Alesis MULTIMIX USB20 User Manual

Reference Manual  
Table Of Contents  
Introduction..........................................................5  
Welcome!......................................................................................................5  
About the MultiMix USB2.0..............................................6  
All-In-One Mixer and Multichannel Computer Audio  
Interface .......................................................................................................6  
MultiMix USB2.0 Key Features................................................................6  
How to Use This Manual ...................................................8  
A Few Words for Beginners..............................................9  
Hooking up the MultiMix USB2.0 ...................................11  
Using Proper Cables ..........................................................12  
Setting Levels......................................................................12  
Chapter Two: A Tour of the MultiMix.............13  
Patchbay...............................................................................13  
Mic Inputs (Channels 1 – 4)......................................................................13  
Line Inputs (Channels 1 – 4).....................................................................13  
Line Inputs (Channels 5 – 8).....................................................................14  
PHONE Jack...............................................................................................14  
AUX RETURNS ........................................................................................14  
AUX SENDS ..............................................................................................14  
2-TRACK.....................................................................................................14  
MAIN MIX OUT.......................................................................................14  
CTRL RM OUT .........................................................................................14  
Channel Strips ....................................................................15  
Level Control...............................................................................................15  
PAN or BAL................................................................................................15  
PEAK LED.................................................................................................15  
Aux................................................................................................................15  
EQ.................................................................................................................16  
Master Section.....................................................................16  
Main Mix......................................................................................................16  
2TK To Mix.................................................................................................16  
2TK TO CTRL ROOM Switch ...............................................................16  
MIX TO CTRL ROOM Switch...............................................................16  
HDPH / CTRL RM...................................................................................17  
AUX RETURN A LEVEL.......................................................................17  
EFFECTS / AUX RET B LEVEL .........................................................17  
LED Meters.................................................................................................17  
POWER Indicator......................................................................................17  
+48V Indicator ...........................................................................................17  
Rear of the Mixer................................................................18  
Power Input.................................................................................................18  
Power Supply Unit......................................................................................18  
Power On.....................................................................................................18  
Phantom On................................................................................................18  
USB2.0 port.................................................................................................18  
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Table Of Contents  
Chapter Three: Digital Effects  
Processor ...............................................................19  
Effects Section Components ............................................19  
Program Selection Knob...........................................................................19  
LED Display................................................................................................19  
CLIP Indicator............................................................................................19  
SIG Indicator ..............................................................................................19  
Effect Descriptions.............................................................19  
HALL ...........................................................................................................19  
ROOM .........................................................................................................19  
PLATE.........................................................................................................19  
CHAMBER .................................................................................................19  
CHORUS.....................................................................................................20  
FLANGE.....................................................................................................20  
DELAY........................................................................................................20  
PITCH..........................................................................................................20  
MULTI & MULTI II..................................................................................20  
Chapter Four: Traditional Mixing...................21  
Simple Live Setup...............................................................21  
Using Additional External Audio Sources....................21  
Simple Two-Channel Recording Setup  
(without using a computer)..............................................22  
Chapter Five: Firewire Recording ..................23  
First-time connection and driver  
installation instructions ...................................................23  
Installing the optional applications...............................24  
Power-on/Power off order ................................................24  
USB2.0 inputs and outputs...............................................25  
Channels sent from the MultiMix to the computer...............................25  
Channels returned from the computer to the MultiMix.......................25  
Sound setup under Windows ...........................................26  
Disabling Windows System Sounds................................28  
Connections and settings for USB2.0  
recording and monitoring ................................................29  
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with Cubase and  
other ASIO applications....................................................29  
Choosing the MultiMix as your audio device .........................................30  
Creating a new audio file ...........................................................................33  
Working with the Alesis USB2.0 control  
panel......................................................................................37  
Accessing the control panel.......................................................................37  
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with Sonar and  
other WDM applications ...................................................38  
Choosing the MultiMix as your audio device .........................................38  
Assigning inputs to audio tracks...............................................................41  
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Table Of Contents  
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with CoreAudio  
on the Macintosh ................................................................42  
Chapter Six: Troubleshooting:  
Hardware...............................................................43  
Chapter Seven: Troubleshooting:  
Software.................................................................47  
Computer or audio application does not see  
the MultiMix USB2.0..........................................................47  
Basic troubleshooting.................................................................................47  
Audio playback or recording is at the wrong  
speed......................................................................................47  
Audio playback or recording stutters or  
drops out...............................................................................47  
Audio echoes during recording.......................................47  
Chapter Eight: Specifications...........................49  
Computer Requirements ..................................................50  
Chapter Nine: Block Diagrams.........................51  
Glossary .................................................................53  
Contact...................................................................56  
Alesis Contact Information.......................................................................56  
Trademarks ..................................................................................................56  
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Table Of Contents  
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4
Introduction  
Welcome!  
Thank you for making the Alesis MultiMix USB2.0 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.  
For more effective service  
and product update notices,  
please register your  
MultiMix USB2.0 mixer  
online at:  
index.php?registration  
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 musical goals.  
Sincerely,  
The people of Alesis  
5
Introduction  
About the MultiMix USB2.0  
The MultiMix USB2.0 mixers are the latest in the large family of  
Alesis audio mixers and the second series that includes computer  
interfacing (following on the launch of the MultiMix USB mixers  
in 2004, the MultiMix FireWire mixers in 2005, and the iMultiMix8  
USB-with-iPod mixer in 2007).  
We’ve come a long way since introducing our first mixing console  
in 1989. Since that time audio technology has grown in leaps and  
bounds, pushing up quality and driving down prices. Only a few  
years ago, you wouldn’t have been able to buy a mixer with analog  
performance this powerful for such an affordable price, and the  
addition of multichannel, 96kHz computer audio interfacing  
would have been a pipe dream. Just take a look at the key features  
listed below, and you’ll see that you have just made an incredible  
addition to your home studio or live setup.  
All-In-One Mixer and Multichannel  
Computer Audio Interface  
The MultiMix USB2.0 consoles give you just about everything you  
need to create polished, professional-sounding mixes both live and  
within a computer-based recording studio. When designing this  
unit, our goal was to give you as much control over your mixes as  
possible without requiring a wealth of extra equipment. That’s why  
we added tools like the digital effects processor, the mic preamps,  
and the dedicated control room output.  
The MultiMix USB2.0 is also a multichannel computer recording  
interface device. Not only can you record every channel  
independently, but you can also record the MAIN mix channels.  
To get you started with computer-based recording, we even include  
a well-specified Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software  
program. With a multitude of ways in which to connect other  
equipment and instruments, the MultiMix USB2.0 offers endless  
possibilities.  
folder on your desktop or insert the software DVD into your  
computer’s DVD drive BEFORE you plug your MultiMix into  
your computer for the first time.  
See page 23 for details.  
