User manual ALESIS QSR

ALESIS QSR Reference Manual Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Alesis QSR 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer Module. To take full advantage of the QSR'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 QSR. To get the most out of your QSR, 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. This section provides a brief tour of the QSR, shows you how to audition the various sounds of the QSR, 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 QSR, 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 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 QSR, using all capital letters and in brackets (Example: [PROG] button, [ CURSOR] and [CURSOR ] buttons, [VALUE] knob, etc.). L L 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 QSR. MacTM, MacOSTM and MacintoshTM are registered trademarks of Apple Corporation. QSR Reference Manual 1 Table of Contents CONTENTS 1: Setting Up.....................................................................................7 Unpacking and Inspection ............................................................................................................ 7 AC Power ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Line Conditioners and Protectors ................................................................................. 7 Basic Audio Hookup ...................................................................................................................... 8 About Audio Cables ....................................................................................................................... 9 2: Your First Session .......................................................................11 Powering Up .................................................................................................................................... 11 Playing the Demo Sequences......................................................................................... 11 What's a Program?.......................................................................................................................... 11 What's a Mix? .................................................................................................................................. 12 What's a Bank?................................................................................................................................. 12 About Sound Groups ...................................................................................................... 13 Playing the QSR............................................................................................................................... 13 Program Mode and Mix Mode...................................................................................... 13 Auditioning Internal Programs..................................................................................... 14 Selecting Program Banks ................................................................................................ 14 Selecting the MIDI Channel in Program Mode .......................................................... 14 Realtime Performance Functions .................................................................................. 15 Auditioning Mix Play Mode .......................................................................................... 16 Selecting Mix Banks......................................................................................................... 16 Choosing Programs in a Mix ......................................................................................... 17 Storing an Edited Mix ..................................................................................................... 18 Enabling General MIDI Mode ...................................................................................................... 18 Using the PCMCIA Expansion Card Slots ................................................................................. 19 A Word About the QS CD-ROM.................................................................................................. 20 Sound BridgeTM ................................................................................................................. 20 3: Connections ..................................................................................21 Basic MIDI Hookup ........................................................................................................................ 21 Using an External Sequencer ........................................................................................................ 22 Using a Computer........................................................................................................................... 23 IBM® PCs and compatibles............................................................................................ 24 MacintoshTM ....................................................................................................................... 24 Digital Audio/Optical Hookup ................................................................................................... 25 Recording Digital Audio ................................................................................................ 25 48 KHz In.......................................................................................................................................... 26 4: Overview ......................................................................................27 Basic Architecture ........................................................................................................................... 27 QS Polyphony.................................................................................................................................. 27 Modes................................................................................................................................................ 