Alesis DEQ830 manual Connections, Analog Signal In, Digital Signal Out

2 Connections

Analog Signal In, Digital Signal Out

In this configuration, the DEQ830 can be used to “translate” an analog signal to the digital domain. A likely scenario would be using the DEQ830 as an analog-to-digital converter between your submix outputs and an Alesis ADAT. In addition to acting as a “gateway,” the DEQ830 would allow you to shape the sound and send it to the ADAT digitally, without the additional noise that can be added by an analog EQ.

To use the DEQ830 in this way, connect the ADAT Optical output of the DEQ830 to the ADAT Optical input of the receiving device.

Digital Signal In, Analog Signal Out

In this setup, the DEQ830 also serves as a signal converter, making it possible to take the digital submix outputs of an 8-bus mixer, apply some EQ and then send the result as an analog signal into a sound system— the Alesis ProActive 5.1 Surround Sound System, for example, or a series of independent onstage monitors.

If an analog mixer has limited channel EQ capabilities, you could run the digital signal from an ADAT into the DEQ830, and from there take it to your mixer’s analog inputs. This would allow you to take advantage of the DEQ830's extensive EQ and simply use the mixer for setting the levels and pan positions of the signals.

For these situations, be sure to connect the ADAT Optical output of the transmitting device to the ADAT Optical input of the DEQ830.

Digital Signal In, Digital Signal Out

In cases where every device in your audio chain has a digital audio input and output, the DEQ830 is right at home. Simply pass the audio from the transmitting device’s ADAT Optical output into the DEQ830’s ADAT Optical input, use it to sculpt the signal, and then pass the audio on to the next device by connecting the DEQ830’s ADAT Optical output to the ADAT Optical input of the receiving device.

Operating the DEQ830 in any of the three configurations described above is really no different from using it in a completely analog system. For that reason, from this point on in the manual we will make no distinction between operating the DEQ830 in the digital or analog domains.

Digital audio offers a decided advantage over analog audio when passing the signal through multiple devices. The various stages of analog circuitry can cause the quality of the signal to deteriorate rapidly; however, once a signal has been converted to the digital domain, it can be carried from device to device with a minimal loss of integrity. This is why it is advantageous to pass the signal through the DEQ830 using its ADAT Optical jacks whenever possible.

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