Alesis QS7 Manuel d'utilisateur

ALESIS QS7 and QS8 Reference Manual

Setting Up: Chapter 1The connections between the QS and your studio are your music’s lifeline, so useonly high quality cables. These should be low-cap

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsEQThe shelving EQ is only available in Configuration #s 4 and 5. It provides bass andtreble boost, and effects the entire Ma

Editing Effects: Chapter 7Mod Source Page 1 (Mod 1) & Page 4 (Mod 2)The Mod Source parameter selects the MIDI controller which will remotely cause

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsLEZLIEThe Lezlie function is only available in Configuration #s 3 and 5. The Lezlieparameters found in Configuration 3 inclu

Editing Effects: Chapter 7PITCHThe Pitch function is used to edit Pitch parameters.Pitch Type Page 1The Pitch Type function allows access to 6 pitch a

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsStereo Chorus. In the case of a Stereo Chorus, the signal is split into three partswith a dry signal and a separate Detuning

Editing Effects: Chapter 7Stereo Flange. In the case of the Stereo Flange, the signal is split into three partswith a dry signal and a separate Delay

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsIf the Pitch type is Mono Chorus, Stereo Chorus, Mono Flange or Stereo Flange,page 2 through 5 of the Pitch function contain

Editing Effects: Chapter 7DELAYThe Delay function is used to edit Delay parameters. The QS’s effects processor hasthree different Delay types availabl

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsREVERBReverb can be thought of as a great number of distinct echoes, called reflections, thatoccur so fast that our ear hear

Editing Effects: Chapter 7Chorus Input Level (00 to 99) Page 1 (Config 2 Only)If Configuration #2 is selected (refer to block diagram of Configuration

Your First Session: Chapter 2CHAPTER 2YOUR FIRST SESSIONPOWERING UPAfter making your connections, turn on the system’s power using this procedure:¿ Be

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsREVERB PARAMETERSUse the [PAGE ] button to advance the display through the remaining pages of theReverb function. However, y

Editing Effects: Chapter 7Pre-Delay Mix (<99 to <0> to 99>) Page 8This allows you to mix the amount of Pre-Delay into the Reverb signal pa

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsOVERDRIVEThe Overdrive effect provides four parameters spread across four editing pages. It isonly used in Configuration #5.

Editing Effects: Chapter 7MIXNot to be confused with an actual Mix or Mix mode, the Effect’s Mix function is whereyou can mix the various signal level

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 112112CHAPTER 8GLOBAL SETTINGSGlobal Edit Mode is where you will find several parameters which affe

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 113113KEYBOARD SCALING Page 4Page 4 of Global Edit mode lets you adjust how sensitive the keyboardÕ

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 114114GENERAL MIDI MODE Page 7Page 7 of Global Edit Mode lets you enable and disable General MIDI M

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 115115Likewise, if either Pedal is assigned to Controller 1, then they will automaticallyfunction l

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 116116Note: Bank change messages will be ignored if General MIDI Mode is enabled, sothat only Progr

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 117117MIDI OUT Page 16The MIDI Out Mode determines whether the MIDI [OUTPUT] connector willtransmit

Chapter 2: Your First SessionThe QS provides 640 internal Programs, divided into 5 Banks of 128 Programs each.More Programs can be added by inserting

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 118118CLOCK PAGE 19The Clock function, found on Page 18 of Global Edit Mode, determines the samplec

Global Settings: Chapter 8QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 119119

MIDI Transfer and Storage Operations: Chapter 9CHAPTER 9MIDI TRANSFER AND STORAGEOPERATIONSUSING PCMCIA EXPANSION CARDSThe QS provides two PCMCIA EXPA

Chapter 9: MIDI Transfer and Storage OperationsLOADING A BANK FROM AN EXTERNAL CARDThe QS can read data directly from a card by using the [ BANK] and

MIDI Transfer and Storage Operations: Chapter 9LOADING AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM OR MIXYou can load a single Mix or Program from a Sound Card into the Use

Chapter 9: MIDI Transfer and Storage OperationsSAVING PROGRAMS VIA MIDI SYS EXAs an alternative to storing data to a card, the QS lets you transmit in

MIDI Transfer and Storage Operations: Chapter 9To send a single Program via MIDI to a different Program number:¿ Follow steps ¿ through ¬ in the instr

Troubleshooting: Appendix AAPPENDIX ATROUBLE-SHOOTINGTROUBLE-SHOOTING INDEXIf you are experience problems while operating the QS, please use the follo

Appendix A: TroubleshootingMAINTENANCE/SERVICECLEANINGDisconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the keyboard’s metal andplastic surfaces.

