Alice 828 MK3 User Handbook and Operating Notes
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes The first ALICE 828 was introduced by the ALICE Company in Windsor in 1978. The 828 quickly established itself as the industry standard for audio-visual production and presentation, high-quality sound reinforcement, mobile recording facilities and CCTV installations as well as for location recording for TV programmes and series.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes The ALICE 828 Mk3 is available in three standard models:1. 828 - 3 mono mic/line inputs, 5 stereo line channels (2 with RIAA preamplifiers), 2 output groups, VU meters, fader electronic microswitch for L.S. mute on channel 1. 2. 828-8 - 8 mono mic/line channels, 2 output groups, VU meters. 3. 8 28-12 - 12 mono mic/line inputs, 2 output groups, VU meters. To special order, any combination of mono and stereo input channels may be fitted up to a total of 12.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Mono Mic/Line Channels Each mono channel has two inputs, both are transformer balanced. The mic input is a standard 3-pole XLR female socket (pin 1 ground, 2 hot & 3 cold signal), and the line input is high impedance balanced via a standard 1/4" (6.35mm) 3-pole jack socket. A push-button switch selects the required input, and the continuously variable rotary gain control has a range of 50dB on mic. and 24dB on line.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Stereo Line Channels The 828 stereo channel is a dual-purpose design, incorporating a compact RIAA stereo pre-amplifier section on stereo channels 4 and 5. This is accessed by phono sockets, allowing a magnetic phono cartridge to be connected directly into the mixer.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Groups The two output groups each have a line level input via a rotary gain control, designated ‘aux in L & R’. Each group has a simple but extremely effective peak limiter, with individual threshold and ‘on’ controls, and status indicating LEDs. Two auxiliary outputs are provided, one pre-fader (aux 1) and one post (aux 2). The output master send controls are above the group faders.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Connectivity • All jack connectors are 3-pole. • If the connection is stereo, the tip is L and the ring is R. • If the connection is balanced mono, the tip is ‘hot’ and the ring is ‘return’. • For unbalanced line input and outputs the ring is grounded.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Connectivity continued pg | 08
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Connectivity continued pg | 09
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Construction The Alice 828 Mk 3 is completely enclosed in a three-piece mild steel box. The rear termination panel is bolted to the main chassis during assembly and is not normally removeable. Access to the electronics is by removing the base tray which is secured by four M4 bolts.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Power supply The internal mains power supply is a switch-mode type operating on any mains voltage from 95v AC to 250v AC. It supplies 24v DC for the electronics and drives a separate switch-mode regulator for 48V phantom power. Individual switches are provided for mains on/off and phantom power. The mixer is designed for operation on any mains supply.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Channel Inputs a) Microphone. All microphone inputs are transformer balanced and floating via a standard 3-pin XLR type female connector. The input impedance is designed for 200-ohm microphones, but will accept other types down to 30 ohms impedance. The minimum input level for 0VU output is -80dBu (approx. 0.03mV); the maximum input level is -10dBu (approx. 240mV). If high levels are anticipated, attenuator pads should be used in the mic circuits.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Channel Inputs continued c) Stereo line level. Individual jack inputs on the rear panel feed line level to the stereo channel. These inputs can be at any audio level from -30dB upwards and are suitable for outputs from digital work stations and computer interfaces. If input is plugged into the lower (left) jack socket only, the channel acts as a mono channel routing to both L and R groups.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Aux 1 and 2 Each input channel has aux gain controls. Aux 1 is a pre-fader feed direct to an aux 1 mix stage and master output control in the L group. Aux 2 is a post-fader feed to the aux 2 mix stage and master output control in group 2. The aux feeds from the stereo channels are mono mixes of L and R. Aux master output controls are labelled Aux 1 send and Aux 2 send.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Limiters The Alice 828 Mk3 limiters were designed primarily for overload protection to prevent possible damage from transient audio signals in loudspeaker systems, but experience over many years show the limiter to be a versatile compression tool. It can be used either as a pure overload protection, or as a volume compressor.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Monitoring The monitor system allows for both studio loudspeaker monitoring and headphone monitoring. Loudspeaker monitoring is via a stereo jack socket on the rear panel and the audio feed to this is controlled from the monitor volume control and also a mute system activated by the fader on channel 1. The headphone output is via a stereo jack on the front panel.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Monitoring continued The monitor output is derived either directly from the group outputs or from the stereo 'monitor return' input via a level control. Polarity reverse on left channel, mono and dim facilities are provided, followed by a level control which feeds a continuous feed stereo headphone socket on the front panel and a loudspeaker outlet on the termination panel which is controlled by the channel 1 mute system.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Meters The standard metering on the 828 is VU meters. These are true moving-coil meters specifically manufactured for Ted Fletcher’s TFPRO company. Audio metering The VU meters fitted to the Alice 828 Mk3 are nominally VU dynamics but unlike original USA VU meters, which were seriously inaccurate when measuring audio also creating audio distortion, these Alice meters are pseudo-peak meters with separate amplifier electronics.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Specification INPUTS & OUTPUTS • Microphone Inputs (XLR). 1 Kohm (transformer balanced, to suit 200 ohm microphones). • Mono Line Inputs (1/4 inch jack). 10 Kohm transformer balanced, suitable for both balanced and unbalanced line level signals. • Stereo Line Inputs (Individual L and R 1/4 inch jack). 10 Kohm unbalanced. • Phono (RIAA) Inputs. To suit medium impedance magnetic cartridges. • Aux 1 and 2 Line level inputs (1/4 inch jack). 10 Kohm unbalanced.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Specification continued OUTPUT LEVELS • Main and Aux Outputs, 0 VU produces dBu (0.775 volts) • Max output> +18 dBu (6 volts) • Mono Channel Direct Outputs, Nominal -6db ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM GAIN • Mic Input 80dB • Mono Line 38dB • Stereo Line 32dB FREQUENCY RESPONSE • + 1, - 2dB 20Hz to 20kHz DISTORTION • Within 0.1 % T.H.D. at OdBu output from 40Hz to 15kHz NOISE • Mic.
Alice 828 Mk3 User Handbook and Operating Notes Specification continued EQUALISER PARAMETERS • HF ±15dB at 10kHz Shelving (Baxandall) • MF ±15dB from 700Hz to 4kHz ‘Q’ approx. 1.4 • LF ±15dB at 60Hz Shelving (Baxandall) LIMITER PARAMETERS • Ratio approx. 12:1, threshold variable down to -6 dBu POWER • 95 - 250v AC @ 50/60Hz, 5vA • Supplied with a UK 13 amp plug (fitted with 2 amp fuse) and 2 metre flex SIZE • 18" x 14" x 4.5" (460 x 360 x 115mm) WEIGHT • 7.
REGULATIONS AND SAFETY The Alice 828 Mk3 has been designed and built to conform to all known safety requirements in the world. Within the European Union the mixer easily meets the requirements for electrostatic and electromagnetic emissions, and conforms to all safety requirements of the European Common Market. the 'CE' symbol on the rear of the unit indicates compliance. In the United States of America the mixer complies with UL requirements and uses UL approved components in all power supply functions.
