Alesis iMultimix 16 USB Reference Manual
Reference Manual
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Table Of Contents
Introduction..........................................................5
Welcome!......................................................................................................5
About the iMultiMix16 USB .............................................6
iMultiMix16 USB Key Features................................................................ 6
How to Use This Manual ...................................................8
A Few Words for Beginners.............................................. 9
Chapter 1: Getting Started ................................11
Hooking up the iMultiMix16 USB...................................11
Using Proper Cables ..........................................................12
Setting Levels ...................................................................... 12
Chapter Two: A Tour of the MultiMix.............13
Patchbay...............................................................................13
1) MIC INPUTS (Channels 1 – 8) ........................................................... 13
2) LINE/GUITAR INPUTS (Channels 1 – 2)......................................13
3) LINE INPUTS (Channels 3 – 8)......................................................... 14
4) LINE INPUTS (Channels 9 – 16).......................................................14
5) DIGITAL OUT Jack............................................................................. 14
6) PHONES Jack........................................................................................ 14
7) AUX RETURNS....................................................................................14
8) AUX SENDS..........................................................................................15
9) ALT 3/4 OUT........................................................................................15
10) 2-TRACK.............................................................................................. 15
11) MAIN MIX OUT................................................................................15
12) CTRL RM OUT................................................................................... 15
Channel Strips ....................................................................15
1) Fader ........................................................................................................15
2) MUTE / ALT 3/4.................................................................................16
3) PFL / SOLO ..........................................................................................16
4) PAN or BAL........................................................................................... 16
5) AUX......................................................................................................... 16
6) EQ............................................................................................................ 17
Master Section.....................................................................17
1) MAIN MIX Fader..................................................................................17
2) ALT 3/4 Fader .......................................................................................17
3) / 2TK TO MIX........................................................................... 17
4) ALT 3/4 TO Mix................................................................................... 17
5) SOLO MODE........................................................................................18
6) HDPH / CTRL RM.............................................................................. 18
7) MIX Switch.............................................................................................18
8) ALT 3/4 Switch...................................................................................... 18
9) / 2TK Switch...............................................................................19
10) AUX RET A LEVEL..........................................................................19
11) EFFECTS / AUX RET B LEVEL...................................................19
12) LED Meters.......................................................................................... 19
13) POWER Indicator ............................................................................... 19
14) +48V Indicator..................................................................................... 19
1
Table Of Contents
iPod Section ............................................................................................. 20
1) BACKLIGHT......................................................................................... 20
2) LED Meters ............................................................................................ 20
3) LIMITER ................................................................................................20
4) iPod Control Buttons ............................................................................20
5) Jog Wheel ................................................................................................20
6) iPod RECORD Fader............................................................................ 20
7) iPod PLAYBACK Fader .......................................................................21
8) iPod TO MIX......................................................................................... 21
9) iPod TO CTRL ROOM........................................................................ 21
10) iPod INPUT MON TO CTRL ROOM........................................... 21
Rear of the Mixer................................................................22
1) Power Input.............................................................................................22
Power Supply Unit:.....................................................................................22
2) POWER ON...........................................................................................22
3) PHANTOM ON....................................................................................22
4) USB Port..................................................................................................22
Chapter Three: Digital Effects
Processor ...............................................................23
Effects Section Components ............................................23
1) Program Selection Knob....................................................................... 23
2) PROGRAM LED Display....................................................................23
3) CLIP Indicator........................................................................................23
4) SIG Indicator.......................................................................................... 23
Effect Descriptions.............................................................23
HALL ...........................................................................................................23
ROOM .........................................................................................................23
PLATE......................................................................................................... 23
CHAMBER .................................................................................................23
CHORUS.....................................................................................................24
FLANGE..................................................................................................... 24
DELAY........................................................................................................24
PITCH.......................................................................................................... 24
MULTI & MULTI 2...................................................................................24
2
Chapter Four: Applications...............................25
Simple Recording Setup ...................................................25
Recording to iPod............................................................... 25
Simple Live Setup...............................................................26
Using Additional External Audio Sources....................26
Digital Output to a Digital Recorder .............................26
Using the iMultiMix16 USB with a Computer..............27
Sending and Receiving Audio Data..........................................................27
Precautions when using the USB connection.........................................27
Connection instructions for Windows (XP, 2000, ME,
and 98 Second Edition) .............................................................................27
Connection instructions for Macintosh (OS X only)............................ 28
Table Of Contents
Chapter Five: Troubleshooting ........................29
Chapter Six: Specifications ...............................33
Chapter Seven: Block Diagram ........................35
Glossary .................................................................37
Warranty/Contact Alesis ....................................39
Alesis Limited Warranty............................................................................. 39
Alesis Contact Information.......................................................................40
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Table Of Contents
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4
Introduction
Welcome!
Thank you for making the Alesis iMultiMix16 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 iMultiMix USB
mixer online at:
http://www.alesis.com/account/
productregistration.php
5
Introduction
About the iMultiMix16 USB
The iMultiMix 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 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 iMultiMix USB console gives 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, the
digital out, and the full-featured iPod interface. And with a
multitude of ways in which to connect other equipment and
instruments, the iMultiMix USB offers endless possibilities.
iMultiMix16 USB Key Features
8 channels with mic/line inputs, 4 stereo channels
with line inputs
Switchable guitar inputs on channels 1 & 2 – these
high-impedance inputs are specifically designed for electric
guitars and basses.
Clean and powerful preamps – up to 50dB of preamp
gain for capturing quiet sources. Globally switched
phantom power.
3-band EQ per channel – a potent tool for sonically
shaping each channel to get that perfect mix.
1 pre/post-fader switchable aux send per channel –
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.
