Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product ModFX Alesis
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Re fe rence Manual.
This pa ge intentionally left blank 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100 % Copyright 2002, Alesis. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Specifications subject to change without notice. All trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................... 3 Welcome! .........................................................................................................3 About the Philtre .............
Table Of Contents 2 Troubleshooting Index ................................................................ 4 5 Avoiding ground loop noise .........................................................................47 Line conditioners and spike protectors .
Introduction 3 Welcome! Thank you for making the Alesis Philtre a part of your studio. Since 1984, we've been designing and building creative tools for the audio community. We belie ve in ou r products, because we've heard the results that creative people like you ha ve achie ved with them.
Introduction 4 About the Philtre Your new Philt re is a member of the Alesis ModFX family of performance effects boxes. This particular ModFX unit is a filter effect with modulation. Each ModFX unit provides a different set of sound effects and signal processing, and they are easy to ar range and connect to each other.
Introduction 5 Philt re Key Featu res • Fou r different filter types, with steep slope switch and adjustable regeneration • Five different modulation sou rces, including Trig ger and Envelope for .
Introduction 6 How to Use This Manual A little technical kno wledge will help you get the most out of y ou r gear...it’s really pretty simple. This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various functions and applications for the Philt re.
Safety Instructions/Notices 7 Important Safety Instructions (English) Sa fe ty sy mbols used in this p roduct This symbol alerts the user that there are important operating and maintenance inst ructions in the literatu re accompanying this unit.
Important Safety Instructions 8 11. Use only attachments or accessories specified by the manufactu rer. 12. Use only with a cart, stand, bracket, or table designed for use with professional audio or music equipment. In any installation, make su re that inju ry or dama ge will not result from cables pulling on the apparatus and its mounting.
Important Safety Instructions 9 CE Declaration Of Conformity See ou r website at: http://www.alesis.com FCC Compliance Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Important Safety Instructions 10 Instructions de Sécurité Importantes (French) Sy mboles utilisés dans ce p roduit Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateu r qu’il existe des instructions de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation jointe a vec ce produit.
Important Safety Instructions 11 11. N’utilisez que des accessoires spécifiés par le constructeu r. 12. N’utilisez qu’a vec un stand, ou table conçus pou r l’utilisation d’audio professionnel ou instruments de musique.
Important Safety Instructions 12 Lesen Sie bitte die folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German) Sicherheit Sy mbole verwendet in diesem Produkt Dieses Symbol alarmiert den Benutzer, daß es wichtige Funktionieren und Wartung Anweisungen in der Literatu r gibt, die diese Maßeinheit be gleitet.
Important Safety Instructions 13 11. Benutzen Sie nu r das vom Hersteller empfohlene Zubehör. 12. Verwenden Sie ausschließlich Wagen, Ständer, oder Tische, die speziell für professionelle Audio- und Musikinst rumente geeignet sind.
Important Safety Instructions 14 This pa ge intentionally left blank..
1 Quick Start Guide 15 If y ou can’t w ait to get sta rted The Alesis Philtre is a unique product, but its basic hookup and operation is similar to other effects units in most respects. If y ou're experienced with signal processors, this chapter is a "shorthand" guide for those who want to start using the Philt re right away.
1 Quick Start Guide 16 A quick overview of the controls TY PE The TY PE s witch s ele cts the k i n d of filte r as s h own b y th e LED s ne x t to th e sw i tc h . S e e p a g e 3 6. RE G E N ( r e ge n e r ati o n) This i n c re as e s g a i n at t h e fi lt e r c or ne r for a s ha r p e r f il t e r p e a k.
2 Connections 17 Unpacking and Inspection Your Philt re was packed carefully at the factory. The shipping carton was designed to protect the unit du ring shipping. Please retain this container in the highly unlikely e vent that y ou need to retu rn the Philt re for servicing.
2 Connections 18 Connecting audio The Philt re will work in many different applications, whether y ou are connecting an inst rument directly into it, or connecting it through a mixing console. But since the Philt re is a stereo effect unit, it’s important to know whether the source will be stereo or mono.
Connections 2 19 Connecting to the Channel Inserts o f a mixing console: Most recording consoles ha ve a jack near the mic and line inputs labeled "Insert". This is typically a TRS jack with the send and retu rn on the same jack. To use the Philt re as a channel insert, y ou will need an insert cable (not included).