MultiMix USB2.0 Key Features  
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Two Models:  
MultiMix 8 USB2.0 (4 mic/line preamps, 2 stereo inputs)  
MultiMix 16 USB2.0 (8 mic/line preamps, 4 stereo inputs)  
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Multichannel USB2.0 input and output – routes each  
individual channel’s output, plus the MAIN outputs,  
through the USB2.0 port, and receives two channels back  
6
Introduction  
from the computer, all in 24-bit, 44.1/48/88.2/96 kHz  
digital audio.  
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ASIO and WDM computer drivers – lets you use the  
MultiMix USB2.0 with the vast majority of digital audio  
workstation programs.  
Clean and powerful preamps – up to 50dB of preamp  
gain for capturing quiet sources. Globally switched  
phantom power.  
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Stereo inputs – Two stereo pairs. Great for line-level  
instruments.  
Internal digital effects processor with 100 preset  
effects and an easy-to-read display – includes a variety  
of reverbs, delays, choruses, flanges, a pitch transposer and  
multiple combinations of these.  
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3-band EQ per channel – a potent tool for sonically  
shaping each channel to get that perfect mix.  
2 aux sends per channel – one can be used to access an  
external effects device; the other can be used either to  
access the MultiMix’s internal effects or to access a second  
external device.  
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Control room output level – provides control over the  
separate control room output.  
2-track send and return – lets you mix your audio to tape  
or other media and to add a tape deck or CD player to the  
mix.  
7
Introduction  
How to Use This Manual  
This manual is divided into the following sections describing the  
various functions and applications of the MultiMix consoles.  
While it's a good idea to read through the entire manual once  
carefully, those having general knowledge about mixing should use  
the table of contents to look up specific functions.  
Helpful tips and advice are  
highlighted in a shaded box  
like this.  
Chapter 1: Getting Started shows you how to include the MultiMix in  
your audio setup for recording, computer interfacing, and live  
applications. We’ve included a hookup diagram, guidelines for  
which cables to use and the vital steps you must take to set levels  
properly.  
Chapter 2: A Tour of the MultiMix describes the MultiMix piece by  
piece. This chapter also features diagrams of the mixer to help you  
find each component as you read about it.  
Chapter 3: Digital Effects Processor explains the effects provided by  
the on-board digital effects processor. If you want to know what a  
certain effect will do to your sound before you select it, this is  
where you should look.  
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 MultiMix  
consoles.  
Chapter 4: Traditional Mixing outlines a number of scenarios in  
which you can use the MultiMix for live mixing and simple,  
non-USB2.0 based recording.  
Chapter 5: USB2.0 Recording orients you to the MultiMix’s powerful  
USB2.0 recording features, including software installation and  
setup with common DAW programs.  
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting can give you a hand if you’re experiencing  
problems with your mixer. You’ll find that most issues can be  
resolved simply and quickly with the push of a button.  
Chapter 7: Specifications and Chapter 8: Block Diagrams are full of  
technical information for the more techie users.  
And at the end of this manual you’ll see a glossary of common  
mixing-related terms.  
8
Introduction  
A Few Words for Beginners  
We realize that some of you who have purchased the MultiMix  
USB2.0 are fairly new to the art of mixing and computer  
recording. We’ve written this manual with that in mind. We  
designed the MultiMix to be both powerful and easy enough to use  
that even a beginner can quickly pick up the basics.  
One of the most important  
things you’ll do before you  
begin a mixing session is to  
set the levels. Be sure to refer  
to the instructions on page  
20.  
Many mixer manuals—and manuals for just about any electronic  
instrument for that matter—are full of complicated terminology  
and incomplete instructions that presume a lot of experience on  
the part of the reader. We try to avoid that with this manual. True  
enough, you will find all the technical lingo and specifications you  
can handle in here, but we do our best to make this accessible to  
you.  
Beginners will find several elements of this manual especially  
useful. Keep your eye out for the tips found in the gray boxes on  
the right side of the page. Be sure to check out the hookup  
diagrams on page 11, which will give you some ideas on how to fit  
the mixer into your audio setup after you’ve taken a tour of the  
mixer in Chapter 2. And if you come across any terms that you  
haven’t seen before, the glossary probably can help you out.  
9
Introduction  
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10  
1 Getting Started  
folder on your desktop or insert the software CD into your computer’s  
CD drive BEFORE you plug your MultiMix into your computer  
for the first time.  
See page 23 for details.  
Hooking up the MultiMix USB2.0  
This diagram will help you get the MultiMix USB2.0 hooked up  
and ready to go. The equipment you use depends on personal  
preference and on whether you’re performing live or recording.  
For example, you’ll see below that the MAIN MIX OUT can be  
routed to a recording device for recording, or to a PA system for  
live performance.  
Be sure to follow the  
guidelines for which cables to  
use (further down this page)  
and the procedure for setting  
levels (on the next page)  
before you begin mixing.  
11  
Getting Started  
1
Using Proper Cables  
When connecting instruments and other equipment to the  
MultiMix, it’s important that you use the appropriate types of  
cables. Here are some simple but important guidelines:  
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For the mic inputs, use XLR cables.  
For the line inputs and all other 1/4” connections, use 1/4”  
mono TRS cables.  
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Use stereo RCA cables for the 2-track in and out.  
Use a USB 2.0 cable to connect one of the USB 2.0 ports  
to a computer.  
Setting Levels  
Before you can begin mixing and recording different audio sources  
with your MultiMix, you must set the level for each channel you’re  
using. This helps to prevent distortion and clipping. Here’s how:  
1. Slide the channel fader to unity gain (0).  
2. Turn the AUX SEND and GAIN controls all the way down,  
and turn the EQ knobs to the center detent (you’ll feel a click).  
3. Connect the source of the signal to the channel’s input.  
4. Press the PFL / SOLO switch on the channel.  
5. Make sure the SOLO MODE switch in the master section is  
set to SOLO.  
6. Play the instrument at a normal level and watch the LED  
meters in the master section.  
7. Adjust the channel’s GAIN knob until the LED meters remain  
at or very close to 0.  
8. If you need to apply EQ, do so and check the meters again.  
12  
2 A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
In this chapter, you’ll learn all about the MultiMix’s components  
(except for the digital effects processor, which is explained in the  
next chapter). Please refer to the diagrams as you read each section  
to see which components we’re talking about.  
Patchbay  
At the rear portion of the top of the MultiMix, you’ll find the  
patchbay. This is where you plug in instruments, signal processors,  
multitrack recorders and other devices. Whatever you need to  
connect to the mixer, this is where it’s done. In the following  
paragraphs, we tell you all about the inputs, outputs, switches and  
knobs you see in this section of the mixer.  
