Alesis QS7.1 manual

A L ES I S Q S 7.1 and QS8.1 Reference M a nu a l[...]

QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 1 I NTRODUCTION 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 [...]

Contents 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 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 int[...]

QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 3 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 [...]

Table of Contents QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 5 C ONTENTS Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS .........................................................9 AC Power...............................................................................................................9 Audio..........................................................................[...]

Table of Contents 6 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode..................................................................65 Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode.........................................................................65 Copying Effects From One Program To Another.........................................[...]

Table of Contents QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 7 Name........................................................................................................138 Mod 1 – Mod 6.............................................................................................139 Pitch LFO....................................................................[...]

Table of Contents 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual[...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 9 P ART 1 SETUP & CONNECTIONS AC P OWER HOOKUP Your QS7.1/QS8.1 is set to work with the voltage of the country to which it was shipped (either 110 or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz) and comes equipped with the appropriate power cable. Hooking that cable up is simple. • Make sure your QS is turne[...]

Part 1: Setup & Connections 10 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • Line filters . These cost more than simple spike/surge protectors, but may be worth it depending on your situation. Along with surge protection they offer circuits that can remove some line noise — things like dimmer hash, transients from other appliances, etc. • An Uninterrupt[...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 11 recording deck, lower the input level controls on those units until they are no longer clipping. AUDIO CABLES — SELECTION, ROUTING, AND CARE The audio connections between your QS and the rest of your studio are your music’s lifeline, so make sure you use high-quality cables. These [...]

Part 1: Setup & Connections 12 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • Avoid running audio cables near such sources of electromagnetic interference as transformers, monitors, computers, etc. • Don’t run cables where they can be stepped on. Stepping on a cable will compress the insulation between the center conductor and shield, and over time this [...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 13[...]

Part 1: Setup & Connections 14 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • As Controller. To play other MIDI devices from your QS, run a MIDI cable from the QS’s [ MIDI OUT ] jack to the MIDI IN of the device you want to control. • As a Link in a “daisy chain.” If you are using the QS in the middle of the MIDI chain (example: as the second unit of[...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 15 D IRECT C OMPUTER L INK The QS can communicate directly with Mac or PC computers via its [ SERIAL PORT ] connector. Using this connection eliminates the need for a MIDI cables and a separate MIDI interface. Here’s how it works: 1) Run a single serial cable from your computer’s seri[...]

Part 1: Setup & Connections 16 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual IBM ® PCS AND COMPATIBLES RUNNING WINDOWS ® If you want to link your QS directly with a PC or PC-Compatible, you’ll need special serial driver software and cabling. You’ve already got the driver software — it’s in the ALESISASDWIN directory on the CD-ROM that came with your[...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 17 P EDAL AND F OOTSWITCH H OOKUP The QS keyboard has three back-panel pedal jacks, marked [ SUS PEDAL ], [ PEDAL 1 ] and [ PEDAL 2 ]. [ SUS PEDAL ] is designed to work with any standard momentary footswitch. It doesn’t matter whether the footswitch is normally open or closed, so long a[...]

Part 1: Setup & Connections 18 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual are routed to channels 1 and 2, while the AUX [ LEFT ] and [ RIGHT ] outputs are routed to channels 3 and 4. Note that the [ VOLUME ] slider does not control the level going to the ADAT-XT. Volume control must happen via MIDI or a Pedal plugged into the Pedal 1 jack. When recording to [...]

Setup & Connections: Part 1 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 19 Note: When using ADAT-XTs without the BRC, it is not necessary to connect the 48 kHz Clock. If set up properly, the XTs will “slave” to the QS’s Digital Output.[...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 19 P ART 2 OVERVIEW A Q UICK T OUR O F T HE F RONT P ANEL THE WHEELS At the far left of the front panel you will find two powerful controllers: • The [ PITCH ] wheel. Move this control up or down to expressively bend the pitch of the synth. • The [ MODULATION ] wheel. Move this control to cause inte[...]

Part 2: Overview 20 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual THE EDIT MODE BUTTONS There are 6 buttons grouped together at the immediate left of the display: • [ ▲ VALUE]. When you are editing, this button increments the selected value. At all other times it steps you forward through the available Programs or Mixes, depending on which mode you’ve selecte[...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 21 THE DISPLAY The large backlit LCD in the center of the front panel gives you visual feedback as you work. What it shows will vary depending on the mode you are in. Let’s go over what the different areas of the LCD “tell” you. 1) The big numbers on the left side of the LCD show you which Program[...]

Part 2: Overview 22 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual THE PLAY MODE BUTTONS There are 4 buttons grouped together at the immediate right of the display: • [ MIX ] . This button takes you to Mix Mode. • [ PROGRAM ] . This button takes you to Program Mode. • [ BANK ] . In Program and Mix Modes, this button cycles you backward through all available Ba[...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 23 A WORD ABOUT THE SILKSCREENING As we mentioned in the last section, if you look above and below the 23 [ SELECTION ] buttons you’ll see a lot of words silkscreened on the front panel. We’ll get into what they mean later. All you need to know now is: • When you’re in Mix Edit mode, find the wo[...]

Part 2: Overview 24 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ROGRAMS , M IXES , A ND B ANKS Your QS comes with 1,140 built-in Programs and Mixes. At any time you can also add hundreds more just by putting QCards or RAMcards into the [ PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD ] slots. That’s a lot of different sounds! In order to easily find the ones you need, you will need t[...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 25 to each of 16 different MIDI channels, making it easy to build anything from a small pop/rock ensemble to a complete orchestra.[...]

Part 2: Overview 26 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual WHAT'S A BANK? A Bank is a collection of 128 Programs and 100 Mixes. There are five internal Banks available in the QS, and even more can be accessed if you have put QCards or RAMcards into one or both of the [ PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD ] slots. The different banks are: USER PRESET1 PRESET2 PRESET3 [...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 27 ABOUT SOUND GROUPS To make things easier for you, we’ve broken down three of the five Banks into Sound Groups . There are 12 different Sound Groups with 10 Programs each, plus a 13th Sound Group with only 8 Programs. (This gives each Bank 128 Programs, as specified by the MIDI standard.) Each of th[...]

