Alesis ALESIS M20 owner manual Line Conditioners and Protectors, About Audio Cables

Chapter 1, Overview, Setup and Basics

Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the M20 or any associated equipment with improper AC wiring.

1.4LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS

Although the M20 tolerates typical voltage variations, the AC line voltage may contain spikes or transients that can possibly stress your gear and, over time, cause a failure. There are three main ways to protect against this, listed in ascending order of cost and complexity:

∙Line spike/surge protectors. Relatively inexpensive, these help protect against strong surges and spikes (they usually need to be replaced after enduring an extremely strong spike).

∙Line filters. These generally combine spike/surge protection with filters that remove some line noise (dimmer hash, transients from other appliances, etc.).

∙Uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This is the best option. A UPS provides power even if the AC power line fails completely. Intended for computer applications, a UPS allows an orderly shutdown in the event of a power outage. Furthermore, the isolation it provides from the power line minimizes all forms of interference ó spikes, noise, etc.

1.5ABOUT AUDIO CABLES

The connections between the M20 and your studio are your music’s lifeline. Use only high quality, low-capacitance, shielded cables with a stranded (not solid) internal conductor and low-resistance shield. Although quality cables cost more, they make a difference. When routing cables:

∙Do not bundle audio cables with AC power cords.

∙Avoid running audio cables near sources of electromagnetic interference such as transformers, monitors, computers, etc.

∙Do not place cables where they can be stepped on. Stepping on a cable may not cause immediate damage, but it can compress the insulation between the center conductor and shield (degrading performance) or reduce the cable’s reliability.

∙Avoid twisting the cable or making sharp, right angle turns.

∙Never unplug a cable by pulling on the wire itself. Always unplug by firmly grasping the plug’s body, and pulling directly outward.

∙Although Alesis does not endorse any specific product, chemicals such as Tweek and Cramolin, when applied to electrical connectors, are claimed to improve the electrical contact between connectors.

ALESIS M20 REFERENCE MANUAL 1.06 1-3