Alesis MasterControl

THE ONLY HARDWARE YOU NEED TO RUN A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING STUDIO

Audio Interface + Control Surface + Control Room Manager = MasterControl
It’s a simple equation, and we know that as a musician, you’re not fond of math, but MasterControl really is the sum of its three distinct studio-management factors.

MasterControl eliminates your need for individual analog and digital audio interfaces, speaker switching and routing units, mixing and transport-control surfaces, hardware volume controls, and more. The only piece of gear you need to input all of your sources into your DAW; the only piece of gear you need to control recording and editing; and the only piece of gear you need to run professional tracking and mixing sessions is MasterControl. We even throw in two powerful recording and production programs: Steinberg Cubase LE 4 and Ableton Live Lite 7.


Master Audio Interface
MasterControl is a 24-bit, 192kHz, high-resolution, low-latency audio interface. It is capable of nearly any input type and quantity, with a flexible and generous output section. It features low-latency FireWire computer connectivity for Mac and PC. The single cable carries all audio and control data from MasterControl to your DAW.

MasterControl contains eight analog inputs. Inputs one and two offer XLR connection, high-definition, discrete-design preamplifiers, 48V phantom power, and channel inserts. Inputs three through eight contain 1/4" TRS, line jacks. MasterControl’s input section can be expanded handle up to 26 simultaneous inputs, including dual ADAT Lightpipe, coaxial, and optical S/PDIF. Six analog outputs and 16-channel MIDI I/O further extend MasterControl’s impressive I/O capabilities.


Extensive Control Surface
MasterControl contains hands-on controls for confidently running tracking and editing sessions. Multiple banks of assignable controllers enable access over 50 software parameters in real time.

Nine touch-sensitive, 100mm, motorized, capacitive Alps faders deliver the hands-on mixing experience that mixing in software with a mouse simply cannot rival. MasterControl has eight assignable knobs that access three control banks each and two banks of eight assignable buttons that access two control banks each. Dedicated transport controls and a multifunction jog wheel complete the tactile control package.

MasterControl’s DSP-driven internal mixer enables hardware-direct monitoring with zero discernable latency. It employs the industry-standard HUI protocol for communication with all popular DAW software, and requires no mapping for seamless interoperation. Building upon the standard, MasterControl also enables editing of templates and presets for customization. A large, dedicated display provides real-time visual feedback of all actions, and preview button allows safe audition of controls prior to sending commands to the DAW.


Control Room Management
MasterControl’s built-in speaker switching enables you to easily switch between multiple sets of monitor loudspeakers for ease of mix-accuracy checks. An internal talkback microphone enables easy communication with musicians while tracking.

Three pairs of independently assignable stereo outputs with dedicated, active mute buttons place the engineer squarely in the driver’s seat. With flexible, direct monitor routing, sources are assignable through any and all output pair(s). Dual, independently assignable stereo headphone outputs with independent gain controls further extend the output capabilities of MasterControl. The dedicated talkback microphone can be engaged from the control surface or using an optional footswitch.


Superior Audio Processing
MasterControl employs an advanced DICE II chip with JetPLL™ technology for clock-stable firewire-audio streaming and routing. JetPLL nearly eliminates audio-band jitter, greatly improves imaging, and decreases digital noise, all of which combine to deliver peerless sync.

As digital audio devices are added to a system, they increasingly create system-additive audio-band clock jitter. Variation between device clocks can actually fall outside the ability of some devices to cope, causing failure. JetPLL is extremely tolerant of wide variations in clock frequencies. Its hybrid design incorporates noise shaping to virtually remove audio-band jitter. This technology ensures the highest possible converter performance, resulting in better separation.

MasterControl contains 114 dB, 24-bit, 192 kHz stereo analog-to-digital converters. Sampling, analog-to-digital conversion, and anti-alias filtering are performed by MasterControl’s 24-bit, stereo ADCs at sample rates up to 192 kHz per channel. They employ a 5th-order delta-sigma modulator followed by low-latency digital filtering, eliminating the need for external anti-alias filtering and providing excellent noise rejection.

MasterControl also features 114 dB, 24-bit, 192 kHz multi-channel digital-to-analog converters. MasterControl’s uncompromising DAC system begins with digital de-emphasis, ATAPI channel mixing, digital-interpolation filtering, and an oversampled delta-sigma modulator. Audio is fed to the differential analog outputs through a multi-element switched-capacitor stage with low-latency IIR low-pass filtering.


