Alesis ModFX manual

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. 7-51-0119-A 8/2002[...]

Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................... 3 Welcome! .........................................................................................................3 About the Philtre ........................................................................... 4 Important features of you r Philt [...]

Table Of Contents 2 Troubleshooting Index ................................................................ 4 5 Avoiding ground loop noise .........................................................................47 Line conditioners and spike protectors ......................................................48 Care and Maintenance ...................[...]

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. One of Alesis' goals is to make high-qualit[...]

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. With a uniform, friendly, unc[...]

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 note-by-note filter sweeping • Tempo synchronization keeps filter effect in time with the music • Tap Tempo makes it easy to set the speed of modu[...]

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. While it's a good idea to read through the entire manual once carefully, those ha[...]

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. This symbol warns the user of uninsulated voltage within the unit that can cause dangerous elect ric sho[...]

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. If a ca[...]

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. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This de vice may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, incl[...]

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. Ce symbole avertit l’utilisateur de la présence d’une tension non isolée à[...]

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. Dans toute installation, veillez de ne rien endommager à cause de câbles qui tirent su r des appareils et leu r supp[...]

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. Dieses Symbol warnt den Benutzer der nicht isolierten Spannu[...]

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. Achten Sie immer darauf, daß die jeweiligen Geräte sicher installiert sind, um Schäden und Verletzungen zu verm[...]

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. If yo[...]

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. I n Ba n d m od e s it a l s o s et[...]

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. The shipping carton should contain the following items: • Philtre with [...]

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. Mono In, Mono o r Stereo Ou t If you’re[...]

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). This cable splits the [...]

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. Simply connect one insert cable to the left main insert of[...]

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. Howe ver, plug ging a group out or pre-fader Aux send from a mixer into the Philt re will allo w y ou to process a[...]

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. Most guitar amps are single channel, so conn[...]

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. Watch out for high lev[...]

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. The 9-pin female connector on the righ[...]

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...it’s really pretty simple. What is filtering? An audio filter is a special kind of[...]

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. The frequency at the edge of that plateau, just as the respons[...]

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. For example, y ou c an set the rate so that the sweep of the filter completes each [...]

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. In normal modulation modes ([...]

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. Depth interacts with the [PHREEQ] cont rol (see next pag[...]

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 the corner frequency), which creates a peak in the response as shown belo w: [REGEN] at minimum [REGEN] at maximum • To increase resonance, tu rn [RE[...]

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. At th e maximum setting, with the addition of filter resonance, the Band Pass filter essentially becomes a narrow notch filter with a high “Q”, like a pa[...]

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. The rocker switch also selects TEMPO SYNC mode, as explained earli[...]

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. An accent (a sudden increase above the a vera ge input audio level) is called a trig[...]

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. Envelope is used in “auto-wah” effects, [...]

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. It sounds somewhat like “sample and hold” modulation, e xcept that the pattern will step through the same 16 ste[...]

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. There are fou r types available, explained below. Low Pass Perhaps the most-popular type of filter effect, the Lo w Pass filter has a 2-pole, 12 dB per oc[...]

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. The distance between the two s[...]

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. Here is a chart of the effect of the [STEEP] button: No rmal slope Steep slope 2 p o[...]

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. Tap Tempo technique For a reliable tempo setting, make se veral taps in a row [...]

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. The Bypass function can also by activated by the foot switch. Since the Philt re is a digi[...]

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. Simply set the knobs on yo ur Philt re so they’re at the positions sho wn, and press the rocker switches so each effect is in the mode shown by the L[...]

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 . Slow Sweep H it [ T AP TE MPO] o n the d o w nb ea t o f e ve ry 2 nd ba r, a n d th is s etti n g w ill op e n an d c l[...]

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 . Ta p q u a rt e r n o t es into [ TAP T EMP O ] , a n d p r e s s [ R E S E T M O D ] t o c h a[...]

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. No input au dio( SIGNAL LED d oesn ’t fla sh). Test with a known good in[...]

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 high Red uce [REGEN ] settin g, or turn [STEEP ] off Can ’t h e ar E n vel ope [RA TE] set too lo w t o t r a ck i npu t Set [RA TE] to th e midd le [...]

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. These sho w up as hums, buzzes or sometimes radio reception and can occu r if a piece of equipment "sees" two or more different pat[...]

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. In some cases, a "star grounding" scheme must be used, with the mixer at the center of the [...]

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™. DO NOT SPRA Y THE CLEANER DIRECT LY ONTO THE FRONT OF THE UNIT AS IT MA Y DESTROY THE LU BRIC ANTS USED I[...]

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. Make sure y ou ha ve the unit’s serial number with y ou. Talk the problem o ver wit[...]

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 sampling Audio Ou tput Output Connectors: 2 unbalanced 1/4” jacks Maximum Output Le vel: +9 dBV Output Impedance: 500 Ω Output Converter Resolution: [...]

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 co rne r frequency , 26 decibels per octa ve, 26 DEPTH , 16 , 29, 45 digital converters, 40, 51 digital signal processing, 4 DSP, 51 ENVELOPE, 34, 46[...]

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. Th i s w[...]

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. Specifications subject to change w[...]