Audio Innovate AEM-100 User manual

AEM-100 2-Channel Pro DJ Mixer
AEM-100 2-Channel Pro DJ MixerAEM-100 2-Channel Pro DJ Mixer
AEM-100 2-Channel Pro DJ Mixer
Please kindly read this manual before using the AEM-100 and sa e it for future
reference.

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Warranty Information p. 3
Getting started p. 4-7
Turntables rear panel p. 4
CDs rear panel p. 4-5
Front panel p. 5
Before powering up the unit p. 6
After powering up the unit p. 7
Faceplate details p. 8-12
MICs, Inputs, Master, headphones p. 9
Effects p. 9-11
Channel LED meters p. 11
Fader cuts p. 11-12
Line Faders, Crossfader p. 12
Front panel details p. 13
Rear panel details p. 14
Block Diagram p. 15
Specifications back cover
Thank you for purchasing the AEM-100 featuring:

Unique knob controlled dual effect section with individually
controllable filters and sound generators

Unique Fader CutsTM for fully adjustable sound transforms and crabs
using fast-acting buttons

Extremely durable Pro X Fade crossfader

Up to 8 line level inputs, 2 turntable inputs, and 2 microphone inputs

Balanced Master XLR Outputs
We hope you enjoy our mixer as much as we enjoyed making it!

3
AEM-100 Audio Innovate Warranty and Servicing Policy
Audio Innovate provides a warranty against manufacturing defects for either 1 year after the date
of purchase or 90 days after warranty repair is made, whichever is later. This warranty does not
cover minor visual defects such as scratches and paint wear or defects caused by uses other than the
intended use. In addition, the warranty does not cover damage to the unit due to mishandling by the
user or technicians not specifically authorized byAudio Innovate.
Please go to the website www.audioinnovate.com to register the purchase of your product.
Please save your receipt as a record of your purchase. We also recommend that you save the original
packaging in the event that the product needs to be returned under warranty. You can also order
original packaging through the www.audioinnovate.com website in the event you need it for returning
or shipping the product.
For repairs made under warranty, Audio Innovate will reimburse the cost of standard non-
expidited shipping from the customer and will cover return shipping and repair costs. If the customer
requires faster shipping, Audio Innovate will only bill the difference between the cost of the faster
shipping and regular shipping. For all other repairs, the customer must pay for all shipping and repair
costs.
Customers shall contact Audio Innovate directly prior to sending product back for service. If
Audio Innovate determines that the product requires repair, Audio Innovate will issue an RMA number
for the product and the customer shall indicate the RMAnumber on the mailing label. Prior to issuing
an RMA number, Audio Innovate will clarify what repairs will be done and what will be covered under
warranty. If during the repair Audio Innovate finds additional issues with the product, Audio Innovate
will contact the customer and confirm repairs required and costs prior to proceeding.
All product returned shall be shipped in the original packaging. In the event that the product is
damaged during shipping due to improper packaging, Audio Innovate may require the customer to pay
for repairing such damage.
Audio Innovate may request a copy of your receipt as proof that the product is covered under
warranty.
Please staple your receipt here and save for future reference.

4
GETTING STARTED: Basic hookups and settings
2 TURNTABLES REAR PANEL
REAR PANEL USING 2 TURNTABLES:

AC power adapter connects to “20V~1A”

Left turntable goes to “PHONO1/LINE1” using dual RCA cords, and the ground wire goes to the
GND screw above AUX2

“LINE1/PHONO1” switch set to “PHONO1”

Right turntable goes to “PHONO2/LINE3” using dual RCA cords, and the ground wire goes to the
GND screw above AUX1

“LINE3/PHONO2” switch set to “PHONO2”

For powered speaker or amplifier connection, either use XLR cables on the “MASTER
BALANCED OUTPUT” or RCA cables on the “MASTER” output.

***Only turn the power switch on once you have finished the hookup, understand the setup,
and set all faders to minimum volume.
2 SINGLE / 1 DUALCD PLAYER REAR PANEL
REAR PANEL USING2 SINGLE CD PLAYERS / 1 DUAL CD PLAYER:

AC power adapter connects to “20V~1A”

Left CD source goes to “LINE 2” using a dual RCA cord.

5

“LINE1/PHONO1” switch set to “PHONO1”

Right CD source goes to “LINE 2” using a dual RCAcord.

