Alesis DEQ830 - Manual

Introduction How to Use This Manual This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various functions of and applications for the DEQ830. While it's a good idea to read through the entire manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about audio equipment should use the tab...

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...

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 whe...

Important Safety Instructions 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 présenc...

Important Safety Instructions 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 warn...

Important Safety Instructions CE Declaration of Conformity See our Web site 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 dev...

1 Quick Start Guide If you can’t wait to get started… The Alesis DEQ830 is a unique product, but its basic hookup and operation are similar to other equalizers in most respects. If you're experienced with signal processors, this chapter is a “shorthand” guide for those who want to start using the DE...

1 Quick Start Guide Step 2: Try some equalization Play some signal into the unit While learning the unit, you should play a CD or a multitrack source into the equalizer. Choose a song or musical passage with a fairly consistent level, so you can take your time experimenting with the different featur...

2 Connections Unpacking and Inspection Your DEQ830 was packed carefully at the factory. The shipping carton was designed to protect the unit during transit. Please keep this carton in the highly unlikely event that you need to return the DEQ830 for servicing. The shipping carton should contain the f...

2 Connections AC Power Hookup The DEQ830 has what’s known as a “switching power supply.” This means it will detect any standard line voltage from 90 to 230 volts, 50-60 Hz, and adapt itself to that. All you need is the proper AC cable for the country in which you find yourself. Just plug the "fe...

Connections 2 Connecting Inputs and Outputs Connecting to the Channel or Main Inserts of a mixing console Unbalanced I/O When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, please make sure that your amplifiers are turned down or off to prevent damage to your speakers. Most mixing consoles...

2 Connections Mono connections Mono connections This example shows how to connect the DEQ830 to one mono source. You can use this method to connect eight mono sources to the DEQ830. You would need eight insert cables to make all of these connections. This example shows how to connect the DEQ830 to o...

Connections 2 About Audio Cables The connections between the DEQ830 and your studio are your 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 mor...

3 Basics of Equalization This section will describe how equalization works and explain the functions of the DEQ830’s controls. What is equalization? An equalizer boosts or cuts a frequency range. The DEQ830 is a graphic equalizer, which means it has many fixed frequency bands that can be cut or boos...

3 Basics of Equalization Description of the Front Panel This section will give you an overview of the front panel’s features. Not all features are labeled, so you may want to refer to the diagram of the DEQ830 on page 18 as you read this section. Band Select There are 31 buttons side-by-side on the ...

Basics of Equalization 3 the original signal so you can decide if you like the edit you made. Press the button again to get out of Bypass mode and hear the effect. Bypass All (ALL) This button is located just above the [BYPASS] button. It will toggle the Bypass status of all eight channels at once. ...

3 Basics of Equalization 30 Program If you want to cancel any action in progress and return to Program mode, just press the [PROGRAM] button. Value Encoder (VALUE) On far right side you’ll find a knob marked [VALUE] , which is used to edit the gain amount of the frequency you have selected with the ...

Basics of Equalization 3 Description of the Basic Modes Program mode When this manual refers to Program mode, we mean the very top level of functionality of the DEQ830. In program mode, turning the [VALUE] encoder will let you select between the 100 user- definable preset programs in the unit. A pro...

Basics of Equalization 3 33 Link mode In this mode, you can link multiple channels so that their EQ settings are locked together. To experiment with this, first select a channel with recognizable settings. Next, press and hold down the [LINK] button. You can then select channels to link to the origi...

3 Basics of Equalization Basic operation: Program mode Program mode is where to be if you want to call up another program, or if you just want to know the number of the program you are using. The DEQ830 has 100 programs in all. Programs 00- 24 contain factory presets that you can use as starting poi...

Basics of Equalization 3 Band Solo The DEQ830 has a handy feature called Band Solo that allows you to “isolate” a given frequency while you are editing. This can help you determine exactly which band you need to highlight or de- emphasize. It’s simple to do: 1. Select a band by pressing and holding ...

Basics of Equalization 3 Multiple Band Edit Selecting an Edit Group Pressing a [BAND SELECT] button puts the DEQ830 into Edit mode. And until you turn the [VALUE] encoder to boost or cut the gain, you can keep pressing [BAND SELECT] buttons until you have several of them selected simultaneously. Thi...

Basics of Equalization 3 One important note, though: Proportional Gain Memory is only temporary. If you run one or more bands “past” the +/-12 dB limit and then you exit Edit mode for any reason (such as to store the program), the gain value of those bands will be remembered as +/-12 dB (whichever w...

3 Basics of Equalization Likewise, if the lowest gain setting of any band in this same Edit Group is -4 dB, then the largest number you will see in the Relative Gain display going all the way up is 16 (see fig. 5). Likewise, if the lowest gain setting of any band in this same Edit Group is -4 dB, th...

Basics of Equalization 3 Basic operation: Store mode Once you have created a program you would like to save, press the [STORE] button to enter Store mode. This will cause the Numerical LED Display to blink with the number of the current program. Turning the [VALUE] encoder allows you to choose a pro...

