Alesis QSR 64 manual IBM PCS and Compatibles

Chapter 3: Connections

IBM® PCS AND COMPATIBLES

This connection will require a special cable with a DIN8 connector on one end and either a DB9 or DB25 connector on the other end, depending on the type of connector you are using on the PC. You can purchase this cable in most computer retailers or through Alesis Product Support (DIN8-to-DB9 cable: part number 15-00-0009; DIN8- to-DB25 cable: part number 15-00-0025). Some PCs will have both connectors available, so you’ll have to identify which connector is currently not in use.

Connect the DIN8 end of the cable to the QSR’s [SERIAL PORT] connector and the other end to the serial port of your computer. If your computer has more than one serial port, refer to the setup of your MIDI software to determine which port it is using.

Alesis provides a MIDI serial driver that works with Windows 3.1, Windows NT and Windows 95. This can be found on the QSR CD-ROM disk that came with your QSR package (located in the \ALESIS\ASDWIN\ directory). If you don’t have a CD- ROM drive connected to your computer, you can call Alesis Product Support and order the Windows MIDI driver on a 3-1/2 inch floppy disk. This driver is used to send and receive MIDI data from your QSR and the computer via a serial port connection. Once the MIDI driver has been successfully installed, you need to indicate to the driver which connector port the QSR is using.

WINDOWS 3.1: From your Windows 3.1 Control Panel, open the “Drivers” applet. Add an Unlisted or Updated driver and select or browse to the appropriate path for Windows to find the “ASDWIN” OEM setup info. Follow the instructions given by windows to install the driver.

SETUP FOR WINDOWS 95: Open Control Panels. Select “Add New Hardware”. Select “NO” to NOT have windows auto-detect hardware. Select “Sound, Video, Game controllers” as hardware type. When prompted for device, select “Have Disk”. Navigate to the OEM setup in the “ASDWIN” directory. Follow the Win95 instructions from there.

Please refer to the “READ_ME” file which accompanies the Alesis MIDI driver.

MACINTOSH™

Connect one end of a DIN-8 cable to the QSR’s [SERIAL PORT] connector and the other end to either the MODEM serial port or the PRINTER serial port, depending on which one you are using for sequencing.

MIDI sequencing software for the Macintosh typically defaults to using the MODEM port, but in actuality can be set to use either the MODEM or the PRINTER port, or both. If you have a printer connected, you will want to use the MODEM port; conversely, if you have a modem connected but do not have a printer, you will want to connect to the PRINTER port. If, however, both a printer and modem are connected, you will need to either temporarily disconnect one of them (preferably the modem; especially if the printer uses AppleTalk, since AppleTalk must be disabled to use the PRINTER port for MIDI) or purchase a multiple serial port box that will allow you to switch between the modem and the QSR.

4 QSR Referenc