Alesis VX 49 User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.0

2
Table of Contents
(Click a chapter/section to skip to it.)
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Box Contents ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Support........................................................................................................................................................... 5
About This User Guide.................................................................................................................................. 5
Initial Setup ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
1. Software/Driver Download and Installation ........................................................................................... 6
2. Controller Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3. Software-Controller Configuration.......................................................................................................... 7
With VIP in Your DAW................................................................................................................................. 7
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) ......................................................................................... 8
With Your DAW Only................................................................................................................................... 8
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer) ................................................................................ 8
Features.............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Top Panel ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Rear Panel.................................................................................................................................................... 11

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Operation.......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Setup Scenarios .......................................................................................................................................... 13
With VIP in Your DAW............................................................................................................................... 13
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) ....................................................................................... 13
With Your DAW Only................................................................................................................................. 14
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer) .............................................................................. 14
Display and Navigation ............................................................................................................................... 15
Basic Functions ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Loading DAW Presets............................................................................................................................... 16
Loading Patches ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Controlling Your Patch or Your DAW ....................................................................................................... 17
Modes........................................................................................................................................................... 18
Main Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 18
Selecting the Browser or Setlists ........................................................................................................... 19
Loading Patches.................................................................................................................................... 19
Loading and Saving DAW Presets ......................................................................................................... 20
Editing Various Global Settings .............................................................................................................. 21
Setup Mode .............................................................................................................................................. 22
Loading and Saving DAW Presets ......................................................................................................... 22
Editing Various Global Settings .............................................................................................................. 23
Browser Mode .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Selecting Tag Categories....................................................................................................................... 24
Loading Patches.................................................................................................................................... 25
Loading Multi Slots ................................................................................................................................ 25
Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Available Global Settings........................................................................................................................ 26
Control Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 29
Adjusting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 29
Control Edit Mode..................................................................................................................................... 30
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 30
Editing Control Parameters.................................................................................................................... 30
Available Control Parameters................................................................................................................. 31

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MIDI Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 34
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 34
Adjusting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 34
MIDI Edit Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 35
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 35
Editing Control Parameters.................................................................................................................... 35
Available Control Parameters................................................................................................................. 36
Multi Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 41
About Multis .......................................................................................................................................... 41
Creating and Editing Multis .................................................................................................................... 41
Adjusting Multi Slots .............................................................................................................................. 42
Multi Edit Mode......................................................................................................................................... 43
Editing Multi Slot Parameters................................................................................................................. 43
Available Multi Slot Parameters.............................................................................................................. 44
Timing Functions......................................................................................................................................... 45
Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 45
Tempo................................................................................................................................................... 45
Tap Tempo............................................................................................................................................ 45
Time Division ......................................................................................................................................... 45
Transport Control .................................................................................................................................. 45
Arpeggiator ............................................................................................................................................... 46
Note Repeat (Roll)..................................................................................................................................... 46
Technical Specifications................................................................................................................................. 47
Trademarks and Licenses .............................................................................................................................. 47

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Introduction
Box Contents
VX49
USB Cable
Software Download Card
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and
product registration, visit alesis.com.
About This User Guide
This User Guide was written to help you get familiar with the VX49 hardware.
For consistency and to help prevent confusion, we used a uniform set of symbols to show topics of interest
or significance:
Important/Note/Tip: Important or helpful information on a given topic.
Buttons, controls, parameters, and other important items are usually indicated in bold characters.
Examples: Press Multi.
Turn the Data Dial.
Select the Mode field.
Some text refers to other relevant sections, shown in blue, bold italic characters. Click the text to jump to
that part of the User Guide.
Examples: Make sure your VX49 box includes all of the items listed above in Box Contents.
For descriptions of VX49’s controls, please see the Features chapter.
To learn how to change an encoder’s minimum and maximum value, please see Modes >
Control Edit Mode.

