Alesis QS7.1, QS8.1 manual Keyboard Mode Mono, Poly, 1-Pitch or 1-PMono

Editing Programs: Part 8

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.

TIP: With a feedback guitar patch that uses one Sound for the guitar and one Sound for the feedback, setting the feedback sound to Mono Keyboard Mode insures that your feedback “whistle” will be monophonic, which more accurately mimics what happens when you play lead guitar.

Use 1-PITCHmode when you want a program Sound layer to play a single pitch polyphonically throughout the entire keyboard range. In 1-PITCH mode, the QS will play the sample used for note C3 for all notes in the range. 1-PITCH mode is often used for layering a noise or drum sound behind another sound that is pitched, for example, to fatten up a bass guitar sound with a hint of kick drum, or to have the same cymbal hit every time any note is played. Alternatively, 1-PMONOmode is a monophonic version of 1-PITCH.

Sometimes when playing a monophonic instrument, you will not want the envelopes to retrigger when playing legato, as this would sound unrealistic. Imagine a flute- player beginning each note in a phrase with a sharp, breathy attack. In reality, the player would only attack the first note in the phrase this way. If the QS's Keyboard Mode is set to “Mono” and you're striving for this sort of realistic articulation, we recommend an envelope Trigger mode of "Normal". This is because the three envelopes (Pitch Envelope, Filter Envelope and Amp Envelope) will retrigger with every note you play when their Trigger Modes are set to “Reset” or “Reset-Freerun”. For more information on the various Envelope Trigger modes, see pages 131 and 134.

QS7.1/QS8.1 Reference Manual