User manual ALESIS MODFX FAZE

[. . . ] Reference Manual This page intentionally left blank 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Copyright 2002, Alesis. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Specifications subject to change without notice. All trademarks are the property of their respective holders. [. . . ] Avoid twisting the cable or having it make sharp, right angle turns. Never unplug a cable by pulling on the wire itself. Always unplug by firmly grasping the body of the plug and pulling directly outward. · · 22 Connections Using the ModLink The Faze can be connected to other effect boxes in the ModFX family via the ModLink. The ModLink is a cable-free connection between two ModFX units that transfers digital audio and word clock. The 9-pin male connector on the left side of the unit is the ModLink IN port. The 9-pin female connector on the right side is the ModLink OUT port. By directly connecting two ModFX units via the ModLink, audio will pass from the left-most unit to the right-most unit. Inputs AC adapter Outputs 2 What about the 1/4" jacks on the slave units? When a unit is a slave to another unit, its audio input jacks are disabled; it will get its audio input digitally from its ModLink port. The output jacks, however, are always active; so an audio output can be tapped from any linked unit, without interrupting the flow to the rest of the chain. Master First Slave Audio Flow Second Slave The audio signal flows from left to right. The Master will send its digital audio output to the First Slave, and the First Slave will, in turn, send its output to the Second Slave. 23 2 Connections This page intentionally left blank. 24 3 Using the Faze This section defines phasing, and explains the functions of the Faze's controls in greater detail. The technical information in the next few pages will help you get the most out of your gear. . . it's really pretty simple. About phase shifting Phase shifters have been among the most popular signal processors since their introduction in the late 1960s. They provide body and interest to guitars, keyboards, and voices. Phasing is achieved by running the signal through a series of all-pass filters that don't change the frequency response, but do change the phase response. When this phase-shifted signal is mixed back together with the original signal, peaks and valleys in the frequency response occur, similar to a comb filter. When the center frequency of the filter is moved up and down by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator), the peaks and dips sweep across the harmonic spectrum of the input signal to produce the classic phase shifting sound. By feeding a part of the output of the filter line back to its input ( i. e. , regeneration), the sound becomes more dramatic as oscillations begin to occur at different frequencies. Phase shifters vs. flangers These two effects sometimes sound alike, but they are achieved in different ways. Phasers use shifting filters; flangers use shifting time delays. In both cases, the characteristic sound is created by peaks and dips in frequency response when the shifted signal is recombined with the unprocessed signal. Flanging has a much more complex series of additions and cancellations (peaks and troughs in the frequency response) than phasing does. It also slightly changes the pitch of the sound, which phasing doesn't. Phasing's frequency nodes are nonharmonic, and less obtrusive. Try out the Alesis Phlngr to hear one of the best flangers available today. How the Faze emulates classic phase shifters Famous analog phase-shift pedals like the MXR Phase 90 and MuTron Bi-Phase got their characteristic sound by using six filter stages to make the frequency notches and peaks steeper. [. . . ] This warranty is enforceable only by the original retail purchaser and cannot be transferred or assigned. 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. In all cases disputes concerning this warranty shall be resolved as prescribed by law. [. . . ]