Mic Inputs (Channels 1 – 4)  
Although chances are your  
The MultiMix uses standard XLR-type mic inputs. These provide  
+48V phantom power that you can turn on and off with the  
Phantom On switch located on the rear of the mixer. You  
probably will have to turn on the phantom power when you’re  
using most condenser mics, as these usually require the extra  
voltage (unless the mic has its own power source, such as a  
battery). Dynamic and ribbon mics don’t require phantom power  
and are unaffected when the power is on.  
microphones will work fine  
with these mic inputs, we  
recommend that you do some  
checking up on the type of  
microphone you’re using,  
especially if it’s one of the  
older vintage models or a  
ribbon microphone of any  
kind. Verify that your  
microphone requires  
These high-quality mic inputs also feature up to 50dB of preamp  
gain that you can adjust with the Gain knob.  
phantom power and make  
sure its output is low  
impedance, balanced and  
floating.  
Another useful feature of these mic inputs is a high-pass filter  
(HPF) that can be turned on and off with the HPF switch. When  
you activate this switch, all frequencies below 75Hz are cut from  
the signal. This is useful for mic or line signals that don’t have  
much bottom end, such as vocals, snares, cymbals and electric  
guitar. You’ll want to leave this inactivated for instruments like  
basses and kick drums.  
Always connect your  
microphones before  
activating phantom power.  
Microphones tend to be very  
sensitive, and the sudden  
power surge can do  
Line Inputs (Channels 1 – 4)  
permanent damage to the  
mic’s circuitry. It’s also a  
good idea to lower mixer  
levels before you activate  
phantom power.  
The line inputs, marked LINE IN, are balanced 1/4” jacks that  
offer the same 50dB of preamp gain and the high-pass filter  
provided by the mic inputs (however, phantom power does not  
apply to line inputs). These inputs accept line-level instruments  
such as keyboards and drum machines. If you find that your  
instrument has a weak line signal, just plug it into channels 1 – 4  
and crank it up with the Gain knob.  
13  
A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
2
Line Inputs (Channels 5 – 8)  
Unlike channels 1 – 4, the line inputs on channels 5 – 8 are stereo  
inputs that have left and right inputs. If you’re using one of these  
channels as a mono input, plug your instrument into the left input.  
Channels 5 – 8 don’t have the extra gain found on channels 1 – 4  
because most line-level instruments don’t require the extra boost.  
Synthesizers and other electronic instruments will work especially  
well on these channels. These inputs are also good for connecting  
CD players or tape decks, as these audio sources don’t require  
extra gain.  
PHONE Jack  
The headphone jack accepts 1/4” jacks. If your headphones are  
1/8”, you can find a 1/8” to 1/4” adapter in most electronics  
stores.  
AUX RETURNS  
If you are using an effects  
device with only a mono  
output, plug it into the left  
return of STEREO AUX  
RETURN. It will appear in  
the center of the stereo  
These are the 1/4” jacks where you connect the outputs of an  
external effects processor or other audio source. Each aux return  
gives you 15dB of gain that can be controlled by the AUX RET A  
and EFFECTS / AUX RET B LEVEL knobs in the mixer’s  
output section.  
spectrum, and not to the left.  
AUX SENDS  
And this is the 1/4” jack where you connect the cable that’s going  
into the input of an external effects processor. The aux sends give  
you 10dB of gain that can be controlled in the AUX section of  
each channel input.  
2-TRACK  
The 2-TRACK IN and OUT jacks are standard RCA jacks. You’ll  
use the OUTs for mixing to a tape deck or other recorder. With  
the INs you can bring in a signal, which can be monitored and  
even added to the main mix via the 2TK TO MIX switch in the  
master section of the mixer.  
The 2-TRACK INPUT is blended with any signal coming back  
from a computer over the USB2.0 connection.  
MAIN MIX OUT  
These 1/4” jacks are where the signal on the main mix bus leaves  
the mixer. From there you can send it to a recorder or a PA system.  
The level of this signal is controlled by the MAIN MIX fader.  
CTRL RM OUT  
You can use these 1/4" jacks to send the control room signal to  
the input of the amplifier driving your monitors or headphones.  
14  
A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
2
This output can carry several different signals, depending on which  
source you have selected in the master section of the mixer.  
Channel Strips  
The eight channel strips are virtually identical to each other, with  
the only difference being that channels 1 – 4 are mono and  
channels 5 – 8 are stereo. Each channel strip contains the following  
components.  
Level Control  
The level control knob controls how much of the signal from the  
mic or line inputs is sent to the channel. To adjust the level, simply  
turn the knob to the desired level. In the leftmost position, levels  
are cut completely, and in the rightmost position you get an  
additional 10dB of gain.  
PAN or BAL  
This control—labeled PAN on the mono channels and BAL on  
the stereo channels—lets you assign the channel to a particular  
spot within the stereo spectrum. If you turn this knob to the left,  
you can hear the signal move to the left, and if you turn it to the  
right…you get the picture. The pan controls do this by adjusting  
the amount of the signal being sent to the left main mix bus versus  
the right main mix bus. The balance controls do it by controlling  
the relative balance of the left and right channel signals being sent  
to the left and right main mix buses.  
PEAK LED  
This indicator lets you know when the channel’s signal is clipping.  
This light plays an important role in setting channel levels by  
helping you know when to reduce the channel’s gain.  
Aux  
Here you’ll find knobs that control the levels of aux sends A and  
B. AUX A is pre-fader, which means that the AUX A send is  
affected only by the EQ and HPF settings. A pre-fader send is  
usually used for cue sends (for example, sending a signal to  
headphones while recording, for which you may not want the fader  
to alter the channel’s level).  
AUX B is post-fader, which means that the AUX B send is  
affected by the fader (or level control knob in this instance), EQ  
and HPF settings. A post-fader send is generally used for sending  
the signal to an external effects device (so that the fader controls  
the signal level). Like AUX A, AUX B can be used for routing  
signals to external devices. And when you are using the onboard  
effects processor, AUX B is used to control the level of the  
channel’s signal being routed to the processor.  
15  
A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
2
EQ  
The MultiMix gives you three bands of EQ per channel. Using  
these knobs, you can tailor the channel’s signal by boosting some  
frequencies and cutting others. The LO and HI controls are  
shelving controls with fixed frequencies of 75 Hz and 12 kHz  
respectively. The MID control has a peaking response fixed at 2.5  
kHz.  
“Shelving” means that the mixer boosts or cuts all frequencies past  
the specified frequency. “Peaking” means that frequencies above  
and below the specified frequency fall off, forming a peak in a  
graphical representation.  
Master Section  
The Master Section is the heart of the mixer, where the channel  
inputs and aux returns all are mixed together and routed in various  
ways.  
Main Mix  
The signals from all channels and aux sends are sent to the main  
mix. The MAIN MIX level control is the one you’ll use to control  
the overall level of those combined signals. This knob affects the  
levels of the signals sent to the MAIN MIX OUT and the 2-  
TRACK OUT. In its leftmost position the signal is cut off  
completely, and in the rightmost position you get an additional  
10dB of gain.  