Software and System Compatibility
MasterControl comes with a powerful software suite for recording and sequencing.
It includes Steinberg Cubase LE music production software with a full range of tools for audio and MIDI recording and mixing, and Ableton Live Lite, a production and performance program enabling you to create, produce and perform your music all in a single application.

MasterControl is an HUI+ control surface, meaning that it is uniquely programmable with HUI and Mackie Control compatibility for use with all popular DAWs, virtual instruments, and other audio software on Mac and PC.

Features:

FireWire connectivity: one cable carries all audio and control data
DICE II chip with JetPLL™ technology for stable clock sync
Up to 192 kHz (highest available) recording / playback capability
Eight analog inputs, expandable up to 26 simultaneous
Nine Touch-Sensitive, 100mm, motorized, capacitive Alps faders
Eight assignable knobs, three banks each
Two banks of eight assignable buttons, two banks each
Dedicated transport controls with multifunction jog wheel
Three pairs of independently assignable stereo outputs
Dual, independently assignable stereo headphone outputs
Flexible, direct monitor routing, assignable through any/all output pair(s)
Dedicated talkback microphone with control surface or footswitch operation
Steinberg Cubase LE included
Ableton Live Lite included
HUI+ Control Surface
Compatible with all popular DAWs, virtual instruments, and other audio software

INCLUDES
MasterControl Complete Studio Interface and Control System
Template inserts
Power supply
Firewire cable
Reference manual
Quick start manual
Software CD
Safety and warranty guide

Technical Data:

FIDELITY
114dB, 24-bit, 192 kHz Stereo Analog-to-Digital Conversion
114dB, 24-bit, 192 kHz Multi-Channel Digital-to-Analog Conversion

INPUTS
Two XLR (1/4" combo) with preamps, phantom, and channel inserts
Eight TRS 1/4" line inputs (including the combo jacks)
Optional input expansion: Dual ADAT Lightpipe, Coaxial, and selectable optical S/PDIF

OUTPUTS
Six 1/4" TRS
Two stereo headphone

MIDI
16-channel I/O

CONTROLS
Nine Touch-Sensitive, 100mm, motorized, capacitive Alps faders
Eight assignable knobs (three banks each)
Two banks of eight assignable buttons (two banks each)
Dedicated transport controls with multifunction jog wheel

MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER
Gain range: +9.1dB to +59.2dB
Impedance: 3.67K @ min gain; 3.33K @ max gain

LINE PREAMPLIFIER
Gain range: -7dB to +43.1dB

MAX INPUT SIGNAL LEVELS BEFORE CLIPPING
Mic In to Line Out:
At min gain: 9.6dBu in, 18.7dBu out (gain = 9.1dB)
At max gain: -40.5dBu in, +18.7dBu out (gain = 59.2dB)

Line In 1-2 Max input signal level before clipping (at midband frequencies):
At unity gain: 18.7 to 18.9dBu
At min gain: 25.7 to 25.9dBu
At max gain: -24.4 to -24.2dBu

Line In 3-6 Max input signal level before clipping: +17.8dBu typical

FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Line Inputs 1-6 (Measured to Line Output at Unity Gain):
.25dB at 20KHz, otherwise within ±0.1dB

Mic Inputs 1-2:
At min gain: +/- 0.1dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
At gain= 30dB: +0dB, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
At max gain: Rolls off to -1.25dB at 20Hz, otherwise flat within 0.1dB

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION + NOISE, SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
Mic Input 1-2 to Line Out (measurement bandwidth 20-22K):
At min gain with +10dBu output:
THD+N: 0.0022- 0.0025%
SNR: 103.3dB
At 30dB gain, +10dBu output:
THD+N: < 0.004%
SNR: 102.7dB

Line Input 3-6 to Line Out (20 measurement bandwidth 20-22K):
At unity gain, +4 to +10dBu out:
THD+N: < 0.004%
SNR: 104.1dB

DIMENSIONS
MasterControl only (without power adapter, packaging):
19.125" (L) x 14.5" (W) x 3.75" (H)
486mm (L) x 368mm (W) x 95mm (H)

WEIGHT
MasterControl only (without power adapter, packaging):
7 lbs., 12 oz. (3.5 kg)

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

WINDOWS XP or Vista
Pentium 4 3.0GHz or equivalent
512MB RAM (1GB or higher recommended)
5400RPM (or faster) hard drive recommended
Firewire 400 (IEEE1394) port

MAC OS X
OS 10.4 or higher
G5 or Intel CPU
512MB RAM (1GB or higher recommended)
Firewire 400 (IEEE1394) port