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Related Manuals for Alesis Akira
Summary of Contents for Alesis Akira
- Page 1 Reference Manual...
- Page 2 This page intentionally left blank 100%...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents Introduction ...3 Important Safety Instructions...7 Chapter One: Quick Start Guide ...15 If you can’t wait to get started …...15 Step 1: Hook it up to a mixer ...15 Step 2: Try some effects ...16 Chapter Two: Connections ...17 Connecting to an Instrument or Microphone...18 Connecting to the Effects Send and Return of a Mixing Console ...18... - Page 4 46 SUB BASS...38 47 TREMOLO...38 48 AUTOPAN...38 49 VOCAL CANCEL ...38 Chapter Five: MIDI ...39 MIDI Program Change ...39 Setting the MIDI Channel...39 “Soft” MIDI Thru...39 Using MIDI Continuous Controllers...40 Chapter Six: Troubleshooting ...41 Specifications...43 Warranty/Contact Alesis ...45 Program Chart...47...
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Page 5: Introduction
Introduction Welcome! Thank you for making the Alesis Akira™ 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... - Page 6 MidiVerb, MicroVerb and NanoVerb products, the Akira comes complete with 100 studio quality 24-bit digital effects in a compact, industry standard 19” rack mount package. The Akira is suitable for use in everything from guitar rigs to professional recording studios. Akira Key Features o 50 preset studio quality 24-bit effects including: §...
- Page 7 What You Can Do With Your Akira When you have the Akira properly connected, you can: o add space or “room sound” to dry or sterile sounds using the Halls, Rooms and Reverse reverberators. o generate echoes (multiple repeats) with different spectral characteristics to your source with the Delay programs.
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Page 8: How To Use This Manual
Chapter 1: Quick Start. If you're already experienced with recording, this will get you started using the Akira right away. It's a short guide to the essential elements of hooking it up and using it for the first time. A brief tour of the front and back panels is included. -
Page 9: Important Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions (English) Safety symbols used in this product This symbol alerts the user that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit. This symbol warns the user of uninsulated voltage within the unit that can cause dangerous electric shocks. - Page 10 Important Safety Instructions 12. Use only with a cart, stand, bracket, or table designed for use with professional audio or music equipment. In any installation, make sure that injury or damage will not result from cables pulling on the apparatus and its mounting. If a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
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Page 11: Instructions De Sécurité Importantes (French)
Instructions de Sécurité Importantes (French) Symboles utilisés dans ce produit Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateur qu’il existe des instructions de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation jointe avec ce produit. Ce symbole avertit l’utilisateur de la présence d’une tension non isolée à l’intérieur de l’appareil pouvant engendrer des chocs électriques. - Page 12 Important Safety Instructions 12. N’utilisez qu’avec un stand, ou table conçus pour l’utilisation d’audio professionnel ou instruments de musique. Dans toute installation, veillez de ne rien endommager à cause de câbles qui tirent sur des appareils et leur support. 13. Débranchez l’appareil lors d’un orage ou lorsqu’il n’est pas utilisé...
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Page 13: Lesen Sie Bitte Die Folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German)
Lesen Sie bitte die folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German) Sicherheit Symbole verwendet in diesem Produkt Dieses Symbol alarmiert den Benutzer, daß es wichtige Funktionieren und Wartung Anweisungen in der Literatur gibt, die diese Maßeinheit begleitet. Dieses Symbol warnt den Benutzer der nicht isolierten Spannung innerhalb der Maßeinheit, die gefährliche elektrische Schläge verursachen kann. - Page 14 Important Safety Instructions 12. Verwenden Sie ausschließlich Wagen, Ständer, oder Tische, die speziell für professionelle Audio- und Musikinstrumente geeignet sind. Achten Sie immer darauf, daß die jeweiligen Geräte sicher installiert sind, um Schäden und Verletzungen zu vermeiden. Wenn Sie einen Rollwagen benutzen, achten Sie darauf, das dieser nicht umkippt, um Verletzungen auszuschließen.