2TKTo Mix  
When you press this switch, the signal coming in through the 2-  
TRACK IN gets routed to the MAIN MIX, joining whichever  
other signals are already part of the main mix. Used this way, the  
2-TRACK IN effectively becomes another stereo channel (but  
without all the extras like pan, EQ, etc.).  
2TKTO CTRL ROOM Switch  
When you engage this switch, the signal coming in from the 2-  
TRACK jacks is routed to the headphones and to the control  
room output. The control room output level is controlled by the  
HDPH / CTRL RM level control.  
MIXTO CTRL ROOM Switch  
When you engage this switch, the MAIN MIX signal is routed to  
the headphones and to the control room output. The control  
room output level is controlled by the HDPH / CTRL RM level  
control.  
16  
A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
2
HDPH / CTRL RM  
The HDPH / CTRL RM knob controls the level of the signal  
being sent to the CTRL RM OUT and the PHONES output. The  
level of this signal is represented by the LED meters. The “CTRL  
RM” in the name of this knob refers to the fact that it controls the  
signal that typically is sent to the control room monitors of a  
studio, where someone—usually an engineer—is working the  
mixer. However, don’t be intimidated if you’re using this mixer in  
your bedroom, which probably isn’t equipped with a control room.  
In this scenario, you can use headphones or connect the CTRL  
RM OUT to your speakers.  
AUX RETURN A LEVEL  
This is the level control for the signal returning to the mixer via  
AUX RETURN A.  
EFFECTS / AUX RET B LEVEL  
If you are using one of the MultiMix 8 USB’s internal effects, this  
knob controls the effect level. If AUX SEND B is connected to an  
external device, this knob controls the level for AUX RETURN B.  
LED Meters  
These are the two rows of yellow, green and red lights you see in  
the master section of the mixer. The LED meters allow you to  
view the signal level of the main mix and 2-TRACK IN depending  
on which signal you have routed to the control room mix.  
POWER Indicator  
When this LED is lit up, that means the POWER ON switch on  
the rear of the mixer has been activated.  
+48V Indicator  
When this one is lit up, that means the PHANTOM ON switch on  
the rear of the mixer has been activated and is supplying +48V  
phantom power to all XLR mic inputs.  
17  
A Tour of the MultiMix USB2.0  
2
Rear of the Mixer  
Here’s what you’ll find at the rear of the mixer.  
Power Input  
Here’s where you plug in your mixer’s external power supply. You  
should always connect your power supply to the mixer before you  
plug the power supply into an electrical outlet.  
The POWER INPUT is built  
to accept only the power  
supply unit provided with  
your MultiMix, or an AC  
power supply that has the  
same specs. Others probably  
will not work.  
Power Supply Unit  
This unit provides 18.5 VAC at 700 mA of power, more than  
enough to keep your MultiMix running smoothly. As with nearly  
all power supply units, this one tends to get warm when left on for  
a while. This is perfectly normal.  
Power On  
Another easy one. Switch this one on and your mixer has power.  
Switch it off and it doesn’t. Make sure the faders in the master  
section are pulled all the way down when powering your mixer up  
or down.  
Phantom On  
As we said earlier, it’s very  
important that you plug in  
your microphones and mute  
your system before you turn  
on phantom power.  
This switch activates and deactivates the phantom power  
described in “Mic Inputs (Channels 1 – 4),” page 13. This  
switch controls phantom power for all four mic inputs.  
USB2.0 port  
This port allows you to connect the MultiMix to a computer for  
multichannel digital audio communication.  
If you connect to a computer  
with a USB 1.1 port,, the  
MultiMix will automatically  
reconfigure to recording and  
playing back only two  
channels at either 44.1kHz or  
48kHz.  
18  
3 Digital Effects Processor  
Onboard your MultiMix USB2.0 is a powerful effects unit that has  
100 preset programs. We offer a few tips on where to use these,  
but don’t limit yourself to our suggestions. We recommend that  
you experiment with these effects to get a good feel for how they  
can improve your mixes  
Effects Section Components  
Program Selection Knob  
You can use this knob to assign one of 100 effect programs to  
your mix. Turning the knob to the right increments the program  
number, and turning it to the left decrements the program number.  
You can control the level of the effect for each channel via the  
channel’s AUX B knob. You must PRESS the effect knob to  
activate the selected effect.  
LED Display  
This display shows you the number of the current program.  
CLIP Indicator  
When lit, this LED tells you that there is a signal clip at the  
internal effects input. This means that you should reduce the signal  
via the EFFECTS / AUX RET B LEVEL control.  
SIG Indicator  
When lit, this LED indicates that the effects processor is receiving  
a signal.  
Effect Descriptions  
HALL  
This type of reverb simulates the ambience of a grand concert hall.  
ROOM  
This type of reverb reproduces the more intimate ambiance of  
natural room acoustics.  
PLATE  
These are simulations of metal plate reverbs, as used on classic  
recordings from the '70s and '80s.  
CHAMBER  
These are simulations of the reverb created by artificial echo  
chambers, as used on classic recordings of the '50s and '60s.  
19  
Digital Effects Processor  
3
CHORUS  
These create the effect of multiple voices (or instruments)  
sounding at once from a single input.  
FLANGE  
These create a sweeping, swooshing sound effect that you will  
probably recognize.  
DELAY  
These effects are based on a discreet repetition or echo of the  
input.  
PITCH  
These effects transpose the pitch of the input signal and blend the  
effect signal with the original to create harmonies.  
MULTI & MULTI II  
These are combinations of two or more of the above effects.  
20  
4 Traditional Mixing  
Your MultiMix 8 USB2.0 can be used in a wide variety of ways in  
both live and recording applications. You have several options for  
bringing sound into and out of the board. And when it’s brought  
in, you can route it to various parts of the mixer for certain desired  
effects, or even send it to an external processor or tape deck and  
back. To give you some ideas for different mixing scenarios, here  
are descriptions of a few common applications for the MultiMix 8  
USB2.0.  
Simple Live Setup  
In this setup, you connect your instruments and microphones to  
the mono and stereo channels.  
Set the levels for each of your microphones and line-level sources  
as explained earlier.  
You can select one on-board effect and control its level with the  
AUX B knob for each channel. Or you can use an external effects  
processor by sending a signal to the external unit via the AUX  
SEND A and returning it via AUX RETURN A.  
You can plug an additional effects processor into the AUX B  
SEND and RETURN jacks as well, but this will disable the  
internal effects.  
In a live setup, you most likely will connect the MAIN MIX OUT  
to a PA system amplifier and the CTRL RM OUT to a stage  
monitor amplifier for monitoring purposes.  
Audio coming into the  
Using Additional External Audio  
Sources  
MultiMix from a computer  
over the USB2.0 connection  
is routed to the 2-TRACK IN.  
