does the order of turning on/off mixer setup really matter?

"liu" wrote ...
>I was reading the Alesis MultriMix USB2 manual and it says I should
> turn it on before turning on the computer, and turn off the computer
> before turning the mixer off.
>
> In my work place, computers are always on. I usually just turn the
> mixer on when needed and turn it off when finished the recording. Will
> that harm the mixer?

Doesn't seem likely to "harm" the mixer.
But many computers don't like plug-in peripherals just
appearing and disappearing, particularly by powering
them down (vs. disconnecting).

"Richard Crowley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> "liu" wrote ...

>> I was reading the Alesis MultriMix USB2 manual and it
>> says I should turn it on before turning on the computer,
>> and turn off the computer before turning the mixer off.

Note that the Multimix is not only a mixer, but also a USB peripheral of a
computer.

>> In my work place, computers are always on. I usually
>> just turn the mixer on when needed and turn it off when
>> finished the recording.

Is that mixer at work a computer peripheral, or is it a stand-alone device?

> Will that harm the mixer?

In neither case should harm befall components if they are turned on in the
wrong order. However, in the real world we have situations like mixers or
other signal processors that generate significant transients during power-on
or power-off. The transients shouldn't damage other signal processors, but
the transient may harm components like speakers. For example there is a
popular loudspeaker management device that is alleged to generate a massive
turn-off transient. If you turn off the power amps first, the potential for
damage is reduced.

> Doesn't seem likely to "harm" the mixer.

> But many computers don't like plug-in peripherals just
> appearing and disappearing, particularly by powering
> them down (vs. disconnecting).

OTOH, some computers seem to ignore USB peripherals that are powered up when
they are booted, but do recognize them when they are powered-up after the
computer is booted.

liu wrote:

> I was reading the Alesis MultriMix USB2 manual and it says I should
> turn it on before turning on the computer, and turn off the computer
> before turning the mixer off.
>
> In my work place, computers are always on. I usually just turn the
> mixer on when needed and turn it off when finished the recording. Will
> that harm the mixer?

Probably not with a computer.

With live sound it's a very different matter.

Graham

liu wrote:
> I was reading the Alesis MultriMix USB2 manual and it says I should turn it on before turning on the computer, and turn off the computer
> before turning the mixer off.
>
> In my work place, computers are always on. I usually just turn the mixer on when needed and turn it off when finished the recording. Will
> that harm the mixer?
>
>
Depends how the computer and the mixer communicate with each other. If
the computer sees the mixer simply as a USB device, then in Windows
there is a set procedure for adding and removing USB hardware.
Sometimes, Windows can report errors if a USB device suddenly disappears.

Other than the inconveniece of some warning messages, I don't think any
physical harm will come to your mixer if the power up/down order is not
strictly followed.

Chris W

--
The voice of ignorance speaks loud and long,
But the words of the wise are quiet and few.
---

"liu" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:a9d4e0de-3d3d-445b-8af4-6cb9fa5990a7@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> I was reading the Alesis MultriMix USB2 manual and it says I should
> turn it on before turning on the computer, and turn off the computer
> before turning the mixer off.

It wants the device to be detected and the drivers to be loaded on
power-up of the PC... not an uncommon request, and sometimes
it's quite valid as the drivers for the device may not load appropriately
if done otherwise - especially if there are other sound devices on the
PC and the PC is used for multiple operations other than just audio,
but audio is a part of the other tasks.

> In my work place, computers are always on.

Is it against the rules to re-boot the computer ?

> I usually just turn the
> mixer on when needed and turn it off when finished the recording. Will
> that harm the mixer?

No. And since your PCs don't get re-booted (not a good idea, IMHO)
that often, the driver loading issue may never show up.... but don't be
surprised if one day the PC doesn't load the mixer until you do re-boot.

I have a couple of devices, that if plugged into a different USB port
from the one that underwent the installation, are completely unrecognized
until returned to the original port and re-booted, or the drivers are all
loaded again. The Terratec Producer being one of those.... and which
also requests that the device be inserted in the proper USB port before
powering up the PC. (This device gets it's power via USB as well, so
may be a different issue).


DM