Integrated iPod dock – allows you to record your mix
directly to your iPod and to play back from your iPod
through the mixer.
iPod Limiter – ensures that your iPod recordings are
always clean, crisp, and never distorted.
Internal digital effects processor with 100 preset
effects and an easy-to-read display – includes a variety
of reverbs, delays, choruses, flangers, a pitch transposer and
multiple combinations of these.
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
iMultiMix USB as a high-quality soundcard for recording
and playback with Windows and Macintosh computers.
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 iMultiMix USB’s
two stereo buses.
44.1 kHz S/PDIF digital out – sends the digital stereo
signal directly to a DAT, DVD or other recording device
that can accept a S/PDIF signal.
7
Introduction
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How to Use This Manual
This manual is divided into the following sections describing the
various functions and applications for the iMultiMix USB console.
While it's a good idea to read through the entire manual once
carefully, those having general knowledge about mixing should use
the table of contents to look up specific functions.
Chapter 1: Getting Started shows you how to include the iMultiMix
USB in your audio setup for recording, computer interfacing, and
live applications. We’ve included a hookup diagram, guidelines for
which cables to use and the vital steps you must take to set levels
properly.
Chapter 2: A Tour of the iMultiMix USB describes the iMultiMix
USB piece by piece. This chapter also features diagrams of the
mixer to help you find each component as you read about it.
Chapter 3: Digital Effects Processor explains the effects provided by
the on-board digital effects processor. If you want to know what a
certain effect will do to your sound before you select it, this is
where you should look.
Chapter 4: Applications outlines a number of scenarios in which
you can use the iMultiMix USB, including some tips on what
goes where when you’re hooking everything up.
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting can give you a hand if you’re experiencing
problems with your mixer. You’ll find that most issues can be
resolved simply and quickly with the push of a button.
Chapter 6: Specifications and Chapter 7: Block Diagrams are full of
technical information for the more techie users.
And at the end of this manual you’ll see a glossary of common
mixing-related terms and a page about the iMultiMix USB’s
warranty.
elpful tips and advice are
highlighted in a shaded box
like this.
When something important
appears in the manual, an
exclamation mark (like the
one shown at left) will appear
with some explanatory text.
This symbol indicates that
this information is vital when
operating the iMultiMix USB.
8
Introduction
A Few Words for Beginners
We realize that some of you who have purchased the iMultiMix
USB are fairly new to the art of mixing, and we’ve written this
manual with that in mind. We designed the iMultiMix to be both
powerful and easy enough to use that even a beginner can quickly
pick up the basics.
Many mixer manuals—and manuals for just about any electronic
instrument for that matter—are full of complicated terminology
and incomplete instructions that presume a lot of experience on
the part of the reader. We try to avoid that with this manual. True
enough, you will find all the technical lingo and specifications you
can handle in here, but we do our best to make this accessible to
you.
Beginners will find several elements of this manual especially
useful. Keep your eye out for the tips found in the gray boxes on
the right side of the page. Be sure to check out the hookup
diagrams on page 11, which will give you some ideas on how to fit
the mixer into your audio setup after you’ve taken a tour of the
mixer in Chapter 2. And if you come across any terms that you
haven’t seen before, the glossary probably can help you out.
One of the most important
things you’ll do before you
begin a mixing session is to
set the levels. Be sure to refer
to the instructions on page
12.
9
Introduction
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10
B
1 Getting Started
Hooking up the iMultiMix16 USB
This diagram will help you get the iMultiMix16 USB hooked up
and ready to go. The equipment you use depends on personal
preference and on whether you’re performing live or recording.
For example, you’ll see below that the MAIN MIX OUT can be
routed to a recording device for recording, or to a PA system for
live performance.
DAT Recorder or other S/PDIF device
Effects Processor
Headphones
e sure to follow the
guidelines for which cables to
use (further down this page)
and the procedure for setting
levels (on the next page)
before you begin mixing.
Mixdown Tape Deck
Power Outlet
Computer
Guitar or other
mono instrument...
USB cable
Microphones
Keyboard
Sampler
Or other line-level stereo instrument...
FOR RECORDING:
Digital Audio Workstation
ADAT
Or other device...
iPod
Power Amplifier
Studio Monitors
LIVE:
PA System
11
1
Getting Started
Using Proper Cables
When connecting instruments and other equipment to the
iMultiMix, it’s important that you use the appropriate types of
cables. Here are some simple but important guidelines:
For the mic inputs, use XLR cables.
For the line inputs and all other 1/4” connections, use 1/4”
mono TRS cables.
Use stereo RCA cables for the 2-track in and out.
Use a USB cable to connect the USB port to a computer.
Do not use a USB hub, as hubs can introduce timing
glitches in USB communication.
For the S/PDIF Digital out, we suggest that you use a
coaxial cable that is specifically designed for S/PDIF
applications. These cables are better suited for high
frequency (digital) signals and are unbalanced, shielded
coaxial cables with shielded RCA connectors on each end.
Better to get the high quality S/PDIF cables and save
yourself some unnecessary grief.
Setting Levels
Before you can begin mixing different audio sources with your
iMultiMix USB, you must set the level for each channel you’re
using. This helps to prevent distortion and clipping. Here’s how:
1. Slide the channel fader to unity gain (0).
2. Turn the AUX SEND and GAIN controls all the way down,
and turn the EQ knobs to the center detent (you’ll feel a click).
3. Connect the source of the signal to the channel’s input.
4. Press the PFL / SOLO switch on the channel.
5. Make sure the SOLO MODE switch in the master section is
set to SOLO.
6. Play the instrument at a normal level and watch the LED
meters in the master section.
7. Adjust the channel’s gain until the LED meters remain at or
very close to 0 and do not exceed +6dB.
8. If you need to apply EQ, do so and check the meter again.
12
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