Alesis airsynth

7/29/2019 Alesis airsynth

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REFERENCE M ANUAL


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2 AIRSYNTH REFERENCE M ANUAL

Alesis airSynth Reference Manual

Copyright 2001, Alesis Studio Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved .

Reprod uction in whole or in part is proh ibited. airSynth and Axyz

are trademarks of Alesis Studio Electron ics, Inc. Axyz technology is

patent pending.

ALESIS CONT ACT INFORM AT ION

Alesis Studio Electronics, Inc.

1633 26th Street

Santa Monica, CA 90404

USA

Do not u se this add ress for repair service.

Telephone: 800-5-ALESIS (800-525-3747)

E-Mail: sup [email protected]

Website: www.alesis.com


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AIRSYNTH REFERENCE M ANUAL 3

CONTENTSIm por tant Safe ty Instr uctions...................................................... 5

Safety symbols used in this prod uct ....................................................... ..................5

Please follow these p recautions w hen using this p rodu ct:..........................................5

Instructions d e Scurit Imp ortantes (French)....................... ....................................7

Symboles utiliss dan s ce produ it ................................................. ...........................7

Veuillez suivre ces prcautions lors de lutilisation de lapp areil: ..... ...... ..... ...... ..... ....7

Beim Benu tzen d ieses Produ ktes beachten Sie bitte die folgenden

Sicherheitshinweise: (German)............................................................... ..................9

CE Declaration of Conformity..................................................................................10

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE USER (FCC compliance)...................................................11

Quick Sta rt Guide ......................................................................... 13Step 1: Hook it up ...................................................... .............................................13

Step 2: Select a Program ...................................................... ....................................13

Step 3: Have fun ........................................................ .............................................13

Connect ions................................................................................... 15Unp acking and Inspection............................................................ ...........................15

Basic Connections ...................................................... .............................................15

Connecting to a Stereo Receiver ................................................. ..................16

Connecting betw een a CD Player and a Stereo Receiver ................................16

Connecting to a Studio Mixer .................................................... ..................17

Connecting into a DJ System........................................................................18

Mounting on a Microphone Stand ........................................................ ........19

Mono Operation ..................................................... ....................................19

Perf ormance ................................................................................. 21Selecting a Program ................................................... .............................................21

Using the Axyz Controller ........................................................ ...........................22Effect Hold ...................................................... .......................................................23

Effect Bypass ................................................... .......................................................24

Special Programs ....................................................... .............................................27

Sequencers .................................................... .............................................27

Pads...........................................................................................................28

Auto-Melody Generators ................................................. ...........................31

The Global Tempo Program ...................................................... ..................31

T roubleshooting ........................................................................... 33Troubleshooting Ind ex................... ....................................................... ..................33

Care and Maintenance ........................................................ ....................................34

Cleaning ....................................................... .............................................34

Obtaining Repair Service................................ .............................................34

Program Chart........................................................................................................36

Specif ications................................................................................ 37

Alesis Lim ited W arra nty............................................................... 38


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IntroductionThank you for pu rchasing this Alesis airSynth. To take full advantage

of this synth esizers functions, and to enjoy long and trou ble-free use,

please read this users manu al carefully.

How to Use This M anualThis manu al is divided into the following sections describing th e

various functions and app lications for the airSynth. Though we

recomm end you take time to read throu gh the entire man ual once

carefully, those having general knowledge abou t synthesizers should

use the table of contents to look up sp ecific functions.

Chapter 1: Quick Start. If you w ant to start using the airSynth r ight

away, heres a one-page gu ide to hooking it up and trying it out.

Chapter 2: Connections. This chapter gives detailed instructions forconnecting the airSynth to a variety of typical sound systems.

Chapter 3: Performance. This section explains how to select programs,

use the Axyz Controller, and use the Hold and Bypass functions. It

also explains how to use some of the special program s in the unit.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting. This chap ter contains trou bleshooting

tips and service information shou ld p roblems occur.

W hen something impo rtant app ears in the m anual , an icon ( l ikethe o ne on the lef t ) w i ll appear in the lef t margin. This symb olindicates that th is inform ation is vital w hen op erating th eairSynth.


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IMPORTANT SAFETYINSTRUCTIONS

Safety symbols used in this product

This sym bol alerts the u ser that the re are import ant o perat ing andm aintena nce instructions in t he l i teratu re accom pany ing t his unit .

This sym bol w arns the u ser of uninsulated voltage w ithin theun it t hat can cause da ng erou s electric sho cks.

This sym bol w arns the user that out put conn ectors cont ainvolt age s th at can cause dan ge rous electrical sho ck.

Please follow these precaut ions w henusing t his product :

1. Read th ese in stru ction s.

2. Keep these instructions.3. H eed all warnings.4. Follow all instru ctions.5. Do not use this appara tus near water.6. Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not spray any liquid cleaner onto the

faceplate, as this may d amage the front p anel controls or cause adangerous condition.

7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.8. Do not install near any heat sources such as rad iators, heat registers,

stoves, or other appara tus (including am plifiers) that p rodu ce heat.


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9. Do not defeat the safety pu rpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. Agrounding-type plug has two blades and a third ground ing prong. The wideblade or the third p rong are provided for your safety. When the providedplug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacemen t of theobsolete outlet.10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at

plugs, convenience receptacles, and th e point w here they exit from theapparatus.