Part 2: Overview 28 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • Modulation Wheel. The [ MODULATION ] wheel has also been around pretty much forever in synth design. It got its name because it is typically used to add varying levels of modulation (such as vibrato or tremolo) while you play. But it isn’t limited to that. It can also be used to create “filte[...]

Overview: Part 2 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 29 PCMCIA E XPANSION C ARDS Your QS7.1/QS8.1 is an expandable system. If you want access to more Sounds, Programs, Mixes, Effects, and Sequences, all you have to do is pop the appropriate memory card into one of the two [ PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD ] slots on the back panel. Using both slots you can add up t[...]

First Session: Part 3 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 29 P ART 3 FIRST SESSION P OWERING U P Once your QS7.1/QS8.1 is connected to an audio system of some kind, you are ready to play. Here’s how to begin. 1 ) Make sure that all connections have been made correctly, and that the volume controls in your amplification system and QS are set to zero . 2 [...]

Part 3: First Session 30 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual demo sequence remained in the Mix Mode edit buffers, which is normal. To clear this, call up another Mix.[...]

First Session: Part 3 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 31 P LAYING P ROGRAMS The mode in which your QS plays Programs is called, logically enough, Program Mode. To enter it at any time, just press the [ PROGRAM ] button on the front panel. Once there, all you have to do is play. To explore different Programs in the current Bank, use the [ SELECTION ] a[...]

Part 3: First Session 32 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P LAYING M IXES In Program Mode you play Programs, so to play Mixes you can probably guess that you’d have to be in Mix Mode . To enter this mode at any time, just press the [ MIX ] button on the front panel. The display should look something like this: As you can see, there are only two visib[...]

First Session: Part 3 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 33 FINDING OUT WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IN THE MIX YOU ARE PLAYING It’s easy to see what Programs are currently assigned to the active MIDI channels in a Mix. Just enter Mix Mode, call up the Mix you want to examine, and then move through its MIDI channels using the [ PAGE ] buttons. Do that and the dis[...]

Part 3: First Session 34 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual T HE P ERFORMANCE C ONTROLS , P T . II We described these real-time controllers in Part 2: Overview . Now that you know how to find your way to all the different Programs and Mixes, it’s time to explore just what the controllers can do. Your assignment: Call up a Program or a Mix and try out t[...]

First Session: Part 3 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 35 PERFORMANCE TRANSPOSITION CHART UP OCTAVE + 12 semitones C above Middle C MAJOR SEVENTH + 11 semitones B above Middle C MINOR SEVENTH + 10 semitones B-flat above Middle C MAJOR SIXTH + 09 semitones A above Middle C MINOR SIXTH + 08 semitones G# above Middle C PERFECT FIFTH + 07 semitones G above[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 35 P ART 4 BASIC OPERATION R ECAP At this point you’ve pretty much learned everything there is to know about how to play your QS7.1/QS8.1: • You’ve got it hooked up and amplified. • You know about Banks, and how to switch among them. • You know about Programs and Mixes, and how to call [...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 36 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • If you press both [ BANK ] buttons while you’re in Mix Play or Program Play modes, the QS will jump to the same location in the User bank.[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 37 C OPYING E XISTING P ROGRAMS A ND M IXES T O A N EW L OCATION I N T HE U SER B ANK You can readily move copies of existing Programs and Mixes into the User Bank. This is useful if you want to put them in a certain order for recording or performance, or to arrange interesting starter materials [...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 38 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C HANGING T HE P ROGRAMS I N A M IX This is actually the first level of editing for Mixes, but that’s okay — it’s an easy and useful thing that you can do whenever you are in Mix Mode…and best of all you don’t need to know anything special to do it! 1) Get into Mix Mode by pressing t[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 39 C HANGING T HE N AME O F A P ROGRAM O R M IX Call up the Program or Mix whose name you wish to change. Make sure it is visible in the display, and then: 1) Press [ EDIT SELECT ]. 2) Press [ 120 ], which calls up the NAME function while editing. The name you wish to edit will appear, inside quo[...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 40 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P LAYING S EQUENCES F ROM A C ARD [This section assumes that you have some PCMCIA Expansion Cards with sequences on them. If you don’t, you can move on and come back to this section later.] Several of the Alesis QCards come with their own demonstration sequences. More importantly, you can st[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 41 T HE G LOBAL S ETTINGS (A ND H OW T O C HANGE T HEM ) Certain basic parameters affect your entire QS. Because they affect everything, they are called the Global Settings. There are 19 of them: GLOBAL EDIT PAGE GLOBAL SETTING 01 Master Pitch 02 Master Tune 03 Keyboard Velocity Curve 04 Keyboard[...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 42 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual EDITING GLOBAL PARAMETERS To enter Global Edit Mode: 1) Press [ EDIT SELECT ]. 2) Press the [ BANK ] button (that’s the one that has GLOBAL written beneath it). The display will look like this: Now look in the upper right corner of the display. There you will see an indicator that says P1 . [...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 43 PAGE 2 — MASTER TUNE This setting is like Master Pitch, but on a much finer scale. Its main use will be to tune your QS to match other instruments. (If you are playing along with an acoustic piano that is consistently a little sharp or flat, for example, it’s a lot easier to tweak this set[...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 44 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual The factory default setting is 65, which gives an even scaling that favors neither loud nor soft playing. You will need to experiment with this parameter to find exactly the right adjustment for your own “touch.” PAGE 5 — TRANSPOSE This is the same Transpose setting you were introduced t[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 45 OUT 01 through OUT 16 select a single MIDI channel to transmit on, while simultaneously shutting off local keyboard control. You’ll want to choose this setting if you are using a sequencer that automatically echoes back the MIDI data that is being recorded. (If your sequencer works that way [...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 46 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual The same as Global Edit Page 8, above, but for Controller B. The factory default is Controller 013.[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 47 PAGE 10 — CONTROLLER C # The same as Global Edit Page 8, above, but for Controller C. The factory default is Controller 091. PAGE 11 — CONTROLLER D # The same as Global Edit Page 8, above, but for Controller D. The factory default is Controller 093. PAGE 12 — PEDAL 1 CONTROL # Just like [...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 48 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual PAGE 14 — MIDI PROGRAM SELECT MODE This parameter determines how your QS deals with MIDI Program Change Commands. There are three possible settings: OFF turns all Program Changes off. With this choice selected, your QS will neither send Program Changes nor respond to them. ON makes the QS re[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 49 PAGE 16 — MIDI OUT MODE In normal MIDI operation, this parameter lets you switch the function of the back panel [MIDI OUT] jack between being a MIDI OUT and being a MIDI THRU. Given that, the two possible settings — OUT and THRU — should be self-explanatory. The factory default is OUT. I[...]

