Alesis 3 Manuel utilisateur

Alesis

MICROVERB III

Users Manual

MICROVERB III

Before Unpacking Your Unit...

Introduction

Born from the original Alesis MICROVERB and MICROVERB II, the units that launched the revolution

in low cost professional digital reverberation, the MICROVERB III carries on this same tradition of

world class performance at a phenomenal price. Using 16 bit linear PCM processing like its

predecessors, MICROVERB III has 256 programs. These include 144 reverb programs, 96 delay

programs, and 16 special effects programs as well as High and Low Frequency Equalization,

MICROVERB III delivers awesome power to the recording efforts of every engineer, from 4 track home

studios to world class recording facilities. And, of course, MICROVERB III is full stereo, full 15KHz

bandwidth, and absolutely musical.

As with the original MICROVERBs, the MICROVERB III utilizes proprietary Alesis R.I.S.C. (Reduced

Instruction Set Computer) architecture which provides clean, quiet, professional digital reverberation,

delay, and effects with unprecedented ease of use. The entire digital processing system is contained

on a single chip, developed by theAlesis design team specifically for the MICROVERB III. Using high

speed complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) silicon processing, the MICROVERB III

chip replaces several circuit cards of components while providing a powerful level of sonic flexibility

that will expand and polish the sound of any recording.

The 256 programs in MICROVERB III are the distillation of years of exhaustive research byAlesis into

the phenomenon of reverberation. With input from the world’s top recording engineers and producers,

the reverb programs were carefully developed on our interactive room simulation and development

system. These programs cover every major category of reverb: plates, chambers, halls, and rooms,

each with a wide range of sizes and qualities. Included also are a number of special effect programs

such as gated and reverse reverbs, as well as a wide variety of ever-useful delay programs. From

small, intimate room settings to large unobstructed spaces to useful gated reverb effects to dramatic

special effects, MICROVERB III offers them all quickly and easily.

FEATURES

• Extremely easy to set up and use

• True 16 bit linear PCM

• 85 dB dynamic range

• Full 15kHz bandwidth

• Stereo input and output on 1/4” jacks

• Defeat jack on rear panel

• +4 dBV capable

• 256 programs

• 19” rack mountable

CONTROLS

INPUT STATUS INDICATOR

The INPUT STATUS INDICATOR is actually a 3 colored LED that shows several input conditions. When

the indicator glows yellow, the input signal to the MICROVERB III is too low and the INPUT level should

be increased. When the indicator glows green, the signal presently being fed to the MICROVERB III

is a usable level. When the indicator glows red, the MICROVERB III is being overloaded because the

incoming signal is too hot and the INPUT control should be decreased.

INPUT CONTROL

The INPUT control sets the level of signal that is applied to the MICROVERB III and should be set so

the INPUT STATUS INDICATOR reads in the red only on occasional transients.

MIX CONTROL

The MIX control determines the amount of Wet signal (reverb) or dry signal is sent to the output. If the

MIX control is set all the way to the right, then only reverb will be heard. If the MIX control is set all the

way to the left, then only dry (uneffected) signal will be heard. The 12 o’clock position will result in a

50/50 mixture of dry to reverb signal.

OUTPUT CONTROL

The OUTPUT control sets the output level of both channels of MICROVERB III.This should be set so

that the unit being fed by MICROVERB III is not overloaded.

LOW EQ CONTROL

The LOW EQ control provides ±10dB of attenuation at 100 Hz. This is usually used to control excessive

boominess sometimes caused by low frequency instruments such as drums. The LOW EQ control is

located prior to the digital section of the MicroVerb III and works on the input signal only.

HIGH EQ CONTROL

The HIGH EQ control provides ±10dB of attenuation at 4kHz. High EQ is used to help simulate the

natural high frequency rolloff of reverb or delay. The HIGH EQ control is located prior to the digital

section of the MicroVerb III and works on the input signal only.

PROGRAM TYPE SWITCH

The PROGRAM TYPE switch selects the category of program. These are Gated Reverbs, Plates,

Chambers, Large and Medium Halls, Small, Medium and Large Rooms, Reverse Reverbs, Short,

Medium and Long Delays, Regenerated Medium and Long Delays, Multitapped Delays, and Special

Effects.

PROGRAM VARIATION SWITCH

The PROGRAM VARIATION switch selects one of 16 possible program variations for each previously

selected program type.

DEFEAT JACK

The DEFEAT JACK, located on the rear panel, bypasses the reverb signal and allows only the dry signal

at the outputs. Any SPST type footswitch (such as the reverb footswitch that sometimes comes with

amplifiers) will work for this function.

