Akai 4000S manuale d’uso

20 November 2005 1 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s Quick S tart Thank you and congratulation s on your choice of the Akai Profess ional EWI 4000s Electric Wind Instrument. While the EWI 4000s is equipped with a sophistica ted on-board Analog Modelin g Synthesizer , UniQuest expands on this feature by giving you remote access to all sound parameters fr[...]

Getting Ready: In structions 2 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s Y our computer requires one free MIDI In port and one free MIDI Out port to run UniQuest. Please ensure that your MIDI interface is instal led correctly and that all filtering options (especially ones th at af fect System Exclusive) are disa- bled. Make sure your ha rdware instrument is pr[...]

Getting Ready: Instruction s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 3 of 44 Y ou may have noticed that some of UniQuest for EW I 4000s’ dialogs, menu bars and icons have the words ‘Midi Quest’ in them. This is to be expected, since UniQuest for EWI 4000s is built on techno logy developed by Sound Quest Music Software (www .squest.com). Th is instrume nt will[...]

Getting Ready: In structions 4 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s UniQuest will now open. On Windows XP you will see an Application window that contains the S tudio W indow: On Mac OS X you will see the Application menu an d the Studio W indow: The studio window contains the EWI 4000s in strument module: This is the mai n interface used to transfer sound[...]

Getting Ready: Instruction s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 5 of 44 The Instrument Mo dule (Mac OS X) W e’ll now explore the main controls of the inst rument module. • The Instrument Graphic: More than just a pretty pi cture, this graphic of the EWI 4000s can be single-clicked to give the instrument mo dule focus, and can be double-clicked to u pload ([...]

Getting Ready: In structions 6 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s The AutoSense dialog is shown here: If the AutoSense procedure cannot detect your instrumen t’ s settings, yo u will need to make sure your Midi Interface drivers a re installed correctly and that all cables are connected as per the diagram in Step 2. Make sure the output of your compute[...]

Getting Ready: Instruction s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 7 of 44 This will open the default Settings Dialog for the EWI 4000s instrum ent module : The Port and SysX (Comm) Channel settings will already have been set in this dia- log by the AutoSense procedure. This mean s that the Port In and Port Out settings controls will be set to the same MIDI ports[...]

Getting Ready: In structions 8 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s Now you will find out if UniQu est is correctly configured by uploading (or getting ) the Internal Preset Bank from your EWI 4000s . This test is also an essential opera- tion since you’ll need to protect these soun ds from accidents while you learn to use your new ed itor soft ware. 1. [...]

Getting Ready: Instruction s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 9 of 44 3. The Preset Bank up loads from your EWI 4000s in about 12 seconds. 4. The Uploaded Data Opens As A Bank Editor Window (Windows XP) Congratulations! Y ou hav e just successfully installed UniQuest EW I 4000s and configured the software to work with your EWI 4000s. Please save the set you [...]

Getting Ready: In structions 10 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 1.1 Exploring the Bank Editor Wi ndow Y ou can now explore each of the sounds you have uploaded by clicking on an entry in the bank wi ndow . When you do this, the sound data will b e downloaded th rough MIDI to the EWI 4000s temporary editing bu ffer , allowing you to auditi on the cur- [...]

