Alesis ModFX Metavox 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. 7-51-0117-A 8/2002[...]

Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................... 3 Welcome! .........................................................................................................3 About the Metavox ........................................................................ 4 Important features of you r Metavo x [...]

Table Of Contents 2 Sample Settings .............................................................3 5 Blank Settings Templates ..............................................................................38 Troubleshooting ............................................................ 3 9 Troubleshooting Index ........................................[...]

Introduction 3 Welcome! Thank you for making the Alesis Meta vo x 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-qual[...]

Introduction 4 About the Metavox Your new Meta vox is a member of the Alesis ModFX family of performance effects boxes. The Meta vo x is a vocoder with a built- in oscillator that can be modulated by the amplitude and tone of any input (usually a human voice) to produce unique “talking” effects. Each box in the line provides a different set of [...]

Introduction 5 Me tav ox Key Featu res • One-oscillator vocoder with fou r built-in wa veforms (saw, rectified saw, square, and noise) in a compact bo x • Can vocode external sources, for polyphonic vocoding of an e xternal synthesizer, guitar, etc. • Built-in modulation of internal oscillator by any of five different mod sou rces • Tempo S[...]

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 Metavo x. 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 device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, inclu[...]

Important Safety Instructions 10 Instructions de Sécurité Importantes (French) Sy mboles utilisés dans ce p roduit Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateur qu’il e xiste des inst ructions de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation jointe a vec ce produit. Ce symbole a vertit l’utilisateu r de la présence d’une tension non isolée[...]

Important Safety Instructions 11 11. N’utilisez que des accessoires spécifiés par le const ructeur. 12. N’utilisez qu’a vec un stand, ou table conçus pour l’utilisation d’audio professionnel ou inst ruments de musique. Dans toute installation, veillez de ne rien endomma ger à cause de câbles qui tirent su r des appareils et leu r sup[...]

Important Safety Instructions 12 Lesen Sie bitte die folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German) Sicherheit Sy mbole verwende t in diesem Produkt Dieses Symbol alarmiert den Benutzer, daß es wichtige Funktionieren und Wartung Anweisungen in der Literatu r gibt, die diese Maßeinheit begleitet. Dieses Symbol warnt den Benutzer der nicht isolierten Spannu[...]

Important Safety Instructions 13 11. Benutzen Sie nur das vom Hersteller empfohlene Zubehör. 12. Verwenden Sie ausschließlich Wa gen, 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 verme[...]

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 Meta vo x is a unique product, and is inherently different from other effects units. If y ou've already used a vocoder device, this chapter is a "shorthand" guide for those who want to start using the Meta vox right away in the most popular way. If y ou have ques[...]

1 Quick Start Guide 16 A quick overview of the controls SYN T H ESI S IN PUT This se lec ts th e in t e r na l o s c i l la t o r w a ve o r e xter n al inp ut ( a s s h o w n b y th e LE D s n e x t to th e s wi tc h ) th at wi ll b e v o c od ed by th e in pu t. PHRE EQ se ts the fre q ue nc y o f th e i n ter n al o s c i l la t o r w h en S Y N[...]

2 Connections 17 Unpacking and Inspection Your Meta vox 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 you need to retu rn the Meta vo x for servicing. The shipping carton should contain the following items: • Meta vo x wit[...]

2 Connections 18 Connecting audio The Meta vox will work in many different applications, whether y ou are connecting an inst rument directly into it, or connecting it through a mixing console. Signal p rocesso r vs. sy nthesize r Unlike other signal processors, a vocoder is hal f processor, hal f synthesizer. A signal processor takes an input signa[...]

Connections 2 19 Typical vocoding setup If you’re connecting an instrument directly to the Meta vox, hook it up this way: 1. Connect a 1/4" phone cord to the [RIGHT INPUT] of the Meta vo x from the instrument you want to have vocoded. Or, you can just use the Metavox’s own waveforms as the synthesis input source. 2. Connect another 1/4&quo[...]

2 Connections 20 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 Meta vo x as a channel insert, y ou will need an insert cable (not included). This cable splits the[...]

Connections 2 21 Connecting to the Group Sends o r Aux Send/Re tu rn o f a mixing console: The Meta vox is designed more for in-line processing than the send/receive kind of processing typically used for reverb units. Ho we ver, plugging the Metavo x into a Group or Aux send/retu rn loop will allow y ou to vocode a mix of se veral instruments, from[...]

2 Connections 22 Connecting to the inse rts on an instrument amplifie r : Use this method only if you occasionally use the Metavo x to provide synthesizer sounds and noises under control of you r guitar. This method won’t let any guitar sound through unless BYPASS is pressed. The insert send on a guitar or bass amp is usually labeled "effect[...]

Connections 2 23 Connecting to equipment with XLR inpu ts and outputs: If you are connecting the Meta vo x 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 le[...]

2 Connections 24 Using the ModLink The Meta vox can be connected to other effect boxes 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 right[...]

3 Using the Metavox 25 This section explains the technology of synthesis and vocoding and describes the functions of the Meta vo x’s controls in greater detail. About Vocoding The Meta vox is a vocode r. Vocoders are the result of research into the sound of the human voice, and ways to artificially synthesize voices. One way of understanding it i[...]

3 Using the Metavox 26 The result is a unique signal processing path that puts one sound under the cont rol of another. The creative and commercial possibilities of generating voice-like sounds from either the internal synthesizer or from an external instrument are as varied as the sound of the human voice itsel f. But vocoding need not stop there.[...]

Using the Metavox 3 27 What is Tempo Sync ? In the Metavo x , Tempo Sy nc af fects only the frequency modulation (e. g., vibrato) of the internal wa veform oscillator. Sometimes, you’ll want the rate of the vibrato or pitch change to match the beat of y ou r music instead of being random. For ex ample, y ou can set the rate so that the pitch of t[...]