INSTALLATION

Before unpacking your new Alesis MICROVERB III unit, take a moment to look through this instruction

manual. We’ve made it brief and informative and it will answer any questions that you might have.

Some helpful setup thoughts are included along with some useful application hints.

CONNECTING TO INSTRUMENTS, MICROPHONES

The Alesis MICROVERB III has high impedance inputs that are ideally suited for use either with

instrument pickups or line level signals. Although microphones can be connected directly into the

MICROVERB III, it is recommended that they be connected to a mixing console first and then

connected to the MICROVERB III as described in Figures 3 or 4 for quietest operation.

The MICROVERB III is a stereo unit, meaning there are both left and right inputs and outputs.

However, it can be used with just a mono input (into the left input) with the result being a stereo output.

This will probably be how the unit will be used the majority of the time. It should be noted that if only

the right input of the MICROVERB III is used, the input signal will appear as mono (present in both

channels) at the dry side of the mix control. See figure 1

FIGURE 1

MONO CONNECTION OF MICROVERB III

CONNECTING TO A MIXING CONSOLE

The MICROVERB III handles mono or stereo sends at all system levels. The input circuitry of the

MICROVERB III can easily handle +4dBv levels (+20dBv peaks), while having enough input or output

gain to interface with the extremely low signal levels of budget recording systems.

The MICROVERB III may be connected to the mixing console in several ways. If several instruments

or vocals must be effected at the same time, then the MICROVERB III should be connected to the

auxiliary send and return controls of the console. Simply connect an aux send of the mixing console

to either of the inputs of the MICROVERB III (or 2 aux sends connected to both left and right of the

MICROVERB III for stereo) and then connect the output of the MICROVERB III back to either the aux

returns or input channels. Remember, in this situation, the mix control should always be set fully to

the right (clockwise) for maximum effect. Also, a mono input to MICROVERB III results in a stereo

output. See figure 2

Instrument or Mic

LeftInput

RightOutput

LeftOutput

To Amplifier or Mixing Console

FIGURE 2

STEREO CONNECTION TO MIXING CONSOLE VIA AUX SENDS AND RETURNS

Another way of interfacing the MICROVERB III unit to a mixer or recording console would be in-line

across the output of your mixing console. See figure 3 This method should only be used if you

needed to effect the entire mix, since the same effect would be on all of the instruments or vocals.

FIGURE 3

STEREO CONNECTION TO THE MICROVERB III USING THE MAIN OUTPUTS

POWER

The MICROVERB III is powered by a remote supply providing 9 volts AC through a 3.5mm barrel

plug. This power supply approach keeps stray magnetic fields from interfering with low level signals,

allowing easy conversion to alternate power sources (220V).

MainOutRight

MainOutLeft

LeftInput

RightInput

LeftOutput

RightOutput

To Mixdown Deck or

Sound System

Aux Send 1

Aux Send 2 (Optional)

LeftInput

RightInput

LeftOutput

RightOutput

Aux Return or Input Channel

Aux Return or

InputChannel

OPERATION

MICROVERB III is easy to use in almost any application. Simply do the following:

1. Apply a signal to either the right input jack for mono (used with a single instrument), or both

left and right jacks for stereo.

2. Increase the INPUT control until the INPUT STATUS INDICATOR briefly lights red on occasional

program peaks. The LED should remain “green” most of the time. This indicates that there

is sufficient level to maintain a good signal to noise ratio.

3. Increase the OUTPUT control until there is sufficient output level.

4. Adjust the MIX control until the desired ratio of dry to wet signal is achieved.

REMEMBER: In cases were the MICROVERB III is used with the aux sends of a recording

console, the MIX control should remain all the way to the right (all wet signal).

5. Select the program type desired by switching the PROGRAM TYPE selector switch.

6. Select the program variation desired by switching the PROGRAM VARIATION switch.

7. Increase or decrease the High and Low EQ as desired.

As a good rule of thumb for selecting programs, rhythmic instruments such as drums or instruments

with ostinato (quickly repeating) type patterns usually work best with shorter reverb programs and

delays. Long melodic lines and pads generally sound better with longer reverbs. This is only a place

to start, however. Use your ears and select the one that sounds best to you!

APPLICATIONS

About Reverb...

Reverb can be thought of as a great number of distinct echoes (called reflections) that occur so fast

and in such large number that our ear hears them and interprets them as one sound - the distinct

sound we know as reverb. Different size spaces give distinctly different sounding reverbs, depending

on the size and shape of the space, and the texture of the surfaces that the reflections bounce off of.