The MultiMix gives you a few extra audio inputs in addition to  
the mic and line inputs. If you want to bring external audio  
sources into a recording or live mix, you can do it in one of two  
ways:  
You can use the RCA jacks of  
the 2-TRACK IN at the same  
time as audio is playing back  
from a computer, but you  
must adjust the relative levels  
of each input from outside the  
MultiMix.  
Using the 2-TRACK IN, you can add a tape deck,  
ADAT, CD player, USB2.0 audio stream from a  
computer, or other source to the mix. The 2-TRACK  
IN also can be used to entertain the audience with a CD  
as the band is setting up for a live show.  
The AUX RETURNS can be used as additional audio  
inputs when you are not using them for effects.  
21  
Traditional Mixing  
4
Simple Two-Channel Recording Setup  
(without using a computer)  
Again, connect your instruments and microphones to the mono  
and stereo channels and set the levels appropriately. To record  
directly from the mixer to a tape deck or other device, connect the  
MultiMix 8 USB2.0’s 2-TRACK OUT jacks to the IN jacks of the  
recorder.  
For monitoring you can connect the CTRL RM OUT jacks to a  
speaker or headphone amplifier, or just simply plug headphones  
into the PHONES jack.  
22  
5 USB2.0 Recording  
on your desktop or insert the software DVD into your computer’s DVD  
drive BEFORE you plug your MultiMix into your computer for the first  
time.  
First-time connection and driver  
installation instructions  
Windows  
Before attaching your mixer to your computer, install the drivers  
either from the website or the software DVD. During the  
installation process, attach and re-attach your mixer as prompted  
by the install program.  
These drivers include the two  
most popular standards for  
audio interfacing—WDM (the  
“Windows Driver Model”  
built by Microsoft) and ASIO  
(the “Audio Stream  
Input/Output” standard used  
by many audio software  
applications).  
For each of the several installations that occur, click “Continue  
Anyway” if Windows warns you that the drivers have not passed  
Microsoft Logo Certification.  
Windows Logo Certification warning.  
Ignore this warning by clicking “Continue Anyway.”  
.
Macintosh  
Mac OS X 10.4 or higher is  
required by the MultiMix  
drivers.  
Install the driver from the .dmg file.  
Wait to turn on/attach your MultiMix USB2.0 mixer to your  
Mac until after the Mac has fully booted. If you do not do so,  
your computer may not recognize the device.  
You must select the Alesis USB Audio Device” via your Mac’s  
Audio MIDI Setup” utility in order for your computer to route  
the MultiMix USB2.0’s signals into and out of your computer  
applications properly.  
All digital audio carried over  
the USB2.0 connection is 24-  
bit PCM data.  
23  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Installing the optional applications  
The software DVD that comes with the MultiMix USB2.0 contains  
not only the drivers (the small computer programs that work behind  
the scenes so that your MultiMix works properly with your  
computer) but also some powerful music applications.  
If you don’t already have a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)  
program, definitely install one from the DVD. It’s a fantastic way  
to get started in computer-based recording. You may find that it’s  
the only program you need.  
The demo applications give you a taste of some of the premier  
computer-based music programs on the market today. We  
encourage you to install and explore them.  
Power-on/Power off order  
A few computers are sensitive to the order in which they and the  
MultiMix USB2.0 are powered on. If you find that the MultiMix  
USB2.0 does not consistently make a connection to your computer  
when you turn them both on, experiment to find out whether  
turning one on before the other—and one off before the other—  
makes a positive difference.  
24  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
USB2.0 inputs and outputs  
Channels sent from the MultiMix to the  
computer  
The USB2.0 port sends every individual mixer channel as well as  
the MultiMix’s MAIN OUT/2-TRACK OUT left and right signals  
to the computer. This means that, for the MultiMix 8 USB2.0, 8  
individual channels are sent to the computer along with the MAIN  
stereo pair (10 channels in total).  
To understand why the AUX  
signals are not blended into  
the individual channel feeds  
to the computer, consider the  
nature of AUX sends:  
Individual channels  
The INDIVIDUAL channels sent to the computer send the signal  
after the preamp gain knob, the high-pass filter, the three-band EQ,  
and the channel fader.  
Every channel can send none,  
some, or all of its signal to  
the AUX processors. For  
example, the MultiMix 8  
USB2.0 can send 8 different  
signals to an external  
processor, all at different  
levels.  
The effects of the AUX send knobs are NOT included in the  
outputs of the individual channels.  
MAIN MIX channels  
The MAIN mix channels sent to the computer exactly mirror the  
MAIN output of the mixer. If you are only interested in making  
stereo recordings, consider recording the MAIN channels in your  
recording software.  
However, that AUX  
processor can only return at  
most a stereo pair into the  
mixer. There’s no way that  
the processor could route the  
effects of each channel back  
to that channel directly  
without including the signal  
from the other channels as  
well.  
Channels returned from the computer to the  
MultiMix  
The USB2.0 port receives a stereo audio stream from the  
computer and assigns it to the 2-TRACK IN left and right  
channels of your MultiMix mixer. Note that, if a device is  
connected to the MultiMix’s 2-TRACK IN inputs, the signal from  
this device is merged with the signal from the computer.  
25  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Sound setup under Windows  
To use your MultiMix USB2.0 as your default Windows sound  
device, follow these steps:  
1. From the Windows Start menu, choose “Control Panel.”  
Depending on your Windows preferences, it will appear  
similar to one of the two pictures below:  
2. Choose “Sounds and Audio Devices”.  
3. Click the Audio” tab. Change the default devices for both  
sound playback and sound recording to Alesis USB Audio.”  
26  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
4. Click the “Voice” tab. Change the voice playback and voice  
recording settings to Alesis USB Audio.”  
5. Click Apply” to apply these changes.  
27  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Disabling Windows System Sounds  
Windows System Sounds—the sounds that Windows plays to  
signal starting up, shutting down, alerts and so forth—can interfere  
with your audio recording. We strongly suggest that you disable  
these sounds.  
1. Click the “Sounds” tab of “Sounds and Audio Devices.”  
2. Under “Sound Scheme,” choose “No sounds.”  
3. Click “OK” to accept this entry and close the dialog box.  
28  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Connections and settings for USB2.0  
recording and monitoring  
The best way to begin using the MultiMix for USB2.0 recording is  
to set up your system this way:  
1. Hook up your monitoring system to the MultiMix’s CTRL  
RM OUT jacks.  
2. Apply the MASTER section’s buttons as follows:  
a. 2 TK TO MIX: Leave UP.  
Pressing this button down can cause nasty  
feedback loops.  
b. MIX TO CONTROL ROOM: Press DOWN.  
This will allow you to hear the music being  
recorded in real time.  
c. 2 TK TO CONTROL ROOM: Press DOWN.  
This will allow you to hear the output from the  
computer.  
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with Cubase  
and other ASIO applications  
Audio recording programs running on Microsoft Windows  
generally use one of two different audio standards—WDM (the  
“Windows Driver Model,” developed by Microsoft) or ASIO  
(Audio Stream Input/Output,” developed by Steinberg and made  
freely available to other companies).  