Part 4: Basic Operation 50 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual BOTH sets the sliders up so they control your QS and send MIDI data. This is the factory default setting. PAGE 19 — CLOCK SOURCE/CLOCK RATE This parameter determines the “sample playback rate” which the QS will use. If you’re not using the QS’s digital audio output to send the signal[...]

Basic Operation: Part 4 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 51 If you would like a visual aid for this, check out the Connection diagrams in Chapter 1: Setups and Connections.[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 49 P ART 5 MIDI W HAT WE ’ LL COVER HERE ... • Sequencing with the QS7.1/QS8.1 via MIDI or the serial port. • Using the QS as a master MIDI keyboard for a live rig, along with a little more info about controlling external MIDI devices from a Card sequence. • Sys-ex transfers. How to go about transfe[...]

Part 5: MIDI 50 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual U SING AN E XTERNAL S EQUENCER The QS can generate MIDI signals for a sequencer to record. On playback, the sequencer sends this data back into the QS, which then serves as a multitimbral sound module (in Mix Mode). The sequencer can generate data over several channels; in Mix Mode, the QS can be program[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 51 SELECTING THE KEYBOARD MODE In a Mix, the QS’s keyboard may be set up in several ways using the Keyboard Mode parameter found on Page 6 of Global Edit Mode. You need to determine which way is best for your application. The Keyboard Mode parameter determines how the keyboard will function with regard to[...]

Part 5: MIDI 52 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ROGRAM A SSIGN FOR EACH MIDI C HANNEL Assign Programs to the 16 channels of the Mix by using the [ PAGE ] and [ PAGE ] buttons to select a channel (the silkscreening also identifies those as the [ MIX CHANNEL PROGRAM SELECT ] buttons). Then use the [ 0 ] – [ 9 ] and [ 00 ] – [ 120 ] buttons to sele[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 53 MIDI MixSl: CH 1-16 Reception: Program Mode. Same as with MIDI PrgSl: ON (see above). Reception: Mix Mode. In this mode, when a Bank select message is received on the channel specified by this parameter, the Mix itself will change Banks. Any Program change command on this same channel will call up an ent[...]

Part 5: MIDI 54 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual U SING THE QS AS A M ASTER K EYBOARD Mix Play Mode also allows the QS to function as a very powerful MIDI master keyboard. You can layer the QS’s internal sounds with those of several external synthesizers by adjusting the proper parameters in Mix Edit mode. For instance: You probably already know that[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 55 MAKING IT HAPPEN The three parameters found under the KEYBOARD/MIDI button determine how the QS will function as a MIDI controller. For example: • To play both an internal Program and an external MIDI sound source on a given channel, set both the Keyboard parameter and the MIDI Output parameter to ON. [...]

Part 5: MIDI 56 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual TRANSMITTING MIDI VOLUME AND PANNING Each Channel in a Mix can transmit its volume and panning settings via MIDI. For each channel on which you wish to transmit this data, MIDI Out must be set to ON and MIDI Input and Keyboard must be set to OFF (as explained in the KEYBOARD/MIDI section on page 102). Al[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 57 TRANSPOSING MIDI NOTE NUMBERS PER ZONE You can transpose different zones on the QS’s keyboard so they send higher or lower MIDI note numbers to external MIDI devices than you are actually playing. Here’s how: Once the initial conditions are met (MIDI Out set to ON, Keyboard and MIDI In set to OFF), a[...]

Part 5: MIDI 58 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S AVING P ROGRAMS VIA MIDI S YS E X As an alternative to storing data to a card, the QS lets you transmit internal data via the MIDI Output connector in the form of System Exclusive messages. This data can be sent to a storage device, or recorded into a MIDI sequencer, or sent to another QS or a QSR. You[...]

MIDI: Part 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 59 To send a single Program via MIDI to a different Program number: ❿ Follow steps ❿ through ① in the instructions above. ❡ Press [ PAGE ] one more time to advance the cursor to the lower section of the display. ① Use the [ CONTROLLER D ] slider and the [ VALUE ] buttons to select the Program numb[...]

