Alesis 3630 Reference Manual
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Alesis 3630 Reference Manual

Rms/peak dual channel compressor with gate
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2002

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Summary of Contents for Alesis 3630

  • Page 1 eference anual 2002...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Instructions

    Important Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions (English) Safety symbols used in this product This symbol alerts the user that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit. This symbol warns the user of uninsulated voltage within the unit that can cause dangerous electric shocks.
  • Page 3 Important Safety Instructions 12. Use only with a cart, stand, bracket, or table designed for use with professional audio or music equipment. In any installation, make sure that injury or damage will not result from cables pulling on the apparatus and its mounting.
  • Page 4 Instructions de Sécurité Importantes (French) Symboles utilisés dans ce produit Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateur qu’il existe des instructions de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation jointe avec ce produit. Ce symbole avertit l’utilisateur de la présence d’une tension non isolée à l’intérieur de l’appareil pouvant engendrer des chocs électriques.
  • Page 5 Important Safety Instructions 12. N’utilisez qu’avec un stand, ou table conçus pour l’utilisation d’audio professionnel ou instruments de musique. Dans toute installation, veillez de ne rien endommager à cause de câbles qui tirent sur des appareils et leur support. 13. Débranchez l’appareil lors d’un orage ou lorsqu’il n’est pas utilisé pendant longtemps.
  • Page 6 Lesen Sie bitte die folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German) Sicherheit Symbole verwendet in diesem Produkt Dieses Symbol alarmiert den Benutzer, daß es wichtige Funktionieren und Wartung Anweisungen in der Literatur gibt, die diese Maßeinheit begleitet. Dieses Symbol warnt den Benutzer der nicht isolierten Spannung innerhalb der Maßeinheit, die gefährliche elektrische Schläge verursachen kann.
  • Page 7 Important Safety Instructions 12. Verwenden Sie ausschließlich Wagen, Ständer, oder Tische, die speziell für professionelle Audio- und Musikinstrumente geeignet sind. Achten Sie immer darauf, daß die jeweiligen Geräte sicher installiert sind, um Schäden und Verletzungen zu vermeiden. Wenn Sie einen Rollwagen benutzen, achten Sie darauf, das dieser nicht umkippt, um Verletzungen auszuschließen.

  • Page 8: Ce Declaration Of Conformity

    CE Declaration Of Conformity See our website at: http://www.alesis.com FCC Compliance Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

  • Page 9: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ………….…………………………………………………..1 Hookup, General Tips …………………………………………………..2 Hooking Up Power ……………………………………………………...4 Front Panel Compressor / Limiter Controls ………………………….4 Front Panel Compressor / Limiter Switches ………………………….7 Front Panel Noise Gate Controls ……………………………………….8 Front Panel Metering …………………………………………………….9 Side Chain Applications ……………………………………………….10 Troubleshooting …………………….…………………………………..13 Specifications ……………………………………………………………14 APPENDIX: About Compression, Limiting, and Noise Gating …...15...

  • Page 10: Introduction

    Appendix "About Compression and Limiting." • Stereo or dual mono operation. The 3630 can serve as two totally in- dependent units, or both sections can be strapped together for stereo operation. In stereo, gain changes in one section are "tracked" by the other section to eliminate wandering of the stereo image.

  • Page 11: Hookup, General Tips

    • In PA applications, limiting can increase a vocalist's level before feedback occurs. • Reduce sharp signal peaks associated with some signal processors and highly resonant synthesizer patches. • Remove hiss from tape, guitar amps, etc. with the noise gates.
  • Page 12 +4 dBu/-10 dBV switch. Installation For most applications the 3630 will be installed in a rack frame. The 3630 generates very little heat so it is not necessary to leave an empty space for ventilation above or below the unit.

  • Page 13: Hooking Up Power

    Power jack Plug the AC adapter output in here. Use only the AC adapter supplied with the 3630; use of any other AC adapter will void your warranty. To prolong the AC adapter's life, unplug it when not in use (turning the 3630's power switch to off is not sufficient to disconnect the AC adapter from AC power).
  • Page 14 Threshold (-40 to +20 dBu) Sets the level above which signals will be compressed or limited. Rotating the control clockwise raises the threshold, thus clamping signals at a higher level and reducing the amount of compression or limiting. Ratio (1:1 to ∞:1) Sets the compression slope, which determines how the output signal will change in relation to the input signal once the input signal exceeds the threshold.
  • Page 15 This produces a smoother sound that tends to retain dynamic character, but the tradeoff is that the 3630 cannot react as rapidly to sudden level shifts. Examples: Setting a longer attack time with guitar allows more of the pick attack to come through.