MICROVERB III has six different general reverb types, all of which simulate a different space or

produce a different effect. They are:

ROOMS

The room programs (Small, Medium, and Large) not only simulate rooms of various

sizes, but rooms with different surface material as well. A room with soft surfaces such

as carpet will produce a reverberant sound with much less high end (warm) than a room

with hard surfaces (bright). See your program chart for details about specific programs.

Rooms can be used for drums, backing vocals, or just about anything that you wish to

give a feeling of space in your mix.

HALLS

Much larger than rooms, halls are characterized by their high ceilings, irregular shapes,

and general density of reflections. Due to their size and density, they work well for long,

sustaining sounds like keyboard string pads, vocals, horns, etc.

PLATES

The plate programs simulate an artificial reverb device known as a plate reverb. Large

and heavy, a plate was a 6 foot by 4 foot piece of steel plate (hence the name) with a

small speaker strategically placed on one end and either 1 or 2 transducers placed on

the other end to pick up the sounds reverberating through the steel. Because it is an

electro-mechanical device, a plate must be isolated from outside vibration and noise and

constantly tuned to maintain the integrity of the reverb sound. In the early days of

recording, plates were extremely popular because they were one of the only ways to add

any sort of artificial ambience to a recording. Plates have become quite popular over

the years, especially on vocals and snare drums.

CHAMBERS

The chamber programs simulate another way that studios produce artificial

reverberation, utilizing a device known as an acoustic chamber. The chamber is a

sealed, tiled room with a speaker at one end and a microphone at the other. Chambers

are not seen much these days since they are difficult to build and take up a great deal

of expensive real estate. Chambers are useful on all sorts of instruments, from drums

to guitars to vocals to horns.

GATES

Gated reverb is a very popular effect on drums first found on English records in the early

1980’s. The MICROVERB III’s gate programs simulate applying a noise gate (a device

that automatically decreases or cuts off the volume once a signal falls below a certain

level) across the output of the reverb causing the initial attack of the reverb to sound very

big, but the tail of the reverb to be cut off very quickly. This effect works great for modern

drums, percussion, and any quickly repeating, transient instrument.

REVERSE

The reverse programs are inverted reverbs in which the volume envelope has been

reversed. This means that the signal begins softly but grows louder until it is cut off,

rather than loud to soft as in the gate programs. Reverse reverbs are used on many

different kinds of instruments as a special effect.

DELAY

The MICROVERB III’s variety of digital delay programs can be used on all types of

instruments to enhance sound in a variety of ways. Very short delays (20-95ms) can be

used to thicken or double vocals or lead instruments. Medium, long, and regenerated

delays can be used to enhance an instrument or even create a whole new type of

musical sound. Since the delay programs on the MICROVERB III’s program chart have

been timed out in note values at specific tempos, shown in Beats Per Minute, (for

example, 110ms = 1/16 note @ 136 BPM) drums or guitars can be made to repeat in

time with the beat of your song. (One example of this is U2’s The Edge, who has made

rhythmically delayed guitar a trademark sound).

MULTITAP DELAY

Multitap delays can be best defined as a number of single delay lines with independent

panning and regeneration designed to work with one another to create a composite,

spacious effect. This is ideal for getting “space” into horn stabs or background vocals

without the decay tail of a reverb. Other creative examples of multitap delays can be

found on Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” LP.

SPECIFICATIONS

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20Hz - 15KHz (Effect), 20KHz (Direct), ±2dB

DYNAMIC RANGE 85dB

HARMONIC DISTORTION .15% @ 1KHz @ 0 dBV

INPUT NUMBER OF CHANNELS 2

NOMINAL LEVEL +4dBV

MAXIMUM LEVEL +20dBV

IMPEDANCE 50KΩper channel in stereo

25KΩper channel in mono

A/D - D/A CONVERSIONS

CONVERSION SCHEME 16 bit Linear PCM

PROCESSOR SPEED 2 Million Instructions per Second

PROCESSOR MEMORY 16K x 16 bit

SAMPLING FREQUENCY 31.25KHz

OUTPUT

NUMBER OF CHANNELS 2

FORMAT Matrixed Stereo

MAXIMUM LEVEL +14dBV (Effect), +20dBV (Direct)

IMPEDANCE 470Ω

FRONT PANEL

CONTROLS Input Level Program Variation

Mix Level High EQ

Output Level Low EQ

Program Selection

INDICATORS Tri-colored LED Level Indicator

REAR PANEL

JACKS Input Left and Right - 1/4”

Output Left and Right - 1/4”

Defeat - 1/4”

Power - 5.5mm Barrel Jack

POWER REQUIREMENTS 9 Volts AC, 5 Volt Amps external Transformer, UL approved and made in USA

DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 19”x1.75”x4”

WEIGHT 2 lbs. 10 oz.

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