2 Connections 20 Connecting to the Main Ou tputs o f a mixing console: In addition to channel inserts, most mixing consoles have main insert jacks near the main outputs. You can use insert cables to connect the Philt re to the main L/R bus the same way y ou connect it to a pair of channels.
Connections 2 21 Connecting to the Aux Send/Re tu rn of a mixing console: The Philt re, like other filters and equalizers, is designed for in-line processing, not for the send/receive kind of processing typically used for reverb units.
2 Connections 22 Connecting to the inse rts on an instrument amplifie r : The insert send on a guitar or bass amp is usually labeled "effects send and retu rn" or "insert send and return". This allows you to preamplify your instrument before phasing it and sending it to the power amp.
Connections 2 23 Connecting to equipment with XLR inpu ts and outpu ts: If you are connecting the Philtre to a product with XLR balanced inputs and outputs, y ou will need to convert this signal to a 1/4” unbalanced connector. Make su re that Pin 2 of the XLR connector is connected to the Tip of the 1/4” adapter or cable.
2 Connections 24 Using the ModLink The Philt re can be connected to other effect bo xes in the ModFX family via the ModLink. The ModLink is a cable-free connection between two ModFX units that t ransfers digital audio and word clock. The 9-pin male connector on the left side of the unit is the ModLink IN port.
3 Using the Philtre 25 This section defines the different kinds of filters and modulations, and e xplains the functions of the Philt re’s cont rols in greater detail. The technical information in the ne xt few pa ges will help y ou get the most out of your gear.
3 Using the Philtre 26 Filter curves, orde rs, and slopes When you look at a graphic display of their frequency response, e very filter has a slope —gentle or steep, like the slope of a hill. The passband —the frequency range that the filter lets through—looks like a flat plateau.
Using the Philtre 3 27 What is Tempo Sync ? Three of the five mod sou rces in the Philtre have a repeating cycle over time (Triangle, Sample/Hold, and Pattern ). Sometimes, you’ll want the rate of that cycle to match the beat of your music instead of being random.
3 Using the Philtre 28 Description of Controls Rate The [RA TE] knob changes the filter modulation speed. When the mod sou rce is set to ENVELOPE it affects the attack and release time of the envelope, in TRIGGERED mode it affects the release time. In all other modes it affects the LFO (lo w frequency oscillator) speed.
Using the Philtre 3 29 Depth The [DEPTH] knob controls how much modulation will be applied to the filter frequency. Tu rn the knob clockwise for a deeper effect. Tu rning [DEPTH] all the way counter-clockwise tu rns modulation off completely, leaving the filter fixed at the [PHREEQ] position.
3 Using the Philtre 30 Re gen The [REGEN] knob does several different things depending on the filter type. But in each filter it increases the amount of filter resonance (how much gain is added near t.
Using the Philtre 3 31 In BAND STOP mode, with [REGEN] set to minimum, the band that is being attenuated is relatively wide. As you increase the [REGEN] setting, the stop band gets nar ro wer.
3 Using the Philtre 32 Modulation Select Switch The up/do wn rocker switch on the right side of the unit selects the modulation source for the Philt re. The LEDs next to the switch light up to indicate the cu rrent mode. There are five kinds of modulation available, explained below.
Using the Philtre 3 33 Trigge red This is one of the most useful effects in the Philt re for lead players. Instead of using a repeating wave or LFO, the filter is kept lo w (at the point set by the [PHREEQ] control) until there’s an accent in the incoming signal.
3 Using the Philtre 34 Envelope Like Trig ger, Envelope modulation takes its cue from the input signal instead of using a periodic wa ve. In Envelope mode, the filter frequency follows the average amplitude envelope of the incoming signal—the louder you play, the higher the filter frequency will mo ve.
Using the Philtre 3 35 Patte rn This mode randomly generates a 16-step sequence to modulate the filter and repeats it o ver and over. Pattern mode makes the filter jump quickly from step to step, sometimes with a glide between steps.
3 Using the Philtre 36 TYPE Rocke r Switch The up/do wn rocker switch on the left side of the unit selects the type of filter. The LEDs next to the switch light up to indicate the cu r rent type.
Using the Philtre 3 37 Band Pass The Band Pass filter has two 2-pole, 12 dB per octave slopes: one rolling off high frequencies abo ve the center, and another rolling off lo w frequencies below the center. It’s like a high pass filter combined with a low pass filter, with the corners set to let the midrange through.