Getting Ready: Instruction s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 11 of 44 Selecting a preset by clicking on it loads the Editor in to the right side of the split: Y ou are free to experiment as much as you like - Just remember to save the changed bank file under a new name. Otherwise, you will overwrite th e backup you just made! In the next section we will exp[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 12 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.0 A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s Getting the most from UniQuest requires a few adjustments in ho w you relate to your hardware instrument. In the past you have no doubt worked entirely "in-place" within the confines of your instrument's internal memory[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 13 of 44 W i th UniQuest, you upload your EWI40 00s preset bank to your computer, where it can be safely backed up t o your hard drive. Then you are free to edi t, audition, step between sounds, reorganize your banks and create searchable sound libraries with complete security and ease[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 14 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.1 Working wit h Single Preset s If you only want to edit a single preset, UniQuest for EWI4 000s has two compo- nents design ed for this task : Pres et and Preset Edit Buffer : When either of these compon ents are selected within th e Instrument Module’ s Set- List, UniQues[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 15 of 44 2.2.1 Preset Editor Overview There are 9 sections that make up the EWI 4000s Preset Editor : In the illustration abov e, the sections have been separated from their norm al layout and are shown according to their location in the EWI 4000s synt hesizer architec- ture. The black[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 16 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.2.3 OSC 1 & 2 SECTION The EWI4000s has two analog modeled oscillators, which are editab le independent of each other . Each oscillator output s Sawtooth, T riangle and Pulse waves and includes a waveform mixer that lets y ou set how much of each wave is heard. Oscillator [...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 17 of 44 The following parameters are common to each oscillator: Oscillator Tuning Parameters OCT A VE • Range is -2 to +2 octaves. SEMITONE • Range is -12 to +12 semitones. FINE • Range is -50 to +50 cents. 100 cents = 1 semitone, so this parameter lets you detune the oscillator[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 18 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s Oscillator Pitch & V olume Envelope Parameters SWEEP TIME • Range is 0 to 1 00%. Unlike a key board controlled sy nthesizer , the EWI 4000s does not use a standard envelope genera tor (ADSR) to control the Oscillator Pitch. Instead, yo ur breath pressur e can act as a rea[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 19 of 44 BREA TH THRESH • Range is 0 to 100%. This is the threshold level above which the Oscillato r will begin sounding. BREA TH CUR VE • Range is -50% to +50%. This parameter sets the mapping of breath pressure to output volume for this oscillator . 0% means a linear 1:1 mapping[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 20 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.2.4 OSC FIL TER SECTION SELECT • Choices are 1, 2 or LINK. When 1 is se lected, the block of controls in this section govern the set tings of OSC FIL TER 1. When 2 is selected, these controls govern the settings o f OSC FIL TER 2. LINK mode is now explained. The Oscillator [...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 21 of 44 Q-F ACTOR • Range is 0.5 to 12.7. This control sets the Quality Factor of the OSC FIL TER, and is analogous to the RESONANCE control found in typical analog synthe- sizer filter sections. The Q Factor of an audio filter is defined as the cutoff frequency divided by the bandw[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 22 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s BREA TH MOD • Range is 0 to 10 0%. This control al lows you to ch ange the filter cutoff frequency with your breath pressure. Higher values apply more modulat ion to the cutoff frequency . BREA TH CURVE • Range is -50% to +50%. This parameter sets the mapping of breath pres[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 23 of 44 LFO THRESHOLD • Range is 0 to 100%. This control sets a point in the breath pressure range that acts as a trigger for LFO Modulation t o begin or end: When used in conjunction with the LFO DEP TH and LFO BREA TH parameters, LFO THRESHOLD can be used to create a variety of so[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 24 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.2.5 FORMANT FIL TER SECTION FIL TER • The Formant Filter applies the formant characteristics of two physical classes of instrument: String or W ood W ind. 2.2.6 NOISE GENERA TOR SECTION The Noise Generator allows for the creation of various white noise effects such as wind,[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 25 of 44 2.2.7 NOISE FIL TER SECTION The NOISE FIL TER ’ s operation is identi cal to the OSC FIL TER, with the exception that it filters the output of the NO ISE GEN instead of the OSC SECTION. This section consists of 2 multi-mode filters that are c onnected in serial with each oth[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 26 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.2.9 EFFECTS SECTION The EFFECTS SECTION consists of high qu ality chorus, delay , and reverb effects connected in serial: Each digital effect will now be examined in the order of their connection. Chorus Ef fect Pa rameters The chorus effect combines two short delay lines wit[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 27 of 44 OFF / ON • These buttons disable and enable the chorus effect. When the chorus ef fect is off, the incoming signal is passed th rough unaffected. FEEDBACK • Range is -50% to +50%. This control regulates the amount of choru s output sig- nal that is fed back to the in put o[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 28 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s Delay Effect Parameters The delay effect consists of a long delay line coupled with a lowpass filter for tonal control over the delayed sig nal. Useful for simulating ech oes and other repeating effects. TIME • Range is 0 to 1.27 secon ds. This contr ol sets the time le ngth [...