Troubleshooting: Appendix AService address for customers in the USA:Alesis Product Support3630 Holdrege AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90016Customers outside

Your First Session: Chapter 2The QS is always in one of two modes: Program Mode or Mix Mode. When you areauditioning Programs, you will be in Program

MIDI Supplement: Appendix BAPPENDIX BMIDI SUPPLEMENTMIDI BASICSMost current electronic instruments and signal processors, including the QS, containan

Appendix B: MIDI SupplementMIDI MESSAGE BASICSThe are two main types of MIDI messages. Channel messages, which are channel-specific, consist of Voice

MIDI Supplement: Appendix BEach type of controller is stamped with its own controller identification number. Not allcontroller numbers have been stand

Appendix B: MIDI SupplementSYSTEM COMMON MESSAGESIntended for all units in a system, some of these MIDI messages are:Song Position Pointer. This indic

MIDI Supplement: Appendix BThere are three MIDI registered parameters which the QS will recognize in Mix PlayMode when General MIDI Mode is enabled. T

MIDI Implementation ChartMIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHARTFunction Transmitted Recognized RemarksBasicChannelDefaultChanged1 — 161 — 16 each1 — 161 — 16 each

Parameters Index: Appendix CAPPENDIX C:PARAMETERS INDEXPROGRAM EDIT PARAMETERSParameter FunctionDisplayPagePage inManualAftertouch Depth: Amp Amp/Rang

Appendix C: Parameters IndexParameter Function PagePage inManualModulation: Gate Mode Mod 1 – 3 4 71Modulation Level Mod 1 – 6 3 71Modulation: Quantiz

Parameters Index: Appendix CParameter Function PagePage inManualVelocity Curve/Crossfade Amp/Range 1 58Sound Group Voice 3 51Sound Name Voice 4 51Soun

Chapter 2: Your First SessionSELECTING THE MIDI CHANNEL IN PROGRAM MODEWhile in Program Play Mode (press [PROGRAM]), the QS can transmit and receivein

IndexINDEXAftertouch 15Amp 62Filter 60Pitch 58Compare 29, 34Computer 23, 117Controllers 115CopySound 85Effects 85Demo 11Direct Select 33Digital Output

Index142 QS7/QS8 Reference Manual

Your First Session: Chapter 2REALTIME PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONSThe QS provides various ways to control the sound as you are playing. Try out someof these

Chapter 2: Your First Sessionsliders (unless the “Controller Mode” function is turned on in page 17 of Global mode;see page 115 for more information).

Your First Session: Chapter 2CHOOSING PROGRAMS IN A MIXIn this section, we will choose Programs for the 16 channels in a Mix, for playing backtracks f

Chapter 2: Your First SessionSTORING AN EDITED MIXOnce you have made changes to a Mix, you will need to store the Mix into the UserBank; that is, if y

Your First Session: Chapter 2Your QS is an expandable system using the two PCMCIA EXPANSION CARD slotson the back panel. There are three different ki

IntroductionThank you for purchasing the Alesis QS7/QS8 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer. Totake full advantage of the QS’s functions, and to enjoy lon

Chapter 2: Your First SessionJIf an internal Program uses one or more Sounds that reside on a sound card, thesound card must be inserted into the same

Connections: Chapter 3CHAPTER 3CONNECTIONSBASIC MIDI HOOKUPMIDI is an internationally-accepted protocol that allows musical-related data to beconveyed

Chapter 3: ConnectionsUSING AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCERThe QS can generate MIDI signals that are recorded by a sequencer. On playback,the sequencer sends th

Connections: Chapter 3The QS can communicate directly with a computer via its [SERIAL PORT] connector.This eliminates the need for an additional compu