Audio on the Macintosh (OS X) generally runs on top of Apple’s  
CoreAudio standard.  
We’ll look at how to use the MultiMix USB2.0 under each of these  
standards, starting with ASIO (using Cubase as an example).  
29  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Choosing the MultiMix as your audio device  
1. Choose the menu option “Devices” | “Device Setup….”  
This discussion uses  
Steinberg’s Cubase software,  
but the principles provided  
here apply to all ASIO  
recording software.  
2. Click the “VST Multitrack” option.  
30  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
3. From within the ASIO Driver drop-down box, choose the  
Alesis USB Audio device.  
4. Press “OK” to accept this setting.  
Different versions of Cubase  
function similarly, but not  
exactly, to the examples  
shown here.  
31  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Some versions of Cubase do  
not allow all inputs to be used  
simultaneously.  
5. Now that the MultiMix is selected as the audio device,  
individual channels must be activated for use. Again, return  
to the “Devices” menu, and select “VST inputs.”  
6. Click the activation buttons for channel pairs that you want to  
use. Note that you can re-label the inputs as you wish.  
32  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Creating a new audio file  
Now, you’re ready to create an audio project.  
1. Choose “File” | “New Project…”  
2. You can begin with a template or an empty file. For now,  
begin with an empty file.  
33  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
3. Cubase needs to know where to place audio. Choose a  
directory here.  
An excellent scheme for  
storing your projects is to  
create a directory called  
“audio projects.” Then,  
within that folder, create a  
new folder for each song you  
work on. Cubase will store  
your song file and all  
associated audio files in that  
same folder.  
4. Now, you have a blank project. Add an audio track for  
recording by choosing “Project” | Add Track” | Audio.”  
34  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
5. Be sure that the “inspector”—a strip on the left-hand side of  
Cubase that shows all sorts of information about the selected  
track—is active.  
If your view is similar to that shown below, the Inspector is  
active. If you do not see all of the information on the left-  
hand side, the Inspector is not active. To activate it, press the  
“show Inspector” button towards the upper left of the screen  
(just below the “Edit” menu in the following picture).  
Later, you can hide the  
Inspector if you want to save  
space on your screen.  
6. Choose an input for your track by selecting it from the “in”  
area on the left. To record stereo on the track, click the  
button highlighted below.  
35  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
7. You will do most of your monitoring through the mixer.  
However, if you want to monitor with Cubase’s effects, or if  
you just want to hear what the computer is hearing, press the  
direct monitoring button next to the Record Enable button.  
Note that using direct monitoring causes a small delay as the  
digital audio is being processed. For this reason, when you  
use direct monitoring, you may want to press the MultiMix’s  
MIX TO CONTROL ROOM button up so as not to hear  
the audio signal twice.  
8. Add additional audio tracks as needed. Record-arm each one  
and press the RECORD button to begin recording.  
For additional information, consult your software’s documentation.  
36  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Working with the Alesis USB2.0 control  
panel  
Accessing the control panel  
In Windows, open the Alesis USB2.0 control panel from either the  
All Programs menu or within your audio application.  
To open the control panel  
On the Mac, access this panel from the “configure device” button  
of Audio/MIDI Setup.  
from within Cubase in  
Windows, select “Devices” |  
“Device Setup….” | “VST  
MultiTrack.” Then, click the  
“Control Panel” button.  
Here, you can see your current sample rate, driver and firmware  
versions, and you can change your audio latency.  
Higher latency settings generally allow for more stable audio  
performance and generally allow you to run more simultaneous  
audio tracks and plugins. The downside is that higher latency  
introduces noticeable lag between the time that you perform an  
action and the time you listen back to it.  
For this reason, many people use lower latency settings when  
recording tracks and then switch to higher ones when mixing.  
37  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with Sonar  
and other WDM applications  
Choosing the MultiMix as your audio device  
1. Choose the menu “Options” | Audio….”  
Choosing the MultiMix as  
your audio device  
Unlike ASIO, WDM allows  
multiple audio devices to be  
used at the same time.  
However, doing so can cause  
all sorts of synchronization  
problems. Therefore, we  
suggest that you use the  
MultiMix as your sole audio  
input/output device.  
2. On the “General” tab, select any available Alesis USB Audio  
channels as the Playback and Record timing masters.  
This discussion uses  
Cakewalk’s Sonar software,  
but the principles provided  
here apply to all WDM-based  
recording software.  
38  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
3. Click the Advanced” tab. For WDM operation, be sure that  
the “Driver Mode” is set to “WDM/KS.” (If you change this  
setting, you will need to exit and then restart Sonar.)  
For applications like Sonar  
that support both WDM and  
ASIO modes, you may want  
to experiment with each to  
see if either mode offers  
greater stability.  
39  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
4. Move to the “Drivers” tab. Select each input pair and also on  
the output pair to make them available to Sonar.  
40  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Assigning inputs to audio tracks  
Now, you’re ready to assign the MultiMix’s inputs to various  
channels.  
For each audio track that you want to record, click on the input  
section of the track and select the MultiMix channel that you want.  
Record-enable the tracks to be recorded (first arrow).  
You will do most of your monitoring through the mixer.  
However, if you want to monitor with Sonar’s effects, or if  
you just want to hear what the computer is hearing, press the  
direct monitoring button next to the Record Enable button  
(second arrow.).  
Note that using direct monitoring causes a small delay as the  
digital audio is being processed. For this reason, when you  
use direct monitoring, you may want to press the MultiMix’s  
MIX TO CONTROL ROOM button up so as not to hear  
the audio signal twice.  
41  
USB2.0 Recording  
5
Using the MultiMix USB2.0 with  
CoreAudio on the Macintosh  
To configure the MultiMix for use with CoreAudio:  
1. Open the Mac’s Audio MIDI Setup” utility.  
Mac OS X 10.4 or higher is  
required by the MultiMix  
drivers.  
2. Choose the Alesis USB Audio Device” as both input and  
output device.  
3. To verify that the MultiMix USB 2.0 is connected to your Mac,  
select the Alesis USB Audio Device” under “Properties  
For:” and then press “Configure Device.”  
42  
6 Troubleshooting: Hardware  
If you’re having problems operating the MultiMix, this  
troubleshooting index will help you correct them.  
Symptoms  
Cause  
Solution  
No sound from the mixer.  
Mixer is not plugged in or  
turned on.  
Plug in mixer and turn it on.  
Faders are too low.  
Raise appropriate faders.  
Control room level is too  
low.  
Turn up control room level.  
The appropriate signal hasn’t In the master section of the  
been assigned to the control  
room out.  
mixer, be sure the right switch is  
selected (MIX, ALT 3/4 or  
2TK).  
Cable is not plugged into  
output jack.  
Check outputs to make sure  
cables are plugged in securely.  
