Reference Manual This page intentionally left blank 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Table Of Contents Introduction..........................................................5 Welcome!...................................................................................................... 5 About the Multimix USB ...................................................6 Multimix USB Key Features...................................................................... 6 Aditional Features of the Multimix 12 USB and Multimix 16 USB ......................................................................................................... 7 How to Use This Manual ...................................................8 A Few Words for Beginners..............................................9 Chapter 1: Getting Started ................................11 Hooking up the Multimix USB ........................................11 Using Proper Cables ..........................................................11 Setting Levels ......................................................................12 Chapter Two: A Tour of the MultiMix .............13 Patchbay...............................................................................13 Mic Inputs (Channels 1 ­ 4)...................................................................... 13 Line Inputs (Channels 1 ­ 4)..................................................................... 13 Line Inputs (Channels 5 ­ 12) .................................................................. 14 Digital Output Jack..................................................................................... 14 PHONE Jack............................................................................................... 14 AUX RETURNS ........................................................................................ 14 AUX SENDS .............................................................................................. 14 ALT 3/4 OUT ............................................................................................ 14 2-TRACK..................................................................................................... 15 MAIN MIX OUT....................................................................................... 15 CTRL RM OUT ......................................................................................... 15 Channel Strips ....................................................................15 Fader ............................................................................................................. 15 MUTE / Alt 3/4......................................................................................... 15 PFL / SOLO............................................................................................... 15 PAN or BAL................................................................................................ 16 Aux................................................................................................................ 16 EQ................................................................................................................. 16 Master Section.....................................................................17 Main Mix Fader........................................................................................... 17 Alt 3/4 Fader............................................................................................... 17 2TK To Mix................................................................................................. 17 Alt 3/4 To Mix ............................................................................................ 17 Solo Mode.................................................................................................... 17 HDPH / CTRL RM................................................................................... 18 MIX Switch.................................................................................................. 18 ALT 3/4 Switch .......................................................................................... 18 2TK Switch.................................................................................................. 18 Aux Ret A Level.......................................................................................... 18 Effects / Aux Ret B level .......................................................................... 18 LED Meters................................................................................................. 19 POWER Indicator ...................................................................................... 19 1 Table Of Contents +48V Indicator ........................................................................................... 19 Rear of the Mixer................................................................20 Power Input ................................................................................................. 20 Power Supply Unit...................................................................................... 20 Power On ..................................................................................................... 20 Phantom On................................................................................................ 20 USB port ...................................................................................................... 20 Chapter Three: Digital Effects Processor ...............................................................21 Effects Section Components ............................................21 Program Selection Knob ........................................................................... 21 LED Display................................................................................................ 21 CLIP Indicator ............................................................................................ 21 SIG Indicator .............................................................................................. 21 Effect Descriptions.............................................................21 HALL ........................................................................................................... 21 ROOM ......................................................................................................... 21 PLATE ......................................................................................................... 21 CHAMBER ................................................................................................. 21 CHORUS ..................................................................................................... 22 FLANGE..................................................................................................... 22 DELAY ........................................................................................................ 22 PITCH.......................................................................................................... 22 MULTI & MULTI II.................................................................................. 22 Chapter Four: Applications ...............................23 Simple Recording Setup ...................................................23 Simple Live Setup...............................................................23 Using Additional External Audio Sources ....................23 Digital output to a digital recorder................................24 Using the Multimix USB with a Computer ...................24 Sending and Receiving Audio Data.......................................................... 24 Precautions when using the USB connection......................................... 24 Connection instructions for Windows (XP, 2000, ME, and 98 Second Edition) ............................................................................. 24 Connection instructions for Macintosh (OS X only)............................ 25 Chapter Five: Troubleshooting ........................27 Chapter Six: Specifications ...............................31 Chapter Seven: Block Diagram ........................33 Glossary .................................................................35 Warranty/Contact Alesis.....................................39 Alesis Limited Warranty............................................................................. 39 2 Table Of Contents Alesis Contact Information....................................................................... 40 3 Table Of Contents This page intentionally left blank. 4 Introduction Welcome! Thank you for making the Alesis Multimix USB a part of your studio. Since 1984, we've been designing and building creative tools for the audio community. We believe in our products, because we've heard the results that creative people like you have achieved with them. One of Alesis' goals is to make high-quality studio equipment available to everyone, and this Reference Manual is an important part of that. After all, there's no point in making equipment with all kinds of capabilities if no one explains how to use them. So, we try to write our manuals as carefully as we build our products. The goal of this manual is to get you the information you need as quickly as possible, with a minimum of hassle. We hope we've achieved that. If not, please drop us an email and give us your suggestions on how we could improve future editions of this manual. We hope your investment will bring you many years of creative enjoyment and help you achieve your musical goals. Sincerely, The people of Alesis For more effective service and product update notices, please register your MultiMix mixer online at: http://www.alesis.com/ support/warranty.htm 5 Introduction About the Multimix USB The Multimix USB consoles are a versatile series of mixers designed to perform well in the live and home studio realm. They are the latest in the large family of Alesis audio mixers. We've come a long way since introducing our first mixing console in 1989. Since that time audio technology has grown in leaps and bounds, pushing up quality and driving down prices. Only a few years ago, you wouldn't have been able to buy a mixer this powerful for such an affordable price. Just take a look at the key features listed below, and you'll see that you have just made an incredible addition to your home studio or live setup. The Multimix USB consoles give you just about everything you need to create polished, professional-sounding mixes. When designing this unit, our goal was to give you as much control over your mixes as possible without requiring a wealth of extra equipment. That's why we added tools like the digital effects processor, the mic preamps, the USB computer interface, and the digital out (12- and 16-channel models only). And with a multitude of ways in which to connect other equipment and instruments, the Multimix USB offers endless possibilities. Multimix USB Key Features Three Models: Multimix 8 USB (4 mic/line preamps, 4 stereo inputs) Multimix 12 USB (4 mic/line preamps, 4 stereo inputs) Multimix 16 USB (8 mic/line preamps, 4 stereo inputs) Clean and powerful preamps ­ up to 50dB of preamp gain for capturing quiet sources. Globally switched phantom power. Stereo inputs ­ Two stereo pairs for the Multimix 8 USB. Four stereo pairs for the 12- and 16-channel versions. Great for line-level instruments. Internal digital effects processor with 100 preset effects and an easy-to-read display ­ includes a variety of reverbs, delays, choruses, flanges, a pitch transposer and multiple combinations of these. 3-band EQ per channel ­ a potent tool for sonically shaping each channel to get that perfect mix. 1 aux send per channel (pre/post-fader switchable on the 12- and 16-channel versions) ­ gives you control over the level of the pre- or post-fader signal being routed to an external device. 1 post-fader aux send/effects send per channel ­ a control for the signal being routed to another external device or to the onboard effects processor. Control room output level ­ provides control over the separate control room output 6 Introduction 2-track send and return ­ lets you mix your audio to tape or other media and to add a tape deck or CD player to the mix. Stereo USB input and output ­ routes the main output and the 2-track return through the USB port in crystalclean, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo digital audio. Use the Multimix USB as a high-quality soundcard for recording and playback with Windows and Macintosh computers. Aditional Features of the Multimix 12 USB and Multimix 16 USB PFL/Solo in place functionality per channel ­ isolates a channel with a single push of a button. Mute/Alt 3/4 assign per channel ­ lets you mute a channel and, at the same time, route its signal to the mixer's ALT 3/4 output--a separate stereo bus. Independent Main Mix and Alt 3/4 levels ­ permits you to separately command the levels of the MultiMix's t ...