28 Program Play Mode......................................................................................................... 28 Mix Play Mode ................................................................................................................. 28 Program Edit Mode ......................................................................................................... 28 Mix Edit Mode.................................................................................................................. 29 Effects Edit Mode ............................................................................................................. 29 Global Edit Mode ............................................................................................................. 29 Store Mode ........................................................................................................................ 29 Compare Mode................................................................................................................. 29 The User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages and Parameters............................................. 30 About the Display............................................................................................................ 30 QSR Reference Manual 3 Table of Contents MIDI CH Buttons ............................................................................................................. 32 Editing Values .................................................................................................................. 32 Parameter Editing Overview ......................................................................................... 32 Comparing Edited and Stored Versions..................................................................................... 33 Preset Memory and User Memory .............................................................................................. 33 Storing ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Store a Program or Mix................................................................................................... 34 To Audition Programs Before Storing ......................................................................... 35 Copying Sounds Between Programs............................................................................ 37 Copying Effects Between Programs ............................................................................. 37 Initializing the Program/Mix Buffers ......................................................................................... 38 Initializing Sounds........................................................................................................... 38 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 Playing a Group of Channels in a Mix........................................................................................ 45 6: Editing Programs ........................................................................47 Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 47 The "Normalized" Synth Voice.................................................................................................... 47 How the QSR Generates Sound ................................................................................................... 48 Program Sound Layers .................................................................................................................. 48 QSR 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 .......................................................................................................................... 52 About Signal Processing ................................................................................................................ 52 Drum Mode...................................................................................................................................... 53 Program Edit Functions................................................................................................................. 54 Voice ................................................................................................................................... 54 Level ................................................................................................................................... 57 Pitch .................................................................................................................................... 58 Filter.................................................................................................................................... 60 Amp/Range ...................................................................................................................... 62 Pitch Envelope .................................................................................................................. 65 Filter Envelope.................................................................................................................. 68 Amp Envelope.................................................................................................................. 70 Name .................................................................................................................................. 72 Mod 1 - Mod 6 .................................................................................................................. 73 Pitch LFO ........................................................................................................................... 76 Filter LFO........................................................................................................................... 78 Amp LFO........................................................................................................................... 79 Tracking Generator.......................................................................................................... 80 QSR Reference Manual 4 Table of Contents Programming Drum Sounds ........................................................................................................ 82 Voice ................................................................................................................................... 