Alesis Akira User manual

Reference Manual

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Table Of Contents
1
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
Connecting to the Channel Inserts of a Mixing Console......................19
Connecting to the Main Inserts of a Mixing Console............................20
Connecting to the Inserts of an Instrument Amplifier .........................20
About Audio Cables......................................................................................21
Bypass Footswitch..............................................................22
MIDI In and Out..................................................................22
Chapter Three: Editing ...................................23
Editing Programs ...............................................................23
Storing Your Edits..............................................................24
Chapter Four: Description of
Programs............................................................25
Reverb Effects 0 -11...........................................................25
0 HALL...........................................................................................................25
1 VOCAL HALL..........................................................................................26
2VOCAL PLATE........................................................................................26
3 DRUM ROOM..........................................................................................26
4 SPACE.........................................................................................................26
5 TRASH CAN.............................................................................................27
6 GATED.......................................................................................................27
7 REVERSE..................................................................................................27
8 DYNAMIC REVERB..............................................................................27
9 FLANGED REVERB............................................................................28
10 PITCHED REVERB.............................................................................28
11 G GARAGE............................................................................................28
Delay Effects 12 -18 ...........................................................29
12 DELAY .....................................................................................................29
13 STEREO DELAY ..................................................................................29
14 RUNAWAY ..............................................................................................30
15 LPF DELAY ............................................................................................30
16 HPF DELAY ...........................................................................................30
17 BPF DELAY............................................................................................30
18 PHASOR DELAY..................................................................................31

Table Of Contents
2
Pitch Effects 19 -29 ...........................................................31
19 PHASOR 1...............................................................................................31
20 PHASOR 2...............................................................................................31
21 AUTOPHAZ...........................................................................................32
22 FLANGER...............................................................................................32
23 INV FLANGER.....................................................................................32
24 DUAL TRANSPOSER..........................................................................32
25 STEREO DETUNE..............................................................................33
26 FREQUENCY SHIFT..........................................................................33
27 CHORUS..................................................................................................33
28 VIBRATO .................................................................................................33
29 VIBRO-WOBBLE...................................................................................33
Filter Effects 30 -38 ...........................................................34
30 BAND LIMIT .........................................................................................34
31 LP BP HP...............................................................................................34
32 LFO LP....................................................................................................34
33 AUTOWAH .............................................................................................35
34 FORMANTS ...........................................................................................35
35 SAMPLED BPF......................................................................................35
36 RESONATOR.........................................................................................35
37 VOCO-BEND.........................................................................................36
38 VOCODER..............................................................................................36
Distortion Effects 39 -43 ...................................................36
39 RECORD NOISE..................................................................................36
40 TAPE SATURATOR.............................................................................36
41 FUZZ ........................................................................................................36
42 DECIMATOR.........................................................................................37
43 GRINDER...............................................................................................37
Miscellaneous Effects 44 -49............................................37
44 RING MODULATOR..........................................................................37
45 RMS LIMITER .......................................................................................37
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

Introduction
3
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
of Alesis' goals is to make high-quality studio
equipment available to everyone, and this
Reference Manual is an important part of that.
After all, there's no point in making equipment
with all kinds of capabilities if no one explains
how to use them. So, we try to write our
manuals as carefully as we build our products.
The goal of this manual is to get you the
information you need as quickly as possible,
with a minimum of hassle. We hope we've
achieved that. If not, please drop us an email
and give us your suggestions on how we could
improve future editions of this manual.
We hope your investment will bring you many
years of creative enjoyment and help you
achieve your goals.
Sincerely,
The people of Alesis
For more effective
service and product
update notices, please
register your Akira
online at:
http://www.alesis.com/
su
pport/warranty.htm

