Alesis Stereo Amplifier manual Interfacing to a Mixing Console, Using Aux Sends and Returns

Chapter 2 – Connections

Interfacing to a Mixing Console

The NanoVerb handles mono or stereo sends at all system levels. The input circuitry of the NanoVerb can easily handle professional +4 dBu levels (+20 dBu peaks), while having enough input and output gain to interface with the low -10 dBV signal levels of home recording systems.

The NanoVerb may be connected to a mixing console in several different ways. It can be used to effect multiple channels at once by using the auxiliary send and return controls of the mixer. Another method of interfacing is to connect the unit directly to the insert send and return patch points of a single channel that is to be effected. Still another way of interfacing the NanoVerb to a mixer or recording console would be in- line between the output of your mixing console and the input of a tape deck or power amplifier. This last setup would be used only if you wanted effects on the entire mix.

Using Aux Sends and Returns

Generally, mixing consoles provide two types of auxiliary sends: pre-fader sends for creating a cue (headphone or monitor) mix, and post-fader sends for effects units. Typically, if a mixer has more than two sends per channel (4, 6 or 8, perhaps), the first two sends are reserved for the cue sends, while the remaining sends are used to feed effects such as the NanoVerb. Connect the NanoVerb using post-fader sends, so that when you fade a channel out, its effects will fade also.

Using a mixer’s aux sends allows each channel to have its own level control feeding the aux output (and eventually the NanoVerb input). You can make a mix of any channels you want to go to the effects by using the individual channels’ aux send levels on the mixer. Most consoles also have aux master controls, which set the overall level of each aux output.

But sending signal to the Nanoverb is only half the story. With a mixing console, the output of the Nanoverb must be returned to the mixer and turned up in the mix before you can hear it. Depending on the design of your mixer, you have two options for returning the effected signal to the mix:

•connecting to dedicated aux return inputs, or

•connecting to channel inputs.

The former is good if your mixer provides dedicated inputs (called returns) for effect devices like the NanoVerb. If your mixer does not have these, or you have already used them all, consider connecting the NanoVerb to channel inputs (if there are any remaining). This method gives you the added bonus of more panning options and EQ on the effects.

No matter where you connect the output of the NanoVerb into the mixer, you are in control of the balance between the mixer’s channel inputs (the uneffected signal being routed to the aux sends and the Mix), and the effect returns coming from the NanoVerb. The effect returns generally should only contain effected signal, and not have any uneffected or "dry" signal mixed with it (since these two signals are blended together at the mixer). Therefore, it is necessary to set the mix so that only effected ("wet") signal is present at the NanoVerb’s outputs. To do this, turn the Mix control all the way to the right.

14 NanoVerb Reference Manual