ALESIS QS7.1 and QS8.1 Reference Manual INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing an Alesis QS7.1/QS8.1 64-Voice Expandable Synthesizer. It's a powerful instrument and we're sure you will find it exciting to use. The more you know about it the more you'll be able to do, so we recommend that you make good use of this manual. But most importantly, don't forget to have fun! (There's a good reason they call what musicians do playing.) HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL No manual can cover the needs of all musicians. There are simply too many of you, and your needs are too different. But we've tried to make this a document that will teach you what you need to know while encouraging you to explore new and interesting territory. It is divided into eleven parts. How many of these sections you need to read will depend on what you want to do with your QS. Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS covers how to hook up your QS so it can be turned on and played. This section also contains useful audio basics, some tips on wiring and power, and directions for connecting your QS to other MIDI gear. Part 2: OVERVIEW introduces the front panel controls and LCD, along with the terms and internal structures that every QS owner ought to know. Here is where you'll learn what all the buttons do, and how the sounds are organized. This chapter also covers the Card expansion options you have available. Part 3: FIRST SESSION starts you playing. Part 4: BASIC OPERATION takes everything in the First Session one step further. After covering this material you'll be a QS performance wizard, fully versed in how to use the instrument's Programs and Mixes and how to change Global settings. It'll also take you through the basics of using the [STORE] button to save your edits, how to go about naming them, and the procedures for playing back sequences from a card. Part 5: MIDI is for players who want to use their QS for MIDI performance and sequencing. Because it's relevant, you'll also find a little here about the very top level of Mix editing. Sys-ex transfer operations are also covered in this section. Part 6: EDITING EFFECTS will show you how to modify the the matrix of effects processors that are built into your QS. This is useful to know even if all you want to do is "play the presets," because even if you love a particular sound you might find that its current processing doesn't quite fit in with your music. Need to lengthen or shorten a Program's reverb time? Extend a delay? Make an echo louder? Or maybe even shut the effects completely off, so you can run a raw signal into your mixing deck or external effects processor? This is where you'll find the answers. QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 1 Contents Part 7: EDITING MIXES takes you to the next level of editing power, showing you how to change the preset Mixes and put together new ones of your own. It also explains the parameters which give the QS its strength as a master MIDI keyboard. Part 8: EDITING PROGRAMS gets deep into the instrument. If you are interested in pushing the QS synthesis engine to the max -- and it's a powerful engine, it really is -- then you'll want to study this section very closely. Part 9: EXTRAS includes all sorts of fun and useful information that doesn't fit neatly into the other sections. This is where to look for discussion of RAMcards, Sound Bridge, the QS CD-ROM, and other things of general interest. Part 10: APPENDICES contains reference material on service and maintenance, troubleshooting, and the QS's MIDI Implementation. Part 11: Index lists some key parameters and concepts alphabetically, along with the page numbers on which you will find the most information about the item you are researching. MANUAL CONVENTIONS All buttons, knobs, and switches on the QS are referred to in bracketed capital letters that match the instrument's actual markings. Here are some examples: [PROGRAM] means the button to the right of the LCD that says "PROGRAM" on it. [ PAGE] and [PAGE ] refer to the two buttons on the left of the LCD that have left-and-right cursors on them. [CONTROLLER D] is the slider on the right side of the slider grouping, with "D" printed underneath. [00 PIANO] refers to the leftmost button in the top row of numbered buttons. Sometimes this will be shorthanded as [00], depending on what's being discussed. [PITCH] is the control wheel at the left side of the instrument. And [SUS PEDAL] is the rear panel jack you'd plug your sustain pedal into. 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Unpacking and Inspection The shipping carton for your QS should contain the following items: · · · · · · QS (with the same serial number as shown on the shipping carton) Sustain pedal AC Power Cable Computer CD-ROM containing software This instruction manual, plus Mix and Program lists and a Quick Start guide Alesis warranty card If you haven't filled out your warranty card and mailed it back to us, please take the time to do so. This will help us give you the best support we possibly can. 7 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 3 Table of Contents CONTENTS Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS .........................................................9 AC Power...............................................................................................................9 Audio....................................................................................................................10 MIDI.....................................................................................................................12 Direct Computer Link.............................................................................................14 Pedal and Footswitch Hookup................................................................................16 Digital Audio/Optical Hookup..............................................................................16 48 kHz Input..........................................................................................................17 Part 2: OVERVIEW ............................................................................19 A Quick Tour Of The Front Panel.............................................................................19 Programs, Mixes, And Banks...................................................................................24 The Performance Controls.......................................................................................26 PCMCIA Expansion Cards......................................................................................28 Part 3: FIRST SESSION ......................................................................29 Powering Up..........................................................................................................29 Playing the Demo Sequences...................................................................................29 Playing Programs...................................................................................................30 Playing Mixes........................................................................................................31 The Performance Controls, Pt. II..............................................................................33 Transposing The Keyboard.........................................................................33 Performance Transposition Chart................................................................34 Part 4: BASIC OPERATION.................................................................35 Recap....................................................................................................................35 The Double-Button Press Trick................................................................................35 Copying Existing Programs And Mixes To A New Location In The User Bank.............36 ...Or To A New Location On A Card Bank................................................................36 Changing The Programs In A Mix............................................................................37 Storing Altered Mixes To The User Bank (Or To A Card)..........................................37 Storing Altered Programs To The User Bank (Or To A Card).....................................37 Changing The Name Of A Program Or Mix..............................................................38 Compare Mode.......................................................................................................38 Playing Sequences From A Card..............................................................................39 The Global Settings (And How To Change Them)....................................................40 Part 5: MIDI .....................................................................................49 The Power of Mix Mode..........................................................................................49 Using an External Sequencer....................................................................................50 Program Assign for each MIDI Channel...................................................................52 Sending and Receiving Bank Select Messages..........................................................52 Using the QS6.1 as a Master Keyboard....................................................................54 Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex...........................................................................58 Editing Programs via MIDI Sys Ex..........................................................................59 Part 6: EDITING EFFECTS ..................................................................61 Basic Info...............................................................................................................61 Entering Effects Edit Mode From Program Mode.......................................................62 Entering Effects Edit Mode From Mix Mode..............................................................62 Navigating In Effects Edit Mode.............................................................................63 Selecting From Among The Available Effects Patches In A Mix....................63 The "FX Program Change via MIDI" function..............................................64 How The Display Changes When You Alter An Effect.............................................65 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 5 Table of Contents Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode..................................................................65 Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode.........................................................................65 Copying Effects From One Program To Another........................................................66 Keeping Track: The Interaction Of Effects, Programs, And Mixes..............................67 Picking An Effect Configuration..............................................................................67 Configuration #1: 1 REVERB...................................................................................68 Configuration #2: 2 REVERBS.................................................................................70 Configuration #3: LEZLIE+REVERB.......................................................................72 Configuration #4: 1 REVERB+EQ............................................................................73 Configuration #5: OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE................................................................74 Routing Sounds or Programs Through The Effects Only.............................................75 Setting Effect Send Levels......................................................................................76 If The Send Inputs Clip...........................................................................................76 [00] to [30] --Effect Sends 1 - 4................................................................................76 EQ.........................................................................................................................77 Mod.......................................................................................................................78 Lezlie....................................................................................................................81 Pitch.....................................................................................................................83 Delay....................................................................................................................89 Reverb ..................................................................................................................90 Overdrive..............................................................................................................96 Effect Mix..............................................................................................................97 Part 7: Editing Mixes........................................................................99 What is a Mix?.............................. ...