82 Level ................................................................................................................................... 83 Pitch .................................................................................................................................... 83 Filter.................................................................................................................................... 83 Amp/Range ...................................................................................................................... 84 Amp Envelope.................................................................................................................. 84 Copying Sounds .............................................................................................................................. 85 Copying Effects ............................................................................................................................... 85 7: Editing Effects .............................................................................87 About Signal Processing ................................................................................................................ 87 Selecting an Effects Patch in Mix Mode...................................................................................... 88 Setting Effects Send Levels............................................................................................................ 88 Clip .................................................................................................................................................... 89 Editing Effects.................................................................................................................................. 89 Navigating......................................................................................................................... 89 Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode.................................................................................... 90 Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode ............................................................................................ 90 Copying Effect Patches .................................................................................................................. 90 Configurations................................................................................................................................. 91 EQ....................................................................................................................................................... 98 Mod.................................................................................................................................................... 98 Lezlie ................................................................................................................................................. 100 Mod.................................................................................................................................................... 101 Delay.................................................................................................................................................. 105 Reverb ............................................................................................................................................... 106 Overdrive.......................................................................................................................................... 110 Mix ..................................................................................................................................................... 111 8: Global Settings ............................................................................113 Editing Global Parameters ............................................................................................................ 113 Master Pitch ..................................................................................................................................... 113 Master Tune ..................................................................................................................................... 113 General MIDI ................................................................................................................................... 113 Enabling General MIDI Mode via MIDI...................................................................... 114 Controllers A ­ D Assignment ..................................................................................................... 114 Pedals 1 and 2 Assignment ........................................................................................................... 114 Using a Pedal to Control Volume or Modulation...................................................... 114 MIDI Program Select ...................................................................................................................... 115 Receiving/Transmitting Bank Change Messages...................................................... 115 Input/Output Mode....................................................................................................................... 116 MIDI Out .......................................................................................................................................... 117 MIDI Group Channel ..................................................................................................................... 117 Clock.................................................................................................................................................. 118 QSR Reference Manual 5 Table of Contents 9: MIDI Transfer And Storage Operations....................................119 Using PCMCIA Expansion Cards................................................................................................ 