Alesis QS6.2, QS8.2

Introduction

6

Unpacking and Inspection

The shipping carton for your QS should contain the following items:

• QS synthesizer

• Sustain pedal

• AC power cable

• This instruction manual

Please log on to the Alesis website at www.alesis.com to register your new

QS synthesizer. This will help us give you the best support we possibly

can.

How to Use This Manual

We’re sure you’d like to jump in and start using your QS synthesizer

quickly. To help you do this, refer to Chapter 1 for hook-up instructions,

then follow the “First Session” tutorial in Chapter 2. This will get you

playing in no time. If you have any questions, refer to the FAQ in

Chapter 12.

For more information on other features of your QS (such as how to use

it with expansion cards and MIDI), refer to Chapters 3 through 6.

True synthesists who want to create their own sounds should refer to

Chapters 7 through 11.

Near the end of the manual are troubleshooting tips, specifications, and

an Index to help you find what you're looking for.

New terms are shown in bold. All buttons, knobs, and switches on the

QS are referred to in bracketed capital letters that match the instrument’s

actual markings. Here are some examples:

[PROGRAM] refers to the button to the right of the display that says

“PROGRAM” on it.

[CONTROLLER D] is the slider with “D” printed underneath.

[00] refers to one of numbered buttons to the right of the display.

[PITCH] is the control wheel at the left side of the instrument.

[SUS PEDAL] is the rear panel jack you’d plug the sustain pedal into.

Helpful tips and advice a

re highlighted in a

shaded box like this

When something important appears in the

manual, an exclamation mark (like the one

shown at left) will appear with some

explanatory text.