Part 5: MIDI 60 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 61 P ART 6 EDITING EFFECTS The QS7.1/QS8.1 has an extensive and versatile built-in effects processor. Your own ears will have told you this by now, of course, since lots of the presets in a QS use the effects to some degree. What we’d like to discuss here is a first step in how you can go furth[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 62 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 63 E NTERING E FFECTS E DIT M ODE F ROM P ROGRAM M ODE If you are in Program Mode and wish to edit the Effect of the Program you are currently listening to, press the [EDIT SELECT] button twice . The first press will take you into Program Edit Mode; you want to go past that, which is why you have[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 64 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual N AVIGATING I N E FFECTS E DIT M ODE There are certain basic methods that apply to moving around the various displays in Effect Edit mode. • Using the [40] – [120] buttons. These are used to select among possible Effects parameters. If you look at the middle row of titles printed above the[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 65 This choice is made at the Mix Edit level, not the Effects Edit level, because you aren’t actually editing the Effects — just turning them on and off within the Mix itself. • Start in Mix Mode. If you aren’t there, or aren’t sure you are there, press [MIX] once to make certain. • P[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 66 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual H OW T HE D ISPLAY C HANGES W HEN Y OU A LTER A N E FFECT Whenever you enter on of the Edit modes, the word EDIT appears in the lower left portion of the display. Once you have actually changed something, that indicator changes to read EDITED. This is a handy reminder, telling you that there i[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 67 • If you press [STORE] twice while editing a Program assigned to the Effect Channel, then both the Program and its Effects will be stored. • If [STORE] is pressed twice while editing a Program on some other Channel than the Effect Channel, then the edited Program will be stored with no cha[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 68 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 6) Press [STORE] .[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 69 K EEPING T RACK : T HE I NTERACTION O F E FFECTS , P ROGRAMS , A ND M IXES Effect Send levels and Configuration assignments are saved as either part of a Program (when in Program Edit mode), or as part of each Channel in a Mix (when in Mix Edit mode). Keep in mind that these are separate from [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 70 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C ONFIGURATION #1: 1 REVERB Pitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Plate 1 Stereo Chorus Stereo Delay Plate 2 Mono Flange Ping-pong Delay Room Stereo Flange Hall Pitch Detune Large Resonator Gate Reverse Pitch 2 Delay 2 Reverb 2 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Balance and Level to Reverb 1 Ste[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 71 At first glance this diagram may look a little daunting, but if you take a moment to trace the lines and read the component captions, things will become clear. Think of it as a kind of “road map” charting your audio signal’s progress from starting point through to its ultimate destinatio[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 72 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C ONFIGURATION #2: 2 REVERBS Delay 1 Pitch 1 Reverb 1 Mono Delay Mono Chorus Plate 1 Stereo Chorus Plate 2 Room Hall Large Gate Reverse Reverb 2 Level to Reverb 1 Pitch 3 Reverb 3 Mono Chorus Plate 1 Plate 2 Room Hall Large Gate Reverse Reverb 4 Reverb 4 Level to Reverb 3[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 73 HOW “2 REVERBS” IS ARRANGED As you can see by glancing at the diagram, this Configuration differs considerably from the first! Here there are a single Delay, two Pitch effects, and two independent Reverb effects, arranged as follows: • Send 1 is routed through a mono Delay, then a stereo[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 74 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C ONFIGURATION #3: LEZLIE+REVERB Pitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1 Lezlie Mono Delay Plate 1 Plate 2 Hall Room Hall Large Gate Reverse Pitch 2 Delay 2 Reverb 2 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Balance and level to Reverb 1 Stereo Chorus Stereo Delay Mono Flange Ping-pong Delay Stereo Flange Pitch Detune Resonato[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 75 C ONFIGURATION #4: 1 REVERB+EQ Pitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Plate 1 Stereo Chorus Stereo Delay Plate 2 Mono Flange Ping-Pong Delay Room Stereo Flange Hall Pitch Detune Large Resonator Gate Reverse Pitch 2 Delay 2 Reverb 2 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Balance and level Stereo Choru[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 76 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C ONFIGURATION #5: OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE Pitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1 Mono Chorus Mono Delay Plate 1 Mono Flange Stereo Delay Plate 2 Resonator Ping-Pong Delay Room Hall Large Gate Reverse HOW “OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE” IS ARRANGED This Configuration is as “all-for-one” as it gets: a total of six diffe[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 77 Now, that’s pretty impressive. But it isn’t everything, not by any means. What really makes this Configuration so interesting to work with is the extreme flexibility of the routing. Take another look at the diagram. In addition to the strictly linear flow written just above, this Configura[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 78 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S ETTING E FFECT S END L EVELS Effect Send levels are not set in Edit Effect mode. Instead, they are set in Program Edit mode (for Programs) and Mix Edit mode (for Mixes). For details, see Part 7: Editing Mixes and Part 8: Editing Programs . I F T HE S END I NPUTS C LIP … If the input to the[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 79 [PAGE] buttons at the same time as a shortcut. You can read more about it in Part 4: Basic Operation on page 35.[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 80 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual [50] — EQ (C ONFIGURATIONS 4 AND 5 ONLY ) The stereo shelving EQ provides bass and treble boost to the entire output of the QS — not just the Effect Sends — and is only available in Configuration 4 (Reverb+EQ) and Configuration 5 (Overdrive+Lezlie). So if you push the EQ button while in [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 81 [60] — M OD Mod stands for “modulation.” So naturally enough the Mod Function lets you modulate up to two effects parameters at a time, either via MIDI or from the keyboard and front panel controllers of your QS. This is extremely useful for expressive real-time performance while playing[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 82 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual MOD1 DESTINATION Range of Settings: (see list below) Page 2 This is where you select exactly what Effect parameter your modulation source is going to modulate. It’s a big list. Not all of these are available in all configurations, but the possible destinations are: • Pitch Speed • Pitch [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 83 MOD1 LEVEL Range of Settings: -99 to 99 Page 3 This decides the degree to which the Destination will be modulated by the selected Source. Please notice the setting range, which allows you to choose both negative and positive numbers. Don’t be daunted by that — the way it works is very clea[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 84 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual [70] — L EZLIE (C ONFIGURATIONS 3 AND 5 ONLY ) This “spinning speaker” simulation is only available in Configurations 3 and 5. In Configuration #3 it takes its input from Send 1, and has three parameters: • Motor (on/off) • Speed (fast/slow) • Horn Level (-6 to +6 db) In Configurat[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 85 the Lezlie speed when “Fast” is the default, you’ll have to route something negatively in the Effects Mod function (see note in previous section).[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 86 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Note: If you want to know how to control the speed of the Lezlie from the Mod Wheel or some other controller, learn about the Effects Mod function (button [60]). Also, see the note at the top of the Lezlie section regarding controlling Lezlie speed in the various Configurations. HORN LEVEL Ran[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 87 [80] — P ITCH This function controls all Effect settings related to pitch. It has many different parameters, and not all of them are available in every Configuration (or even in each Pitch subfunction: Resonator and Stereo Chorus, for example, have completely different structures). Because o[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 88 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual MONO CHORUS The Chorus effect is achieved by taking part of the signal and slightly delaying it, then slightly detuning it as well. This detuning is variable, not steady, because it is being modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). There are many possible adjustments in this algorithm. [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 89 MONO FLANGE First used in the 1960s, “flanging” was achieved by using two tape recorders to record and play back the same material at the same time. By alternately slowing down one tape machine, and then the other, an interesting phase cancellation could be generated. There is a much-repea[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 90 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual PITCH DETUNE As its name implies, Pitch Detune takes a part of the signal and detunes it either sharp or flat. When mixed back with the original dry signal, the popular “12 string guitar” effect is produced, thickening the sound. RESONATOR This can be thought of as a highly resonant filter[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 91 DELAY INPUT LEVEL Range of Settings: <99 to <0> to 99> Page 2 (Config. 2 only) This parameter is only available on Send 1 in Configuration #2. It adjusts the level of the signal running from the Delay output to the Pitch Input. If the chosen Pitch type is Mono Chorus, Stereo Chorus[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 92 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual RESONATOR TUNING Range of Settings: 00 to 60 Page 2 (Resonator only) If the Pitch type is Resonator, page 2 of the Pitch function will let you adjust the Resonator tuning. This can be tuned from 00 to 60. Note: This parameter shows up on Page 1 for Send 3 of Configuration #3, and Page 4 for Se[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 93 [90] — D ELAY The Delay function is used to edit Delay parameters. The QS’s effects processor has three different Delay types available. Note: Some Configurations only have a mono Delay on some Sends, and when this is the case the Delay Type parameter will be unavailable. Instead, the para[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 94 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual let you adjust the delay time of the left channel, while pages 6 & 7 let you adjust the same for the right channel.[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 95 FEEDBACK Range of Settings: 00 to 99 Page 5 (and Page 8 in Stereo Delay) This adjusts the Delay Feedback, which is a portion of the delay signal output being “fed back” into the input. This results in the delay repeating itself. The higher the feedback value, the more repeats you’ll get.[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 96 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual …and one regarding the Reverb function and Sends 2 through 4 If Configurations 1 or 3 are selected and you press [ 10 ] to select Effect send 2, you will see the various parameters that deal with the amount and type of signal going into the Reverb from Send 2. Note that there are now only 4 [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 97 The next parameter is available on all other Configurations, but only on Sends 2 and 4 in Configuration #2: REVERB INPUT LEVEL (SEND 1) Range of Settings: 00 to 99 Page 4 (Config 1, 3, 4 and 5) This parameter controls the overall Input Level going into the Reverb for Send 1. The signal it send[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 98 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual The next parameter is only available in Configuration #2 on Sends 1 and 3: CHORUS INPUT LEVEL Range of Settings: 00 to 99 Page 1 (Config 2 only, Sends 1 and 3) If Configuration #2 is selected (refer to block diagram of Configuration #2, earlier in this chapter), the first page of Send 1’s Re[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 99 Room. The Room reverb type simulates not only rooms of different sizes, but rooms with different surface materials. A room with soft surfaces such as carpet will produce a reverberant sound with much less high end (treble) than a room with hard surfaces. This reverb type can easily simulate bo[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 100 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual DECAY Range of Settings: 00 to 99 Page 10 The Reverb Decay determines how long the Reverb will sound before it dies away. When using the Reverse Reverb type, Reverb Decay controls the Reverse Time. LOW DECAY/ HIGH DECAY Range of Settings: 00 to -99 Pages 11 & 12 These two parameters allow[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 101 Note: Each graph above assumes a Density setting of 0 so as to better illustrate the Diffusion parameter.[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 102 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual [110] — O VERDRIVE (C ONFIGURATION 5 ONLY ) The Overdrive effect provides four parameters spread across four editing pages. It is only used in Configuration #5. OVERDRIVE TYPE Range of Settings: Hard or Soft Page 1 The Soft Overdrive has less gain and provides slightly less distortion than [...]