Headphones are not plugged Plug headphones into PHONE  
into PHONE jack.  
jack.  
Monitor or headphone  
amplifier is turned off or  
down.  
Turn amplifier on or up.  
Bad cable.  
Check all cables; substitute  
cables with known good ones.  
Audio signal is distorted.  
Channel level is too high.  
Channel input is too high.  
Set channel levels using the  
procedure on page 12.  
Turn down your instrument to a  
normal volume and then set  
channel levels using procedure  
on page 12.  
AUX RET B level is too  
high.  
Lower the level of AUX RET B  
in the master section of the  
mixer.  
MAIN MIX level is too high. Lower the MAIN MIX fader in  
the master section of the mixer.  
43  
Troubleshooting: Hardware  
6
Audio signal carries an  
unwanted hum.  
Too much low-level noise in  
the mix.  
Engage the channel’s high-pass  
filter by pressing the HPF  
switch.  
Interference from appliances Engage the channel’s high-pass  
such as air conditioners.  
filter by pressing the HPF  
switch.  
Not using TRS cables.  
Make sure you are using 1/4”  
TRS cables.  
Microphone level is too low.  
Phantom power is not  
turned on.  
Turn on phantom power using  
the switch on the rear panel of  
the mixer.  
Microphone is damaged.  
Fader is too low.  
Test the microphone on other  
audio devices. If you detect  
damage, contact the  
manufacturer or dealer.  
No or low sound from a  
channel.  
Raise channel fader.  
Instrument volume is too  
low.  
Turn up the instrument’s  
volume control. If problem  
persists, check the instrument by  
plugging headphones into the  
instrument’s phone jack.  
Channel is muted.  
Gain is too low.  
Check the MUTE / ALT 3/4  
switch.  
Adjust the channel’s GAIN  
control.  
Internal effects aren’t  
working.  
Effects level is too low.  
Turn up the level using the  
EFFECTS / AUX RET B  
LEVEL control in the master  
section of the mixer.  
An effect hasn’t been  
selected.  
Press the EFFECTS knob on  
the desired effect and make sure  
the SIG indicator is lit.  
44  
Troubleshooting: Hardware  
6
External effects aren’t  
working.  
Effects processor is not  
plugged in or turned on.  
Make sure unit is plugged in and  
turned on.  
Aux outputs of mixer aren’t  
connected to inputs of  
Make sure the mixer’s aux  
outputs are connected to the  
processor’s inputs and that the  
processor’s outputs are  
processor or processor’s  
outputs aren’t connected to  
mixer’s inputs (or aux return). connected to the mixer’s aux  
inputs.  
Mixer’s effects return signal is Turn up the output of the  
too low.  
effects processor or turn up the  
mixer’s AUX RET A RETURN  
or EFFECTS / AUX RET B  
RETURN in the master section.  
LED meters not working.  
Nothing is routed to the  
HDPH/CTRL RM output.  
Press the desired MIX or 2 TK  
button.  
Computer does not see the  
MultiMix USB2.0.  
USB2.0 connection must be  
established.  
Unplug the USB2.0 cable and  
turn off the MultiMix. Turn the  
MultiMix back on and plug the  
cable back in. If this does not  
work, leave the MultiMix on,  
turn off the computer (do not  
use “restart” but instead actually  
turn off the computer) and then  
turn it on again.  
Computer sees the MultiMix MultiMix USB2.0 is not set  
In the computer’s Control Panel,  
go to the Sounds/Multimedia  
area. In the Audio section, set  
the default sound recording and  
playback devices to MultiMix  
USB2.0.  
USB2.0, but no sound is  
as primary sound device.  
received and/or transmitted.  
No power.  
Incorrect or defective power  
supply.  
Replace with correct power  
supply (only use Alesis-  
recommended AC output power  
supply).  
45  
Troubleshooting: Hardware  
6
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46  
7 Troubleshooting: Software  
Computer or audio application does not  
see the MultiMix USB2.0  
Basic troubleshooting  
First, check that the MultiMix is seen by the computer: Open the  
Alesis control panel and check that Windows sees the device as  
attached.  
No connection  
If “MultiMix Audio” does not appear, Windows does not see the  
mixer as being connected to the computer. Check your USB2.0  
cable and try powering the mixer off and on again.  
When restarting your  
As a last resort, re-start your computer.  
computer, turn it off all the  
way. Pull out the AC power  
cord, keep it out for a few  
seconds, and then plug it  
back in again before you  
restart your computer.  
Audio playback or recording is at the  
wrong speed  
This step helps reset your  
computer’s motherboard,  
including any USB2.0 ports  
and cards.  
Adjust the buffers in the ASIO control panel or through your  
WDM application’s audio setup options.  
It is impossible to say which buffer settings are perfect for each  
system, but generally buffer sizes around the middle or low-middle  
of the available range provide the best results.  
Audio playback or recording stutters or  
drops out  
Help on the web  
Again, work with the buffer settings in the ASIO control panel or  
through your WDM application’s audio setup options in order to  
find the most reliable setting.  
Most major recording  
programs are supported by  
lively user forums. The odds  
are that, if you’re having  
problems, someone who posts  
at these forums has already  
experienced them and found  
solutions.  
Many audio applications include advanced setting dialog boxes  
where pre-fetch and other parameters can be set. Explore those  
options.  
Don’t be shy about visiting  
these forums and posting  
your questions.  
Audio echoes during recording  
Either turn your software direct monitoring off or—if you want  
to monitor your incoming audio through your software—put the  
MIX TO CTRL RM button in the UP position.  
Be sure to attach your monitoring speakers to the CTRL RM OUT  
jacks, not the MAIN MIX OUT jacks.  
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Troubleshooting: Software  
7
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48  
8 Specifications  
For the more technical-minded, here are some detailed  
specifications for the MultiMix’s operating levels.  
Input Channels  
Mic In Sensitivity Range:  
Line In Sensitivity Range:  
Mic/Line Gain Range:  
-60dBu to –10dBu nominal, +5dBu  
maximum  
All measurements done over  
a 22Hz – 22kHz range with a  
1kHz sine wave at +18dBu  
(-1dBFS) input. Impedances  
are measured at 1kHz.  