Chapter 3: ConnectionsConnect one end of a DIN-8 cable to the QS’s [SERIAL PORT] connector and theother end to either the MODEM serial port or the PRI

Connections: Chapter 3before powering up the QS; on power up, it will automatically sense the footswitchpolarity and calibrate itself accordingly.JIf

Chapter 3: ConnectionsConnect a BNC-to-BNC cable (such as the Alesis BN cable) between the BRC’s 48kHz CLOCK OUT and the QS’s [48 KHZ IN]. Set the Clo

Overview: Chapter 4CHAPTER 4OVERVIEWBASIC ARCHITECTUREThe QS contains 16 megabytes of Sound ROM which provide digitized acoustic andelectronic samples

Chapter 4: OverviewMODESThe QS is always in one of two main modes: Program Play Mode or Mix Play Mode.Pressing [PROGRAM] selects Program Play Mode, wh

Overview: Chapter 4Mix Edit Mode lets you change the parameters of an existing Mix. Up to 16 Programscan be active in each Mix, and Mix Edit mode set

2 QS7/QS8 Reference Manual

Chapter 4: OverviewTHE USER INTERFACE: DISPLAY, FUNCTIONS, PAGES, ANDPARAMETERSThe key to the QS user interface is the combination of the Display, the

Overview: Chapter 4When [EDIT SELECT] is pressed, the display enters Edit Mode (which Edit Mode youare in depends on whether you were already in Progr

Chapter 4: OverviewPAGE BUTTONSThe [ PAGE] and [PAGE ] buttons serve two purposes. In Program Play Modeand Mix Play Mode, they are used to select a M

Overview: Chapter 4The upper-right section of the display will indicate the currently selected pagenumber. Each page provides a different parameter. T

Chapter 4: Overview30 SELECT SOUND4SELECT SOUND4SELECTCHANNEL 14SELECT SEND440 VOICE VOICE SELECTCHANNEL 15CONFIGURATION50 LEVEL LEVEL SELECTCHANNEL 1

Overview: Chapter 4COMPARING EDITED AND STORED VERSIONSWhen you edit a Program or Mix, you are actually editing a copy which is in atemporary edit buf

Chapter 4: OverviewThe [STORE] button selects Store mode. Store mode has 7 pages which you canscroll through by using the [ PAGE] and [PAGE ] buttons

Overview: Chapter 4COPYING SOUNDS BETWEEN PROGRAMSFollow the steps below to copy one of the four Sound layers from one Program toanother Program in th

Chapter 4: OverviewTO AUDITION PROGRAMS BEFORE STORINGTo look for available memory locations to permanently store your Program into, youcan move betwe

Overview: Chapter 4To audition Programs before overwriting them with STORE…when editing a Program in Mix Play Mode:¿ While in Mix Program Edit mode, p

Table of ContentsCONTENTS1: SETTING UP... 7Unpacking

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 39CHAPTER 5EDITING MIXESWHAT IS A MIX?Mix Mode is one of the most powerful features of the QS. Althou

Chapter 5: Editing Mixes40 QS7/QS8 Reference ManualOnce in Mix Edit Mode, use the [0] - [9] and [00] - [50] buttons to select a MIDIchannel to edit (1

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 41Program into the User Bank. If you select another Mix before storing, your changeswill be lost.LEVE

Chapter 5: Editing Mixes42 QS7/QS8 Reference Manual

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 43PITCHThe Pitch function (press [70]) lets you transpose a channel’s Program in eithersemitone or oc

Chapter 5: Editing Mixes44 QS7/QS8 Reference ManualCONTROLLERSThe Controllers function (press [100]) lets you turn on and off the various MIDIcontroll

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 45SETTING THE RANGE AND MIDI SWITCHESThe Range function (press [110]) allows you to restrict each MID

Chapter 5: Editing Mixes46 QS7/QS8 Reference ManualPOLYPHONY IN MIX PLAY MODEThe QS has 64-note polyphony. In Mix Play Mode, if you have all 16 MIDI

Editing Mixes: Chapter 5QS7/QS8 Reference Manual 47CH SOLO. In this mode, the only sounds coming from the QS, and the only MIDIOut messages, will come

Editing Programs: Chapter 6CHAPTER 6EDITING PROGRAMSOVERVIEWSynthesizer programming is the art and science of shaping sounds in a particular wayby alt

Table of ContentsThe User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages, and Parameters ...30About the Display...