  • Page 16: Front Panel Compressor / Limiter Switches

    In the Comp position, the 3630 processes the input signal. Note: The 3630 must be powered up to pass a signal with either switch setting. Stereo Link Switch...

  • Page 17: Front Panel Noise Gate Controls

    The hiss would also be present under these conditions, but since a strong signal is present it would tend to "mask" the hiss. To use the 3630 solely as a noise gate, set the Ratio control to 1:1. This passes the input signal to the noise gate without processing.

  • Page 18: Front Panel Metering

    Example: A meter reading of -6 dB indicates that the 3630 is attenuating the input signal by at least 6 dB in order to keep it at the threshold level. The more lights that are lit, the greater the amount of limiting, and the more processed the sound.

  • Page 19: Side Chain Applications

    3630's control signal for processing, and the tip connection receives the processed sound. For keying applications, a regular mono cord can be used since it is not necessary to send the 3630's control signal out for processing. For frequency-dependent limiting applications that involve plugging into another signal processor, a special stereo-to-dual-mono cord is required, as shown below.
  • Page 20 To perform ducking: 1. Process the signal to be "ducked" (e.g., background music) through the 3630. For stereo signals use both channels, for mono signals just use one channel. 2. Plug the control signal (e.g., narration) into the channel's side chain jack, using a cord with a mono 1/4"...
  • Page 21 This application requires the special stereo-to-dual-mono cord mentioned above and an equalizer, such as the Alesis MEQ 230. 1. Plug the cord's stereo plug into the 3630's side chain jack. 2. Plug the stereo cord's ring plug into the EQ's input.

  • Page 22: Troubleshooting

    Overall noisy operation- If the +4/-10 switch is set to +4, try setting it to - "Choppy" or "jittery" sound- If the sound is choppy or jittery and the 3630 is in peak mode, increase the Attack and/or Release times. There are no fixed rules for optimum times since different instruments will work best with different settings.

  • Page 23: Specifications

    Threshold adjustment. Reset the gate as explained in Section 1.6, under Threshold. Gate "chatters"- Reduce Threshold level and/or increase Rate control until a smooth transition occurs. 1.10 3630 SPECIFICATIONS Dynamic Range: >118dB, "A" weighted Signal to Noise Ratio: >100dB, "A" weighted Headroom: +18dBu Frequency Response: 10Hz to 30kHz, 0/-.5dB Crosstalk: <...

  • Page 24: Appendix: About Compression, Limiting, And Noise Gating

    1.11 APPENDIX: About Compression, Limiting, and Noise Gating Compression and limiting both affect a signal's dynamic range, although in slightly different ways. This type of signal processing can be used as an effect (e.g., increase a guitar or cymbal's sustain) or for more practical applications, such as avoiding tape saturation or restricting the dynamic range of program material for broadcast applications.
  • Page 25 AMPLITUDE VS. TIME However, the maximum peak signal level has gone from 100 in the first drawing to 50 in the second drawing. Therefore, the overall signal sounds softer. By adding output gain, we can give the limited signal a peak value of 100 again.
  • Page 26 This limited, amplified signal has a much higher average level than the original signal. This is why limited signals can "jump out" at you and have more punch. Commercials, for example, are often heavily limited so that they have as high an average signal level as possible. Radio and TV stations also use limiting to cope with the medium's limited dynamic range.
  • Page 27 The speed with which a limiter responds to the input signal is also im- portant. If the limiter tries to follow every little nuance of music, the sound can be overly "choppy." Often, you'll want the limiter to affect dynamic range over a somewhat longer period of time. The Release control sets this time period.
  • Page 28 Noise Gating To understand a gate's principle of operation, consider a "manual noise gate." Suppose you're listening to an audio signal being processed by a relatively noisy effect. As long as the audio signal is present, its level will generally be higher than the noise, thus masking it. However, when the audio signal goes away, the noise is no longer masked and can be heard.

  • Page 30: Alesis Limited Warranty

    For the most effective service, the purchaser should register the purchase on the ALESIS website at http://www.alesis.com/support/warranty.htm. During the warranty period ALESIS shall, at its sole and absolute option, either repair or replace free of charge any product that proves to be defective on inspection by ALESIS or its authorized service representative.

  • Page 31: Alesis Contact Information

    Alesis 3630 Compressor Reference Manual Revision 1.1 by Brooks Bruner Copyright 2002, Alesis Distribution, LLC. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. “3630 Compressor” is a trademark of Alesis Distribution, LLC. Specifications subject to change without notice.

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