11. Use only attachm ents or accessories specified by th e man ufacturer.

12. Use only with a cart, stand, bracket, or table designed for use withprofessional aud io or music equipm ent. In any installation, make surethat injury or dam age will not result from cables pulling on the app aratus

and its mounting. If a cart is used , use caution when m oving thecart/ app aratu s combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus d uring lightning storms or when u nused for longperiods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is requiredwhen the ap paratus has been damaged in any w ay, such as when thepow er-sup ply cord or p lug is damaged , liquid has been sp illed or objectshave fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain ormoisture, does not operate norm ally, or has been dropp ed.

15. This unit produces heat when operated normally. Operate in a w ell-ventilated area w ith at least six inches of clearance from p eripheral

equipment.16. This prod uct, in combination with an amplifier and h eadp hones or

speakers, may be capable of prod ucing sound levels that could causeperm anent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at ahigh volume level or at a level that is un comfortable. If you exper ienceany h earing loss or ringing in the ears, you shou ld consult an au diologist.


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Instructions de Scurit Importantes(French)

Symboles ut iliss dans ce produit

Ce symb ole alrt e lutilisat eur q uil existe des instru ction s defonct ionnemen t et de m aintenance dans la documentat ion jointeavec ce produit.

Ce symbo le avertit l uti l isateu r de la prsence dune t ension nonisole l intrieur de l app areil pouvan t enge ndrer d es chocslectriques.

Ce sym bo le prvien t l 'u tilisat eur d e la prsence de t en sions surles raccorde m ent s de sorties, repr sent ant u n risqu ed'lectrocution.

Veuillez suivre ces prcautions lors delutilisation de lappareil:

1. Lisez ces instructions.

2. Gardez ces instructions.

3. Tenez compte de tous les avertissements.

4. Suivez toutes les instructions.

5. Nutilisez pas cet allareil proximit de leau.

6. Ne nettoyez quavec un chiffon humide. Il est potentiellement d angereuxd'u tiliser d es pu lvrisateurs ou nettoyants liquides sur cet appareil.

7. Installez selon les recommand ations du constructeur.

8. Ne pas installer proximil de sources de chaleur comme radiateurs,cuisinire ou autre app areils (dont les amplificateurs) prod uisant d e lachaleur.


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9. Ne pas enlever la prise de terre du cordon secteur. Une prise murale avecterre d eux broches et une troisirme relie la terre. Cette dernire estprsente pou r votre scurit. Si le cordon secteur ne rentre p as dans laprise de courant, dem and ez un lectricien qualifi de remp lacer la prise.

10. Evitez de m archer sur le cordon secteur ou de le pincer, en particulier au

niveau d e la prise, et aux end roits o il sor d e lapp areil.

11. Nutilisez que des accessoires spcifis par le constructeur.

12. Nutilisez qu avec un stand, ou table conus p our lutilisation d aud ioprofessionnel ou instrum ents de m usique. Dans toute installation, veillezde n e rien endomm ager cause de cbles qui tirent sur d es appareils etleur sup port.

13. Dbranchez lapp areil lors dun orage ou lorsquil nest pas utilispend ant longtemps.

14. Faites rparer pa r un personn el qualifi. Une rparation est ncessaire

lorsque lapp areil a t endomm ag d e quelque sorte que ce soit, parexemple losrque le cordon secteur ou la prise sont endom mags, si duliquide a coul ou des ob jets se sont introd uits dans lappareil, si celui-ci at expos la pluie ou lhumidit, ne fonctionne p as norma lement ouest tomb.

15. Puisque son fonctionement normale gnre de la chaleur, placez cetapp areil au m oins 15cm. des quipm ents pripheriques et assurez quelemp lacement permet la circulation de lair.

16. Ce prod uit, utilis avec un amp lificateur et un casque ou des enceintes,est capable de p rodu ite des niveaux sonores pouvan t engendrer u ne perteperm anente de loue. Ne lutilisez pas pendan t longtemp s un niveau

sonore lev ou un niveau non confortable. Si vous remarquez u neperte d e loue ou un bourd onnem ent d ans les oreilles, consultez unspcialiste.


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Beim Benutzen dieses Produktes beachtenSie bitte die folgendenSicherheit shinw eise: (German)

1. Lesen Sie d ie H inw eise.

2. Halten Sie sich an d ie Anleitung.3. Beachten Sie alle Warnungen.4. Beachten Sie alle Hinweise.5. Bringen Sie das Gert nie mit Wasser in Berhrun g.6. Verwend en Sie zur Reinigung nu r ein weiches Tuch. Verwenden Sie

keine flssigen Reinigungsmittel. Dies kann gefhrliche Folgen haben.7. Halten Sie sich beim Aufbau des Gertes an d ie Angaben des Herstellers.8. Stellen Sie das Gert nich in der Nhe von Heizkrpern,

Heizun gsklappen od er and eren Wrm equellen (einschlielichVerstrkern) auf.

9. Verlegen Sie das N etzkabel des Gertes niemals so, da man d arberstolpern kann oder da es gequetscht wird .10. Benutzen Sie nu r das vom Hersteller empfohlene Zubehr.11. Verwenden Sie ausschlielich Wagen, Stnder, od er Tische, die speziell

fr professionelle Aud io- und Mu sikinstrum ente geeignet sind. AchtenSie immer da rau f, da die jeweiligen Ger te sicher installiert sind, umSchden und Verletzungen zu verm eiden. Wenn Sie einen Rollwagenbenutzen , achten Sie dar auf, das d ieser nicht um kippt, um Verletzungenauszuschlieen.