“LINE3/PHONO2” switch set to “PHONO2”

For powered speaker or amplifier connection, either use XLR cables on the “MASTER
BALANCED OUTPUT” or RCA cables on the “MASTER” output.

Connect “Fader Start A” using a mono 1/8” jack cable to the left CD player input marked
“Remote”.

Connect “Fader Start B” using a mono 1/8” jack cable to the right CD player input marked
“Remote”.

***Only turn the power switch on once you have finished the hookup, understand the setup,
and set all faders to minimum volume.
FRONT PANEL

Connect a microphone to the “MIC1” input

Connect the headphones either to the 1/8” or 1/4” socket above “PHONES” depending on the
headphone jack size.

Set the “FADER START” to “OFF” for now.

Set the “CROSSFADER” to “OFF” for now.

Set the “FADER CUTS” to “NORMAL” for now.
***Please note that all of these settings are simply for getting up and running quickly for the first
time with a basic audio setup. Most likely you purchased this product for its advanced features
and hookups. Please only use these options once you are familiar with the product and practice
at home before you attempt to use them in a live situation.

6
Before powering up the unit:
1) Make sure the PHONO / LINE switches at the top are set to match the hookups in the back.
2) Set all EQ faders to the middlePlace both WET/DRY faders in the DRY position.
3) In the MAIN section, set the MASTER to MIN and the BALANCE in the middle.
4) Set both CH1 and CH2 faders to the bottom position
5) Make sure theAmplifier or powered speaker is set to MIN volume or off.
6) Make sure the MIC1, MIC2, and PHONES GAIN are all set to – or MIN.

7
After powering up the unit:
Do the following in order while music is playing for both CH1 and CH2
1) Adjust the GAIN knobs until the CH1 and CH2 meters peak at about 0dB
2) Move the CH1 slider about 2/3 of the way up.
3) Adjust the MASTER volume until the LEFT and RIGHT led meters peak at about 0dB.
4) Adjust the amplifier / powered speaker volume until the sound is at a comfortable mixing
level.
Following these steps will maximize the audio fidelity of theAEM-100 mixer. Please note
if your amplifier or powered speaker does not have a volume adjustment, please do not do steps
2-4 and instead, adjust the master knob to obtain a comfortable mixing level. Also once you are
done adjusting, you should leave the MASTER volume or amplifier / powered speaker volume
settings alone to prevent distortion and speaker damage.
At this point, move the CH1 fader to the bottom and you’re ready to start mixing!

8
The above is just a “quick start” guide for getting the mixer up and
running for the first time, especially in an emergency. Please read
through the remainder of the manual and especially pay close attention
to functions that you are using and learning for the first time.
AEM-100 FACEPLATE

9
MIC1 and MIC2:
The microphones connect via the front panel on the left side. Each microphone has bass, treble, and
gain adjustments. The turn-on switch has 3 positions; ON is for adding the microphone output to the
main PFL output, OFF is for no microphone output, and TALK is for adding the microphone to the
output and reducing the main PFL output by about 17dB. ***Before you set the switch ON for the
first time, please make sure the microphone GAIN is set to minimum, and increase the volume
gradually with extreme care. Turning up the GAIN too quickly can result in audio feedback
and speaker damage.
CH1 and CH2 INPUT SECTION:
A selector switch chooses between a Phono/line switchable input, line input, and Aux input. Note the
Aux input has a jack in the front and another in the back, which add together so the DJ can use either
input or both. ***Both AUX front and back inputs can be used only if the audio on both sources
won’t be playing at the same time.
POWER LED turns on when there is power coming into the unit.
MASTER LED METERS indicate the output on the master left and right speakers.
MAIN
Balance L/R allows panning between the left and right outputs. Booth controls the level of the booth
output and Master controls the level of the Master RCA and Master Balanced Output.
PHONES:
Headphone output. Cue/Master knob controls the ratio of sound from the sources selected with the
CUE buttons and the master output. Split Cue controls how the sound is heard; if Split Cue is pressed,
the Cue sound is in the left ear and the Master sound is in the right; otherwise, both sounds are mixed
for both ears. Gain controls the headphone volume. To avoid hearing damage, before you press
CUE buttons for the first time with music playing, set the volume low and increase until the level
is comfortable.
EFFECT SECTION:
***Before you start using the effects, first turn all effect knobs all the way counterclockwise, the
Phaser is deactivated (LED is off), and the filter is in the OFF position. This way you can add
effects one at a time as you become familiar with them.
1) Wet/Dry: Use this to crossfade between the original audio sound (dry) and the sound effect
created by the effect knobs.
2) Noise: Adds white noise to both left and right of the input source material, Gain controls volume.