Contents

Main Page Chapter 3: Overview ..........................................17 Chapter 4: Expansion Cards ............................21 Chapter 5: MIDI ..................................................25 Chapter 6: Global Parameters.........................29 Chapter 7: Editing Programs...........................33 Chapter 8: Modulations.....................................49 Chapter 9: Editing Drum Kits .........................57 Chapter 10: Editing Mixes................................63 Table of Contents Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions ...89 Page Welcome! Unpacking and Inspection How to Use This Manual Important Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions (English) Safety symbols used in this product Please follow these precautions when using this product: Instructions de Scurit Importantes (French) Symboles utiliss dans ce produit Veuillez suivre ces prcautions lors de lutilisation de lappareil: Important Safety Instructions Lesen Sie bitte die folgende Sicherheitshinweise (German) Sicherheit Symbole verwendet in diesem Produkt Folgen Sie bitte diesen Vorkehrungen, wenn dieses Produkt verwendet wird: CE Declaration Of Conformity FCC Compliance Statement 1 Connections Connecting AC Power Making Audio Connections Connecting the Foot Pedals 1 Connections Connection Diagram Playing the Demos Playing Programs Finding Programs Playing Split and Layered Programs (Mixes) Changing the Programs in a Mix First Session 2 Selecting Banks Using the Performance Controls Transposing the Keyboard Storing and Copying The Front Panel Controls The Play Modes Program Mode Mix Mode What the Other Buttons Do Overview 3 The Edit Modes Program Edit Mode Mix Edit Mode Effects Edit Mode Global Mode Store Mode Navigating and Entering Data Special Editing Features Compare 4 Expansion Cards PCMCIA Expansion Cards Playing Card Sounds Playing Card Sequences 4 Expansion Cards Saving a Bank to an SRAM Card (Formatting) Saving a Program or Mix to an SRAM Card Expansion Cards 4 Loading a Program or Mix from a Card Transferring Mix Banks Page What is MIDI? MIDI Connections Page MIDI 5 Using Your QS With a MIDI Sequencer Changing the MIDI Channel Saving Programs and Mixes Via MIDI Loading Programs and Mixes Via MIDI What are the Global Parameters? Entering Global Mode The Global Pages Setting the Master Pitch Fine Tuning Setting the Keyboard Velocity Scaling Transposing the Keyboard Setting the Keyboard MIDI Mode Global Parameters 6 Turning on General MIDI Setting the A-D Controller MIDI Numbers Setting the Pedal 1 MIDI Controller Number Setting the Pedal 2 MIDI Controller Number Setting the Behavior of the MIDI Out Port Resetting the A-D Controllers Setting the A-D Controller MIDI Mode QS Composite Synthesis The Voice Lowpass Filter Amplifier The Four Sound Layers of a Program Page Editing Programs 7 The Effects Section Editing a Program Program Edit Functions Selecting a Sound to Edit [00-30 SOUND] The Voice Function [40 VOICE] Turning Sounds On and Off Selecting Keyboard or Drum Mode Selecting a Sample Category Selecting a Sample 37 Group Sample The Level Function [50 LEVEL] Setting the Sound Volume Adjusting the Panning Routing Sounds to the Outputs Editing Programs 7 Setting the FX Send Level Selecting the FX Send The Pitch Function [60 PITCH] Setting the Pitch Setting the Pitch Wheel Bend Amount Setting the Aftertouch Pitch Bend Amount Setting the Pitch LFO Amount Setting the Pitch Envelope Amount Editing Programs 7 Setting the Portamento Mode Setting the Portamento Glide Time Setting Monophonic or Polyphonic Mode The Filter Function [70 FILTER] Turning On Filter Keyboard Tracking Setting Velocity Filter Tracking Setting the Mod Wheel Filter Depth Setting the Aftertouch Filter Depth Setting the Filter LFO Amount Editing Programs 7 Setting the Filter Envelope Amount The Amp/Range Function [80 AMP/RANGE] Selecting the Velocity Curve Setting the Aftertouch Volume Depth Setting the Amplitude LFO Amount Setting the Lower Keyboard Limit Setting the Upper Keyboard Limit Setting the Sound Overlap Amount The Pitch Envelope Function [90 PITCH ENVELOPE] Editing Programs 7 The Amplitude Envelope Function [110 AMP ENVELOPE] Setting Envelope Parameters Setting the Envelope Attack Time Setting the Envelope Decay Time Setting the Envelope Delay Time Setting the Envelope Sustain Decay Time Setting the Envelope Trigger Type Editing Programs 7 47 Activating Envelope Key Tracking Activating the Sustain Pedal Setting the Envelope Level Copying Sound Layers [STORE] Auditioning Programs Before Storing The Mod Routes Hard Wired Mod Routes Editing the Mod Routes Selecting a Mod Route [0-5 MOD] Choosing the Mod Source Modulations 8 Choosing the Mod Destination Setting the Mod Level Turning On the Mod Gate Turning On Quantization The Pitch LFO Function [6 PITCH LFO] The Filter LFO Function [7 FILTER LFO] Modulations 8 Selecting the LFO Waveform Setting the LFO Speed Setting the LFO Delay Setting the Trigger Type Setting the LFO Level Mod Wheel LFO Depth Aftertouch LFO Depth Scaling Modulation Sources [9 TRACK GEN] Page Selecting the Tracking Generator Input Setting a Tracking Point Drum Mode Editing in Drum Mode Selecting