Part 6: Editing Effects QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 103 [120] — E FFECT M IX Not to be confused with an actual Mix or Mix mode, the Effect’s Mix function is where you can mix the various signal levels of all the effects to the Main Left and Right outputs of the QS. Each Effect send has a separate Mix page for any effect module that feeds the m[...]

Part 6: Editing Effects 104 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual REVERB LEVEL Range of Settings: 00 to 99 Page 3 Config. 1, 3, 4 Page 3 (Send 1)Config. 2 Page 1 (Send 3)Config. 2 Page 4 Config. 5 Adjusting this value will cause the overall Reverb Output Level to increase or decrease. Note: If you pull this parameter down, you will be taking down the reverb[...]

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 99 P ART 7 E DITING M IXES W HAT IS A M IX ? Mix Mode is one of the most powerful features of the QS7.1/QS8.1. Although in Program Mode you can play only one Program at a time, in Mix Mode you can play up to 16 Programs at once, either from the keyboard (as layers or splits) or from an external [...]

Chapter 5:Editing Mixes 100 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual M IX E DIT M ODE Editing a Mix begins with using the [ PAGE ] and [ PAGE ] buttons to select the MIDI channel you want, and selecting a Program number for each of the channels you want to use (as described above). Beyond Program selection, you may control many other aspects of a Mix by access[...]

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 101 U NDERSTANDING THE E DIT B UFFERS In Mix mode, there are 16 edit buffers for the Programs inside the Mix (one for each channel), plus another buffer for the Mix parameters (Level, Pitch, Range, etc.), and yet another buffer for the Effects Processor. When you select a Mix from memory, it is [...]

Chapter 5:Editing Mixes 102 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual L EVEL S ETTING FOR E ACH P ROGRAM The Level function (press [ 60 ]) of Mix Edit is used to control several parameters that deal with the audio output of the selected channel. Parameters in the Level Function’s group include: Volume, Pan, Output, Effects Send Level, Effects Bus and Program [...]

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 103 P ITCH The Pitch function (press [ 70 ]) lets you transpose a channel’s Program in either semitone or octave increments. Tune Octave (-2 to +2 octaves) Page 1 This transposes the Program’s pitch in octave (12 semitones) steps from -2 (transposed down 2 octaves) to +2 (transposed up two o[...]

Chapter 5:Editing Mixes 104 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual K EYBOARD /MIDI The Keyboard/MIDI Function (press [ 90 ]) allows you to turn on and off the MIDI and Keyboard settings for the selected MIDI channel. MIDI Input (On or Off) Page 1 This determines whether the selected channel will respond to incoming MIDI messages. MIDI Output (On or Off) Page[...]

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 105 C ONTROLLERS The Controllers function (press [ 100 ]) lets you turn on and off the various MIDI controllers that can affect the selected MIDI channel. The following four parameters determine whether or not specific types of MIDI information will be received or transmitted, and are set separa[...]

