Description Of Controls; Top Panel; Input Trim; Sends - Alesis 1622 Reference Manual

SECTION 1

DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS

TOP PANEL

INPUT TRIM

The INPUT TRIM is a variable gain control that allows the preamp stage of the mixer to boost
the level of a mic or line level signal being fed into the input. The input section of any mixer is
the most critical due to the high gain required to amplify such a low level signal (such as that of a
microphone) to a usable level. If the gain is set too high, a hot signal from a synthesizer or loud
vocalist will cause the input stage to overload and distort. If the gain is set too low, additional
gain must be added at some other point in the mixer (such as the faders) which could cause
excessive background noise at the output.
EQ
The equalizer, or EQ, section consists of simple bass and treble controls similar to that of a
guitar amp or home stereo. EQ allows for any tonal shaping that might be required by a signal.
For the technically minded, these are known as shelving equalizers and have turnover points at
10KHz and 100Hz. This means that the maximum boost or cut begins from 10KHz (and 100Hz
for the low frequency EQ) and maintains this "shelf" or plateau from 10KHz to 20KHz. The
frequencies below 10KHz are also affected, but less and less so as the frequency of the signal
gets further away from 10KHz. See Figure 1
FIGURE 1
HI AND LO SHELVING EQ OF THE 1622 MIXER
100Hz
+15dB
0 dB
-15dB
Frequency

SENDS

SENDS (sometimes called "Auxiliary Sends" or "Aux's") are adjustable feeds from the input
channel that are used to send part of the signal to an outboard effect, like a reverb, delay, or
chorus, or to set up a separate cue (headphone) mix for musicians headphones during recording
and overdubbing. There are two different types of SENDS included in the 1622. These are:

PRE-FADER SENDS

SENDS 1 and 2 are derived from the signal path before the Channel Fader. This means that
movements of the channel fader will have no effect on the amount of signal being sent to any
equipment connected to these SENDS. For this reason, these auxiliary sends are normally used
as cue sends (sends to headphones while recording) because any movement of the channel
SHELF
10KHz
4
+15dB
0 dB
-15dB