a Drum to Edit [0-9 DRUM] Selecting the Drum Sample [40 VOICE] 58 Here is a chart listing the various drum samples in their respective groups. Group Voice Kick Editing Drum Kits 9 The Level Function [50 LEVEL] Setting the Drum Volume Setting the Drum Panning Routing Drums to the Outputs The Pitch Function [60 PITCH] Tuning the Drum Sound Setting Pitch Velocity Sensitivity Setting the Velocity Filter Curve [70 FILTER] The Amp/Range Function [80 AMP/RANGE] Editing Drum Kits 9 Choosing the Base Note for the Drum Sound Setting the Note Range for the Drum Sound The Amp/Env Function [AMP ENV 110] Setting the Drums Decay Time Page What is a Mix? Mix Editing Changing the Programs Within a Mix Getting Into Mix Edit Mode The Mix Edit Pages The Level Function [60 LEVEL] Enabling a Mix Channel Setting the Mix Channel Volume Setting the Mix Channel Panning Routing the Mix Channel to the Outputs Editing Mixes 10 Setting the Mix Channel Effects Send Level Selecting the Mix Channel Effects Send The Pitch Function [70 PITCH] Shifting the Mix Channel Pitch by Octaves Setting Which Programs Effects Will be Used The Keyboard/MIDI Function [90 KEYBOARD/MIDI] Enabling MIDI Input for the Mix Channel Enabling MIDI Output for the Mix Channel Enabling the Keyboard for the Mix Channel Editing Mixes 10 The Controller Function [100 CONTROLLERS] Enabling MIDI for the Wheels Enabling MIDI Aftertouch Enabling MIDI for the Sustain Pedal Setting the Lower Keyboard Limit (Split Point) Setting the Upper Keyboard Limit (Split Point) Naming the Mix [120 NAME] The Mix Edit Buffers QS Parallel Matrix Effects Setting the Send Levels Getting Into Effects Edit Mode What the Numbered Buttons Do Storing Effects Settings Copying Effects Editing Effects 11 Hearing the Effects Only If the Effects Inputs Clip (!) The Effects Edit Pages The Configuration Function [40 CONFIGURATION] Configuration 1: 1 REVERB NOTE: Each Pitch, Delay and Reverb Editing Effects 11 Configuration 2: 2 REVERBS Configuration 3: LEZLIE+REVERB Editing Effects 11 Configuration 4: 1 REVERB+EQ Configuration 5: OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE Selecting a Send to Edit [00-30 SEND] The EQ Function [50 EQ] Setting the EQ Low Shelf Frequency Setting the EQ Low Shelf Boost Setting the EQ High Shelf Frequency Editing Effects 11 Setting the EQ High Shelf Boost The Mod Function [60 MOD] Choosing the Mod Source Choosing the Mod Destination Setting the Mod Level The Lezlie Function [70 LEZLIE] Selecting the Lezlie Input 1 Source (Config 5) Selecting the Lezlie Input 2 Source (Config 5) Setting the Balance Between the Lezlie Inputs (Config 5 Only) Editing Effects 11 Turning On the Lezlie Motor Setting the Lezlie Speed Setting the Lezlie Horn Level The Pitch Function [80 PITCH] Adjusting the Pitch Effect Input Level in 2 REVERBS Setting the Chorus LFO Wave Shape Editing Effects 11 Setting the Flanger Feedback Type Setting the Chorus/Flanger LFO Speed Setting the Chorus/Flanger LFO Depth Setting the Chorus/Flanger Feedback Setting the Resonator Decay Time Selecting the Pitch Effect Input 2 Source in OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE Setting the Pitch Effect Input Balance in OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE The Delay Function [90 DELAY] Choosing the Delay Type Editing Effects 11 Selecting the Delay Input 2 Source in OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE Setting the Delay Input Balance Setting the Delay Time Setting the Delay Feedback Amount Selecting the Reverb Input 1 Source Selecting the Reverb Input 2 Source Setting the Reverb Input Balance Setting the Reverb Input Level Setting the Send 2 Reverb Input Level (2 REVERBS Only) Editing Effects 11 Setting the Send 4 Reverb Input Level (2 REVERBS Only) Setting the Pitch Effect Output into the Reverb (2 REVERBS Only) Reverb Parameters Selecting the Reverb Type Setting the Reverb Predelay Time Setting the Reverb Predelay Mix Setting the Reverb Input Filter Frequency Setting the Reverb Decay Time Setting the Reverb Hi/Low Decay Time Editing Effects 11 Setting the Reverb Hi/Low Decay Time Setting the Reverb Diffusion The Overdrive Function [110 OVERDRIVE] Selecting the Overdrive Type Setting the Overdrive Brightness Setting the Overdrive Mix Setting the Effects Output Levels [120 MIX] Setting the Effects Mix into the Main Outputs A Frequently Asked Questions How do I split the keyboard? How do I layer two sounds on the keyboard? What is a MIDI Sequence? Where can I get MIDI sequences for the QS? A Frequently Asked Questions How do I load samples into the QS? Where can I get Q Cards? Where can I get SRAM cards and Flash cards? Where can I get more Banks? B Sound Bridge Using Sound Bridge to Create Your Own Sound Cards Sending Sequence Data to External Devices Sound Bridge Instrument Format Page Sending and Receiving Bank Select Messages Transmitting MIDI Volume and Panning MIDI Supplement C MIDI Controller Numbers 96 MIDI Implementation Chart * * * * * * * * General MIDI Page D Troubleshooting Recovering from a Crash Re-Initializing Checking the Software Version Cleaning Your QS Page Page Page 103 Alesis Limited Warranty Alesis Contact Information For more effective service and