119 Saving the User Bank to a PCMCIA Card.................................................................................. 119 Loading a Bank from an External Card ...................................................................................... 120 Storing an Individual Program or Mix ....................................................................................... 120 Loading an Individual Program or Mix ..................................................................................... 121 Card Storage RAMifications .......................................................................................... 121 Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex............................................................................................... 122 Appendix A: Trouble-Shooting ......................................................125 Trouble-Shooting Index ................................................................................................................. 125 Re-initializing................................................................................................................................... 125 Checking Software Version........................................................................................................... 126 Maintenance/Service ..................................................................................................................... 126 Cleaning............................................................................................................................. 126 Obtaining Repair Service................................................................................................ 126 Appendix B: MIDI Supplement.......................................................129 MIDI Basics ...................................................................................................................................... 129 MIDI Hardware............................................................................................................................... 129 MIDI Message Basics...................................................................................................................... 130 Channel Messages: Mode Messages............................................................................. 130 Channel Messages: Voice Messages ............................................................................. 130 System Common Messages............................................................................................ 132 General MIDI ................................................................................................................................... 132 Appendix C: MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART .............................134 Appendix D: Parameters Index......................................................135 Program Edit Parameters .............................................................................................................. 135 Mix Edit Parameters ....................................................................................................................... 137 INDEX ................................................................................................138 QSR Reference Manual 6 Setting Up: Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 SETTING UP UNPACKING AND INSPECTION Your QSR synthesizer module was packed carefully at the factory. The shipping carton was designed to protect the unit during shipping. Please retain this container in the highly unlikely event that you need to return the QSR for servicing. The shipping carton should contain the following items: · · · · · QSR with the same serial number as shown on shipping carton AC Power Supply Computer CD-ROM containing software This instruction manual, plus lists of Mixes and Programs, and Quick Start guide Alesis warranty card It is important to register your purchase; if you have not already filled out your warranty card and mailed it back to Alesis, please take the time to do so now. AC POWER HOOKUP The QSR works with the voltage of the country it is shipped to (either 110 or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz), and comes with a line cord or power supply suitable for the destination to which the keyboard is shipped. With the QSR off, plug the small end of the power adapter cordinto the QSR's [POWER] socket and the male (plug) end into a source of AC power. It's good practice to not turn the QSR on until all other cables are hooked up. Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the QSR or any associated equipment with improper AC wiring. LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS Although the QSR is designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, in today's world the voltage coming from the AC line may contain spikes or transients that can possibly stress your gear and, over time, cause a failure. There are three main ways to protect against this, listed in ascending order of cost and complexity: · Line spike/surge protectors. Relatively inexpensive, these are designed to protect against strong surges and spikes, acting somewhat like fuses in that they need to be replaced if they've been hit by an extremely strong spike. Line filters. These generally combine spike/surge protection with filters that remove some line noise (dimmer hash, transients from other appliances, etc.). Uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This is the most sophisticated option. A UPS provides power even if the AC power line fails completely. Intended for computer applications, a UPS allows you to complete an orderly shutdown of a computer system in the event of a power outage, and the isolation it provides from the power line minimizes all forms of interference--spikes, noise, etc. · · QSR Reference Manual 7 Setting Up: Chapter 1 BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, make sure that all devices in your system are turned off and the volume controls are turned down. Because the QSR includes extensive signal processing as well as a full complement of sounds, you can make