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 29 of 44 2.2.10 CO MMON SECTION The common section contains a nu mber of miscellaneous parameters th at control the EWI 4000s’ general behavior when the preset is loaded. KEY TRIGGER • SINGLE : The envelope is only controlled by breath articul ation. • MUL TI : The envelope (swee[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 30 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.3 The Editor Controls in Closer Det ail Each of the Preset editor s ections is made up of various controls such as toggle switches, knobs and sliders. These are now explored in greater detail. Knob UniQuest’ s knob s are rotary entry controls that are edited whenever the mo[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 31 of 44 On the Mac platform, Direct M ode entry operates as follows: Instead of a multi-column pop-up menu, the direct mode menu is a single scrolling column, and the previous control selection is not shown as a checked entry (A con- sequence of the current OS X architecture) . As wit[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 32 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.4 The Preset Bank Wi ndows Whenever you get, open or create a new Patch Bank in UniQuest, a Bank Window will open. The entire memory space of an EWI 4000s Pr eset Bank is represented in this win- dow , and the dy namic tab co ntrol ensures you'll never have to scroll aro[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 33 of 44 2.4.1 Exporting Bank Windows to T ext Although UniQuest for EWI 400 0s does not operate as a plug-in for Digital Audio W orkstation (DA W) software, it features very powerful preset export functions for use with these DA W programs and for sharing your EWI 4000s presets w ith [...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 34 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.5 Automatic Patch Generation T ools UniQuest also featu res four very powerful tools for creating new EWI 4000s presets automatically . Simply select 2 or more exist ing presets in your current bank and click on one of the following buttons: The Mix button creates a new Bank [...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 35 of 44 2.6 The Set Window Components like Presets, Edit Buff ers and Preset Banks do not have to be edi ted in separate windows: UniQuest also lets you upload, open or create a combined data file called a Set. The entire memory space of your EWI 4000s is represented in the Default Se[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 36 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.7 The Collection Wi ndow The Collection window is used to create and ed it unstructured grou pings of what- ever EWI 4000s components you like. Just like the Set and Bank windows, the Collectio n window will split to show the relevant editor window whenever you sel ect a memb[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 37 of 44 2.8 The Library Window Since the Bank window is never larger than the maximum size of the your EWI- 4000s’ internal memory , Un iQuest is equipped with a virtually unlim ited type of storage: The Library . Each library you create can be as big as you like, but can only store[...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 38 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s The result of this Query is now shown : Y ou will see that there seem to be duplicate results in this query . A new Query can be run on the results, set to remove thes e duplicates. This i nvolves pressing the button again and checking the ‘ Duplicates ’ option in the Query[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 39 of 44 2.9 T ransferring Preset s Between Windows It is easy to transfer presets between any open editor window in UniQuest. In most cases where the source is a bank window , you need only drag and drop the entry to a new location such as ano ther bank window , a library wind ow (of [...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 40 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.1 1 The ‘MIDI Thru’ Feature By default, Un iQuest’ s M IDI Thru feature is turned off. If you wish to create EWI sounds for l ayering with external sy nthe sizers and samplers, how ever , you will need to enable this feature. Before you can use the MIDI Thru feature, yo[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 41 of 44 Next, open the UniQuest Preferences dialog ( UniQuest for Akai EWI4000s- >P ref e re nc e s on Mac, or Op tions->Preferences on W indows). Now select the MIDI T ab of the dialog: T urn on MIDI Thru and then se lect the MI DI Port Out to route the MIDI Thru sig- nals to. [...]

A Quick T our of UniQuest For EWI 4000s 42 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s 2.12 T ransferring Dat a Files Between Different Computers There are a few facts to keep in mind wh en transporting Preset, Bank and Set data created by UniQuest between different computers. If you plan to email these files or move them between Mac and PC computers, you sh ould[...]

A Quick T our of UniQue st For EWI 4000s UniQuest for EWI 4000s 43 of 44 Mac OSX’ s Autom ator utility can be applied to the task of converting UniQu est files from the PC v ersion relatively easil y . Y ou will need: • Mac OSX T iger (which includes Automator) • The Change File Type and Creator Action from www .apple.com/download s/m acosx/a[...]

Conclusion 44 of 44 UniQuest for EWI 4000s In the illustration above, there are three bank files that al ready have the correct file type and creator attributes set (which is why they show the bank icon). The top two bank files (which are selected in the illustration) do not have their attributes set correctly - Th eir icons (the blank document ico[...]