12. Ziehen Sie wh rend eines Gewitters oder wenn Sie das Gert ber einenlngeren Zeitraum nicht benutzen d en Netzstecher aus d er Steckdose.

13. Die Wartung sollte nur durch qu alifiziertes Fachpersonal erfolgen. DieWartung w ird notwend ig, wenn das Gert beschdigt wu rde oder aber

das Stromkabel oder der Stecker, Gegenstnde oder Flssigkeit in dasGert gelangt sind, das Gert d em Regen oder Feuchtigkeit ausgesetztwar un d deshalb nicht mehr norm al arbeitet oder heru ntergefallen ist.

14. Dieses Gert produ ziert auch im norm alen Betrieb Wrm e. Achten Siedeshalb au f ausreichend e Lftung m it mindestens 15 cm Abstand vonanderen Gerten.

15. Dieses Produ kt kann in Verbind ung mit einem Verstrker undKopfhrern oder Lautsprechern Lautstrkepegel erzeugen, dieanha ltende Gehrschden veru rsachen. Betreiben Sie es nicht berlngere Zeit mit hoher Lautstrke oder einem Pegel, der Ihnenunangenehm is. Wenn Sie ein Nachlassen des Gehrs oder ein Klingelnin d en Ohren feststellen, sollten Sie einen Ohrenarzt aufsuchen.


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CE Declarat ion of Conform ity

Manufacturers Name: Alesis Corporation

Manufacturers Address: 1633 26th Street

Santa Monica, CA 90404

USA

declares, that the product:

Product Name: airSynth

Model Type: Signal Processor

conforms to the Standards listed for this product on the web site

www .alesis.com

European Contact: Sound Technology

17 Letchworth Point, Lechworth,

Hertfordshire, SG6 1ND, England.

Phone: +44.1462.480000

Fax: +44.1462.480800

March 2001


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INSTRUCTIONS TO THE USER(FCC compliance)

This equipment has been tested an d found to comp ly with the limits

for a class B digital device, pu rsuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These

limits are designed to provid e reasonable protection against harm ful

interference in a residen tial installation. This equipm ent generates,

uses and can radiate rad io frequency energy and , if not installed an d

used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful

interference to radio comm unications. How ever, there is no guarantee

that interference will not occur in a par ticular installation. If this

equipm ent d oes cause harmful interference to rad io or television

reception, which can be d etermined by tu rning the equ ipment off and

on, the u ser is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or

more of the following measures:

1.Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.2.Increase the separation between the equipm ent and receiver.3.Connect the equipm ent into an outlet on a circuit different from

that to wh ich th e receiver is connected.

4.Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/ TV technician forhelp.

This equipm ent has been verified to comply with th e limits for a class

B comp uting d evice, pu rsuan t to FCC Rules. In order to m aintain

comp liance with FCC regulations, shielded cables should be used with

this equipment. Operation with non-approved equipment orun shielded cables is likely to resu lt in interference to rad io and TV

reception. The user is cautioned that changes and m odifications mad e

to the equipment w ithout the app roval of the manufacturer could void

the users authority to operate this equipment.


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FRON T PAN EL

REAR PA NEL

AXYZ Controller

LED D isplayProgram Knob

RCA Outputs RCA Inputs Power Jack


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Chapt er 1: Quick Sta rt Guide


CHAPTER 1

QUICK START GUIDEThis page gives you brief instructions so that you can start using theairSynth right away. If you have qu estions abou t any of the steps,

dont w orry the following chapters w ill expan d on these instructions

in mind -numbing d etail.

Step 1: Hook it upPull the airSynth ou t of the package, and p lug it into the wall with the

sup plied Power Supp ly. Connect the Left and Right ou tpu ts of the

airSynth into the Left and Right CD Inp uts of a stereo receiver or

mixer.

airSynth

Receiver

ai rSynth Line O utRecei ver CD In

NOTE: If your system looks different from this one, skip ahead to

Chapter 2, Connections.

Step 2: Select a ProgramTurn th e Program Select knob and select a Program between 00 and 49.When you ve found one you like, press the knob d own to select it.

There is a list of program nam es printed on the bottom of the unit.

Step 3: Have fun


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Quick Start Guide: Chapt er 1


Move your hand over the black Axyz dom e on the un it. Try moving

from side to side, front to back, as well as up and dow n. Get down !


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Chap te r 2: Connections


CHAPTER 2

CONNECTIONS

Unpacking and InspectionYour Alesis airSynth was carefully packed at the factory, and th e

shipp ing carton was designed to protect the unit du ring shipping.

Please retain this container in th e highly unlikely event that you n eed

to return your processor for servicing.

The shipping carton should contain the following items:

a irSynth Processor

This inst ruct ion manual

Program Chart

Power Supply, Alesis model P3

Alesis Warranty card

2 3 RCA stereo cables

I t is impo rtant to reg ister yo ur purchase; if yo u ha ve no t alreadyfi l led o ut your w arranty card an d m ailed it b ack to Alesis, pleasetake the t ime to do so now .

Basic Connections

The airSynth is designed to function with a wide range of equipment,

from CD players to mu sical instruments. The only requirement is that

the inpu t and outp ut signals be line level (for the technically minded ,

un balanced -10 dBu).