Chapter 5:Editing Mixes 106 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S ETTING THE R ANGE The Range function (press [ 110 ]) allows you to specify the number of keys to which each MIDI channel will respond. This is ideal for creating splits (e.g., bass on the lower keys, piano in the middle, and strings in the upper octave). Lower Limit (MIDI note 000 to 127/ C[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ART 8 E DITING P ROGRAMS O VERVIEW Synthesizer programming is the art and science of shaping sounds in a particular way by altering the parameters of various components of the sound. Like music itself, learning synth programming is an ongoing process. Although this manual presents information [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 108 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual H OW THE QS G ENERATES S OUND The QS uses custom integrated circuits, developed by the Alesis engineering team specifically for the QS. These resemble the types of chips used in computers and other digital devices. In fact, you can think of the QS as a special-purpose computer designed to ge[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Use Mix Play Mode: • When you want to layer more than four voices. In Mix Play Mode, it is possible (though not advisable) to stack all 64 voices onto a single key. • When each sound is likely to be used by itself by other setups. For example, if you are programming three different keyboard [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 110 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual T HE V OICE This digitally-based oscillator provides the actual raw sounds from the 16 megabyte library of on-board samples. These "raw sounds" can take the form of a simple synth wave, a multi-sample of a grand piano, an orchestra, or even a full drumkit! The oscillator’s pitch [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual A MP Each voice/filter combination is followed by an amplifier whose level can be controlled by a variety of modulation sources. This allows for creating sounds with percussive or slow attacks, particular types of decays, tremolo, etc. Filter and amp settings can interact. If the filter cutoff i[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 112 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual LFO (L OW F REQUENCY O SCILLATOR ) The pitch, filter, and amp modules each have a dedicated LFO module for modulation. The term LFO stands for low frequency oscillator, and comes from how modulation was created in the early synth days (an oscillator set to a low frequency could modulate some[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual settings, Effect Level and Bus information are saved with the Program when you store it back into memory. D RUM M ODE Drum Mode helps you personalize your music by allowing you to construct your own drumkits. Any one or all of the four Sounds in a Program can be put into Drum Mode. The parameter[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 114 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual exception of the Amp Envelope) are unavailable. In addition, the parameters in most other functions will differ. For more information on Drum Mode, see page 151.[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S TORING Y OUR E DITED P ROGRAMS As you go through the parameters on the following pages, don’t forget that if you come up with an edit you would like to keep, you need to store it before you go to another Program or else you will lose your edit! Storage of Programs and Mixes was covered thoro[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 116 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ROGRAM E DIT F UNCTIONS To edit a Program you must select Program Edit mode. This is done by pressing the [ EDIT SELECT ] once from Program Play Mode (each time you press [ EDIT SELECT ] in Program Mode, the display cycles between Program Edit and Effects Edit Modes). When editing a Progra[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual V OICE The Voice function (press [40]) is the most fundamental part of Program editing. It is where you choose the particular sample that forms the basis of a Sound. To avoid scrolling through long lists of samples (remember, there are 16 megabytes of sounds in here!), sounds are divided into gr[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 118 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Sound Page 4 Selects one of the available samples by name from the selected group, or OFF (no sample selected). Each group has a variety of samples from which you can choose, although some groups (such as waves) have more samples than others. Below and on the following page, you’ll find a [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Ethnic Sitar, Sitar Wave, Shamisen, Koto, DulcimerHd, DulcimerMd, DulcimerSf, DulcimrVel, DulcmrWave, MandlnTrem, Accordian, Harmonica, Banjo, Kalimba, Steel Drum, Tuned Pipe Drums Stndrd Kit, Rock Kit 1, Rock Kit 2, Dance Kit, Brush Kit, ElctricKit, Tek Kit, Rap Kit, Street Kit, MetalliKit, Hvy[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 120 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual L EVEL The Level function (press [50]) allows you to control the volume, pan position, output assignment and effects send level for each Sound. With up to four Sounds per program, this allows for a wide variety of stereo effects and level balances between the sounds. Volume (00 to 99) Page 1[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ITCH The Pitch function (press [60]) lets you control the pitch aspects of each Sound layer. Semitone (-24 to +24 semitones) Page 1 Sets the oscillator pitch in semitone steps, from -24 (transposed down two octaves) to +24 (transposed up two octaves). Detune (-99 to +99 cents) Page 2 Sets the [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 122 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Pitch Envelope Depth (-99 to +99) Page 7 At +00, the Pitch Envelope has no effect. Positive values raise the pitch from the baseline according to the envelope shape, while negative values similarly lower the pitch (see illustration below). The higher the number (negative or positive), the gr[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Keyboard Mode (Mono, Poly, 1-Pitch or 1-PMono) Page 10 In Mono mode, you can play only one note at a time—just like vintage monophonic synthesizers or wind instruments. Poly mode allows you to play polyphonically. Note that portamento behavior is more predictable in mono mode. With a feedback [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 124 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual F ILTER The Filter function (press [70]) lets you control the tone of each Sound layer. Filter Frequency (00 to 99) Page 1 This sets the filter's initial cutoff frequency. Lower values give a duller sound since this removes more harmonics; higher values let through more harmonics, which[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Velocity (-99 to +99) Page 3 At +00, velocity has no effect on the filter cutoff. With positive values, playing harder increases the filter cutoff. More positive values drive the cutoff frequency higher for a given amount of velocity. More negative values drive the cutoff frequency lower for a g[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 126 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Filter Envelope Depth (-99 to +99) Page 7 The Filter Envelope is one of the most important sets of parameters in making a Program. Many Programs will use the Filter Envelope to determine the tonal character of the sound over time (attack, decay, sustain, and release). At +00, the filter enve[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual A MP /R ANGE The Amp/Range function (press [80]) lets you control the velocity and keyboard range of each Sound layer. Velocity Curve (13 choices) Page 1 This selects how the Sound will respond to an increase in velocity values from the keyboard or MIDI. A LINEAR curve is the norm, where the vel[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 128 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Aftertouch Depth (-99 to +99) Page 2 At +00, aftertouch has no effect on the amplitude. Applying aftertouch with this parameter set to a positive value raises the amplitude; conversely, applying aftertouch with a negative value will make the sound softer the harder you press. The higher the [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Lower Limit (MIDI note 000 to 127/ C-2 to G8) Page 4 Each Sound can be restricted to a specific range of the keyboard. This is ideal for creating splits (e.g., bass on the lower keys, piano in the middle, and strings in the upper octave). The Lower Limit specifies the lowest note of the Sound’[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 130 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Sound Overlap (00 to 99) Page 6 This determines how many voices can overlap on the same pitch. Example: If you hold the sustain pedal down and play the same note over and over, Sound Overlap determines how many voices are available for that note, and thus how many voices will overlap (play s[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual PITCH ENVELOPE The Pitch Envelope function (press [90]) can lead to dramatic effects, since it can cause the pitch of a single key to change drastically over time. It’s typically used in special-effect synthesizer programs, but it may also be used more subtly in an acoustic program to simulate[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 132 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Delay (00 to 99, Hold) Page 5 This is the amount of