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsHOW THE QS GENERATES SOUNDThe QS uses custom integrated circuits, developed by the Alesis engineering teamspecifically for

Editing Programs: Chapter 6• When you want to layer more than four voices. In Mix Play Mode, it is possible(though not advisable) to stack all 64 voi

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsVOICEThis digitally-based oscillator provides the actual raw sounds from the 16 megabytelibrary of on-board samples. The os

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Each voice/filter combination is followed by an amplifier whose level can be controlledby a variety of modulation sources.

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsLFO (LOW FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR)The pitch, filter, and amp modules each have a dedicated LFO module formodulation. The term L

Editing Programs: Chapter 6DRUM MODEAny one or all of the four sounds in a Program can be put into Drum Mode. The DrumMode parameter is found in the M

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsPROGRAM EDIT FUNCTIONSTo edit a Program you must select Program Edit mode. This is done by pressing the[EDIT SELECT] once f

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Sound Group (17 options) Page 3Choose from among 16 different sample groups (see chart below).Sound Page 4Selects one of th

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsWavePure Sine, 10% Pulse, 20% Pulse, 50% Pulse, Velo Pulse, Mini Saw, Saw Fltr 1, Saw Fltr 2,Saw Fltr 3, Saw Fltr 4, Saw Fl

Editing Programs: Chapter 6LEVELThe Level function (press [40]) allows you to control the volume, pan position, outputassignment and effects send leve

Table of ContentsPitch LFO ...76Filter LFO ...

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsPITCHThe Pitch function (press [60]) lets you control the pitch aspects of each sound layer.Semitone (-24 to +24 semitones)

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Portamento (Exponential, Linear, 1 Speed) Page 8This provides the sweep’s “curve.”• With an exponential curve, the pitch ch

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsFILTERThe Filter function (press [70]) lets you control the tone of each sound layer.Filter Frequency (00 to 99) Page 1This

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Modulation Wheel Depth (-99 to +99) Page 4Determines how moving the modulation wheel affects the filter cutoff frequency.Ex

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsAMP/RANGEThe Amp/Range function (press [80]) lets you control the velocity and keyboard rangeof each sound layer.Velocity C

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Amp LFO Depth (-99 to +99) Page 3At +00, the Amp LFO has no effect. Higher positive values increase the amount ofLFO modula

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsSound Overlap (00 to 99) Page 6This determines how many voices can overlap on the same pitch. Example: If youhold the susta

Editing Programs: Chapter 6PITCH ENVELOPEThe Pitch Envelope function (press [90]) can lead to dramatic effects, since it cancause the pitch of a singl

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsDelay (00 to 99, Hold) Page 5This is the amount of time that the envelope will wait before doing anything; veryuseful if yo

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Sustain Pedal (On or Off) Page 9This determines whether or not the Sustain Pedal will have an effect on the envelope.When t

Table of ContentsStoring an Individual Program or Mix...122Loading an Indivi

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsFILTER ENVELOPEThe Filter Envelope function (press [100]) is crucial whenever you want the tonalquality of a note to change

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Delay (00 to 99) Page 5This is the amount of time that the envelope will wait before doing anything; veryuseful if you want

Chapter 6: Editing Programsimportant differences. If the Delay and Attack are set to 0 and either the Decay is 0 orthe Sustain is 99, the envelope wil

Editing Programs: Chapter 6level until you release the note on the keyboard, or decay to 0 at the Sustain Decayrate (which is on page 2 of the envelop

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsTime Tracking (On or Off) Page 8This determines whether or not keyboard position will affect the cycle speed of theenvelope

Editing Programs: Chapter 6MOD 1 – MOD 6About General Purpose ModulationAlthough there are several dedicated modulators in the QS (e.g., the pitch can

Chapter 6: Editing Programsall keys being pressed. This affects any keys that are held down. The harder youpress on the keys, the greater the degree o