This means that you never w ant to p lug the pow ered output ofan am plif ier or receiver into th e airSynth . These speake r-levelvolt age s w ill fry t he electron ics inside of t he airSynth .

The systems on the next few p ages will give you some examples of

typical systems w here the airSynth is used . If you cant apply one of


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Connections: Chap te r 2


these systems to your own setup, contact Alesis or your d ealer for

assistance.

Connect ing t o a Stereo Receiver

airSynth

Receiver

ai rSynth Line O utRecei ver CD In

The simplest method for listening to the airSynth is to connect the Left

and Right Ou tpu ts to the Left and Right Inputs of a stereo receiver.

The CD or Tape inpu ts of your receiver are best for this pu rpose if

you u se Phono inpu ts the airSynth w ill sound very noisy.

Connecting bet w een a CD P layer and a StereoReceiver

CD Player

airSynth

Receiver

CD Line Outai rSynt h Line Inai rSynth Li ne OutReceiv er CD In

The above system allows you to hear the airSynth with a CD player

throu gh your h ome stereo system. Although the airSynth d oes notchange the sound of the CD, this method allows you to hear both

sources at once. Using a stereo RCA (ph ono) cable, plu g the Left and

Right ou tpu ts of your CD player into the Left and Right Inputs of the

airSynth . Usually, the white connector is connected to the Left side and

the red connector is connected to the Right side.


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Next, using another stereo RCA cable, plug th e Left and Right ou tpu ts

of the airSynth into the Left and Right CD inpu ts of your receiver.

(Actually, any u nused inp uts on th e receiver shou ld work except for

Phono or Record Player.)

If the unit doesn't hav e RCA outputs:The instructions above are fine for home or professional CD Players.

How ever, most portable CD players don t have a p air of RCA outp uts

like comp onent CD p layers do. Instead, they have a 1/ 8 Mini jack.

This is usu ally labeled Line Ou t. If your CD Player doesnt have a

Line Out, then u se the Headphone ou tput and set the Volum e to about

80% to avoid distorting the airSynth.

Many p ortable CD players include a cable with a 1/ 8 mini jack on one

side and a pair of RCA connectors on the other. You w ill need to locate

or pu rchase this cable to use a portable CD player w ith the airSynth.

Plug the RCA connectors on this cable into the Left and Right Inputs ofthe airSynth . You shou ld be able to use these instru ctions to conn ect a

game console, DVD p layer or video camera th rough the airSynth.

Altho ugh t he speake r outp uts of m any com pact stereo system suse an RCA connector betw een t he m ain output s and t hespea kers, spea ker leve l voltag es like the se w ill disto rt an dpossibly dam age the airSynt h.

Connecting t o a Studio M ixer

The best method of connecting th e airSynth to a mixing console is to

use a p air of chann el line inpu ts. Youll need a cable with tw o 1/ 4

connectors on one side and two RCA connectors on th e other. Connect

the RCA jacks to the airSynths line outp uts, then connect the 1/ 4

jacks to a p air of lin e inputs on th e mixer . If no chan nel lin e inputs are

available, tape returns or effects return s may be u sed instead.


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Connections: Chap te r 2


airSynth

Mixer

Powered Monitor Powered Monitor

airSy nth Li ne Out

Mi xer Channel Input s

Mi xer Moni to r Out s

Moni to r Line In

Moni to r Line In

Connecting into a DJ System

AmplifierairSynth Speakers

Mixer

Amp Line Inp uts Amp Spea ker O utput s

Turntable OutTurntable O ut

airSynth Line O ut

Phono In 1

Phono In 2

CD/Aux Input

Line Out

This section explains how to connect the airSynth into a DJ system. Thefirst point to mention is that the ou tpu t of a turntable is not at line

level. Therefore, unlike a CD player, you cant just conn ect the outp ut

of the turntable through the airSynth. You w ould need to connect the

turn table to a preamp, then connect this outpu t to the airSynth.

A much better m ethod is to use a DJ mixer. This allows you to control

the volum e of both turntables (or CD players) and th e airSynth


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separately. In th e system above, we first connect the tw o tu rntables

into two inpu ts of the mixer. We then p lug the Left and Right ou tpu ts

of the airSynth into another mixer inpu t. Next, plug the Left and Right

outp uts of the mixer into the Left and Right inp uts of your p ower

amplifier.

I f your am plif ier is built into th e m ixer, m ake sure you don t plugtho se speak er-level out put s into t he inpu ts of the airSynt h. Thevoltage levels need ed t o d rive large DJ speak ers w ill distort andpossibly dam age the airSynt h.

M ounting on a M icrophone StandThe bottom of the airSynth features a th readed socket for a stand ard

microphone stand . This allows the unit to be mounted away from the

area where the other equipment is, so that u nintended m ovements

won 't be picked up by the Axyz controller.

When mounting on a stand, avoid tipover by:

Using a stand with a heavy base

Tying the input, output and power cables to the stand in several

places, especially near the base (so if someon e pu lls on the cord,it pu lls on the base)

Using cords that are long enough

M ono Operation

The airSynth d oes not have a mono outp ut. If your sound system ismono, you should use a Y-cable to sum th e outp uts of the airSynth.

Connect the tw o connectors of the Y-cable to a sing le RCA cable, then

connect this cable to your m ono d estination.