3 Using the Philtre 38 Steep For a more dramatic filter effect, press the [STEEP] button. [STEEP] quadruples the number of filter poles being used. This means that more frequencies are rejected, and if [REGEN] is tu rned up, the resonance effect is more pronounced.
Using the Philtre 3 39 Tap Tempo This button affects the speed of the effect whenever the [MODULATION] switch is set to a TEMPO SYNC mode. At any time y ou can tap this button along with the music to set a new tempo. The Tap Tempo light will flash at the cu r rent tempo.
3 Using the Philtre 40 By pass This button sends the signal directly from the input to the output without any effect. Press [BYPASS] to check the sound of the source without any effect from the Philt re. When the red BYPASS LED is lit, phasing is tu rned off.
4 Sample Settings 41 While there’s nothing like disco vering new sounds for yoursel f, we thought it would be a good idea to pro vide some sample settings of the Philt re to help get y ou started.
4 Sample Settings 42 Sample and Hold A c l a s s ic sa m pl e an d h o ld s ou nd th at fo llo ws the time o f the m us ic, wit h s i x tee nth n o te s a t th is s ett in g, if y ou h it [ T AP TE M PO ] i n qu ar ter n o te s .
Sample Settings 4 43 B lank F il l in y o u r ow n fa v o r ite s et ti ng s h er e . Pho toc op y the n e x t pa g e if yo u ne e d mo r e s pa c e . B and Passion The b an d p as s fi lt e r m o v e s i n ti m e with th e m us ic in t h is s et ti ng .
4 Sample Settings 44 Blank Set tings Templates.
5 Troubleshooting 45 Troubleshooting Index If you experience problems while operating you r Philt re, please use the following table to locate possible causes and solutions before contacting Alesis Product Support for assistance. Sy mptoms Cause Solution No a udi o output s.
5 Troubleshooting 46 Sy mptoms Cause Solution AC hum Gro und lo op Place al l eq uip m ent in the stu d io on a co m m o n gro un d (see ne xt pa ge) Whistl es or ton es in out put [REG EN] s et too h.
Troubleshooting 5 47 Avoiding g round loop noise In today’s studio, where it seems every piece of equipment has its own computer chip inside, there are many opportunities for ground loop problems to occu r.
5 Troubleshooting 48 4. Keep all cables as short as possible, especially in unbalanced circuits. If the basic experiments don’t unco ver the sou rce of the problem, consult your dealer or technician t rained in proper studio grounding techniques.
Troubleshooting 5 49 Care and Maintenance Cleaning Disconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the Philtre’s metal and plastic su rfaces. For heavy dirt, use a non- abrasive household cleaner such as Formula 409™ or Fantastik™.
5 Troubleshooting 50 Obtaining repai r service Before contacting Alesis, check over all your connections, and make su re y ou’ve read the manual. Customers in the USA and Canada: If the problem persists, contact Alesis and request the Product Support department.
Specifications 51 Audio Inpu t Input Connectors: 2 unbalanced 1/4” jacks Maximum Input Le vel: +10 dBV Nominal Level: -10 dBV Input Impedance: 470k Ω Input Converter Resolution: 24-bit, 48 kHz sam.
6 Specifications 52 This pa ge intentionally left blank..
Index 53 amplifier, 21 audio input tempo set by, 39 Aux Send/Retu rn, 20 BAND PASS, 25, 29, 30, 37, 38 BA ND STOP , 29, 30, 37, 38 BYPASS , 16 , 40 with foot switch, 40 cables, 22 Cont rol diagram, 16.
Warranty / Contact Alesis 54 Alesis Limited Wa r ranty AL E SI S C ORP OR ATI ON ( "A LES I S" ) w ar r an ts th is prod uct to b e fr ee of def ect s in material an d w or kman sh i p fo r a pe rio d of on e (1 ) yea r f or pa r ts an d for a p eri od of on e ( 1) year fo r l abor fr om the date of ori gi nal ret ail pu rc hase.
Warranty/Contact Information 55 Alesis Contact Information Alesis Studio Elect ronics Los Angeles, CA USA E-mail: support@alesis.com Website: http://www.alesis.com Alesis Philt re Reference Manual Revision 1.0 by Dan Tinen Copy right 2002, Alesis. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.
An important point after buying a device Alesis ModFX (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Alesis ModFX yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Alesis ModFX - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Alesis ModFX you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Alesis ModFX will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Alesis ModFX, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Alesis ModFX.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Alesis ModFX. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Alesis ModFX along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
