Alesis NanoCompressor, Reference Manual

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Connections
NanoCompressor Manual 9
C
HAPTER
2
C
ONNECTIONS
AC Power Hookup
The NanoCompressor comes with a power adapter suitable for the voltage of the
country it is shipped to (either 110 or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz).
To turn on the NanoCompressor, plug the small end of the power adapter cord into
the NanoCompressor’s [
POWER
] socket and the male (plug) end into a source of AC
power. It’s good practice to not plug in the NanoCompressor until all other cables are
hooked up.
Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the NanoCompressor or any
associated equipment with improper AC wiring.
Line Conditioners and Protectors
Although the NanoCompressor is designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, in
today’s world the voltage coming from the AC line 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 are designed to
protect against strong surges and spikes, acting somewhat like fuses in that they
need to be replaced if they’ve been hit by 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 most sophisticated option. A
UPS provides power even if the AC power line fails completely. Intended for
computer applications, a UPS allows you to complete an orderly shutdown of a
computer system in the event of a power outage, and the isolation it provides
from the power line minimizes all forms of interference—spikes, noise, etc.
Audio Connections
The connections between the NanoCompressor and your studio are your music’s
lifeline, so use only high quality cables. These should be low-capacitance shielded
cables with a stranded (not solid) internal conductor and a low-resistance shield.
Although quality cables cost more, they do make a difference. Route cables to the
NanoCompressor correctly by observing the following precautions:
• Do not bundle audio cables with AC power cords.
• Avoid running audio cables, or placing the NanoCompressor itself, near sources
of electromagnetic interference such as transformers, monitors, computers, etc.
• Never unplug a cable by pulling on the wire itself. Always unplug by firmly
grasping the body of the plug and pulling directly outward.
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