Alto Busker User manual

User Guide

2
(1.0) INTRODUCTION .......................................... 4
(1.1) Box Contents .......................................................................4
(1.2) Support .................................................................................4
(1.3) Rechargeable Batteries...................................................5
(2.0) SETUP........................................................... 6
(2.1) Important Safety Precautions ......................................6
(2.1.1) Sound Level......................................................................................6
(2.2) Getting Started .................................................................6
(2.3) Connection Diagram .......................................................7
(3.0) FEATURES ....................................................8
(3.1) Rear Panel ............................................................................8
TABLE OF CONTENTS

3
(4.0) OPERATION ...............................................10
(4.1) Pairing a Bluetooth® Device ........................................10
(4.2) Stereo-Link™: Connecting Two Speakers.............. 11
(4.3) Effects ................................................................................ 12
(4.4) Using the Aux Input ......................................................14
(4.5) Speaker Use Controls................................................... 14
(4.6) App Control ..................................................................... 14
(4.7) Factory Reset .................................................................. 16
(5.0) TROUBLESHOOTING ................................ 16
(6.0) APPENDIX .................................................. 18
(6.1) Technical Specifications............................................... 19
(6.2) Trademarks & Licenses ...............................................20

4
Thank you for purchasing the Busker. At Alto Professional, performance and
reliability mean as much to us as they do to you. We design our equipment with only
one thing in mind—to make your performance the best it can be.
Note: Before you first use the product, please fully charge the battery. Your unit was
purposely shipped with a reduced battery charge to ensure safe transit.
Use the included power cable to connect the unit to a power outlet and let it charge
for up to 12 hours. This helps ensure the longest life for your battery.
(1.1) Box Contents
Busker
App Download Card
Power Cable (5 ft. / 150 cm)
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
(1.2) Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility
information, etc.) and product registration, visit altoprofessional.com.
For additional product support, visit altoprofessional.com/support.
(1.0) INTRODUCTION

5
(1.3) Rechargeable Batteries
Here are some other recommendations for getting the longest life from the internal
battery.
General
Usage
Fully charge the battery before using it.
Avoid full discharge of the battery if possible. Li-Ion batteries are
maintenance-free, and the battery will last longest when operating
between 30 and 80 percent charged.
Charge the battery using the included power adapter with the
power off in a cool environment indoors. The battery will not charge
if its temperature is below 32°F/0°C.
If the product has been used continuously, charging will not begin
until the buildup of heat on the battery has cooled down.
Charge the battery completely after each use.
Storage For best product longevity, do not store at exceedingly hot (greater
than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C)
temperatures.
It is acceptable to leave your sound system plugged in. This will not
overcharge the battery.
If you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 3 months,
it may permanently lose capacity.
Repair If the battery fails to charge, check your fuse near the power cable
input. If your fuse is intact and it still will not charge, contact Alto
Professional at altoprofessional.com.
Disposal Bring the unit to a recycling center or dispose of in accordance with
local ordinances.

6
(2.1) Important Safety Precautions
Please note: Alto Professional and inMusic are not responsible for the use of its
products or the misuse of this information for any purpose. Alto Professional and
inMusic are not responsible for the misuse of its products caused by avoiding
compliance with inspection and maintenance procedures. Please also refer to the
included safety and warranty manual for more information.
(2.1.1) Sound Level
Permanent hearing loss may be
caused by exposure to extremely
high noise levels. The U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has specified
permissible exposures to certain
noise levels. According to OSHA,
exposure to high sound pressure
levels (SPL) in excess of these limits
may result in hearing loss. When
using equipment capable of
generating high SPL, use hearing
protection while such equipment is
under operation.
Hours per day SPL
(dB)Example
8 90 Small gig
6 92 Train
4 95 Subway train
3 97 High-level desktop
monitors
2 100 Classical music concert
1.5 102 Riveting machine
1 105 Machine factory
0.5 110 Airport
0.25 or less 115 Rock concert
(2.2) Getting Started
1. Make sure all items listed in the (1.1) Box Contents are included in the box.
2. Read the Safety & Warranty Manual before using the product.
3. Make sure that you have completely charged the battery prior to first use for
maximum battery life.
4. Power on Busker.
5. Turn down the Main Volume on Busker.
6. Connect your audio input sources (i.e. microphones, instruments, CD/MP3
Players).
7. Power on audio input sources.
8. Raise the Main Volume to a comfortable level.
9. Raise the individual channel volumes as needed.
10. Return the Main Volume to zero and turn off Busker when you are finished.
(2.0) SETUP