3 Basics of Equalization Copying settings between channels You can use the Link function while editing to help set up identical curves on multiple channels. But at some point the curves may need to diverge slightly (or significantly). Rather than unlinking the channels and starting all over again, y...

Basics of Equalization 3 Remember that a non-primary channel is “mirroring” the settings of the primary channel. When you perform an edit on a non- primary channel, you aren’t actually editing that channel; you are actually changing the primary channe, and the audio for all linked channels will be a...

3 Basics of Equalization Metering modes Metering modes Held peaks may be reset at any time by pressing the [RTA] button and holding it for about a second. The DEQ830 allows you to choose how the Band Gain LEDs will respond in RTA mode. This is done in Utility mode, where you can use the [VALUE] enco...

Basics of Equalization 3 Basic operation: Utility mode To return to Program mode from Utility mode, press the [PROGRAM] button. This is where you will find some of the features that govern the way the DEQ830 operates in the other modes. They are what you would call “global” settings, in that their s...

Basics of Equalization 3 This process is not affected by the setting of the MIDI Out/Thru Select function. When you instruct the unit to Transmit, the sys-ex data will be sent whether the MIDI jack is set to Out or Thru. Receiving System Exclusive bulk dumps The DEQ830 is always ready to receive a n...

3 Basics of Equalization The "Hidden" Modes There are a couple of sub-levels of operation that can be accessed by pressing different buttons. We covered a number of modes on the preceding pages; here are two more “hidden” modes: Demonstration mode Sometimes it’s fun to have a lot of little l...

Basics of Equalization 3 Equalization Artifacts When you apply a lot of EQ (6dB or more), you may hear some consequences on the output. Here are a few common side effects to applying a lot of equalization and some ways to avoid them. The potential for artifacts is highly dependent on the audio sourc...

3 Basics of Equalization Constant Q vs. Variable Q What makes the DEQ830 unique? Early graphic equalizers relied solely on a form of equalization known as “Variable Q.” The DEQ830, on the other hand, is what is known as a “Constant Q” equalizer. This method of equalization is a relatively recent dev...

Basics of Equalization 3 Variable Q In the next illustration, the wider and more gradual curve represents a lower gain setting for a Variable Q equalizer. The narrower and more steep curve represents a higher gain setting at the same frequency: The previous illustration has been exaggerated somewhat...

3 Basics of Equalization Multi-band application and results So far we have only dealt with cutting or boosting single frequency bands. The differences between the Constant Q and Variable Q methods become more “graphic,” if you will, when adjacent frequency bands are involved. In this example, three ...

4 Applications This section is designed to get you started with the DEQ830 by giving some sample settings. These are merely suggested settings; experiment and find your own once you begin to hear what the DEQ830 does to your sound. In a way, it’s absurd to suggest EQ settings without knowing what th...

4 Applications Eliminating Feedback During a live performance, you may experience feedback if a microphone is placed too close to a monitor. However, this feedback often occurs at one frequency before it happens at others. You can "ring out" the monitor by using EQ to cut the frequency that’...

Applications 4 Comb filtering You'll understand how this effect process got its name once you see the way it looks when recreated on the DEQ830. This one works especially well with two channels that carry the left and right signals from a stereo audio source: Note: depending on the incoming audio, i...

5 Troubleshooting Line Conditioners and Protectors Although the DEQ830 is designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, in today’s world the voltage coming from the AC line may contain spikes or transients. These can cause audible noises, and they can stress your gear and, over time, possibly cau...

5 Troubleshooting 62 Troubleshooting Index Symptoms Cause Solution No audio at outputs. No input audio. Test with a known good input. Bad cables. Replace the cables. Destination is turned down. Check the connections and the level of the mixer or amp to which the DEQ830 is connected. Weak output sign...

Troubleshooting 5 63 Refer All Servicing to Alesis We believe that the DEQ830 is one of the best signal processors that can be made using current technology, and should provide years of trouble-free use. However, should problems occur, DO NOT attempt to service the unit yourself unless you have trai...

Specifications Rear Panel I/O (switchable) Analog: All measurements done over a 22 Hz - 22 kHz range with 1 kHz sine wave at -1dBFS input. Impedances are measured at 1 kHz. Input Connectors: 8 balanced 1/4” TRS jacks Output Connectors: 8 balanced 1/4” TRS jacks Digital: Input Connector: 1 ADAT Optic...

Warranty / Contact Alesis Limited Warranty ALESIS CORPORATION ("ALESIS") warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year for parts and for a period of one (1) year for labor from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty is enfor...

Warranty/Contact 68 Alesis Contact Information Alesis Distribution, LLC Los Angeles, CA USA E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.alesis.com Alesis DEQ830 Reference Manual Revision A by Randy Lee, Taiho Yamada and Edwin Erdmann Revision B by Bret Victor Copyright 2003, Alesis Distribution, ...