time that the envelope will wait before doing anything; very useful if you want to affect one element of a sound sometime after the sound starts. When the Delay is set to 0, the envelope begins its attack segment right away, without any del[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Sustain Pedal (On or Off) Page 9 This determines whether or not the Sustain Pedal will have an effect on the envelope. When turned on, holding down the Sustain Pedal while playing short notes is virtually the equivalent to holding down those notes on the keyboard with some subtle but important d[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 134 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual F ILTER E NVELOPE The Filter Envelope function (press [100]) is crucial whenever you want the tonal quality of a note to change over time, differently from its overall level. Example: When you want the initial attack of a note to be bright, but want the sustaining part to be filtered. Note: [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Delay (00 to 99) Page 5 This is the amount of time that the envelope will wait before doing anything; very useful if you want to affect one element of a sound sometime after the sound starts. When the Delay is set to 0, the envelope begins its attack segment right away, without any delay. Play s[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 136 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Time Tracking (On or Off) Page 8 This determines whether or not keyboard position will affect the cycle speed of the envelope. When turned on, playing toward the higher end of the keyboard will result in a faster envelope cycle; playing toward the lower end of the keyboard will result in a s[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual A MP E NVELOPE The Amp Envelope function (press [110]) is crucial for all sounds because it sets the basic characteristics of the note--whether it attacks quickly or slowly, sustains or decays. Some Programs may leave the Amp Envelope in a sustaining mode, and provide attack and decay using the [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 138 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual “Hold”, the Pitch Envelope’s Trigger parameter is automatically set to “Freerun” in the software (see below). However, the displayed value of that parameter is not changed; only its behavior is. Sustain Decay (00 to 99) Page 6 This is the amount of time that the envelope will take [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Level (00 to 99) Page 10 This is the overall output level of the envelope. If this is set to 00, the Amp Envelope will have no output and will have no effect, while at 99 it will have a maximum effect on whatever it is being routed to. When selecting Amp Envelope Level as a modulation destinatio[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 140 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual M OD 1 – M OD 6 About General Purpose Modulation Although there are several dedicated modulators in the QS (e.g., the pitch can always be modulated by the pitch LFO and Pitch Envelope), sophisticated synthesizer programming demands the ability to use as many modulation sources as possible [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual * If you want finer control over the way the envelope tracks the keyboard than is afforded by the TRACK: ON/OFF parameter, then you can use a mod routing to do it. But please compare the two ways so you’re sure there’s a significant difference before sacrificing a mod routing to do keyboard/[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 142 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual • Pitch Wheel The leftmost wheel, Pitch, usually controls the oscillator pitch but can be tied to other parameters as well. • MIDI Volume MIDI can produce a variety of controller messages (see the MIDI supplement in the back of this manual). Of these, controller #7, which controls channe[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Modulation Destination Page 2 Select from the following modulation destinations. You can find out more about these parameters and how they affect the sound in their respective sections (for example: to learn how Pitch Envelope Attack affects the sound, see page 130 on Pitch Envelopes): • Pitch[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 144 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Quantize Mode (Off or On) The Quantize Mode function is only available in modulation routings 4 through 6. When Quantize Mode is on, the modulation effect will be stepped. When off, the effect will be smooth, or linear. Example: If you were to route the Modulation Wheel to Pitch with an ampl[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ITCH LFO The Pitch LFO function (press [6]) is most often used to apply vibrato to a Sound. The following Pitch LFO variables will make a difference in the sound only if the PITCH LFO DEPTH (on Page 6 of the PITCH function) is set to a value other than 0, or, if the Pitch LFO is a source in th[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 146 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Delay (00 to 99) Page 3 This sets the amount of time it takes the LFO to fade in from no modulation to maximum modulation. Sometimes, it is desirable to have modulation come in a moment or two after a note has been played, rather than starting instantly. The higher the value, the more slowly[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Level (00 to 99) Page 5 This is the base output level of the Pitch LFO. If you want to have a constant value of vibrato, even without using the Mod Wheel or Aftertouch, set LEVEL above 00. The Mod Wheel and Aftertouch can add to or subtract from this base level. Example: If Level is set to 10 an[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 148 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Delay (00 to 99) Page 3 This sets the amount of time it takes the LFO to fade in from no modulation to maximum modulation. Sometimes, it is desirable to have modulation come in a moment or two after a note has been played, rather than starting instantly. The higher the value, the more slowly[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Speed (00 to 99) Page 2 Controls the speed or rate of the LFO. For fast modulation, increase this value. For slower modulation, decrease this value. Delay (00 to 99) Page 3 This sets the amount of time it takes the LFO to fade in from no modulation to maximum modulation. Sometimes, it is desirab[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 150 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual T RACKING G ENERATOR The Tracking Generator function (press [9]) is used to scale a modulation source. For example, normally you could modulate the Amp (volume) of a sound using velocity; the harder you play, the louder the sound gets. The amount of change in volume is equal to the change in[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual The Tracking Generator can be used to turn a variable control, such as the Mod Wheel or velocity, into a switch by setting all of the points to 0 except for point 10. Only near the maximum input will anything other than 0 come out of the Tracking generator. You can patch the Mod Wheel somewhere [...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 152 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual P ROGRAMMING D RUM S OUNDS IN D RUM M ODE To program a sound in Drum Mode, you must first set the Sound Type to “Drum” for that particular Sound in the Voice Function, page 2 (see page 116). The [0] – [9] buttons are used to select a Drum (1–10), regardless of which Function or Page [...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Snd FX Bird Tweet, Bird Chirp, Bird Loop, Fret Noise, Fret Wipe, Orch Hit, Dance Hit, Jungle 1, Jungle 2, Applause, GoatsNails, Brook, Hi Bow, Low Bow, ShapeNzHi, ShapeNzMid, ShapeNzLow, ScrtchPull, ScrtchPush, ScrtchLoop, ScrtchPlLp, ScrtcPshLp, RezAttkHi, RezAttkMid, RezAttkLow, RezZipHi, RezZ[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 154 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual L EVEL Each Sound lets you create 10 Drums in Drum Mode. The Level function (press [50]) allows you to control the volume, pan position, output assignment and effects send level for each Drum. Volume (00 to 99) Page 1 This sets the overall volume for a Drum. Higher numbers give higher levels[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual F ILTER Velocity>Filter (0 to 3) Page 1 The Filter function (press [70]) lets you control the “brightness” of the selected Drum by modulating the filter frequency with velocity. When set to 3, playing the associated note harder will result in a brighter sound (more high frequencies), whil[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 156 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual A MP E NVELOPE Decay (0 to 99, Gate00 to Gate99) Page 1 Page 1 in the Amp Envelope Function (press [110]) lets you adjust the Decay time of the selected Drum. If this is set to 0, only the very beginning of the drum sample is played whether you hold down the key or not; setting this to 99 wi[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S PECIAL P ROGRAMMING F UNCTIONS C OPYING S OUNDS While editing a Program, it is helpful to be able to copy a Sound to another Sound in either the same Program or a different Program, especially if you are building a split or layered Program There are three types of Sound Copying operations. You[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 158 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual ➅ Press [ STORE ] to copy the Sound.[...]