7
(2.3) Connection Diagram
Items not listed under the (1.1) Box Contents are sold separately.
Tablet
Power
Microphone
Recorder
Smartphone
Guitar

8
(3.1) Rear Panel
J
KM
L
N
O
PQ
A. Channel Inputs 1/2 (1/4” [6.35 mm] / XLR)
Connect audio sources (mic, keyboard, guitar, etc.) after adjusting the MIC/LINE
and INST/LINE switches to the appropriate positions.
B. Channel Input 3
Use this channel to pair a Bluetooth device, link two speakers together, or
connect an auxiliary device to the 1/8” (3.5 mm) AUX input.
C. Phantom Power
Use this switch to enable +48V phantom power for condenser microphones
connected to the CHANNEL 1 input.
D. Channel Volume
Adjust the volume controls for CHANNELS 1–3. The channel volume level will
appear on the display when the volume is adjusted. If the SIG/LIMIT LED flashes,
reduce the volume.
E. FX Select
Selects the effect that Busker’s internal effects processor (powered by Effects by
Alesis) to use on CHANNELS 1 and 2. See (4.3) Operation > Effects for an
explanation of the available effects.
F. Channel FX Volume
Adjusts the FX amount sent to CHANNELS 1 and 2.
(3.0) FEATURES

9
G. Record Out (RCA)
Connect to an external recording device, mixer, etc.
H. Mix Out (XLR)
Connect to an amplifier system or speakers.
Note: Both the Record Out and Mix Out will send the combined Channels 1–3
and FX Level mix to connected recording devices and linked speakers. When
using these connections to send signal to one or more additional Buskers, please
ensure the FX Level on the additional unit(s) is off.
I. Main Volume
Adjusts the overall speaker output level. If the SIG/LIMIT LED flashes, reduce the
volume.
J. Speaker Use
Select the DSP setting to adjust the sound based on the speaker’s placement.
Select VIA APP to use the ALTO Pro App to create a custom EQ. See the section
(4.5) Operation > Speaker Use Controls for more details.
K. Pair
Press and hold for 3 seconds to connect to a Bluetooth device. See the section
(4.1) Operation > Pairing a Bluetooth® Device for more details.
L. Link
Press and hold for 3 seconds to Stereo-Link™ two speakers together. See the
section (4.2) Operation > Stereo-Link™: Connecting Two Speakers for more
details.
M. Battery Level/Charging Indicator
Displays the battery level or charging progress.
N. Standard/Eco Battery Switch
When running on battery power, select ECO for longer battery life with lower
speaker output wattage. Select STANDARD for higher speaker output wattage
but less battery time.
O. USB-A Port
Connect a smartphone, tablet, etc. here to charge it. USB charging only functions
when the unit’s power is turned on.
Note: To charge smartphones and tablets faster, put the device’s screen to sleep.

10
P. Power
Connect the included power cable here to power the unit and charge the internal
battery.
Note: The speaker will go into ERP energy saving mode when running on battery
power after 30 minutes of no signal or panel interaction. This mode is cancelled
when a signal is detected or with panel interaction.
Q. Power Switch
Use this switch to power the speaker on or off. Return the Main Volume encoder
to "zero" before powering off the speaker.

