low recording systems. with instruments, the leftinputaloneis used with a mono As if source,it willappearin bothchannels the dry output,leaving reverb of the outputinfull stereo.In professional it applications, is suggested that the outputcontrolbe set a t m a x i m u mw h e r et h e M I C R O V E RIB w i l l b e s td r i v em a x i m u m e v e l s t l o w , I l a impedances. When using with the sendsand receives a console, mix control of the shouldbe setto fullreverb. llounting: The MICROVERB as a part of the AlesisMicro Series, mountable the MicroII is in RackAdapter, wherethreesuch devicesfit perfectly. Assembly quickand simple, is a single screw secures eachdevice place. in Theunique design theMicro of Series case allowsthe devicesto lock together form a solidrack package, to standaloneas to or singleunits. Powen The MICROVERB is pcnrvered a remotesupply providing9 voltsAC througha 3.5 II by mm plug.Thispowersupplyapproachkeepsstraymagnetic fieldsfrominterfering with lowlevel signals, allows powersources easyconversion alternate (220V), further to and reducesthe unit'sphysical panelspace.Although sizeand valuable manyMicro series devicescould be poweredby a singlesupply,this is not advisable, groundloops as wouldbe set up betweenunits,leadingto excessive humand noisein the system. APPL'CAT'OIYS.. a reverb thatit represents in ln of II is MICROVERB a revolutionthedevelopmentdigital size phenomenal price/performance while the reducing physical fromlarge, ratio, in The you of hardware towhat cannowholdinthepalm yourhand. 16programs bulky into research Alesis thepheby of MICROVERB thedistillationyears exhaustive II are of to room settings intimate in From small, naturally space. nomenon sound itoccurs as of II MICROVERB gated reverse reverb effects, and large spaces, useful to unobstructed of the and that level flexibility willexpand polish sound any a offers powerful of sonic input portability, and its simplicity convenient characterrecording. Moreover, rugged quality in performance, sound live for istics make thelogical it studio choice recreating HOW7O USE M'CROVERB'I INYOUN STUD'O The 16programs MICROVERB offera wide rangeof ambientspaces.lts compact, in II formatmeansthateventhe smallest trackstudiocan own morethanone affordable 4 MICROVERB One of the greatestdifferences IL betweenhome recordingsand top reverb flightrecordproductions in the qualityand numberof high performance is processors. and smallerstuSimplystated, big studioshavea lotof digitalreverbs the diosusually don't. MICROVERBchanges II allthat. The illustration showsa typicalreverbassignment a no holdsbarredrecordprofor duction.Whilethis setup may not representthe capabilitiesof your own recording The efforts, does illustrate modernrecordings it why soundso spaciousand dramatic. you 16bit processor MICROVERB allows to createthissenseof spacewithcrystalin II lineclarityand greatresolution. 'sound Theseprogramswere chosenfor the purposeof creatinga stage'for the musicalperformance. Thereis a welldefinedsenseof threedimensional spacethat is occupiedby eachinstrument: to rightand frontto back.Theblocksinthe illustration left indicatethe physicalplacement each instrument, the spreadingof the sound of and due to the psychoacoustic imagingcharacteristics each program.Noticethat the of smallprogramshavemoreof a centeredspatialimagewhilethe largeprogramsare wider, moreopenand spacious. programsare listedby numbernextto each instrument. These proRecommended gramsuggestions basedon cunentpopularusesof digitalreverb, useyourimagiare but nationand pleaseexperiment. Musical style,personal tasteand creativity yourguideare