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Initial Setup
1. Software/Driver Download and Installation
To download and install the required drivers, VIP software application, and virtual instruments:
1. Go to alesis.com and register your product. If you don’t have an Akai Professional account yet, you will
be prompted to create one.
2. Download the VX Software Package.
3. Open the file and double-click the installer application: .exe (Windows) or .dmg (Mac OS X).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note: By default, VIP will be installed in [your hard drive]\Program Files \VstPlugins (Windows) or
Applications (Mac OS X). A shortcut will be created on your Desktop, as well.
To download additional plugins and audio content:
1. Open VIP.
2. In VIP, click VX Content.
3. In the VX Content panel, select and download the plugins and audio content you want to use with VIP.
Follow the on-screen instructions for each selection.
Important: When installing these plugins, we recommend installing them on your computer’s internal
hard drive rather than on an external hard drive.
2. Controller Setup
Here is just an example of how to use VX49 to your setup. Items not listed under Introduction >Box
Contents are sold separately.
Powe
r
(optional)
Computer
Expression Pedal
(optional)
Sustain Pedal
(optional)
External MIDI
Sound Module
(optional)

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3. Software-Controller Configuration
This section describes how to start using your VX49. We recommend using VX49 with the included VIP
software which you can use to perform with, create, edit, and manage multiple plugin patches simultaneously.
To learn more about how you can use VX49 in each kind of setup, please see the Operation chapter.
Make sure you have installed the software (described earlier in 1. Software/Driver Download and
Installation) and connected VX49 to your computer, external MIDI equipment, and/or other devices
(described earlier in 2. Controller Setup).
With VIP in Your DAW
To set up VX49 with VIP in your DAW:
1. Power on your VX49, and open your DAW in your computer.
2. Make sure VX49 is selected as a controller in your DAW—you can usually do this in your DAW’s
Preferences, Device Setup, or Options.
3. In your DAW, create a new MIDI track (i.e., not an audio track).
4. Open VIP in your DAW as you would open a standard VST plugin. By default, VIP is installed in [your
hard drive]\Program Files \VstPlugins (Windows) or Applications (Mac OS X).
5. In VIP, click the Settings menu and select Plugin Manager.
6. At the bottom of the Plugin Manager window, click one of the Plugin Folder fields, and then select the
folder where your instrument plugins are located on your computer. You can select up to two locations
(one for each Plugin Folder field).
7. Click Scan. VIP will scan the folder/folders for available plugins, which will appear in the list. When the
process is complete, click OK to close the Settings window. VIP will return to its main window and begin
importing the patches (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes.
8. On VX49, turn the Data Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will appear
under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.
To learn more about how you can use VX49 in this kind of setup, please see Operation >Setup Scenarios
>With VIP in Your DAW.

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With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW)
To set up VX49 with VIP in Standalone Mode:
1. Power on your VX49.
2. Open VIP. By default, VIP is installed in [your hard drive]\Program Files \VstPlugins (Windows) or
Applications (Mac OS X).
3. In VIP, click the Settings menu and select Plugin Manager.
4. At the bottom of the Plugin Manager window, click one of the Plugin Folder fields, and then select the
folder where your instrument plugins are located on your computer. You can select up to two locations
(one for each Plugin Folder field).
5. Click Scan. VIP will scan the folder/folders for available plugins, which will appear in the list. When the
process is complete, click OK to close the Settings window. VIP will return to its main window and begin
importing the patches (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes.
6. On VX49, turn the Data Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will appear
under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.
To learn more about how you can use VX49 in this kind of setup, please see Operation >Setup Scenarios
>With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW).
With Your DAW Only
To set up VX49 with your DAW only:
1. Power on your VX49, and open your DAW in your computer.
2. Make sure VX49 is selected as a controller in your DAW—you can usually do this in your DAW’s
Preferences, Device Setup, or Options.
3. In your DAW, create a new MIDI track (i.e., not an audio track).
To learn more about how you can use VX49 in this kind of setup, please see Operation >Setup Scenarios
>With Your DAW Only.
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer)
To set up VX49 with external MIDI equipment:
1. Power on your VX49 and your external MIDI device.
2. If you are using a standard power adapter connected to VX49’s Power Input, you can start playing
immediately. VX49 is automatically set to send all of its MIDI messages to your external MIDI device via
the MIDI Out.
If you are using a USB charger to power VX49, set any relevant controls to send their MIDI messages out
of the MIDI Out. Any controls set to transmit only over the USB Port will not be sent to your external
MIDI device.
To learn more about how you can use VX49 in this kind of setup, please see Operation >Setup Scenarios
>With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer).