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Page 15: Ce Declaration Of Conformity
Important Safety Instructions CE Declaration Of Conformity See our website at: http://www.alesis.com FCC Compliance Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. -
Page 17: Chapter One: Quick Start Guide
Quick Start Guide If you can’t wait to get started … The Alesis Akira is a unique product, but its basic hookup and operation is similar to other effects processors in most respects. If you’re experienced with signal processors, this chapter is a “shorthand”... -
Page 18: Step 2: Try Some Effects
INPUT knob until the distortion goes away. 3. Adjust the MIX knob on the front of the Akira to set the dry/wet balance of the effect. To hear the effect only, as you will want to do in most effects send/return setups, turn the MIX knob fully clockwise. -
Page 19: Unpacking And Inspection
This instruction manual AC Power Hookup Plug the female end of the detachable AC power cable into the Akira’s POWER jack and the male (plug) end into a good quality AC power outlet. The Akira contains an internal switching power supply which automatically recognizes the incoming voltage. -
Page 20: Connecting Audio Inputs And Outputs
Most mixing consoles have post-fader effects send and return jacks on their rear panels. This is usually the best choice for connecting the Akira as you will be able to use an effect on several sources at once. When you connect the Akira in this way, you may hear an odd phasing sound on some of the reverb and delay programs. -
Page 21: Connecting To The Channel Inserts Of A Mixing Console
Most mixing consoles have a jack near the mic and line inputs labeled “insert”. This is typically a TRS jack with the send and return on the same jack. To use the Akira as a channel insert effect, you will need an insert cable (not included). -
Page 22: Connecting To The Main Inserts Of 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 Akira to the main L/R bus the same way you connect it to a pair of channels. Simply connect one insert... -
Page 23: About Audio Cables
About Audio Cables The connections between the Akira and your studio are music’s lifeline, so use only high quality cables. These should be low- capacitance shielded cables with a stranded (not solid) internal conductor and a low-resistance shield. Although quality cables cost more, they do make a difference. -
Page 24: Bypass Footswitch
MIDI In of the Akira. To record your continuous controller movements from the front panel of the Akira, connect a MIDI cable from the MIDI Out of the Akira to the MIDI Input of the recording device (generally a computer or MIDI sequencer). -
Page 25: Chapter Three: Editing
This button disables the effect of the Akira allowing the direct signal to be heard without any processing. MIDI This button allows you to set the MIDI channel of the Akira and also to assign continuous controllers to the X, Y and Z editable parameters. -
Page 26: Storing Your Edits
COMPARE a second time. Storing Your Edits Saving your edits is simple! The Akira has 50 “user” memory locations in which to store your new programs. Once you have made your desired edits to an existing program, press STORE once. -
Page 27: Programs
Description of Programs Your Akira comes from the factory with 50 studio quality preset effects programs. Press the VALUE up / down buttons to select an effects program. Reverb Effects 0 - 11 Reverb is made up of a large number of distinct echoes, called reflections. -
Page 28: Vocal Hall
Description of Programs 1 VOCAL HALL A smaller, brighter concert hall designed for vocals. – DENSITY – DECAY – WARMTH 2 VOCAL PLATE Emulation of a classic plate reverb, transparent and smooth, also good for vocals. – DENSITY – DECAY –... -
Page 29: Trash Can
5 TRASH CAN A trashy metallic reverb. Try it on drums and guitars. – The higher the value, the more “smeared” DENSITY the sound. – Length of time until the tail of the reverb DECAY cuts off. – The higher the value, the brighter the BRIGHTNESS reverb sound. -
Page 30: Flanged Reverb
Description of Programs 9 FLANGED REVERB A reverb with a flanger effect. X – BRIGHTNESS Y – DECAY Z – FEEDBACK 10 PITCHED REVERB A reverb’s decay is looped through a pitch shifter with spacey and supernatural results. Try it on vocals or lead instruments. X –... -
Page 31: Delay Effects 12 - 18
Delay Effects 12 - 18 Delay provides a discrete repetition, or echo of the input signal. A portion of the delayed signal is fed back into the input to produce additional echoes of the original signal. Most of the programs in this category share the following three parameters: DELAY This specifies the length of time that the input... -
Page 32: Runaway
Description of Programs 14 RUNAWAY A mono delay where the Mix control has been placed in front of the delay loop. Careful manipulation of the Mix knob will let you create complex looping phrases. Or just crank up the Mix for out-of-control fun. X –... -
Page 33: Phasor Delay
18 PHASOR DELAY A delay program with a phasor effect in the delay feedback loop. Length of time the signal is delayed. X – DELAY Number of times the delayed signal Y – FEEDBACK repeats. Phasor feedback amount. Z – REGEN Pitch Effects 19 - 29 The Pitch effects alter the pitch of a signal in various ways to produce “layered”... -
