Alesis qs6.1 User Manual

ALESIS
QS6.1
Reference Manual

Alesis qs6.1 Specifications

General

Brand	Alesis
Model	qs6.1
Category	Synthesizer
Language	English

Summary

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS

Covers connecting the QS6.1 for power, audio, and MIDI.

Part 4: BASIC OPERATION

Details using Programs, Mixes, and Global settings.

Part 5: MIDI

Explains MIDI performance, sequencing, and Sys-ex transfers.

Part 6: EDITING EFFECTS

Covers modifying effects, including parameters and configurations.

PART 1 SETUP & CONNECTIONS

AC POWER HOOKUP

Instructions for connecting the QS6.1 to AC power safely.

LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS

Discusses protecting the QS6.1 from power line issues.

AUDIO CONNECTIONS

AUDIO CABLES — SELECTION, ROUTING, AND CARE

MIDI BASIC MIDI HOOKUP

MIDI Setups

Illustrates four typical MIDI connection configurations for the QS6.1.

DIRECT COMPUTER LINK

IBM PCS AND COMPATIBLES RUNNING WINDOWS

Details on serial driver software and cabling for PCs.

MACINTOSH

Information on connecting the QS6.1 to Mac computers directly.

PEDAL AND FOOTSWITCH HOOKUP

PART 2 OVERVIEW

A QUICK TOUR OF THE FRONT PANEL

Introduction to the QS6.1's front panel controls.

THE EDIT MODE BUTTONS

THE DISPLAY

PROGRAMS, MIXES, AND BANKS

WHAT'S A PROGRAM?

Explains what a Program is and how it's structured.

WHAT'S A MIX?

Defines a Mix and its role in combining Programs.

WHAT'S A BANK?

THE PERFORMANCE CONTROLS

PCMCIA EXPANSION CARDS

PART 3 FIRST SESSION

POWERING UP

Step-by-step guide to turning on and setting up the QS6.1.

PLAYING PROGRAMS

PLAYING MIXES

FINDING OUT WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IN THE MIX YOU ARE PLAYING

TRANSPOSING THE KEYBOARD

PART 4 BASIC OPERATION

THE DOUBLE-BUTTON PRESS TRICK

Explains a shortcut for resetting parameters using button combinations.

COPYING EXISTING PROGRAMS AND MIXES TO A NEW LOCATION IN THE USER BANK

…OR TO A NEW LOCATION ON A CARD BANK

CHANGING THE PROGRAMS IN A MIX

STORING ALTERED MIXES TO THE USER BANK (OR TO A CARD)

STORING ALTERED PROGRAMS TO THE USER BANK (OR TO A CARD)

CHANGING THE NAME OF A PROGRAM OR MIX

COMPARE MODE

PLAYING SEQUENCES FROM A CARD

THE GLOBAL SETTINGS (AND HOW TO CHANGE THEM)

EDITING GLOBAL PARAMETERS

PAGE 1 — MASTER PITCH

Controls the overall master pitch of the QS6.1.