11
(4.1) Pairing a Bluetooth® Device
Note: Press and hold the Bluetooth Pair button and the Link button for 3 seconds to
disable/enable voice prompts.
1. Turn on your Bluetooth device.
2. Turn on Busker using the power switch.
3. Press and hold the Pair button for 3 seconds, then
release it. The Pair LED will blink and a pairing tone will
sound to show it is in pairing mode.
4. Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen, find
Alto Busker,and connect. The Pair LED will light up
solid and a confirmation tone will sound when paired.
Note: If your device requires a passcode or PIN, enter
0000.
5. Start playback from your Bluetooth device.
To disconnect a connected Bluetooth device and connect
to another Bluetooth device, press and hold the Pair
button for 10 seconds to break the connection, and then
repeat Step 3.
Note: If you experience trouble connecting or playing
music, update your device's OS.
Note: Busker will automatically reconnect to the last paired
device on power up if the device is in range and Bluetooth
is active on the device.
(4.0) OPERATION
ALTO BUSKER
BLUETOOTH
Press and hold

12
(4.2) Stereo-Link™: Connecting Two Speakers
1. Power on both Busker speakers by using the
power switches.
2. Follow the steps in the section (4.1) Operation >
Pairing a Bluetooth® Device.
3. Press and hold the Link button for 3 seconds on
primary (Left) speaker, then release it. Then press
the Link button for 3 seconds on the secondary
(Right) speaker, and release it. Both Link LEDs will
blink, and a linking tone will sound while each
speaker searches for the other.
4. When the speakers are successfully linked, each
speaker will produce a confirmation tone and the
Link LEDs on both units will be lit solid.
Note: The default linking process enables stereo
playback by providing half of the stereo audio
signal to each speaker.
To erase Stereo-Link™ settings on both units, press
and hold the Link button on the primary (Left)
speaker for 10 seconds. A confirmation tone will
sound to indicate that link settings have been erased.
Note: Two previously linked Busker speakers will
automatically reconnect when they are powered on
and within range until you manually disconnect from
the speakers or through the ALTO Pro App.
ALTO BUSKER
BLUETOOTH
Press and hold
Press and hold

13
(4.3) Effects
To hear the effects on a channel: Select an effect using
the FX Select knob. Use the Channel 1 or 2 FX Volume
knobs to adjust the amount of the effect sent to the
channel. Below is a list of the effects to choose from.
Reverb Effects
•HALL 1: A large, bright concert hall reverberation effect suitable for vocals and
instruments.
•HALL 2: A large, warm concert hall reverberation effect suitable for drums, piano
and other instruments.
•ROOM 1: A medium-sized, moderately bright reflective room reverberation effect
suitable for vocals, lead guitars and other instruments.
•ROOM 2: A small, very reflective bright room reverberation effect suitable for
drums and percussion as well as electric guitars and other instruments.
•ROOM 3: A large, warm room reverberation effect suitable for acoustic
instruments.
•PLATE 1: A lush, smooth vocal plate reverb with a long decay time and warm
tonality.
•PLATE 2: An emulation of vintage plate reverb with bright, slightly tinny tonality
and a medium-length decay.
•PLATE 3: A short, bright plate reverb effective for creating subtle spaces.
Modulation Effects
•CHORUS: A complex, 6-voice chorus ensemble effect with short delays often
referred to as a “Chorus / Doubler”. Discrete stereo signal path. Slow and watery.
•FLANGE: Classic stereo flange: a slow, slightly metallic sweep with a discrete
stereo signal path.
•ROTARY: Fast rotary speaker simulator creates the classic, lush Doppler effect of
an organ’s spinning horn. Effective on guitars, vocals, keyboards and other
instruments.
Delay Effects
•DELAY 1: A simple slap-back echo with no feedback particularly effective on
vocals and rhythm guitars.
•DELAY 2: Medium-length poly-rhythmic delay with crossover feedback. 3 to 4
ratio between L and R delay times (291 to 388ms) for 3/4 vs. 4/4 feel. Useful for
solo instruments where a long, trailing echo effect is desired.
Multi Effects
•CHORUS/ROOM 1: Room reverb into a slow flanging modulation creates a spacey
effect.
•CHORUS/ROOM 2: Fast modulation provides a dramatic chorus effect in a small
room for a very lush chorus + reverb sound with a discrete stereo signal path.
BYPASS: Bypasses the effects processor – no effects will be heard.