great sounds with nothing more than an amplifier or a set of headphones. The QSR has two Main outputs, two Aux outputs, plus a stereo headphones output. These can provide an amplification system or mixer with several hookup options: · · · Mono. Connect a mono cord from either MAIN output jack to a mono amplification system or individual mixer input. Stereo. Connect two mono cords from the [L] and [R] MAIN output jacks to a stereo amplification system or two mixer inputs. Dual Stereo/Four Individual Outs. Connect two mono cords from the [L] and [R] MAIN output jacks and two mono cords from the [L] and [R] AUX output jacks to a dual stereo amplification system, or four mixer inputs. Stereo Headphones. Plug a set of high-quality stereo headphones into the headphones [PHONES] jack on the front panel. · Computer MIDI Keyboard Serial Cable MIDI Cable POWER 9 VAC~ SERIAL PORT THRU OUT MIDI IN 48 KHZ IN DIGITAL OUT L AUX R L MAIN R Insert into PHONES connector on front panel Power Supply 1/4" Audio Cables AC Receptacle Stereo Headphones Stereo Amp QSR Reference Manual 8 Setting Up: Chapter 1 ABOUT AUDIO CABLES The connections between the QSR and your studio are your music's lifeline, so use only high quality cables. These should be low-capacitance shielded cables with a stranded (not solid) internal conductor and a low-resistance shield. Although quality cables cost more, they do make a difference. Route cables to the QSR correctly by observing the following precautions: · · · Do not bundle audio cables with AC power cords. Avoid running audio cables near sources of electromagnetic interference such as transformers (such as the QSR's Power Supply), monitors, computers, etc. Do not place cables where they can be stepped on. Stepping on a cable may not cause immediate damage, but it can compress the insulation between the center conductor and shield (degrading performance) or reduce the cable's reliability. Avoid twisting the cable or having it make sharp, right angle turns. Never unplug a cable by pulling on the wire itself. Always unplug by firmly grasping the body of the plug and pulling directly outward. · · QSR Reference Manual 9 Your First Session: Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2 YOUR FIRST SESSION POWERING UP After making your connections, turn on the system's power using this procedure: Before turning on the QSR's power, check the following items: · · · Have all connections been made correctly? Are the volume controls of the amplifier or mixer turned down? Is the volume of the QSR turned down? Turn on the [POWER] switch on the QSR front panel. Upon power-up, the QSR will display the last selected Program or Mix. If this Program/Mix has been edited, the display will indicate this by showing an "*" to the left of the name of the Program or Mix. The display should look something like this: Press [PROG] to select Program Play Mode. Raise the QSR's master [VOLUME] knob to maximum. The best signal-to-noise ratio is achieved when [VOLUME] is set to maximum. Turn on the power of the amplifier/mixer, and adjust the volume. PLAYING THE DEMO SEQUENCES The QSR has built-in demo sequences which demonstrate the wide variety of sounds this amazing instrument is capable of generating. To get the full effect, connect both the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] outputs to your sound system, or listen on headphones. To play the demo sequence: Hold the [MIX] button, and press BANK SELECT [UP]. The display will read: Play Autodemo 1 Turn the [VALUE] knob to select one of the built-in demo songs. Press [STORE] to start the demo. Press [MIX] to stop the demo. There will be no MIDI out messages during the demo. WHAT'S A PROGRAM? A Program is a stored configuration of parameters which emulates the sound of an instrument or sound effect, such as a piano or synthesizer or drum set. A QSR Program is made up of hundreds of parameters which, when set to specific values, create a specific type of sound. This setup of parameters can be stored so that you can QSR Reference Manual 1 Your First Session: Chapter 2 get back to it instantly at the touch of a button. When you select a Program, all of its parameter settings are recalled to recreate the original sound. The QSR provides 640 internal Programs, divided into 5 Banks of 128 Programs each. More Programs can be added by inserting a Sound Card into the Sound Card slot on the front panel of the QSR. Each Bank is broken down into 12 Sound Groups of 10 Programs each, plus a 13th Sound Group with 8 Programs. These group together similar sounding Programs, such as pianos, guitars, bass and drums. A Program may have from 1 to 4 different sounds which can be combined in a variety of ways to create the overall sound of the instrument the Program is intended to emulate. These four sounds can be layered on top of one another, or split up into different sections of the keyboard. You can even have different sounds played depending on how hard you play the keyboard (this is known as velocity). WHAT'S A MIX? A Mix is a combination of 1 to 16 Programs. These Programs can be combined in many ways. The most common is multi-timbral when connected to a MIDI sequencer, which means that for each MIDI channel the QSR receives (up to 16), a different Program may be selected, thus creating anything from a small pop/rock ensemble to a complete orchestra. Another way of using a Mix is by layering two or more Programs together, so that they play simultaneously from your MIDI controller. You can also create a split, where one Program is in the lower half of your keyboard, while another is at the top half; and these programs can even overlap in the middle. WHAT'S A BANK? A Bank is a collection of 128 Programs and 100 Mixes. There are five internal banks available at any time, with more if a card is in the Sound Card slot. The current bank is shown on the top line of the display, and will cycle in the following order: USER PRESET1 ...and optionally ... PRESET3 CARD A-1 PRESET2 CARD A-2, etc. GenMIDI Each bank contains its own unique Programs and Mixes. Program 10 in Preset Bank 1 is different from