-40dBu to -+10dBu nominal,  
+25dBu maximum  
+10 to +60dB  
Equalization  
High-Pass Filter:  
High Shelving:  
75Hz, 18dB/octave  
12kHz, +/- 15dB  
Mid Bandpass/Band Reject: 2.5 kHz, +/- 15dB  
Low Shelving:  
80Hz, +/- 15dB  
Aux Sends  
Aux Send A & B Gain Range: -to +10dB  
Aux Returns  
Aux Return A Gain Range: -to +15dB  
Effects Level/  
Aux Return B Gain Range:  
-to +15dB  
Channel Levels  
Channel Level Gain Range: -to +10dB  
Master Levels  
Main Mix, Ctrl Room Gain  
Range:  
-to +10dB  
1/4” Inputs  
Stereo Aux Return Level:  
+4dBu nominal, +20dBu maximum  
-10dBV nominal, +5dBV maximum  
RCA Inputs  
2-TRACK IN Level:  
1/4” Outputs  
Main Mix, Ctrl Room,  
Ext Aux Send Level:  
+4dBu nominal, +20dBu maximum  
Headphone Output:  
75 ohm output impedance  
>105mW into 75 ohms, >40mW  
into 600ohms  
RCA Outputs  
2-TRACK OUT Level:  
-10dBV nominal, +5dBV maximum  
Dimensions  
Width x Length x Height:  
14.5” x 10.75” x 5”  
(368mm x 273mm x 153mm)  
Weight:  
7lbs  
(3.2kg)  
49  
Specifications  
8
Computer Requirements  
Minimum PC Requirements:  
Pentium 4, 2.4GHz Processor (or equivalent)  
512 MB RAM  
Available USB2.0 Port  
Windows XP (with Service Pack 2 or higher installed)  
Minimum Macintosh Requirements:  
G4 with native USB2.0 support  
Mac OS X version 10.4 or later  
512 MB RAM  
5400 RPM or faster hard drive recommended for multitrack audio  
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9 Block Diagrams  
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Block Diagrams  
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52  
Glossary  
Here are the definitions to some terms you’ll probably encounter  
while using your MultiMix USB2.0.  
Term  
Definition  
ASIO  
Audio Stream Input/Output. An audio protocol developed by Steinberg  
and used by multiple audio software manufacturers.  
aux (auxiliary)  
balance  
An additional set of outputs and inputs found on many mixers. These  
allow the addition of external effects and other audio sources.  
A control that lets you control the position of sound in a stereo signal by  
altering the relative levels of the left and right channels.  
bus  
The electrical component that carries signals from multiple sources to a  
single destination such as an amplifier.  
channel  
A path through which an audio signal flows.  
channel strip  
A section of a mixer on which reside controls like a fader, EQ and pan  
for manipulating the signal of an input channel.  
clipping  
codec  
The cutting of an audio signal caused by a level that is too great for a  
mixer circuit to handle.  
Compression/decompression algorithm. Different CODECs are used  
by different digital audio devices and file formats.  
condenser  
microphone  
A type of high-quality microphone that produces a weak signal, usually  
requiring an external power source like the ones provided by your  
MultiMix’s XLR mic inputs.  
DAW  
Digital audio workstation. DAWs can be either standalone, like the Akai  
DPS series, or software.  
dB (decibel)  
detent  
A common unit of measure for audio.  
A point of resistance in the path that a mixer knob or fader travels.  
Detents are used to mark important settings. As you turn the knob or  
slide the fader, you’ll feel it “click” into the detent.  
dry  
Term used to describe an audio signal free of effects. The opposite of  
“wet.”  
dynamic  
microphone  
A common type of microphone that does not require external power.  
Dynamic microphones are generally cheaper than condenser  
microphones.  
effects processor  
A unit whose purpose is to provide effects for audio signals. Some  
common effects include reverb, chorus, flange and delay. Effects  
processors come in many shapes and sizes, from small pedals up to  
53  
Glossary  
rectangular rackmount units.  
EQ (equalizer)  
fader  
The part of your mixer (or other device) that manipulates an audio signal  
by lowering the level of some frequencies and increasing the levels of  
others. EQ is used to fine-tune a signal’s highs and lows.  
A device that allows you to control the level of an audio signal by sliding  
the fader up and down a straight path. Each input channel of the  
MultiMix has its own fader, and so do the MAIN MIX and ALT 3/4.  
USB2.0  
gain  
A standard for connecting external devices to a computer.  
The measure of extra amplification applied to an audio signal. Channels  
1 – 4 on your MultiMix have gain controls, which are useful for boosting  
mic and line signals.  
latency  
level  
The time it takes for audio to travel from the MultiMix, through the  
computer and the recording program, and out again. Latency is  
measured in either samples or milliseconds.  
The amount of power driving an audio signal. The most common  
names given to levels of varying voltage are, from lowest to highest,  
microphone level, instrument level and line level.  
master section  
mic preamp  
mixer  
The section of a mixer where the main mix is controlled.  
An amplifier that boosts a microphone-level signal up to line level.  
A device whose purpose is to combine and output a number of audio  
signals, allowing various types of signal manipulation.  
mono (monaural)  
pan  
Refers to an audio signal that has only one channel. The opposite of  
stereo.  
A control that lets you position a mono signal within the stereo spectrum  
by altering the level of the signal being sent to the left channel as  
opposed to the right.  
phantom power  
A way of providing power to condenser microphones. Called  
“phantom” because the power isn’t apparent to dynamic microphones  
when you connect them to an input that provides phantom power.  
post-fader  
pre-fader  
Describes an aux send that sends a signal that already has passed through  
the channel fader.  
Describes an aux send that sends a signal that has not passed through the  
channel fader.  
54  
Glossary  
return  
A line input whose function is to carry back to the mixer an audio signal  
that has been sent from the mixer. Usually used in the application of  
effects.  
sample rate  
Digital audio is chopped up into tiny time slices. The sample rate is the  
number of time slices captured in one second. 44.1kHz—44,100  
samples per second—is the standard used for Compact Disk audio.  
48kHz—48,000 samples per second, is commonly used for film and  
video.  
send  
A line output whose function is to send a signal from the mixer to an  
external device, usually an effects processor.  
stereo  
Refers to an audio signal that has two channels.  
unity gain  
Refers to the setting of an audio channel at which the signal leaves the  
channel at the same level at which it entered. Unity gain is marked by a 0  
on the MultiMix’s faders.  
WDM  
wet  
The Windows Driver Model. This is the default standard by which  
Microsoft Windows communicates with audio devices.  
An audio signal that has had effects or other manipulations applied. The  
opposite of “dry.”  
55  
Contact Information  
Alesis Contact Information  
Alesis Distribution, LLC  
Los Angeles, CA USA  
E-mail:  
Web site:  
MultiMix USB2.0 Reference Manual  
Revision B by Edwin Erdmann, Brooks Bruner, and Fred  
Morgenstern.  
Copyright 2005-2007, Alesis Distribution, LLC. All rights reserved  
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. “MultiMix” and  
“MultiMix USB2.0” are trademarks of Alesis, LLC. Specifications  
subject to change without notice.  
Trademarks  
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  
Specifically:  
“Windows” and “Windows XP” are trademarks of Microsoft  
Corporation.  
ASIO” and “Cubase” are trademarks of Steinberg Media  
Technologies GmbH.  
“Sonar” is a trademark of Twelve Tone Systems, Inc.  
Apple,” “Mac,” “OS X,” and “CoreAudio” are trademarks of  
Apple.  
7-51-0239-A  
7/20/2007  
7-51-0239-A  
56  

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