Alesis MICROVERB3 User Manual

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 the Alesis 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 by Alesis 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.