You can also simp ly connect one of the outpu ts to a mono inpu t.

How ever, the panning effects will cause many p rograms to jum p u p

and d own in volum e.


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Chapter 3: Perf orma nce


CHAPTER 3

P ERFORM ANCE

Select ing a Pr ogramThe Alesis airSynth contains 50 program s, each one creating a d ifferent

effect. There is a list of program nam es printed on the bottom of the

unit, and you should have received a p rogram chart with the unit that

describes each p rogram.

Selecting a new program is simp le:

1. Turn the program knob on the bottom left side of the airSynth to

select a program number. The new p rogram w ill not load right

away, allowing you to keep using one program w hile you find

another.

12.

Notice that there is a decimal point after the program number to indicatethat it hasnt been loaded yet.

2. Press the Program knob to load this new p rogram.

12

The decimal point goes away, showing that the program has been loaded.


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Perf ormance: Chapter 3


Using the Axyz Controller

The airSynth is the second in a line of Alesis prod ucts to use the

groun dbreaking Axyz controller. This controller allows you to u se

your hand to control the sound of your m usic in a way never before

possible.

The Axyz Controller w orks by send ing a beam of invisible infrared

light ou t of the top of the un it. There are sensors all aroun d th e dom e

wh ich see the light w hen it is reflected back. By moving your hand

aroun d the d ome, you reflect the light to d ifferent sensors, and th is

changes the sound of the effect.

There are three sets of sensors in the Axyz controller, they are know n

as th e X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.

The X-axis sensor reads your hand position from left to right.

The Y-axis sensor reads your hand position from the front to the back

of the unit.

The Z-axis sensor reads how close your han d is to the sensor (up and

down).

Tip: When p laying the airSynth, make sure to move your han d in

all three directions. Some of the p rograms d ont use the Y-axis,

but m ost use all three.

You shou ld hear an effect wh en your hand gets within 6 (15 cm) of

the Axyz controller. For a list of what each axis does to th e sound, see

the Program Chart w hich came with your unit.

Note that am bient light can affect the sensitivity of the Axyz controller.

Make sure that you don t sit the airSynth right next to a light source or

in the sun, or you may notice that you need to m ove your han d closer

to hear an effect. You m ay also notice this if a large light is pointed

directly at the airSynth w hen you are on stage.


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Ef fect Hold

The airSynth has a function that allows you to freeze the curren t effect

from the airSynth w ithout need ing to hold your hand in place. This

function is called Hold.

To use the Hold function:

1.Recall a p rogram as d escribed in the p revious section. There shou ldbe no decimal points showing in the d isplay.

12

Note that there are no decimal points in the display, showing that theeffect is loaded and operational.

2.Move your hand arou nd th e Axyz controller, stopp ing your handposition when you find an effect that you wan t to freeze.

3.Press and hold the Program knob for one second . A decimal pointshould ap pear in the display between the first and second n um ber

of the program.

1.2

A decimal point has appeared between the first and second digits of theprogram number, showing that the Hold function is set.

4.Move your h and away from th e Axyz controller. Notice that theeffect continu es as if your hand was still there.

5.To turn off the hold function and resume normal operation, pressthe Program knob one more time. The decimal point shou ld go

away and you can use the Axyz controller again to modify the

sound.

On Program 2 and Program s 42-49, the Hold function pu ts the un it in a

different mode. These programs will be discussed later in this chapter.


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Effect Bypass

The effect Hold function can a lso be used as a Bypass. This function

turns off the Axyz controller so that the effect is not acciden tally

triggered.

To use the Bypass function:

1.Recall a p rogram as described in the p revious section. Thereshould be no d ecimal points showing in the display.

12

Note that there are no decimal points in the display, showing that theeffect is loaded and operational.

2.Move your han d aw ay from the Axyz controller, making surethat the airSynth isnt affecting the sound.

3.Press and hold the Program knob for one second . A decimalpoint shou ld app ear in the display between the first and second

num ber of the program.

1.2

A decimal point has appeared between the first and second digits of theprogram number, showing that the Bypass/Hold function is set.

4.The Axyz controller shou ld now have n o effect, so moving you rhand towards the Axyz dome should not change the sound.

5.To turn off the hold function and resume norm al operation,press the Program knob one m ore time. The decimal point

should go away and you can u se the Axyz controller again to

modify the sound .


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Special P rograms

The airSynth has a few Programs that act d ifferently than the others.

This section describes their special opera tion.

Sequencers

Programs 2, 42, 43, 44, 45

The Programs listed above are Sequencer p rograms. A sequencer is a

device that records in a loop, remembering w hich n otes you p lay. You

can keep add ing notes each time the sequencer loops around . When

youre finished record ing, the airSynth allows you to filter or ad just th e

loop.

When you recall one of these programs, the first thing you will hear is

a metronom e click. As you move your hand toward s the sensor fromdifferent sides, you will trigger one of several pitches or dru m sou nd s.

After one measu re has passed (8 clicks) you w ill hear th is tone played

again. The airSynth corrects the timing so that it p lays back in the

nearest 1/ 16th note. Its easier to think about your timing falling on a

grid:

Open HH

Click

Closed HH

SnareKick

The grid above shows the 16 different timing locations where a d rum

hit or p itch can fall. If you p lay a note a little bit early or late, the

airSynth will move it so that it falls right on a beat .