PAGE 2 — MASTER TUNE

PAGE 3 — KEYBOARD VELOCITY CURVE

PAGE 4 — KEYBOARD VELOCITY SCALING

PAGE 5 — TRANSPOSE

PAGE 6 — KEYBOARD MODE

PAGE 14 — MIDI PROGRAM SELECT MODE

PAGE 15 — INPUT/OUTPUT MODE

PART 5 MIDI

THE POWER OF MIX MODE

USING AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER

THE SERIAL PORT

SELECTING THE KEYBOARD MODE

PROGRAM ASSIGN FOR EACH MIDI CHANNEL

SENDING AND RECEIVING BANK SELECT MESSAGES

USING THE QS6.1 AS A MASTER KEYBOARD

MAKING IT HAPPEN

TRANSMITTING MIDI VOLUME AND PANNING

TRANSPOSING MIDI NOTE NUMBERS PER ZONE

SENDING CARD SEQUENCE DATA TO EXTERNAL DEVICES

SAVING PROGRAMS VIA MIDI SYS EX

EDITING PROGRAMS VIA MIDI SYS EX

PART 6 EDITING EFFECTS

ENTERING EFFECTS EDIT MODE FROM PROGRAM MODE

ENTERING EFFECTS EDIT MODE FROM MIX MODE

SELECTING FROM AMONG THE AVAILABLE EFFECTS PATCHES IN A MIX

THE “FX PROGRAM CHANGE VIA MIDI” FUNCTION

STORING EFFECT PATCHES IN PROGRAM MODE

STORING EFFECT PATCHES IN MIX MODE

COPYING EFFECTS FROM ONE PROGRAM TO ANOTHER

PICKING AN EFFECT CONFIGURATION

CONFIGURATION #1: 1 REVERB

CONFIGURATION #2: 2 REVERBS

CONFIGURATION #3: LEZLIE+REVERB

CONFIGURATION #4: 1 REVERB+EQ

CONFIGURATION #5: OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE

ROUTING SOUNDS OR PROGRAMS THROUGH THE EFFECTS ONLY

SETTING EFFECT SEND LEVELS

[50] — EQ (CONFIGURATIONS 4 AND 5 ONLY)

[60] — MOD

MOD1 SOURCE

MOD1 DESTINATION

MOD1 LEVEL

MOD2 SOURCE

MOD2 DESTINATION

MOD2 LEVEL

[70] — LEZLIE (CONFIGURATIONS 3 AND 5 ONLY)

MOTOR

SPEED

[80] — PITCH

PITCH TYPE

[90] — DELAY

DELAY TYPE

[100] — REVERB

REVERB PARAMETERS

REVERB TYPE

PRE-DELAY TIME

PRE-DELAY MIX

INPUT FILTER

DECAY

LOW DECAY/ HIGH DECAY

DENSITY

DIFFUSION

[110] — OVERDRIVE (CONFIGURATION 5 ONLY)

[120] — EFFECT MIX

PART 7 EDITING MIXES

WHAT IS A MIX?

MIX EDIT MODE

LEVEL SETTING FOR EACH PROGRAM

PITCH

EFFECT

KEYBOARD/MIDI

CONTROLLERS

SETTING THE RANGE

NAMING A MIX

PART 8 EDITING PROGRAMS

THE “NORMALIZED” SYNTH VOICE

HOW THE QS6.1 GENERATES SOUND

PROGRAM SOUND LAYERS

THE VOICE

LOWPASS FILTER

AMP

ABOUT MODULATION

LFO (LOW FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR)

ENVELOPES

ABOUT SIGNAL PROCESSING

DRUM MODE

STORING YOUR EDITED PROGRAMS

PROGRAM EDIT FUNCTIONS

VOICE

Sound

LEVEL

PITCH

Pitch Envelope Depth (-99 to +99)

Portamento (Exponential, Linear, 1 Speed)

Keyboard Mode (Mono, Poly, 1-Pitch or 1-PMono)

FILTER

Velocity (-99 to +99)

Modulation Wheel Depth (-99 to +99)

Aftertouch Depth (-99 to +99)

Filter Envelope Depth (-99 to +99)

AMP ENVELOPE

Amp LFO Depth (-99 to +99)

PITCH ENVELOPE

Trigger (Normal, Freerun, Reset, Reset-Freerun)

Velocity Modulation (00 to 99)

FILTER ENVELOPE

NAME

MOD 1 – MOD 6

Selecting the Modulator (1 to 6)

Modulation Source

Modulation Destination

PITCH LFO

Trigger (Mono, Poly, Key Mono, Key Poly)

Mod Wheel Depth (-99 to 99)

Aftertouch Depth (-99 to 99)

FILTER LFO

TRACKING GENERATOR

PROGRAMMING DRUM SOUNDS IN DRUM MODE

AMP/RANGE

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FUNCTIONS

COPYING SOUNDS

How to copy Sounds within or between Programs and User Banks.

TO AUDITION PROGRAMS BEFORE STORING

PART 9 EXTRAS

SOUND BRIDGE™

USING PCMCIA EXPANSION CARDS

SAVING THE USER BANK TO A PCMCIA CARD

LOADING A BANK FROM AN EXTERNAL CARD

STORING AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM OR MIX

LOADING AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM OR MIX

APPENDIX A — TROUBLESHOOTING

TROUBLESHOOTING

Table of common symptoms, causes, and solutions for problems.

RECOVERING FROM A “CRASH”

RE-INITIALIZING

MAINTENANCE/SERVICE

CLEANING YOUR QS6.1

REFER ALL SERVICING TO ALESIS

Advises against user servicing and to contact Alesis.

OBTAINING REPAIR SERVICE

APPENDIX B — MIDI SUPPLEMENT

MIDI BASICS

MIDI HARDWARE

MIDI MESSAGE BASICS

GENERAL MIDI

APPENDIX C — PARAMETERS INDEX

PROGRAM EDIT PARAMETERS

MIX EDIT PARAMETERS