14
(4.4) Using the Aux Input
Connect your smartphone, MP3
player, or similar device to the Aux
Input. Adjust the output volume on
your source device and then adjust
the overall volume using the Channel
3 Volume Control on Busker.
(4.5) Speaker Use Controls
Press the Speaker Use button to cycle
through the different presets listed below.
This will adjust the DSP to the desired
setting.
•With Sub: The speaker is positioned
upright or horizontal on the ground (or
other flat surface) facing the audience.
•Pole: The speaker is elevated on a
speaker stand around ear level facing
the audience.
•Monitor: The speaker is positioned
horizontal on the ground facing the
performer.
•Via App: This is the custom EQ setting
selected from the ALTO Pro App. The
default setting is flat.
Press and hold the Speaker Use button for 3 seconds to activate Volume Display
Mode. Volume levels for each channel will be seen from the Speaker Use LED
indicators. A channel’s SIG/LIMIT LED will flash to show the active channel. When
the LED is lit red, it represents the channel volume. When the LED is lit green, it
represents the FX level. The volume will also be displayed when a channel’s volume
knob is adjusted. The Volume Display Mode will automatically exit after 20 seconds
of no use. Alternatively, press and hold the Speaker Use button for 3 seconds to
exit.
Press to cycle through presets.
Press and hold for 3 seconds to enter Volume
Display Mode.

15
(4.6) App Control
IMPORTANT: To ensure the best possible experience with
the app, use the most current Android OS or iOS on your
device.
Follow these steps to download the free app on your
device:
1. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play on your device.
Then, search for the ALTO Pro App.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install
the app. Once downloaded, the ALTO Pro App will
appear on your device's home screen.
3. Connect your device to Busker via Bluetooth. See the (4.1)
Pairing a Bluetooth® Device to learn how to do this.
4. Open the ALTO Pro App. If prompted, allow the app to
access your device's Bluetooth and Location Services.
5. Follow directions in the app to connect Busker and begin
using the app.
6. Select the Busker icon to go to the next screen, where you
can use the app to control various functions of the speaker
such as:
•Volume: Adjust the speaker’s overall volume.
•EQ: Adjust the speaker's overall equalization.
•Channel 1, 2, & 3 Volume: Adjust the incoming volume for the 1/4" (6.35
mm), XLR, Bluetooth, and Aux sources.
•Channel 1, 2, & 3 EQ: Adjust the low, mid, and high EQ for each channel.
•Channel 1 & 2 FX Volume: Adjust the FX amount sent to CHANNELS 1 and 2.
•Speaker Placement: Cycle through the different DSP presets.
•TWS Link: Select this to Stereo-Link™ two speakers.
Note: You will also need to connect your second Busker unit to the ALTO
Pro App via the steps provided above to Stereo-Link™ both speakers.

16
(4.7) Factory Reset
The speaker volume, EQ, and Speaker Use
settings can be reset to factory “out of the box”
defaults as seen below.
1. Press and hold the Speaker Use button for
10 seconds. All 4 LEDs will flash on/off 4
times to indicate reset.
2. Once the LEDs start to flash, release the
Speaker Use button.
•Speaker Use will be set to Monitor mode.
•Speaker Use User mode will be reset to
Flat.
•All source volumes will be set to 60%.
•All source EQs will be set to Flat.
•The Main EQ will be set to Flat.
•The Alesis FX on Channels 1 & 2 will be
reset to 0%.
•The Main Volume will be set to 60%.
•Adjust the Acoustic Optimization
settings based on the Venue and Event
for preset volume level, EQ setting, light
mode, and effect setting.
Press and hold
After the 4 LEDs flash, release the button.