10
3) Oscillator: Adds square wave to both left and right of the input source material. Gain controls
volume, and Hz controls frequency.
4) Stutter: Cuts the source material in and out. The leftmost position is off. When turning the
knob clockwise, the stutter starts at a low speed and increases. As the knob is rotated, the
cutting of the material starts to produce an audible tone, which increases in frequency.
5) Digitize: Samples and holds the source material. The leftmost position is off. As the knob is
rotated clockwise, the music sounds like the sampling rate and bit depth of the material is being
reduced to give you a grainy digital effect.
6) Phaser: Creates a heavy chorusing and filtered effect known as Phasing. As the knob is rotated
clockwise, the Phasing sound increases in pitch and in intensity. ***Use the engage button to
activate this function.
7) Band Pass: Uses both the high pass and the low pass filter to select a frequency range for the
output. You can start out with the High Pass filter in the leftmost position and the Low Pass
filter in the rightmost position. The music starts out normally and as the high pass knob is
turned clockwise and the low pass knob is turned counterclockwise, the low end (bass drum) and
high end (hi hat) will disappear. Both knobs can be moved in the same direction to select a
specific frequency range. ***Note the band pass filter function is different from EQ’s. The
EQ’s will only boost or cut three specific frequency ranges, low end, midrange, and high end.
8) Band Cut: Uses both the high pass and the low pass filter to select a frequency range for cutting
from the output. You can start out with the High Pass filter in the rightmost position and the
Low Pass filter in the leftmost position. The music starts out off. As the high pass knob is
turned counterclockwise the high end will come in (high hats). As the low pass knob is turned
clockwise, the low end (bass drum) will come in. Both knobs can be moved in the same
direction to cut the low, mid, or high range output. ***Note the band cut filter function is
different from EQ’s. The EQ’s will only boost or cut three specific frequency ranges, low end,
midrange, and high end.
9) Cue: Use for cueing the fully wet effect sound through the headphones. You can test the effect
sound by doing this with the Wet/Dry slider in the dry position and then moving it to the Wet
position when the correct effect sound is achieved.
Some effect suggestions:
1) The signal flow of the effects section is in order from left to right then top to bottom. This allows
effects to be combined in a logical way. For example, the noise may sound bland to you, so you
can digitize it and use a band pass filter for an interesting effect. If digitize sounds too harsh then
you can use a band pass filter and cut out the high end for another unique effect.
2) An important thing to keep in mind is to experiment and see how many new and innovative effects
you can create. Try using the oscillator as well as the noise generator to create analog synth type
of effects over music. Filter it using the other effects to create the sound you want. Take this

11
sound and then use the fader cuts buttons to cut the sound in and out. Modify the sound by
turning the oscillator knob or sweeping the filters at the same time you work with the fader cuts.
3) The effect section of the AEM-100 is like an instrument; the more you practice and push the
boundaries, the better you will become at using it. Don’t be afraid to really get into the effect
section, and master its capabilities. If you run music thru the effects as well as use the effects to
add elements to the music you will begin to understand what is possible with this tool and how to
master it. Since all of the effects are designed to work together, practice one effect at a time first
and then overlay them once you are familiar with what the individual effects do.
CH1/CH2 LED METERS:
These indicate the mono level of channel 1 and channel 2 PFL (pre fader level) audio signals.
FADER CUTS:
Each of the 4 buttons on each side works identically to transform or crab the music. Each time
a button is pressed, a cutting sound happens. The purpose of these buttons is to allow numerous
controlled variations of cutting sounds.
Cut time:
Selects the length of time after which the cutting is automatically released. The leftmost area
can be sped up to a 1.64msec cut. Turning clockwise increases this automatic release time to about
420msec, except in the rightmost position, there is no automatic release and the button works like a
simple on/off button similar to a transform switch.
Cut slope:
Selects the transition time from the current sound to the Cut In or Cut Out sound. The leftmost
position is for a sharp 1.64msec cut in and cut out good for transforming. Turn the knob clockwise for
a smoother sound better for crabbing. Further clockwise turning makes the fader cuts good for vibrato
or sound flaring. The maximum cut in and cut out time is 420msec.
***Putting the cut time and cut slope both in the leftmost positions disables the Fader Cuts function to
prevent the buttons from accidentally activating. This is useful for DJs who want to use the
crossfader intensively and may accidentally tap on the Fader Cuts buttons.
Cut Style Case 1: Crossfader is on or reversed
The Cut Style In will cause the sound to change from the current sound to the fader level and
back down.
The Cut Style Out will cause the sound to change from the current sound to off and back up to
the current sound.