Program 10 in Preset Bank 3, although they can be (and are usually) related sounds. A Mix may contain Programs from any bank. The BANK SELECT [UP] and [DOWN] buttons change the current bank from the front panel, and MIDI Bank Select commands may also be used to select any of the 640 Programs on board, or additional card programs. Preset and General MIDI banks are permanently "burned in" at the factory. User banks, and Card banks from an SRAM card, may be changed by the user. If you edit a Preset Program or Mix, it can be saved to a User or SRAM card bank only. ABOUT SOUND GROUPS Preset Banks 1-3 and the User bank are organized into 13 Groups of 10 Sounds each (Programs 00-09 are pianos, 50-59 are basses, and so on). The GenMIDI bank, however, does not follow this arrangement; it follows the Program list of the General MIDI standard. Programs on some sound cards may not follow that arrangement either, depending on the card type. QSR Reference Manual 2 Your First Session: Chapter 2 PLAYING THE QSR The QSR is shipped from the factory with 5 Banks of 128 Preset Programs (sounds) each. Additionally, there are 100 Mixes in each of the 5 Banks. PROGRAM MODE AND MIX MODE The QSR is always in one of two modes: Program Mode or Mix Mode. When you are auditioning Programs, you will be in Program Play Mode. When you are auditioning Mixes, you will be in Mix Play Mode. If you ever get lost, press either [PROG] or [MIX] to get back to their respective Play Mode. · Press the [PROG] button to select Program Play Mode. In Program Play Mode, the QSR plays a single Program. The display looks like this: Program Number Program Name Bank Name Play Mode MIDI Input Indicator MIDI Channel The current mode (PROG) is displayed in the bottom-left corner. The current Program number (00) is directly above. To its right can be found the Program's name (TrueStereo) and the currently selected Bank name (PRESET1). The current MIDI channel appears below the Bank name. · Press the [MIX] button to select Mix Play Mode. In Mix Play Mode, the QSR can combine up to 16 Programs for stacking sounds together, splitting the keyboard into different regions, or working with a MIDI sequencer. The display will look something like this: Mix Number Mix Name Active MIDI Channels The current mode (MIX) is displayed in the bottom-left corner. The current Mix number (01) is directly above. To its right can be found the Mix's name (Grandesign) and the currently selected Bank name (PRESET1). The Active MIDI Channels (1, 2 and 3) are shown at the bottom. In a Mix that uses all 16 MIDI channels (such as the Mixes found in the General MIDI Bank), the display would light up all 16 MIDI channel indicators. AUDITIONING INTERNAL PROGRAMS QSR Reference Manual 3 Your First Session: Chapter 2 Press the [PROG] button to select Program Play Mode. The [PROG] button and the PROG indicator in the display will light. You can now play the QSR from an external MIDI keyboard; the Program will be whatever was selected when last in Program mode (Program number 00 ­127). The large number in the upper-left section of the display will indicate the currently selected Program number. When you scroll past 127, the counter will "roll-over" to Program 00 of the following Bank. Likewise, if you scroll back before 00, it will roll back to Program 127 of the preceeding Bank. Select a Program using the [VALUE] knob. SELECTING PROGRAM BANKS The QSR provides five internal Banks containing 128 Programs in each (and 100 Mixes each, but we'll get to Mixes in a moment). The currently selected Bank will be shown in the upper line of the display, just above the currently selected Program's name. · Use the BANK SELECT [DOWN] and [UP] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 ­ 3, GenMIDI or any Card Banks, if present). User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4. SELECTING THE MIDI CHANNEL IN PROGRAM MODE While in Program Play Mode (press [PROG]), the QSR can receive information on any single MIDI channel of the 16 available channels. The currently selected channel appears in the bottom-right section of the display (take a look at the first display example on the previous page). L Use the [ MIDI CH ] buttons to select a MIDI channel from 1 ­ 16. The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel. QSR Reference Manual L 4 Your First Session: Chapter 2 REALTIME PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONS The QSR provides various ways to control the sound as you are playing. Try out some of these functions while playing your MIDI keyboard. The sound of the effects can also change by using these controllers. The effect of these realtime controllers varies from Program to Program; in some they may not be active, and in others they may have a dramatic effect. · · Velocity. The volume and tonal quality of the sound will change according to how hard you play the keyboard. Aftertouch. The action of pressing a key down after playing it is called "aftertouch" (it is also sometimes referred to as "Pressure" since it corresponds to the amount of pressure being applied to the keyboard). Pitch, tone and volume (among other things) can be changed using aftertouch. Pitch Bend Wheel. While playing a note, you can move the PITCH BEND WHEEL of your keyboard up to raise the pitch, or down to lower the pitch. The amount of pitch bend available can be different for each Program. Modulation Wheel. By raising the MODULATION WHEEL of your keyboard, you can add expressive modulation effects (such as vibrato or tremolo) while you play. The type of modulation effect can be different for each Program. Controllers A­D. The QSR provides four global controllers, called Controllers A through D, which allow control over various parameters of a Program. These Controllers are defined in Global Edit Mode (Pages 4 through 7) to respond to specific MIDI controller messages. Many of the QSR's internal Programs use Controllers A­D to provide control over their tonal aspects. When auditioning Programs, move the CONTROLLER [A]­[D] sliders up and down to find out what effect each has; they will be different from Program to