Introduction
4
About the Akira
Alesis, the company that created affordable effects processing
with the introduction of the MidiVerb, now offers the Akira
Effects Processor. Following in the grand tradition of the
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
o50 preset studio quality 24-bit effects including:
§12 Reverbs (halls, rooms and non-linear)
§7 Delays (mono, stereo and filtered
§11 Pitch Effects (phasor, flanger, chorus, vibrato and
harmonizer)
§9 Filter Effects (including vocoder)
§5 Distortion Effects
§6 Miscellaneous Effects (including a vocal eliminator
and limiter)
o50 user locations to store your custom edits of the presets.
oThree parameter knobs (X, Y and Z) for quick editing of
each program’s most important effect settings.
oMIDI program select.
oMIDI parameter control.
oHigh-quality 24-bit true stereo signal path.
oBalanced input and output for optimum noise rejection.
oSwitchable level control from +4dBu to –10dBV for both
professional and consumer applications.
oEasy, consistent operation from the front panel with no
paging through windows of parameters on cryptic LCDs.
oInternal switching power supply for easy worldwide
operation.

Introduction
5
What You Can Do With Your Akira
When you have the Akira properly connected, you can:
oadd space or “room sound” to dry or sterile sounds using
the Halls, Rooms and Reverse reverberators.
ogenerate echoes (multiple repeats) with different spectral
characteristics to your source with the Delay programs.
ocreate lively ensemble effects from a single instrument or
static section using the Chorus and Phasor programs.
ointroduce classic warm, metallic sweeping effects that
simulate analog tape fluctuation using the Flange
programs.
oreproduce the classic guitar amp Tremolo effect on both
instruments and vocals.
oanimate your instruments with an arcane synthesized edge
by applying the LFO-driven Filter effects and Ring
Modulator.
oshape the tone of your source material with several static
Filters in the spirit of vintage and modern modular
synthesizers.
omove your polite-sounding instruments and vocals into
aggressive territory using the palette of Distortion effects.
oadd punch, warmth and character to your tracks with the
compressor –limiter effects.
oremove the vocal and other lead instruments from an
existing recording with the Vocal Eliminator program.

Introduction
6
How to Use This Manual
This manual is divided into the following
sections describing the various functions and
applications for the Akira. While it's a good
idea to read through the entire manual once
carefully, those having general knowledge about
studio equipment should use the table of
contents to look up specific functions.
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.
Chapter 2: Connection give detailed instructions
for connecting the Akira to a variety of typical
audio systems.
Chapter 3: Editing tells how you can easily edit
and store the three most important parameters
of each Akira program.
Chapter 4: Description of Programs gives you a
detailed explanation of each of the Akira’s 50
effects programs.
Chapter 5: MIDI. This chapter describes the
(M)usical (I)nstrument (D)igital (I)nterface
functionality of the Akira.
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting. Refer to this chapter if
you experience any problems while using the
Akira.
Specifications: Detailed technical information
about your Akira.
Program Chart: A list of your Akira’s 50 presets
with program and parameter descriptions.
Helpful t
ips and advice are
highlighted in a shaded box
like this
When something important
appears in the manual, an
exclamation mark (like the
one shown at left) will appear
with some explanatory text.
This symbol indicates that
this information is vital when
operating the Akira.

Important Safety
Instructions
7
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.
This symbol warns the user that output connectors contain
voltages that can cause dangerous electrical shock.
Please follow these precautions when using this
product:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not spray any liquid cleaner
onto the faceplate, as this may damage the front panel controls
or cause a dangerous condition.
7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. When the provided
plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Use only attachments or accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
Continued next page

Important Safety Instructions
8
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.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused
for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid
has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. This unit produces heat when operated normally. Operate in a
well-ventilated area with at least six inches of clearance from
peripheral equipment.
16. This product, in combination with an amplifier and
headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound
levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not
operate for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a
level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss
or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.
17. Do not expose the apparatus to dripping or splashing. Do not
place objects filled with liquids (flower vases, soft drink cans,
coffee cups) on the apparatus.
18. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do
not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.