17
If the unit is not charging: Make sure the power cable is properly connected to the
power input and the power outlet.
If the sound is distorted: Try lowering the volume control of your sound source,
musical instrument, or microphone. Also, try to reduce the overall volume of Busker
using the Main Volume knob.
I hear a hum when cables are connected:
•Disconnect cables from the input jacks to see if it’s a faulty cable.
•Use balanced cabling connections whenever possible.
•Make sure the signal cables are not placed near power cables.
•Connect all audio equipment power cables to outlets which share a common
ground.
If there is too much bass: Try adjusting the tone or EQ control on your sound
source to lower the bass level. This will allow you to play the music louder before
clipping (distortion) occurs.
If there is a high-pitched whistling noise when using microphones: This is probably
feedback. Point the microphone away from the speaker.
If you can’t hear the microphone over the music volume: Turn down the music
volume from your source.
If you can't hear your instrument: Check that the INST/LINE switch is set to INST.
If you can’t play music from a flash drive: The USB port is only for charging USB
devices.
(5.0) TROUBLESHOOTING

18
If you cannot connect your audio device to Busker via Bluetooth:
•Have your audio device (e.g., smartphone or tablet) and Busker as close
together as possible while trying to connect. Make sure both the audio device
and Busker are unobstructed by walls, furniture, etc.
•Press and hold the Pair button to reset the Bluetooth connection on Busker,
disconnect Busker from any other audio device, and restart the search process.
If this does not work right away, power off Busker and then power it back on.
•Reset the Bluetooth connection on your audio device by turning Bluetooth off
and back on. You can find this under the Bluetooth menu in the Settings for
your phone or other audio device.
If this does not work, and you have connected to Busker before, find Busker in
the list of available or previously connected devices in your audio device's
Bluetooth menu, tap the "gear" or “i” icon located next to it and then select
Unpair or Forget. Turn Busker off and back on and try pairing again once it
reappears in your available devices list.
Note: If Busker has been paired to another audio device recently that is still
within range, you may need to repeat this process with that audio device to fully
disconnect.
If you are having issues connecting two speakers using Stereo-Link™:
•Press and hold the Link button on the primary (Left) speaker for 10 seconds to
reset the Stereo-Link™ settings on both units. A confirmation tone will sound to
indicate that link settings have been erased.
•Press and hold the Pair button to reset the Bluetooth connection on Busker,
disconnect Busker from any other audio device, and restart the search process.
If this does not work right away, power off Busker and then power it back on.

19
(6.1) Technical Specifications
Output Power Eco Mode:50 W (peak)
Standard Mode: 200 W (peak)
Drivers Low-Frequency: 6.5” (165.1 mm) woofer
High-Frequency: 1.0” (25.4 mm) tweeter
Max SPL 106 dB
Frequency Response 60 Hz – 20 kHz
Connectors (2) Combo XLR-1/4” (6.35 mm) Inputs
(1) 1/8” (3.5 mm) AUX Input
(1) USB Charging Port
(1) XLR Line Out
(1) RCA Line Out
Charge Port 5V, 2.1 A
Speaker Pole Cup Size 35 mm
Bluetooth Specifications Profile: A2DP, AVRCP
Version: 5.0
Frequency:2402 – 2480 MHz
Maximum Transmission Power: 10 dBm
Protocol:BLE
Codec:SBC
Range: 100 ft. (30.5 m)
Battery Type: 6.6 Ah, 12 V, Lithium Ion
Life: Eco Mode:up to 24 hours; Standard Mode: up to 20 hours
Charging Time: 12 hours
Power Connection: IEC
Voltage: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 120 W; 220–240 VAC, 50/60
Hz; 120 W
Fuse: 100–120 V, T1.6AL AC250 V; 220–240 V, T0.8AL AC250 V
Dimensions
(height x width x depth)
11.8” x 8.6” x 10.0”
299 x 219 x 254 mm
Weight 11.9 lbs.
5.4 kg
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Bluetooth and wireless reception and range are affected by walls, obstructions, and movement.
For optimal performance, place the product in the center of the room so it is unobstructed by
walls, furniture, etc. Battery life may vary based on temperature, age, and volume usage of
product.
(6.0) APPENDIX

20
(6.2) Trademarks & Licenses
Alto Professional is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries.
The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any
use of such marks by Alto Professional is under license.
Alesis is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries.
All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of
their respective owners.