Program. · · · Further expressive control is available with a pedal switch or expression pedal. By using a sustain pedal connected to your master MIDI keyboard, you can have the sound sustain even after you release the keys. By connecting an expression pedal to your master MIDI keyboard,, you can use the pedal to change the volume or tone (or some other quality such as reverb depth or vibrato speed) of the sound, if the Program is edited to use the pedal(s). QSR Reference Manual 5 Your First Session: Chapter 2 AUDITIONING MIX PLAY MODE Mix Play Mode allows you to assign a Program to each of the 16 MIDI channels. This makes it easy to create multitimbral setups for use with an external MIDI sequencer. Additionally, a MIX can be used to "layer" sounds together, or "split" your keyboard in a number of ways, or any combination of these. There are many different ways to program a Mix. For more about Mix Play Mode, refer to Chapter 5. For more about connecting the QSR to a MIDI sequencer, see Chapter 3. Press the [MIX] button. The [MIX] button and the MIX indicator in the display will light. The Mix will be whatever was selected when last in Mix mode (Mix number 00 ­ 99). The large number in the upper-left section of the display will indicate the currently selected Mix number. When you scroll past 99, the counter will "roll-over" to Mix 00 of the following Bank. Likewise, if you scroll back before 00, it will roll back to Mix 99 of the preceeding Bank. Select a Mix using the [VALUE] knob. SELECTING MIX BANKS The QSR provides five internal Banks containing 100 Mixes in each. The currently selected Bank will be shown in the display just below the name of the currently selected Mix's name. · Use the BANK SELECT [DOWN] and [UP] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 ­ 3, GenMIDI or any Card Banks, if present). User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4. QSR Reference Manual 6 Your First Session: Chapter 2 CHOOSING PROGRAMS IN A MIX In this section, we will choose Programs for the 16 channels in a Mix, for playing back tracks from a MIDI sequencer. There are many other aspects of a Mix we may wish to edit, however. Refer to Chapter 5 for more information about Mix editing. You do not have to access Mix Edit Mode to select Programs for a Mix (i.e. you don't have to press the [EDIT SELECT] button). Instead, you simply use a two step process: L A) Use the [ MIDI ] buttons to select one of the 16 channels in the Mix. B ) Use the [VALUE] knob to choose a Program for the selected channel. Here's the process broken down into simpler steps: Press [MIX] and select Mix 01 from the Preset 1 Bank using the method described on page 16. L L L Press [ MIDI ]. The display will look like this: Mix Number Program Bank Name Program Name and Number Play Mode Active MIDI Channels Selected MIDI Channel (flashing) L The [ MIDI ] buttons are used to select one of the 16 channels in the Mix. The actual channel number will be whatever channel was last selected. In the illustration above, channel 1 is shown flashing. If the channel 1 number in your display is not flashing, Use the [ MIDI ] buttons to select channel 1. L L Use the BANK SELECT [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select a Program Bank. Use the [VALUE] knob to select a Program. Press [MIDI ] to select to the next channel up. L If channel 1 had been selected, pressing [MIDI number will flash in the display. Repeat steps ­ as needed to select Programs for the remaining channels. L L ] will select channel 2. The channel 2 Changes you make to a Mix are temporary and will be lost if another Mix is selected. To make changes permanent, you must store the Mix into the User bank (see next page). QSR Reference Manual 7 Your First Session: Chapter 2 STORING AN EDITED MIX Once you have made changes to a Mix, you will need to store the Mix into the User Bank; that is, if you want to keep the changes you have made. The User Bank is designed to hold up to 100 (00 ­ 99) of your custom-made Mixes. Whenever you store an edited Mix, the User Bank is automatically selected. All you have to do is select a Program location (00 ­ 127) within the User Bank to store the edited Mix into. However, if an SRAM Sound Card is inserted into the Sound Card Slot on the rear panel of the QSR, you may select any of the available Banks on the Sound Card to save the edited Mix into. Press [STORE]. This selects Store Mode. The [STORE] button will flash, and the display will look like this: Save Mix to USER 12 (Mix Bank) (Mix Number) The Mix Number will be identical to the last Mix number selected. Optional: If a Sound Card is inserted, Use the BANK SELECT [UP] button to select a Bank on the Sound Card. Use the [VALUE] knob to select a Mix location (00 ­ 99) within the selected Bank. Press [STORE] to save the Mix into the selected location. The Mix has now been stored, and the display will revert back to whatever was shown before [STORE] was pressed the first time. NOTE: Pressing [MIX] before pressing [STORE] the second time (step ) will cause the QSR to exit Store mode without saving changes to the edited Mix. ENABLING GENERAL MIDI MODE If you are using a General MIDI sequencer, and/or playing a sequence that is programmed to take advantage of General MIDI, turn the "General MIDI" function in the QSR on. Press [EDIT], then press BANK SELECT [UP] (also labeled as [GLOBAL]). The display will now be in Global Edit Mode. