ALESIS QS6 Reference Manual Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Alesis QS6 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer. To take full advantage of the QS6's functions, and to enjoy long and trouble-free use, please read this user's manual carefully. How To Use This Manual This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the QS6. To get the most out of your QS6, read the entire manual once, then use the table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using the instrument. Chapter 1: Setting Up. Deals with the necessary preparation before playing, including connections to external devices. Chapter 2: Your First Session with the QS6. This section provides a brief tour of the QS6, shows you how to audition the various sounds of the QS6, and points out the various performance features. Chapter 3: Connections. Details rear panel connections (like MIDI, footpedals and the serial interface), proper hook-up procedures, plus application examples. Chapter 4: Overview. Covers the structure of sound sources within the QS6, how to read and navigate through the LCD display pages, how to edit parameters, and how to store edited Programs and Mixes. Chapter 5: Editing Mixes. Explains how to create and edit Mixes. Chapter 6: Editing Programs. How to create and edit Programs. Chapter 7: Editing Effects. How to create and edit Effects Patches. Chapter 8: Global Settings. Describes all global functions, such as Master Tuning, Keyboard Mode, Keyboard Scaling, and Program Change Mode. Chapter 9: MIDI Transfer and Storage Operations. Discusses MIDI functions and how to store sounds either to a MIDI device or to a RAM card. Appendices. MIDI basics, trouble-shooting, maintenance and service information, MIDI Implementation Chart and an Index. Conventions The buttons, knobs, and rear panel connectors and switches are referred to in this manual just as their names appear on the QS6, using all capital letters and in brackets (Example: [PROGRAM] button, [ PAGE] and [PAGE ] buttons, [CONTROLLER A] slider, etc.). v J When something important appears in the manual, an icon (like the one on the left) will appear in the left margin. This symbol indicates that this information is vital when operating the QS6. v MacTM and MacintoshTM are registered trademarks of Apple Corporation. QS6 Reference Manual 1 2 QS6 Reference Manual Table of Contents CONTENTS 1: SETTING UP .................................................................................................... 7 Unpacking and Inspection.............................................................................................. 7 AC Power ....................................................................................................................... 7 Line Conditioners and Protectors ................................................................ ...... 7 About Audio Cables ....................................................................................................... 8 Basic Audio Hookup....................................................................................................... 9 2: YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH THE QS6............................................................. 11 Powering Up................................................................................................................... 11 Playing the Demo Sequences ........................................................................... 11 What's a Program? ........................................................................................................ 12 What's a Mix? ................................................................................................................ 12 What's a Bank? .............................................................................................................. 12 About Sound Groups................................................................................................ ...... 13 Playing the QS6 ............................................................................................................. 13 Program Mode and Mix Mode ........................................................................... 13 Auditioning Internal Programs ........................................................................... 14 Selecting Program Banks ..................................................................................14 Selecting the MIDI Channel .............................................................................. 15 Realtime Performance Functions ................................................................ ...... 15 The Controller A Slider...................................................................................... 16 Auditioning Mix Play Mode ................................................................................ 17 Selecting Mix Banks.......................................................................................... 17 Choosing Programs in a Mix ............................................................................. 18 Storing an Edited Mix ........................................................................................ 19 Enabling General MIDI Mode ......................................................................................... 19 Using the Sound Card Slot............................................................................................. 20 A Word About Sound Bridge .......................................................................................... 20 3: CONNECTIONS ................................................................................................ 21 Basic MIDI Hookup ........................................................................................................ 21 Thru Mode ...................................................................................................................... 21 Example 1: Master Controller for Live Use .................................................................... 22 Example 2: Using an External Sequencer ................................................................ ..... 23 About the Keyboard Mode ................................................................................ 23 Example 3: Using a Computer ....................................................................................... 24 Pedal and Footswitch Hookup ....................................................................................... 24 4: OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 25 Basic Architecture .......................................................................................................... 25 QS6 Polyphony .............................................................................................................. 25 Modes ............................................................................................................................ 26 Program Play Mode...........................................................................................26 Mix Play Mode .................................................................................................. 26 Program Edit Mode ...........................................................................................26 Mix Edit Mode ....................................................................................................27 Effects Edit Mode .............................................................................................. 27 Global Edit Mode .............................................................................................. 27 Store Mode ....................................................................................................... 27 Compare Mode ................................................................................................. 27 The User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages, and Parameters .................................. 28 About the Display .............................................................................................. 28 Page Buttons................................................................................................ ..... 30 Editing Values ................................................................................................... 30 Resetting a Parameter Value ............................................................................ 30 QS6 Reference Manual 3 Table of Contents Parameter Editing Overview .............................................................................. 30 Selecting Functions and Parameters ................................................................ 30 Comparing Edited and Stored Versions .........................................................................32 Preset Memory and User Memory ................................................................................. 32 Storing ............................................................................................................................ 33 Store a Program or Mix ..................................................................................... 33 Copying Sounds Between Programs ................................................................ 34 Copying Effects Between Programs .................................................................34 To Audition Programs Before Storing................................................................ 36 5: EDITING MIXES ............................................................................................... 39 What is a Mix? ............................................................................................................... 39 Program Assign for each MIDI Channel .........................................................................39 Mix Edit Mode ................................................................................................................ 39 Understanding the Edit Buffers ...................................................................................... 40 Level Setting for Each Program ..................................................................................... 41 Pitch ...............................................................................................................................42 Effect .............................................................................................................................. 42 Keyboard/MIDI ............................................................................................................... 42 Controllers ...................................................................................................................... 43 Transmitting MIDI Volume and Panning............................................................ 43 Setting the Range and MIDI Switches ........................................................................... 44 Naming a Mix ................................................................................................................. 44 Polyphony in Mix Play Mode .......................................................................................... 45 Using the QS6 as a Master Keyboard ........................................................................... 45 Setting the MIDI Out Channels for a Mix in Global Mode .............................................. 45 6: EDITING PROGRAMS ....................................................................................... 47 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 47 The "Normalized" Synth Voice ....................................................................................... 47 How the QuadraSynth Generates Sound ................................................................ ...... 48 Program Sound Layers .................................................................................................. 48 QS6 Signal Flow.............................................................................................................49 The Four Sounds of a Program .........................................................................49 Voice ................................................................................................................. 50 Lowpass Filter ................................................................................................... 50 Amp ................................................................................................................... 51 About Modulation ........................................................................................................... 51 LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) ....................................................................... 52 Envelopes ............................................................. ...