S
_Silencer
New member
Greetings. I’m writing from Mexico. And I’m looking for some help.
As I am mostly into the electronic music genre, I am not in the need of sampling analog signals (or at least I have yet to face such need), thus here’s the gear that I chose for producing music: (please bear this in mind and also the fact that my budget is limited)
My primary audio output for my compositions comes from two separate mono channels from an ECHO MIA MIDI via TRS connections to the left/right channels of an Alesis RA-150 amplifier, an finally to a set of two Alesis Monitor One Mk2 monitors.
I also took the time to search for hot spots inside my room and treat heavy bouncing sound surfaces in it, and for around 6 months this setup seemed to work fine.
However, I just recently started having an issue with my RA-150.
When I play any given record on this system, it initially reproduces without any audible distortion. But after a certain amount of time for which I have not been able to discover a pattern (sometimes on the first 30 seconds, others about 15 minutes or half hour), the RA-150 begins to exhibit some light distortion on one channel, or the other, or both (again, this happens with random chances).
I have tested my amplifier with three other sound cards at line level output (An M-Audio card, a SB Audigy 2, and my MIA), and the same thing happens.
Whatever the reason for this behavior is, it’s really beyond me.
And this confuses me even more: after such distortion starts, I just disconnect the cable from the affected channel(s), plug it again, and the distortion is totally gone. (!??!)
However, after doing this, another random amount of time passes until the amp starts distorting again.
So far I can only come up with two possible causes:
1: Put simply, my amp is damaged. In this case, I would kindly ask for someone to explain possible causes for this (besides negligent treatment, because I do my best to take proper care of this equipment) such as what components of the amp could be involved on this or under what circumstances can distortion occur on the amp. I would also like to ask for advice on any way to repair it (if this is indeed my case), or if Alesis or someone can repair it for a fee having in mind that I am outside of the U.S.
Or (probably not)
2: I am missing a component on my small audio chain. I really doubt this, since I believe I have the most basic audio pathway setup in this scenario, but I might be wrong. At a certain time I thought about the lack of a preamplifier between my card and my amp, but the fact that most preamplifiers work the other way around (that is, they help for getting weak analog sound signals into healthy electrical signals for proper sampling as far as I understand) really gets me confused. Are there other types of preamps or components necessary for properly routing the audio signal from a card like mine to a power amp like the Ra-150?
I would appreciate any kind of advice since I got this equipment from hard-earned cash and I don’t think six months of effective use time to be a fair period. And I also have a lot to learn from people on the audio gear scene. Thanks.
As I am mostly into the electronic music genre, I am not in the need of sampling analog signals (or at least I have yet to face such need), thus here’s the gear that I chose for producing music: (please bear this in mind and also the fact that my budget is limited)
My primary audio output for my compositions comes from two separate mono channels from an ECHO MIA MIDI via TRS connections to the left/right channels of an Alesis RA-150 amplifier, an finally to a set of two Alesis Monitor One Mk2 monitors.
I also took the time to search for hot spots inside my room and treat heavy bouncing sound surfaces in it, and for around 6 months this setup seemed to work fine.
However, I just recently started having an issue with my RA-150.
When I play any given record on this system, it initially reproduces without any audible distortion. But after a certain amount of time for which I have not been able to discover a pattern (sometimes on the first 30 seconds, others about 15 minutes or half hour), the RA-150 begins to exhibit some light distortion on one channel, or the other, or both (again, this happens with random chances).
I have tested my amplifier with three other sound cards at line level output (An M-Audio card, a SB Audigy 2, and my MIA), and the same thing happens.
Whatever the reason for this behavior is, it’s really beyond me.
And this confuses me even more: after such distortion starts, I just disconnect the cable from the affected channel(s), plug it again, and the distortion is totally gone. (!??!)
However, after doing this, another random amount of time passes until the amp starts distorting again.
So far I can only come up with two possible causes:
1: Put simply, my amp is damaged. In this case, I would kindly ask for someone to explain possible causes for this (besides negligent treatment, because I do my best to take proper care of this equipment) such as what components of the amp could be involved on this or under what circumstances can distortion occur on the amp. I would also like to ask for advice on any way to repair it (if this is indeed my case), or if Alesis or someone can repair it for a fee having in mind that I am outside of the U.S.
Or (probably not)
2: I am missing a component on my small audio chain. I really doubt this, since I believe I have the most basic audio pathway setup in this scenario, but I might be wrong. At a certain time I thought about the lack of a preamplifier between my card and my amp, but the fact that most preamplifiers work the other way around (that is, they help for getting weak analog sound signals into healthy electrical signals for proper sampling as far as I understand) really gets me confused. Are there other types of preamps or components necessary for properly routing the audio signal from a card like mine to a power amp like the Ra-150?
I would appreciate any kind of advice since I got this equipment from hard-earned cash and I don’t think six months of effective use time to be a fair period. And I also have a lot to learn from people on the audio gear scene. Thanks.
"IE" Better connection! 