3 Using the Metavox 28 Description of Controls Sy nthesis Inpu t Switch The up/do wn rocker switch beside the Synthesis Input label on the left side of the unit selects the synthesis input, i.e., the internally-generated or e xternal sound that will be vocoded and sent to the OUTPUTS. The LEDs ne xt to the switch light up to indicate the cu rrent s[...]

Using the Metavox 3 29 Noise This mode selects a white noise generator as the sound to be vocoded by the input. Since white noise has all frequencies at once, the vocoder’s filters will be most noticeable on this setting. Right In = Sy nth Use this mode when y ou want to vocode any external input—a polyphonic synthesizer, guitar, etc. When [S Y[...]

3 Using the Metavox 30 Modulation switch The up/do wn rocker switch under the MODULATION label on the right side of the Meta vox selects the waveform that will be used to modulate the pitch of the internal sawtooth or square wave oscillator only. This cont rol has no effect if the [SYNTHESIS INPUT] switch is set to NOISE or RIGHT IN = SYNTH. There [...]

Using the Metavox 3 31 Uncertainty This mode generates a continually varying wa veform for the oscillator’s modulation; it’s similar to Sample and Hold but the pitch will glide from note to note, instead of jump. Patte rn This mode randomly generates a 16-step pattern for the oscillator’s modulation and repeats it over and over. In some ways,[...]

3 Using the Metavox 32 Depth The [DEPTH] knob controls how much pitch modulation (vibrato) of the above LFO waves and patterns will be applied to the internal waveform oscillator’s SA W, RECTIFIED SA W, or SQU ARE waves. Rate The [RA TE] knob changes the speed of the pitch modulation of the internal wa veform synthesizer only . In normal modulati[...]

Using the Metavox 3 33 Reset Mod Press this button to reset the modulation as follows: • In TRIANGLE and SAMPLE/HOLD modes, press [RESET MOD] to start the wa ve from the be ginning of its phase. In Triangle, RESET starts the mod from the bottom of the wave. • In TRIGGERED mode press this button to generate a trigger for the modulation (sending [...]

3 Using the Metavox 34 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 Meta vo x. When the red BYPASS LED is lit, no vocoding takes place. The Bypass function can also be activated by the foot switch. Since the Meta vo x is a d[...]

4 Sample Settings 35 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 Meta vox to help get y ou started. Simply set the knobs on yo ur Meta vox so they’re at the positions shown, and press the rocker switches so each effect is in the mode shown by the LE[...]

4 Sample Settings 36 B attle Star A d ee p e r s or t o f ou ter - s p ac e v o ic e ; tr y a d j u s ting PHREE Q to ge t the p r ec is e e ff ec t y o u wan t . Odd Inflection This pa tch u s e s th e TRI G G E RED w a v efor m to “swoo p” th e s qu ar e w av e e v e r y time th e co ntr oll in g v o ic e o r ins tru me nt ha s a s ud de n in[...]

Sample Settings 4 37 Vocomotion This se tt ing ha s a r hy t h m to it , whic h yo u m us t s et u s in g the TA P TEM PO b ut t o n s. I f y ou d on ’ t l ik e t h e p atte r n, p re ss R ES ET MOD u ntil yo u f in d on e y o u l ik e . A s a va r ia ti o n , t ry S A M PLE/ H OL D a s th e s ou r c e, wi th th e RAT E se t t o f ull. M od Vox H[...]

4 Sample Settings 38 Blank Set tings Templates[...]

5 Troubleshooting 39 Troubleshooting Index If you experience problems while operating you r Metavo x, 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 aud i o(SIG NAL LED d oesn ’t fla sh). Test with a known good i[...]

5 Troubleshooting 40 Sy mptoms Cause Solution Buz z or h um fro m out puts Aud io cab les ar e cros sing a po wer cabl e or a po wer ada pter. Make s u r e that t he Met av ox an d i ts audi o cab les ar e kep t away fro m po wer cabl es and wall warts . Don ’t wrap c a ble in t i g h t bun d le s. Bad cables Re p l a ce t h e cab les Pro blem w [...]

Troubleshooting 5 41 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 42 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 43 Care and Maintenance Cleaning Disconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the Meta vox’s metal and plastic surfaces. 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 44 Obtaining repai r se rvice 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 you ha ve the unit’s serial number with y ou. Talk the problem over with[...]

Specifications 45 Audio Inpu t Input Connectors: 2 unbalanced 1/4” jacks Maximum Input Le vel: +10 dBV Nominal Level: -10 dBV (adjustable, left input) -20 dBV (right input) 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 I[...]

6 Specifications 46 This pa ge intentionally left blank.[...]

Index 47 amplifier, 22 Aux Send/Retu rn, 21 BYPASS , 16, 34 with foot switch, 34 cables, 23 Cleaning, 43 CONT ROLLER , 25 DEPTH , 16, 32 digital converters, 34, 45 DIRECT OUT, 18 DSP, 45 envelope, 25 e xternal sou rce, 4, 19 FOO T SWITCH , 16, 34 Ground Loop, 41 grounding, 7 Group Sends, 21 Hums and buzzes, 41 INPUTS, 15 INPUTS and OUTPUTS , 16 INS[...]

Warranty / Contact Alesis 48 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 a n d f or a p er iod 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[...]

Warranty/Contact Information 49 Alesis Contact Information Alesis Studio Elect ronics Los Angeles, CA USA E-mail: support@alesis.com Website: http://www.alesis.com Alesis Metavo x Reference Manual Revision 1.0 by Ale x Souppa & Dan Tinen Copy right 2002, Alesis. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Specifications [...]