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select page 3 (the page number appears in the upperright corner of the display). Press the [CURSOR ] button. This selects the General MIDI parameter in the display. Turn the [VALUE] knob clockwise. This turns on General MIDI mode, and automatically puts you into Mix Play Mode with Mix 00 of Preset Bank 4 selected. For more information about General MIDI, refer to the MIDI Supplement in Appendix B. L QSR Reference Manual 8 Your First Session: Chapter 2 USING THE PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD SLOTS Your QSR is an expandable system using the two PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slots on the front panel. There are three different kinds of Sound Cards available through your Alesis dealer or directly from Alesis: · SRAM cards: The Alesis Virtual Composer card provides an additional four banks of Program/Mix memory. All banks can be stored to by the user, and it comes with additional Programs and Mixes pre-stored. QCards: These read-only memory cards provide actual samples, plus the Programs and Mixes that use them in a single card bank. Available QCards include a Stereo Grand Piano card, a Sanctuary card that includes high-quality voice, bell, and organ sounds, a World/Ethnic card, Rap/Techno/Dance cards, Vintage Keyboards, and many more. Flash RAM cards: If you want to burn your own custom sample cards, Flash RAM cards are available in 2 MB, 4 MB, and 8MB sizes. Alesis Sound Bridge software (see next section) will translate from Sample Cell, AIFF, WAV and other formats to Alesis QSR Composite Synthesis format, and then you can write your own custom Programs and Mixes that use these samples. · · To use a sound card with the QSR: Hold the card with the front label facing up and insert the exposed contact end gently into either of the QSR's PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slots, [A] or [B]. Push the card in until you the slot's eject button extends outward, and the card will not go any further. To remove the card, press the eject button adjacent to the card slot and gently slide the card out of the slot. The QSR's two PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slots can accommodate any combination of these three card types. You can combine QCards and Flash RAM cards that store up to 8 MB of samples each, giving you a total of 16 Mb of sound ROM expansion and effectively doubling the internal 16 MB of sound ROM for a total of 32MB!! When storing Mix and Program Banks to external cards, the maximum number of accessible card banks is 11. This is because the QSR's grand total of banks possible is 16, and 5 of them are already built into the QSR. The 11 card banks can be split among the two PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slots. Under normal situations, this will not be a limitation (remember, each bank has 128 Programs and 100 Mixes; 11 banks gives you 1408 additional Programs and 1100 additional Mixes). In other words, if you have two SRAM cards (256k each, capable of storing up to 4 banks), you will have 4 banks available on each card for a total of 8 banks; well below the maximum. However, since it is possible to purchase third-party 512k PCMCIA cards and burn these yourself using Sound Bridge software, it is possible to physically insert two 8 bank cards which combine for a total of 16 banks. In this situation, only the first 11 banks will be accessible beginning with slot [A]; i.e. you'll be able to access all 8 banks from the card in slot [A] and the first 3 banks from the card in slot [B]. QSR Reference Manual 9 Your First Session: Chapter 2 If an internal Program uses one or more Sounds that reside on a sound card, the sound card must be inserted into the same PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slot, [A] or [B], as when the Program was stored. In other words, if a Program uses a Sound found on the card currently inserted in slot [A], then the same card must be inserted into slot [A] for that sound to be used when this Program is recalled. Although the card can physically be used in either slot, once a Program is stored using a Sound on a card it expects to find that card in the identical slot it was in when the Program was stored. The same is true when a Program residing on the card in slot [A] uses a Sound stored on card [B], or vice-versa. If an internal Mix uses one or more Programs that reside on a sound card, the sound card must be inserted into the same PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slot, [A] or [B], as when the Mix was stored. The same is true when a Mix residing on the card in slot [A]uses a Program stored on card [B], or vice-versa. A WORD ABOUT THE QSR CD-ROM Included with the QSR is a CD-ROM containing various useful software programs to use with your QSR. These include various Alesis and third-party programs, QSR sounds and samples, sequences stored in the MIDI Song File (SMF) format, plus demonstration software we thought you would find interesting. Most of these programs are provided in both MacintoshTM and IBM® PC formats. SOUND BRIDGETM Among the files contained on the CD-ROM is a software program called Sound BridgeTM. Sound Bridge is a sound development utility which compiles custom samples from a variety of sources into the QS Synthesis Voice format, and downloads the compiled data to an Alesis PCMCIA Flash RAM Sound Card via MIDI Sysex to a QSR, QS8, QS7 or QS6. Sound Bridge allows individuals and sound developers to make their own Sound Cards, using whatever samples they want. Sound Bridge makes this possible without having a PCMCIA card burner attached to your computer. All you need is at least one QS-series synth (such as the QSR, QS7 or QS8). Sound Bridge creates a QS Voice (multi-sample) by loading Digidesign Sample Cell I or Sample CellTM II format Instrument files. Using this format, Sound Bridge is able to determine key group and velocity group split points, root notes, sample playback rates, tunings, start points, loop points, and loop tunings. Sound Bridge can also create QS Voices without Sample Cell Instruments by loading single AIFF, Sound DesignerTM and Sound Designer II files, MacOSTM System Sounds and PC WAV files. Sound Bridge does NOT require Sample Cell hardware. The Sample Cell Instrument file, or sample file, may be loaded directly into Sound Bridge from any disk (i.e. CDROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.). For example, a user may load data from a Sample Cell CD-ROM, and send this data to the QuadraSynth PCMCIA Card, without ever using Sample Cell! The Sound Bridge folder on the CD-ROM contains the Sound Bridge application, and an electronic manual which will give you all the information you need to know to run Sound Bridge. QSR Reference Manual 10