lines. This mix uses 9 MICROVERB programssimultaneously. affordability II The of MICROVERB easily bringsat leasta portion thismixwithinthe reachof a//studios. II of The mix controlsettings II applyto eitherthe mix controlon MICROVERB for stand aloneoperation, the settingscan apply to the sendsand receives a mixingconor of sole.IMPORTANT! Whenusedwiththesendsand receives a mixingconsolethe mix of control MICROVERB shouldalwaysbe setfullycloclovise, the returns the on II on and consoleoannedhardleftand riohtfor the fullstereoeffect. PROGRAM SNAREDRUM LEADVOCAL BACKGROUNDVOCALS. M E D I U M 4O R L A R G E 1 IVEDIUMs atcDry 60 MIXCONTROL %Wel (ouitar. svnth. LEAD INSTRUMENTS sax. etc.) ANDKEYBOARDS RHYTHM GUITAR HORNSECTION STRINGS PERCUSSION AND CYMBALS 1 LARGE S M A L LI o r 2 2 LARGE LARGE1 LARGE1 OR MEDIUM 2 50 50-100 60-50 50-100 60-70 TOMS.. KICK DRUM BASSGUITAR. HI HAT. MEDIUM3 SMALL1 SMALL2 SMALL1 or 2 50 does causeinterference radioor television to reception, whichcan be determined terenceby one or moreof the following measures: - Reorient receiving the antenna. -Relocatethe productwith respectto the receiver -Move the productawayfromthe receiver -Plug the productintoa different outletso that productand receiver on different are branch circuits. lf necessary usershouldconsultthe dealeror an experienced the radio/television technician foradditional suggestions.The mayfindthefollowing user prepared booklet by the Federalcommunications commissionheipful:"How to tdentityand Rbsotve Radio:TVlnterterenceProblems'.' Thisbookletis available fromthe:U.S.Government Printing Office Washington, D.C.20402 (StockNumber004-000-00345-4) byturning equipment andon,theuserisencouraged trytocorrect interthe off to the sPECrF CATrOtfS: FREQUENCY RESPONSE DYNAMIC RANGE SIGNALLEVELS 20KHZ(DRY), 1sKHZ(REVERB) 2dB :t +1Khz 90dB p r s T o R T r . .N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , t % ( T y p t c A l ) .o . -10TO+ 20dBV INPUT: PEAK (REVERB) +8 OUTPUT: 5 dBV PEAK (DRY) OUTPUT:20dBVPEAK + 1MEGOHM ACHCHANNEL E 5OO OHM,MONOINPUT K 1 6B I TL I N E A R C M P 32 KILOBYTES 3 MILLIoNoPER.ISEC INPUT: MATRIXED STEREO FULLIMAGED OUTPUT: STEREO (NOTSUPPLIED) EXTEBNAL, SPSTSWITCH O R A N G EP O W E RN D I C A T I O N : I P G R E E NS I G N A L R E S E N T : RED:OVERLOAD INPUT AIN G I\,4IX RATIO OUTPUT LEVEL PROGRAM STEREO INPUTS: PHONE 7q" STEREO OUTPUTS: PHONE %" DEFEAT: PHONE Y4" POWEB: 3.5mmPHONE 9V AC, 5 VOLT-AMPERES I N P U T I M P E D A N C.E. . .. CONVERSION SCHEME PROCESSING MEMORY PROCESSoR SPEED. . . . FORMAT DEFEAT L E V E L I N D I C A T I O.N. .. CONTROLS PROGBAMS CONNECTIONS POWER ALESIS warrantsthis productto be lree of defectsin material and workmanship unbernormar usefor a periodof 90 days.Thetermof thiswarranty beginson the dateof saletb the purchaser. Units returned forwarranty repairtoALESlS authoiized oran ALESIS warranty repairbtation will be repairedor replacedat manufacturer's option,f reeof charge. Thiswarrarity void if factory ii determines defect to be the resultof abuse, neglect,alterati-on attempteilrepairby unauor thorizedpersonnel. ALESIS assumesno respo-sibility lossor damage,dirbctor-consefor that gye_rllql, may result fromthrsproductfaiiing perform any time.All unitsreturned to at to A L E S I S r a n a u t h o r i z e d L E S I S e p a i rf a c i l i i ym u s t b e p r e p a i d ,i n s u r e d a n d p r o p e r t y o A r , packaged.ALESISreserves rightio update dny unit retl.rneid repair. the for ALESIS'res6rve6 the rightto changeor improvedesignat any time withoutpriornotice. Warranty appliesin U.S. only.Forwarrantyinformalion all othercountries pleasereferto Vourlocaldistributor. in PRINTEDIN R.O.C U]TIIEDWARRANTY: PFOGRAIIIS; to II in available the MICROVERB wereselected offera completerange Theprograms Divided the reverb types,spanning entirerangeof musicproduction. of contemporary and speintolarge,smalland specialeffecttypes,the programsare all very different about very usefulfor certainspecificmusictypes.