Editing Programs: Part 8 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual T O A UDITION P ROGRAMS B EFORE S TORING To look for available memory locations to permanently store your Program into, you can move between Program Mode and Mix Mode without losing your changes. This is because Program Mode uses a Program edit buffer, and Mix Mode uses its own Mix edit buffer a[...]

Part 8: Editing Programs 160 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual To audition Programs before overwriting them with STORE …when editing a Program from within Mix Mode: ❿ While in Mix Program Edit mode, press [ PROGRAM ]. This selects Program Play Mode, retaining your edits to the Program in Mix Edit. ❡ Use the [ BANK ] and [ BANK ] buttons select the[...]

Part 9: Extras QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 159 P ART 9 EXTRAS A W ORD A BOUT THE QS CD-ROM Included with the QS7.1/8.1 is a CD-ROM containing various useful software programs to use with your QS. These include various Alesis and third-party programs, QS sounds and samples, sequences stored in the MIDI Song File (SMF) format, plus demonstration sof[...]

Part 9: Extras 160 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual U SING PCMCIA E XPANSION C ARDS The QS provides two PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slots, [ A ] and [ B ], which are found on the rear panel. These accommodate Alesis QCards and RAM cards. The RAM Card is a type of PCMCIA SRAM or FlashRAM card. We currently offer one which has 512K of memory and will store 8 c[...]

Part 9: Extras QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 161 L OADING A B ANK FROM AN E XTERNAL C ARD The QS can access Program and Mix data directly from a card by using the [ BANK ] buttons. However, there may be an instance where you want to load a full bank from a RAM card into the User bank. WARNING! This procedure will overwrite the entire contents of you[...]

Part 9: Extras 162 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual S TORING AN I NDIVIDUAL P ROGRAM OR M IX You also have the option of storing a Mix or Program directly to a specific location in a RAM Sound Card Bank (instead of transferring the entire Bank) and vice versa. However, the Sound Card you are storing to must be of the current QS Bank format. A Sound Car[...]

Part 9: Extras QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 163 CARD STORAGE RAMIFICATIONS It's not uncommon for someone to keep ROM cards in both slots A and B, create their own Mixes which access Programs from both cards, and use a RAM card in Slot A to occasionally to back up their User bank. In this case, there are a few considerations: Whenever you trans[...]

Part 9: Extras 164 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual MORE ABOUT SRAM CARDS As mentioned before, all card bank storage/retrieval should be carried out in slot A. This assures that when the bank is loaded back into the User bank from the card, the Programs and Mixes within the User bank will be able to find the samples and Programs which originally reside[...]

Appendix A — Trouble-Shooting QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 165 P ART 10: A PPENDICES A PPENDIX A T ROUBLESHOOTING If you experience problems while operating your QS7.1/QS8.1, please use the following table to check for possible causes and solutions before contacting Alesis customer service for assistance. Some of them may seem rather obvious, but[...]

Appendix A — Trouble-Shooting 166 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual Notes played from QS have a “doubled” or “flanged” sound MIDI echo/Thru enabled on external MIDI device or computer Put QS into Out 01 mode (Global Edit Mode, page 6) Mod Wheel not working well (or at all) Unit was re-initialized with Mod Wheel up Put Mod Wheel all the way dow[...]

Appendix A — Trouble-Shooting QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 167 6) Remember to go back into Global Edit mode and set up things the way you had them (things like the Keyboard Mode, Transposition, the A-D MIDI controller number assignments, etc.).[...]

Appendix A — Trouble-Shooting 168 QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual C HECKING T HE S OFTWARE V ERSION To find out what version of the operating system software is currently installed in your QS7.1/QS8.1, hold down [PROGRAM] and [0] at the same time and look in the display. M AINTENANCE /S ERVICE CLEANING YOUR QS7.1 / QS8.1 Before doing cleaning of any[...]

Appendix A — Trouble-Shooting QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 169 OBTAINING REPAIR SERVICE Before contacting Alesis, please double-check all your audio and MIDI connections, and make sure you’ve read the manual. U.S. Customers: If the problem persists, call Alesis USA at 1-800-525-3747 (1-800-5ALESIS) and request the Product Support department. Or[...]

Index QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 179 INDEX 4 48 kHz IN connector................................17 A AC power hookup.................................................9 line conditioners and protectors.............9 Aftertouch defined...............................................26 modulating amplitude.......................127 modulating pitch...[...]

Index QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 180 Button [80] ‘Pitch’.......................83–88 mono chorus..................................84 mono flange..................................85 pitch detune.................................86 resonator......................................86 stereo chorus................................84 stereo flange..[...]

Index QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 181 external sequencer setting Keyboard Mode....................51 tutorial...........................................50 using with serial port......................50 General MIDI....................................172 turning GM on/off............................44 General MIDI sound bank, defined.......26 globa[...]

Index QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 182 Pitch.........................................120–22 Pitch envelope..........................130–32 Pitch LFO.................................144–46 Tracking Generator....................149–50 Velocity curves...............................126 Voice........................................116–18 Progr[...]

Index QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual 183[...]