Alesis DEQ224 Reference Manual page 42

3
Basics of Equalization
Here's a description of what each function does.
Button 1: Master Level (+/- 6 dB)
The Master Level function is one way to customize the DEQ224
to your environment. If the equipment in your setup tends to send
very hot signals, you can use this function to prevent the output of
the DEQ224 from clipping.
When a hot line level signal comes in, the DEQ224 has plenty of
headroom to deal with it. But if you perform some radical
equalization on this signal, it is possible that the combination of
the incoming hot signal plus the equalization you have done may
put the signal "over the top" and within range of clipping. The
Master Level function allows you to reduce the level of the
equalized signal before it reaches the final output stage of the
DEQ224.
Don't confuse this with the Channel Level settings in Edit mode.
The Channel Level settings are stored with the program, and
therefore may vary from program to program. The Master Level
setting is global; i.e., it is always active and will affect every
program. There is a diagram on page 28 that illustrates the
relationship between Channel Level and Master Level.
To lower or raise the Master Level setting, use the [DOWN/UP]
buttons. To reset the value of this function to 0 dB, press the
[DOWN] and [UP] buttons at the same time.
For an explanation of how to use the Channel Level control
feature, see page 38.
Button 2: Release Edit Group (on/off)
Of all the Setup features, this is the one that will most affect the
way you work with the DEQ224. The Release Edit Group setting
determines the behavior of the [BAND SELECT] buttons in
Edit mode.
For the sake of describing this feature, let's review some things we
already know. When you press a [BAND SELECT] button, you
enter Edit mode. If you don't press one of the [DOWN/UP]
buttons right away, you can keep pressing [BAND SELECT]
buttons until you have several of them selected simultaneously.
This is called selecting an Edit Group.
Once you have selected an Edit Group, you can cut or boost the
gain of all of the bands in the Edit Group simultaneously; they
will move up or down in proportion to one another. The Release
Edit Group feature does not affect these things; this is always how
the DEQ224 operates.
However, once you make an edit, it makes a big difference whether
the Release Edit Group feature is on or off. If it is on, the very
next [BAND SELECT] button you press will "release" all of the
previously selected bands. The only band that will be selected is
the one you just pressed. You will know this when it happens,
because that's the only Band Gain LED that will be blinking.
40
If you are likely to edit only
one or two bands at a time
when constructing a new
curve, set the Release Edit
Group function to On. This
will enable you to move more
quickly across the audio
spectrum.