12
Cut Style Case 2: Crossfader is off
The Cut Style In will cause the sound to change from the current sound to the maximum input
equivalent to the line fader in the top position
The Cut Style Out will cause the sound to change from the current sound to off and back up to
the current sound.
CH1, CH2 LINE FADERS: Use to control the channel volume. Moving these faders to the bottom
turns the audio off and moving them to the top turns the audio up to maximum volume.
PRO X FADE CROSSFADER: The crossfader allows DJs to mix between the CH1 and CH2 sources.
The DJ can use the crossfader to output CH1, CH2, or a combination of both. Please see below for
the CROSSFADER SLOPE and NORMAL/OFF/REVERSE on how to set up and use the
crossfader.
Using a crossfader is a skill that you can master with practice. The Pro X Fade has been
specially designed to withstand the most intense rugged use and is good for over 4,000,000 cycles.
Beyond the basic crossfader usage, there are plenty of online resources to get you started. You can
start by going to the Berklee Press website for instructional videos at www.berkleepress.com. There
are also online forums where you can get more information about crossfaders and turntablist products
in general such as www.skratchlounge.com and www.djcity.com.
Crossfader Maintenance
Note the PRO X FADE has adjustable cut in points, adjustable tension, and is cleanable. It also
already comes with the cut in points pre-adjusted for minimum dead space. Please see
www.eclecticbreaks.com/proxfade for more information on how to adjust and clean the crossfader.
Also check our website www.audioinnovate.com for information on accessories for cleaning and
adjusting the crossfader.
***VERY IMPORTANT: Because of the skill required to adjust and clean the crossfader, you
shall refer this operation to a qualified technician. The power cord must be unplugged before
servicing or damage to the unit may result. The faceplate and only the faceplate should be removed
using a Phillips screwdriver to access the crossfader. Knobs should all be removed by hand or very
carefully lifted with a screwdriver to avoid scratching and product damage. Please make sure that all
parts are kept in a bin so they are not misplaced prior to reassembly.
***SPECIAL NOTES FOR CLEANING THE CROSSFADER: In order to remove the
crossfader case for lubrication, you will first need to loosen the Phillips screw at the bottom of the
crossfader. Otherwise, you may damage the crossfader case when trying to remove it. In addition,
please follow the instructions for lubrication exactly or the fader will either be over-lubricated, causing
fader noise, or under-lubricated, causing the fader to wear more quickly.

13
FRONT PANEL
MIC1, MIC2 connect 1/4” stereo jack microphones to either or both of these inputs.
AUX1, AUX2 connect 1/8” stereo jack input sources such as IPods or computers. ***Note that the
front AUX1 and AUX2 inputs are added to the rear AUX1 and AUX2 inputs.
FADER START turns the fader start function ON or OFF. When ON, this causes the audio on either
channel to cue or pause when the crossfader volume is turned off and to play when the crossfader
volume is turned on. ***Note that the fader start function is also activated by the Fader Cuts buttons
if using these buttons turns the sound on and fully off. Also note that when the CROSSFADER
switch is set to the OFF position, the fader start function is controlled by the line faders instead of the
crossfader.
FADER CUTS selects between NORMAL and REVERSE fader cuts. In NORMAL mode, the
fader cut buttons on the left side will work for Channel 1 and the buttons on theright side will work for
Channel 2. In REVERSE mode, the fader cut buttons on the left side will work for Channel 2 and the
buttons on the right side will work for Channel 1. ***Note that this switch only reverses the buttons
and not the Cut Time, Cut Slope, and Cut Style adjustments.
CROSSFADER SLOPE adjusts the rate at which the sound source cuts in and out when the crossfader
is moved.
CROSSFADER NORMAL/OFF/REVERSE selects the direction of the crossfader and whether or
not it is active. ON makes the crossfader work normally where the sound comes in when the fader is
moved toward the channel. OFF disables the crossfader operation so just the line faders control the
output sound. REVERSE makes the crossfader work backwards so the sound comes in when the
fader is moved away from the channel.
PHONES connects to either 1/8” or 1/4” jack headphones.