The airSynth w ill continue looping as you add notes. When you think

youve finished creating your loop, tu rn on the H old function by

pressing the Program knob for one second. You will notice that th e

click goes away an d that a d ecimal point ap pears between the first andsecond digits of the Program num ber in the display.

0.2


25/37



A decimal point has appeared between the first and second digits of theprogram number, showing that the Hold function is set.

When youve entered H old mode, you can move your hand around the sensor to

mod ulate the loop. On some programs, your han d controls the balance between

the instrum ents. On others, your hand changes the octave of the bass line or

filters the loop .

Pressing the Program knob again exits the Hold fun ction and allows

you to create a new loop.

In summ ary, to make a new sequence:

1. (Optiona l:) Select the -- program to set the tempo of the loop .See The Temp o Program section later in this chapter. (If the

tempo is not set, the unit will operate at 120bpm u pon pow er-

up.)2.Select the Program you want to sequ ence, nu mber 2 or 42-45.3.Play the dru m sounds or pitches by approaching the sensor

from different sides.

4.When you re finished add ing notes, press and hold the Programknob to enter H old mode.

5.Move your hand around the sensors to modulate the loopyouve created.

6.To start over, press the Program knob again to tu rn off the Holdfunction.

Pads

Programs 1, 5, 6, 7

These program s allow you to select a pitch, then move around the

sensors to change the timbre. The trick is to app roach the sensor from a

different direction when you w ant a new pitch.

To use these program s:

1.App roach the sensor from on e of its sides. For example, app roachfrom the left.

2.Twist your hand aroun d the sensors to filter and m odu late thesound.


26/37



3.Move your han d aw ay from the sensors to stop playing the note.4.Now , approach the sensors from an other d irection. The airSynth

should play a d ifferent p itch.


27/37



Auto-M elody Generators

Programs 46, 47, 48, 49

These program s autom atically generate a melody. When you hear

something you like, you can freeze it using the Hold function and then

modulate the performance.

To use these program s:

1. (Optional:) Select the -- p rogram to set the tem po of the loop. SeeThe Tempo Program section later in th is chap ter. (If the temp o is

not set, the unit will operate at 120bpm u pon pow er-up.)

2.Hold your h and over the sensors. The airSynth w ill start playingnotes at random .

3.When the airSynth p lays something you like, press and hold theProgram knob to engage the H old function. While the airSynth is in

Hold mod e, it will keep repeating the last melody it generated.

4.Move your hand s around the sensors to modulate the loopingmelody.

5.Press the Program kn ob again to exit Hold mod e. The loopingmelody w ill stop and the unit is ready to generate a new m elody.

The airSynth may take an en tire measure before the first note

sound s. If the Global tempo is slow, you may need to leave yourhan d in the field for a bit of time. Be patient, its wor th it!

The Global Tempo Program

Program - -

Located between Program 49 and Program 00, this Program controls

the tempo of every loop in th e airSynth. To change the temp o, select

this program and tap over the sensor at least three times. As you tap

1/ 4 notes in rhythm, you w ill hear the unit play back 1/ 8 notes toindicate the temp o. When you have finished, select a new program to

continue using the airSynth at th is new temp o.


28/37

Chapter 4: Tr oubleshooting


CHAPTER 4

T ROUBLESHOOTING

T roubleshooting IndexIf you experience problems w hile operating your airSynth, p lease use

the following table to locate possible causes and solutions before

contacting Alesis Product Support for assistance.

Symptom Cause Solution

No audio from

outputs

Youre not close

enough to the

sensors

Try selecting Program

02 and listen for the

click. If you hear one,

try m oving closer to

the sensors or try

another program.

Bad cables Replace the cables.

Destination is tu rned

down

Check the connections

and the level of the

mixer or amp that the

airSynth is connected

to.

Power is not

connected

Time for a coffee

break.

Bu zz from ou tp uts Cables are crossin g a

pow er cable

Make sure that the

airSynth and its aud iocables are kept aw ay

from power cables,

other power

transformers and wall

warts.

Bad cables Replace the cable with

a new , high-quality

cable.

Problem w ith the

input signal

Try d isconnecting the

inpu ts to the airSynth

and see if the problemremains.


29/37

Troubleshooting


Symptom Cause Solution

Axyz controller is not

as sensitive as it

should be

Too mu ch ambient

light

Move airSynth aw ay

from bright lights or

sunlight.

Too muchinterference from

smoke

If a fog machine orcigarette smoke is

nearby, try moving the

airSynth.

Cant chan ge

programs

Software p roblem Unplug the airSyn th

and plug it back in

No effect Hold feature is

turned on

If there is a d ecimal

point between the

num bers, press the

Program knob qu ickly

so that it goes away.

Not close enough tothe Axyz sensor,

effect too su btle

Try moving your h andcloser to the sensor or

switching to a

different program.

Care and M aintenanceCleaning

Disconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the airSynths

metal and plastic surfaces. For heavy d irt, use a n on-abrasive

hou sehold cleaner su ch as Formu la 409 or Fantastik. DO NOT SPRAYTHE CLEANER DIRECTLY ON TO THE FRON T OF THE UNIT AS IT

MAY DESTROY THE LUBRICANTS USED IN THE SWITCHES AN D

CONTROLS! Spray onto a cloth, then use cloth to clean the un it.

