User manual LEXICON ALPHA

[. . . ] Owner's Manual Complete reCording solution IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS: KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS HEED ALL WARNINGS FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owner's manual. These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. [. . . ] This ability to easily control the relative levels of computer audio playback and latency-free live analog inputs is very useful when overdubbing. USB LED When the blue USB LED is on, it indicates the Alpha Studio is being powered by your computer and audio signals can pass in and out of the system. OUTPUT LEvEL This knob controls the overall output level of the Alpha Studio's Line and Headphone outputs. 1 /8" HEADPHONE OUTPUT JACK The high powered Headphone output accommodates stereo headphones with an 1/8" stereo plug. 11 The Rear Panel USB Port Mic Input RCA Left/Right Line Outputs 1 Line In 2 L Line Out R L Line Out R Mic Alpha Studio is a trademark of Lexicon Pro, Inc. Line In 1-2 1/4" Left/Right Line Outputs ThE REAR PANEl The Alpha StudioTM rear panel offers the following features: USB PORT The USB Port is used to connect the Alpha Studio to your computer and provides the Alpha Studio hardware with power. The Alpha Studio supports USB 2. 0 full speed. LINE IN 1-2 These ¼" inputs can accept both balanced (3-conductor TRS) and unbalanced (2conductor TS) line level audio sources. The input gain is adjusted using the Line 1/Inst and Line2/Mic gain knobs on the front panel. Note: When a cable is connected to the Line 2 input, the Mic input is disabled. MIC INPUT This balanced XLR input features a high-quality mic preamp designed specifically for low-impedance professional dynamic and self-powered condenser microphones. The input gain is adjusted using the Line 2/Mic gain knob on the front panel, with 50 dB of gain at the maximum setting. Note: When a cable is connected to the Instrument input on the front panel, the Line 1 input is disabled. ¼" LEFT/RIGHT LINE OUTPUTS These outputs support balanced TRS or unbalanced TS ¼" connections. These outputs can be connected to a mixing board, power amplifier, powered studio monitors, recorder, or another line level input. RCA LEFT/RIGHT LINE OUTPUTS These outputs support RCA connections. These outputs can be connected to a mixing board, power amplifier, powered studio monitors, recorder, or another line level input. 12 Connecting to the Alpha Studio CONNECTINg TO ThE AlPhA STUdIOTM The Alpha StudioTM is both a 2 x 2 x 2 mixer and a USB audio interface that can be used in a variety of audio setups. This section describes how to make basic connections for the following applications: · Monitoring Audio · Recording Audio · Connecting a Recorder for Mixdown MONITORINg CONNECTIONS The Alpha Studio allows you to monitor audio from both the hardware inputs (Direct) and from the computer (Playback). Use the Monitor Mix control to balance between the direct audio and playback audio from your computer (For a complete description of the Monitor Mix control, see page 10). You can listen to (monitor) the audio through either the 1/8" Headphone jack on the front panel, through studio monitors using the ¼" or RCA L/R Line Out jacks on the rear panel, or both. The output level of both the L/R Line Out jacks and the Headphone jack are controlled with the Output Level knob on the front panel. Alpha Studio's ¼" L/R Line Outputs have a nominal output of +4dBu, and support both balanced (TRS) or unbalanced (TS) connections. CONNECTING HEADPHONES: 1. Connect headphones to the Headphone jack located on the front panel of the Alpha Studio. The Headphone jack accepts an 1/8" TRS connector. Adjust headphone volume with the Output Level knob. CONNECTING TO MONITOR SPEAKERS: 1. Using ¼" cables (balanced TRS cables are recommended), connect the L/R Line Out jacks on the rear panel of the Alpha Studio to the appropriate inputs on your mixer, power amp, or powered monitors. Adjust the Alpha Studio's output volume with the Output Level knob. If using both headphones and monitor speakers, adjust the level of the external power amp or speakers using their gain controls after you've set the desired level in your headphones. CONNECTING RCA OUTPUTS FOR MONITORING TO A HOME STEREO Connect the RCA Line Out 1-2 jacks on the rear panel of the Alpha Studio to the appropriate inputs on your stereo, typically the Tape In or Aux In jacks, using standard RCA cables. Keep the Output Level knob on the Alpha Studio low at first, raising it slowly to match the level of other units connected to the stereo. 13 About Recording Connections AbOUT RECORdINg CONNECTIONS Analog audio signals are created by microphones, synthesizers, mixers, and instruments with magnetic pickups. Of these sources, microphones and magnetic instrument pickups have the lowest output level, and generally require the most amplification. Keyboards, preamps, and mixers output "line level" audio, which varies with each device between the -10 dBV and +4 dBu standards. TO CONNECT A MICROPHONE Plug an XLR cable directly from a microphone into the Mic input on the Alpha StudioTM rear panel. [. . . ] An audio buffer is a reserved segment of memory used to hold this advance portion of audio data to compensate for momentary delays in processing. The size of an audio buffer is the maximum number of samples the buffer can hold. For sound coming from the computer, there is an output buffer before the digital to analog conversion. "Buffering" introduces latency, since a buffer needs to fill up by a certain amount before the data can continue along the chain. [. . . ]