(Generalizations cific,but likewise can with applications, specificexamples, be foundin the sectionon applications.) Small Programs: by spaces haveshorterdecay times and are characterized their Smallreverberant withoutexcesdecay.An impulsebeginsdecayingimmediately, exponential smooth, for suitable Especially and chambershavethis basicquality. sound.Plates siveinitial proto character the original add little purposepercussion, smallprograms the generat do gram material, obviously not conveya feelingof open spaciousnessAt longer but and mayseemrestrictive tonalfor suchsmoothmatethe decaytimes, smallprograms in are The programs organized orderof increasing and rialai instruments vocals. timefrom 1 to 6. decay Plograms: lledium spacesd iffer f romsmalI and largespacesinthewaythatthe initial Mediumreverbeiant Withmedium spaces. between as attackand decayreact, wellas thetonaldifferences amountof initialechoesas comparedwith a spaces,the attackgenerates moderate largerspaces.The decay is longerthan that with a small room These medium progrims are someof the mostsoughtafterroomand platespacesand will be used on vocals,guitars,keymostof the reverbchoresneededsuch as lead and background etc. boards,horns, echoesfor a periodof timefromthe onsetof an spacesreturninitial Largereverberant periodis unevenbefore periodis a function the roomsize.Thisinitial of wherethe impirtse, II decay begins.The largeprogramsof the MICROVERB are the smoothexponential room thanthe morebland Small Sucha reverbsoundhas rnorecharacter to similar halls. The to openspaciousness vocalsand instruments, large beautiful, soundand lendsa programsare not intendedto be perfectlysmooth,and should be used with cautionon be the sounds, gated programs_should tried. pe16ussive For material. largepercussion from 1 to 7. by are ine largeprograms organized sizeand decaytime numbered Gated: d at ayof G a t e l a n d G a t e 2 d i f f e r i n t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e s o u n d a n d t h e re c e o f t h e t a i l o f the popular withsnaredrums, effectcan be variedconsidgatedsound.Especially the erablywiththe mixcontrol. LargePrograms: MiCROVERB ltrPtograms STALLl AMBIENCE SMALL2 AMBIENCE SMALL3 SMALI-ROOM SUALL/I SMALLPLATE ROOM IIEDIUT 1 SMALL/MEDIUM ROOM 2 T.EDIUM SMALL/MEDIUM UDUT'3 MEDIUMROOM PLATE/STRONG MEDIUM MEDIUM 4 ATTACK IMIVlEDIATE ROOM TEDIUII5 MEDIUM/LARGE PLATE/SOFTER TEDIUT6 MEDIUM DELAYED ATTACK ROOI\,I VOCAL LARGEI LOWDIFFUSION ROOM 2 LARGE MEDIUM/LARGE LANGE3LARGEROOM LARGE4ENDLESSSPACE GATEl POWERGATE GATE2 BRIGHTGATE and generates and uses radiofrequencyenergyand if not installed Thisequipment may instructions, that used properly,l is, in strictaccordancewith the manufacturer's to causeinterfeience radioand televisionreception.lt has been type tested and found withthe specifidevicein accordance for to complywiththe limits a ClassB computing whicharedesignedto providereasonable 15 J in cations Subpart of Part of FCCRules, Howevefthere is no installation. in protection againstsuch interference a residential lf installatlon. this equipment will guarantee that interference not occur in a particular FgcNofrcE, H16 I I ; LEFT -FRON ru | Relatlvedpth otttre Soundstage (a tuncdon ol rYd/dry mlx rafo and dodh of rc ...