Alesis QSR 64 manual Modes, Program Play Mode, Mix Play Mode, Program Edit Mode

Overview: Chapter 4

MODES

The QSR is always in one of two main modes: Program Play Mode or Mix Play Mode. Pressing [PROG] selects Program Play Mode, while pressing [MIX] selects Mix Play Mode. While in Program Play Mode, you can press [EDIT] to access Program Edit Mode and Effects Edit Mode. While in Mix Play Mode, pressing [EDIT] alternates between Mix Edit Mode, Program Edit Mode and Effects Edit Mode. Once [EDIT] has been pressed (the lower-left corner of the display reads “EDIT”), pressing BANK SELECT [DOWN] accesses Compare Mode (if the Program/Mix has been edited, and pressing BANK SELECT [UP] accesses Global Edit Mode. Pressing [STORE] accesses Store Mode. Here are descriptions of these modes:

PROGRAM PLAY MODE

Program Play Mode lets you play the QSR’s various Programs one at a time. The QSR contains 512 Preset and 128 User Programs (i.e., the sounds of various instruments, effects, ensembles, etc.) that show off just how cool this instrument really is. Initially, the 4 Preset Banks and the User Bank contain data loaded in at the factory. The User Programs can be edited or replaced with your own Programs. However, you cannot replace the Preset Programs, because these are stored in ROM (permanent memory). In Program Play Mode, the QSR responds to or generates messages on a single MIDI channel.

MIX PLAY MODE

Mix Play Mode lets you audition the QSR’s various Mixes. The QSR contains 400 Preset Mixes and 100 User Mixes. A Mix can combine up to 16 different Programs, controlled by 16 channels of MIDI data at once. Therefore, much thicker and richly textured sounds can be created. In Mix Play Mode, the QSR can be used in a wide range of applications. It can be used for live performance, where sounds are layered or assigned to sections of the controller keyboard. It can also be used as a multitimbral sound source for desktop music and home studio applications. A Mix uses the Effects Patch associated with one of its Programs. Although there may be 16 Programs in a Mix, there can only be one Effects Patch per Mix. In Mix Mode, the QSR can respond to messages on up to 16 MIDI channels simultaneously; different channels are available depending on which Mix is selected.

PROGRAM EDIT MODE

In Program Edit Mode, you can change the various settings which determine the sound of an individual Program, or create an entirely new Program from scratch. Each Program is made up of four Sound layers, which you can edit individually, or simultaneously. In Program Edit mode you can:

•select which sample waveform from the 16 megabytes of onboard sample ROM will be used, in each of the 4 sounds;

•change the tone, level, attack and decay characteristics, modulation inputs, and pitch of each layer;

•set modulation routings whereby any parameter can be controlled via MIDI;

•set the effect level for each Sound layer, and set which of the four effect sends each Sound layer will use for signal processing (such as reverb, delay, and chorus—or any combination of these).

QSR Reference Manual 2