14
REAR PANEL
20V~1AAC IN input from the transformer power supply included with the mixer. ***Please make
sure the correct power supply is plugged in before turning on the power.
POWER Used for turning the unit on and off. The “1” position is on and the “0” position is off.
FADER START Connect a 1/8” mono jack cable (usually included with the CD player) from here to a
fader start compatible CD player to use the Fader Start function. ***Note that audio RCA cables
provide grounding for these signals and must be hooked up to the CD player for this function to work.
MASTER BALANCED OUT Used for high quality XLR connections to the master speakers or amp.
OUTPUT MASTER Used for standard 1/4” RCAoutputs to the master speakers or amp.
OUTPUT BOOTH Standard 1/4” RCA outputs to speakers used in the DJ booth. ***Please make
sure that these outputs are not used for the main audio output because the LED meters show the output
on the master line and not on the booth line.
OUTPUT RECORD Line level output used for analog recording. This is the PFLinput to both the
Master and Booth outputs. ***Please only use this for recording because there is no master volume
control. The level is properly set for analog recording.
CH1/CH2 Both inputs have Phono/Line switchable, Line, andAux inputs. TheAux inputs from the
back combine with the Aux inputs from the front. ***If you are using the Phono/Line switchable
inputs, make sure that the Phono/Line switch is set properly or the sound will distort (Line input set to
Phono) or will be too quiet (Phono set to Line). Also, when you use turntables, if the turntables have
ground screws, please make sure to use RCA cables which include an added ground wire for hookup to
both the turntable grounds and the GND pins above the CH1/CH2 inputs.

15
BLOCK DIAGRAM:

16
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Inputs:
Line/Aux: 10kΩ input impedance, 5.6mV rms sensitivity for 1.0V output
Mic: 10kΩ input impedance, 1mV rms sensitivity for 1.0V output
Phono: 47kΩ input impedance, 0.9mV rms sensitivity @ 1kHz for 1.0V output
Outputs:
Master: 8.6V rms Booth: 8.6V rms
Record: 1.0V rms Headphone Amp: .5 watts / 47Ω, THD < 0.1%
Equalizer:
3-band Stereo Equalizer per channel, -30dB cut / +10dB boost
Signal to noise ratio
Line: 92dB (JIS-A) Aux: 92dB (JIS-A)
Mic: 87dB (JIS-A) Phono: 83dB (JIS-A)
Frequency Response
Line: 20Hz~20kHz  1dB Aux: 20Hz~20kHz  1dB
Mic: 20Hz~15kHz  1dB Phono: RIAA  0.5dB
Talkover attenuation: Maximum –19dB, minimum –16dB attenuation of main audio
Power consumption: 18 Watts typical, 22 Watts with full headphone output
Dimensions: 10” wide * 14” deep * 4.2” high
Weight: 6.0kg
Life rating:
Crossfader: >4,000,000 cycles CH1, CH2 Line faders: >100,000 cycles
Fader Cuts buttons: >1,000,000 cycles Misc. faders: >100,000 cycles
Effect circuitry:
Noise, Oscilattor: 0 to 3dB max level, oscillator has variable frequency square wave.
Stutter: variable on/off from a few 1/10ths of a second transforms to high pitched ringing.
Digitize: variable frequency sample/hold circuit.
Phaser: dual phaser with variable cutoff.
Band Pass, Band Reject filters: 4-pole sweepable butterworth filters.
Crossfader section circuitry:
Cut Time: 1.64msec min, 420msec max, full right = unlimited setting for maximum cut time
Cut Slope: 1.64msec min, 420msec max transition time between audio and cut position.
***Cut Time and slope both set to min will turn off cut function
Fader Cut buttons, fader start, crossfader/line1/line2 response:
1.64msec max delay initial response
1.64msec max transition time for crossfader/line1/line2.
***No delay in the audio path, delay is for the audio control only.
Output Resolution: 0.2dB typical with fader at 2/3 volume.