Page 34: Autophaz
Description of Programs 21 AUTOPHAZ An envelope controlled phasor effect. The sweep of the phasor tracks the input signal level. X – FREQUENCY Y – FEEDBACK Z – SENSITIVITY 22 FLANGER Classic sweeping tape flange effect. X – FREQUENCY Y – DEPTH Z –... -
Page 35: Stereo Detune
25 STEREO DETUNE Dual pitch detune effect. Use this to create a richer sound. Creates detuned copies of the left and X – SPREAD right signals, one above and one below the detuned signal. Amount of detune (+/-) applied to left Y –... -
Page 36: Filter Effects 30 - 38
Editing Filter Effects 30 - 38 These effects change the frequency response of the input by boosting or cutting parts of the signal. 30 BAND LIMIT Limits the high and low frequency range of the input. Good for emulating telephones, radio and other low-fidelity sound sources. -
Page 37: Autowah
33 AUTOWAH Wah-wah filter effect with envelope control. The frequency of the filter changes in response to the input signal level. Initial filter frequency. X – FREQUENCY Envelope sensitivity. This determines Y – SENSITIVITY how much effect the input signal has on the wah-wah. -
Page 38: Voco-Bend
Description of Programs 37 VOCO-BEND 40-band vocoder with adjustable formant frequencies. X – BRIGHTNESS Y – SIBILANCE Z – FREQUENCY 38 VOCODER 40-band vocoder effect for robotic vocals. X – PITCH Y – SIBLANCE Z – SENSITIVITY Distortion Effects 39 - 43 39 RECORD NOISE Vinyl record emulator. -
Page 39: Decimator
42 DECIMATOR Reduces the digital resolution of the signal to create unique lo- fi distortion. Amount of bit reduction. X – DECIMATION Increases aliasing artifacts. Y – RING Filter to decrease high frequency Z – DAMP distortion and aliasing artifacts. 43 GRINDER Filtered, multi-band distortion. -
Page 40: Sub Bass
Description of Programs 46 SUB BASS Sub-harmonic synthesizer. Adds ultra-low bass. X – SUB Y – DRIVE Z – LO CUT 47 TREMOLO Mono tremolo (volume modulation) effect. X – DEPTH Y – SHAPE Z – RATE 48 AUTOPAN Automated stereo panning effect. X –... -
Page 41: Chapter Five: Midi
MIDI In of the “downstream” device. However, since the Akira’s MIDI Thru data is combined with its MIDI Out data, it is preferable to position the Akira as the last unit in the MIDI chain as small delays can occur due to the software merging of these ports. -
Page 42: Using Midi Continuous Controllers
MIDI Using MIDI Continuous Controllers You can assign the Akira’s Parameter X, Y and Z to a MIDI continuous controller for external control. For example, you can assign the modulation wheel on a MIDI keyboard to change Parameter X. To assign a Parameter knob to a MIDI continuous controller, hold the Akira’s MIDI button and then turn the individual... -
Page 43: Troubleshooting Index
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Index If you experience problems while operating your Akira, please use the following table to locate possible causes and solutions before contacting Alesis Product Support for assistance. Symptoms No audio outputs Output is distorted Buzz from outputs AC hum... - Page 44 Defaults To clear the Akira’s user memory and restore the factory default settings, first turn off your Akira. Next, turn it on and immediately press both of the VALUE up and down buttons. The display should read “Cl”, which stands for “Clear”.
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Page 45: Specifications
Specifications MIDI In/Out with MIDI merge for Thru applications Audio Input Input Connectors: Nominal Input Level: Maximum Input Level: Input Impedance: Input Trim: Audio Output Output Connectors: Nominal Output Level: Maximum Output Level: Output Impedance: Audio Performance Signal To Noise Ratio: THD+N: Frequency Response: Power... - Page 46 Specifications...
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Page 47: Warranty/Contact Alesis
For the most effective service, the purchaser should register the purchase on the ALESIS website at http://www.alesis.com/support/warranty.htm. During the warranty period ALESIS shall, at its sole and absolute option, either repair or replace free of charge any product that proves to be defective on inspection by ALESIS or its authorized service representative. -
Page 48: Alesis Contact Information
Alesis Akira Reference Manual Revision 1.0 by Erik Norlander/Modifications by Brian Shim Copyright 2002, Alesis Distribution, LLC. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. “Akira” is a trademark of Alesis Distribution, LLC. Specifications subject to change without notice. -
Page 49: Program Chart
Program Chart REVERBS 0 HALL 1 VOCAL HALL 2 VOCAL PLATE 3 DRUM ROOM 4 SPACE 5 TRASH CAN 6 GATED 7 REVERSE 8 DYNAMIC REVERB 9 FLANGED REVERB 10 PITCH/REV 11 G GARAGE DELAYS 12 DELAY 13 STEREO DELAY 14 RUNAWAY 15 LPF DELAY 16 HPF DELAY... - Page 50 Program Chart FILTER EFFECTS 30 BAND LIMIT 31 LP HP BP 32 LFO LOWPASS 33 AUTOWAH 34 FORMANTS 35 SAMPLED BPF 36 RESONATOR 37 VOCO-BEND 38 VOCODER DISTORTION EFFECTS 39 REC NOISE 40 TAPE SAT 41 FUZZ 42 DECIMATOR 43 GRINDER MISC EFFECTS 44 RING MOD 45 RMS LIMITER...
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