Refer All Servicing t o Alesis

We believe that the airSynth is one of the best p rocessors that can be

mad e using current technology, and shou ld provide years of trouble-

free use. How ever, shou ld p roblems occur, DO NOT attempt to service

the unit yourself. Service on this produ ct shou ld be p erformed only by

qualified technicians. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

Obtaining Repair Service

Before contacting Alesis, check over all your connections, and make

sure youve read the manual.

Customers in the USA and Canada: If the problem p ersists, call Alesis

USA at 1-800-5-ALESIS and requ est the Prod uct Suppor t department.


30/37

Chapter 4: Tr oubleshooting


Make sure you have the units serial nu mber with you. Talk the

problem over with one of our technicians; if necessary, you will be

given a return order (RO) nu mber and instructions on how to return

the unit. All units must be shipp ed prep aid and COD shipments will

not be accepted .

For p romp t service, ind icate the RO num ber on the shipping label.

Units wi thout an RO w ill not be accepted. If you d o not have the

original packing, ship th e un it in a stu rdy carton, with shock-absorbing

materials such as Styrofoam pellets (the kind withou t CFCs, please) or

bubble-pack surrou nd ing the unit. Shipp ing dam age caused by

inadequ ate packing is not covered by the Alesis warranty.

Tape a note to the top of the unit d escribing the problem, includ e your

name and a ph one nu mber w here Alesis can contact you if necessary,

as well as instructions on wh ere you wan t the prod uct returned. Alesis

will pay for standard one-way shipp ing back to you on any rep aircovered u nd er the terms of this warran ty. Next day service is available

for a surcharge. Field repairs are not authorized du ring the warranty

period, and rep air attemp ts by unqualified personnel may invalidate

the warranty.

Service add ress for custom ers in the USA:

Alesis Service Departm ent

12520 Wilkie Avenue

Hawthorne, CA 90250

Customers outside the USA and Canada:Contact your local Alesis d istributor for any warran ty assistance. The

Alesis Limited Warran ty app lies only to prod ucts sold to users in the

USA and Canad a. Customers outside of the USA and Canad a are not

covered by this Limited Warranty an d m ay or may not be covered by

an independent distributor warran ty in the coun try of sale. Do not

return prod ucts to the factory unless you have been given specific

instructions to d o so.

Internet Address: Importan t information and adv ice is available on

our w eb site:

http:/ / ww w.alesis.com

Email may be addressed to:


31/37

Troubleshooting


[email protected]

Program Chart

Top Five:

# Program Name Description X Axis Y Axis Z Axis

0 Chopper Use your hand to control the

helicopter as it flies aroun d

you

Left/ Right

Pan

Forward/

Back Pan

Proximity

1 Android

Choir

The direction that your hand

app roaches chooses the

pitch, then tw ist it around toadjust the tone

Pitch/

Formant

Pitch/

Formant

Volume

2 Beat Machine Slap all around the sensor to

add to the drum loop. Next,

hold the Program knob

dow n to stop the metronome

and adjust the mix

Each

quadrant

adds a

different

drum

Each

quadrant

adds a

different

drum

3 FM Moving your hand around

the sensor triggers a biting,

sweeping tone

FM Osc. 1

Freq.

FM Osc. 2

Freq.

Volume

4 Didgiri-Don't A groaning synthesized

digeridoo, try moving fromfront to back to change the

pitch

Filters Pitch Volume

Tone:

5 Oberon Swell For the next three programs,

app roach the sensor from

different d irections for

different p itches, then m ove

your hand aroun d to change

the sound

Pitch/

shaping

Pitch/

shaping

Volume

6 Dem on Pad A darker ton e, m ove you r

hand farther back for some

twisted feedback

Pitch/

shaping

Pitch/

shaping/

feedback

Volume

7 Star Ch im e After a bell ton e attack,

moving your hand aroun d

the sensors ad ds filtering

and pan ning effects

Pitch Filter Volume


32/37

Program Chart


8 C-Saw Move left to right to play a

pen taton ic scale, then back

to front to bend the p itch

Quantized

Pitch

Pitch bend Volume

9 Air-amin A Theremin-like sound

wh ose pitch rises as you

hand moves back and to theright

Pitch Octaves Volume


33/37

Program Chart


Tone:


10 Rad io Bass A bass ru mble w ith rad io

interference tones makes thisthe p erfect excuse to en d cell

phone calls

Osc.

Frequency

Modulation

amount

Volume

11 Free Bass Ap proach from the sid es to

create a bass line that sweeps

up and d own an octave

Pitch Filter Volume

12 Distorted

Annoyance

The name says it all, your

neighbors should start

banging on the door in

minutes

Pitch/

shaping

Shaping Volume

13 Chewie Make vocal-like sounds

understandable only to other

airSynths

Pitch Filter Volume

14 LFO Abuse Sounds like a broken UFO,

move from left to right to

change the speed an d p itch

Pitch and

LFO

frequency

Filter Volume

15 Pet Sounds Theremin-like sound with

almost two octaves of range

for spooky sci-fi music

Pitch Brightness Volume

16 Square-amin Another theremin, this one

has a square-wave timbre

Pitch/

Filter

Duty

cycle/ Filter

Volume

17 Ther-FM-in This theremin uses an FMsound generator, try moving

your hand forward to back

to change the tone

Pitch FM Volume

18 Supergrowl Did you like to break your

toys wh en you were a kid?

Then this program is for

you.

Wild interelation of

FM Osc.