Editing Programs: Chapter 6• Controllers (A, B, C, D) Four incoming MIDI controllers can be recognized bythe QS and used as modulation sources. Thes

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsPITCH LFOThe Pitch LFO function (press [7]) is most often used to apply vibrato to a sound.JThe following Pitch LFO variabl

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Trigger (Mono, Poly, Key Mono, or Key Poly) Page 4The Trigger parameter determines how the LFO should be triggered, or star

Setting Up: Chapter 1CHAPTER 1SETTING UPUNPACKING AND INSPECTIONYour QS7/QS8 synthesizer was packed carefully at the factory. The shipping cartonwas d

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsAftertouch Depth (-99 to 99) Page 7This is the modulation amount of Aftertouch over the Pitch LFO’s Level. A positivevalue

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Mod Wheel Depth (-99 to 99) Page 6This parameter sets how much the Mod Wheel will increase or decrease the FilterLFO’s Leve

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsLevel (00 to 99) Page 5This is the base output level of the Amp LFO. If you want to have a constant value oftremolo, even w

Editing Programs: Chapter 6to “Pitch” and the Tracking Generator’s input is an LFO using an “Up Sawtooth” as itswaveform.TIP:The Tracking Generator ca

Chapter 6: Editing ProgramsPROGRAMMING DRUM SOUNDSTo program a sound in Drum Mode, you must first set the Sound Type to “Drum” forthat particular soun

Editing Programs: Chapter 6WaveHigh Sine, Mid Sine, Low Sine, HiWhitNoiz, MidWhtNoiz, LowWhtNoiz, HiSpectral,LoSpectral, HiCrickets, LoCrickets, Inhar

Chapter 6: Editing Programsresult in a duller sound (less high frequencies). When this parameter is set to 0,velocity will have no affect on the filte

Editing Programs: Chapter 6Mute Group (Off, 1, 2, or 3) Page 2This is an important feature when using multiple sounds of the same instrument. MuteGrou

Chapter 6: Editing Programs√ Press [s VALUE] four times to select “EFFECT”, which is the Effects Patch in thecurrently selected Program to copy from.ƒ

Editing Effects: Chapter 7CHAPTER 7EDITING EFFECTSABOUT SIGNAL PROCESSINGThe built-in effects processor of the QS is similar to that of the Alesis Qua

Chapter 1: Setting UpLINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORSAlthough the QS is designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, in today’s world thevoltage c

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsSELECTING AN EFFECTS PATCH IN MIX MODEEach Program has its own Effects Patch that is recalled when you select a Program inPr

Editing Effects: Chapter 7The Effects Patches themselves are not edited in Program Edit Mode or Mix EditMode, but (could you guess it?) Effects Edit M

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsSTORING EFFECT PATCHES IN PROGRAM MODEEffects are an extension of a Program. So, when you store a Program, you store itsEffe

Editing Effects: Chapter 7CONFIGURATIONSA Configuration is essentially the starting point of any Effects Patch. You must selectthe Configuration you a

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsCONFIGURATION #1: 1 REVERBPitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1Mono chorus Mono delay Plate 1Stereo chorus Stereo delay Plate 2Mono flang

Editing Effects: Chapter 7Think of the diagram as a “road map” showing all possible paths from the startingpoints (FX SEND 1 through 4) to the ultimat

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsCONFIGURATION #2: 2 REVERBSDelay 1 Pitch 1 Reverb 1Mono delay Mono chorus Plate 1Stereo chorus Plate 2RoomHallLargeGateRever

Editing Effects: Chapter 7CONFIGURATION #3: LEZLIE AND REVERBPitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1Lezlie Mono delay Plate 1Plate 2HallRoomHallLargeGateReversePitch

Chapter 7: Editing EffectsCONFIGURATION #4: REVERB AND EQPitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1Mono chorus Mono delay Plate 1Stereo chorus Stereo delay Plate 2Mono

Editing Effects: Chapter 7CONFIGURATION #5: OVERDRIVE AND LEZLIEPitch 1 Delay 1 Reverb 1Mono chorus Mono delay Plate 1Mono flange Stereo delay Plate 2