Volume

19 Robo-Vox Stran ge vocal-sou nd in g

theremin, rotate your han d

forward an d back to change

the Filter

Pitch Filter Volume


34/37

Program Chart


Percussion:


20 Water Drum Move from left to r ight as

you airdrum to change thepitch

Pitch Pitch Volume

21 Clockw ork

Bell

Makes a bell tone, try

different sides of the sensor

for variations on th e tone

Pitch Pitch Volume

22 Ring Wood Strike high in the field for

higher notes, nearer to the

dom e for lower notes

Pitch Pitch Pitch

23 Plink Sounds like a steel drum,

add an island beat to your

mix

Pitch Pitch

24 Broken Chime If you move your hand

toward s the back, it add s a

bouncing sound

Clank Bounce Volume

25 Yo-Yo Drum Hold your hand over the

sensor after triggering the

dru m for more zaniness.

Triggering close to the dome

will start a sound with

infinite decay. Retrigger h igh

in the field to stop. In the

meantime, play.

Pitch Burrble Decay

26 Boom-Boom

Chik

Kick drum on the right,

snare on the left, try not to

breakdance when playing

this one

Boom/

chick

Drum tone Volume

27 One Hand

Clapping

Clap the night away, moving

further back add s Decay to

the sound

Pitch Decay

SFX:

28 Time Bells Floating hammered bells

change pitch and ton e as youwave you hand around

Moving your hand

makes pretty bellsounds

Volume

29 Cyber Chant Chanting robotic voices, try

going to Program "--" to

change the temp o

Pitch Morphing Volume


35/37

Program Chart


SFX:


30 Off The Dial "We interrupt th is

broadcast", try using thisrad io interference program

to disrup t the signal coming

into the inpu ts

Shaping Shaping Volume

31 Soul Craft Cool tr anspor t effect which

add s a stereo pann ing effect

when you m ove your hand

away

LFO Freq/

Tone Freq.

Filter Volume

32 Water Torture Sounds like water dripping

in a pan , move from side to

side to change the p itch

Sample

and H old

value

Pitch Volume

33 Ishara Like the pounding surf with

sweep ing filter effects, a

great am bience bed

Filter

coefficients

Filter

coefficients

Volume

34 Vega

Transmission

Great sci-fi transm ission

sound , move from side to

side for some interesting

stereo panning

Modula-

tion

amounts

Pitch Volume

35 Whisp ering

Wind

Spooky talking wind effect,

let the airSynth tell you

ghost stories

Formant

change

frequency

Volume

36 Phoneme-anon

Quite possibly the mostannoying sound ever

Formant/consonant

Formant/consonant

Volume

37 Id le Growl Great engine effect - move

your h and to the left to step

on the gas

RPM's Amount of

muffler

Volume

38 Gunplay Stage your own battle, or a

Chinese New Year if you're a

pacifist

Resonance

of Filter

Ferocity of

battle

Volume

39 Processing The sound that computers

make on game shows and

cartoons

FM Osc. 1

frequency

FM Osc. 2

frequency

Sample

and h old

level

40 Soap Dish Fu n bu bbly effect, stereopanning from left to right

sounds great in headp hones

Panning Pitch Volume

41 Sabre Tooth A squeaky alien roar, t ry

very slow movements

around the sensors

FM

amount

Roar! Volume


36/37

Program Chart


Rhythm:


42 Bongo Beat Slap all a round the sensor to

add to the drum loop. Next,hold the Program knob

dow n to stop the metronome

and Filter the loop

Filter LPF Filter Q

43 Caloop so This p rogram allow s you to

program your ow n steel

dru m melody. Hold the

sequence to change the key.

Hold to

change key

44 Walking Bass Another sequencer program,

this one lets you program a

bass line. Try changing the

key after you p ress hold.

Hold to

change key

45 Jungle Boogie This drum sequencer uses

deep bass notes and synth

sound s to create hypnotic

dan ce loops. Use the Hold

function to Filter the loop.

Filter LPF Filter Q

46 Au to-Bass H old you r hand over the

sensor to create a rand om

bass line. Next, hold the

PROGRAM knob to freeze

the melody so you can Filterit.

LP Filter Portamento

47 Auto-Melody Like the last program, only

this one creates a rand om

Use the Hold function to

control Portamento amount.

Octave

jum p

Portamento

48 Auto-Techno Another random melody

generator, this one uses a

techno lead tone for d ance.

Use the Hold function to add

Filtering.


49 Au to-Pop This rand om melod ygenerator has a mellower

tone for pop songs and

robotic soap op era themes


-- Global Tempo Tap your hand over the

sensor to the beat to set the

tempo for every rhythm

program in the airSynth


37/37

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

I/ O: Stereo RCA in and outNom inal Inpu t Voltage: -10dBu

Max Inp ut Voltage: 11.96dBu (4.34Vpp )

Dynamic Range: 102.8 dB (A-weighted )

Signa l to Noise Ratio: -102.4dB (A-weigh ted )

THD+N: 0.0065%

Frequ ency Response: 20-20000Hz

Sampling Frequency: 44.1KHzConver ter Resolut ion: 24bit (ADC and DAC)

Processor Resolution: 28bit

All measuremen ts don e over a 20Hz-22,000Hz ran ge with 1KHz sine

wave at Full Scale, except for the dyn amic range which was d one with

a -60dBFS 1KHz sine wave.

Documents

Alesis airsynth