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Features
Top Panel
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1. Keyboard: This 49-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and, in conjunction with the Octave Up/Down
buttons, can control a 10-octave range.
2. Octave Down/Up: Use these buttons to shift the keyboard’s range up or down. Press both buttons
simultaneously to reset the octave shift to “zero.”
3. Pitch-Bend Wheel: Moving this wheel sends MIDI Pitch Bend information on a selected MIDI channel
and port.
4. Modulation Wheel: Moving this wheel sends continuous controller data—MIDI CC #01 (modulation), by
default.
5. Arp/Edit: Press this button to enable or disable the internal Arpeggiator whose rate is based on the
current Tempo and Time Division settings. The Arpeggiator will function on notes being played on the
keyboard only. You can also sync the Arpeggiator to an internal or external MIDI Clock source. Press
Shift and this button to configure the Arpeggiator’s settings.
6. Latch: Press this button to activate or deactivate the Arpeggiator’s Latch feature. When the Arpeggiator
is on and Latch is enabled, you can press a combination of keys on the keyboard and the Arpeggiator
continue to arpeggiate these notes even after you release the keys. Pressing a new combination of keys
will start a new arpeggiation.
Tip: While holding down a combination of keys on the keyboard, add more notes to that arpeggiated
chord by pressing additional keys.
7. Encoders: Use these 360º knobs to send MIDI CC or Increment/Decrement messages to your software
or external MIDI device.
8. Switches: Use these switches to send MIDI CC, Program Change, or Program Bank messages to your
software or external MIDI device. They can function as momentary or toggle (latching) switches. If Time
Division is activated, these switches select the time division of the Arpeggiator and Roll features.
9. Pads: Use these pads to send MIDI Note messages to your software or external MIDI sound module.
The pads are pressure- and velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and intuitive to play
when triggering drum hits or other samples.
10. Pad Bank: Use these buttons to select Pad Bank A, B, C, or D. Between these 4 banks with 8 pads per
bank, you can access up to 32 MIDI events.
11. Time Div: Use this button and the switches to select the current Time Division, which determines the
rate of the Roll and Arpeggiator features. While Time Division is active, the switches will not send any of
their normal MIDI CC, Program Change, or Program Bank messages.

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12. Full Level: Press this button to activate or deactivate Full Level. When Full Level is active, the pads
always play at their maximum velocity no matter how hard or soft you hit them.
13. Roll/Edit: Use this button to activate or deactivate Note Repeat (Roll). While active, striking a pad causes
its note to retrigger at a rate based on the current Tempo and Time Division settings. You can also sync
Note Repeat to an internal or external MIDI Clock source. Press Shift and this button to configure Note
Repeat’s settings.
14. Tap Tempo: Tap this button at the desired rate to enter a new tempo.
Important: This feature does not work when the VX49 is set to External sync.
15. Display: Use this full-color display to view VX49’s menus, options, parameters, and settings.
16. Page Left/Right: Use these buttons to move between the available pages in the display.
17. Data Dial: Use this dial to change parameter values, settings, etc. in the display. Pressing the dial also
functions as an Enter button.
18. Cursors: Use these buttons to navigate through the menus and options in the current page in the
display.
19. Mode Buttons: Press one of these buttons to enter its primary mode (labeled above the button). Press
and hold Shift and then press one of these buttons to its secondary mode (labeled under the button).
See Operation >Modes for more information.
20. Shift: Press and hold this button to enable secondary functions of certain other buttons on VX49.
21. Transport Control Buttons: These three buttons are dedicated buttons for sending conventional
transport control commands: Stop, Play, and Record. These can be set to send MIDI (Start/Stop), pre-
assigned MIDI CC values, MMC (MIDI Machine Control), and MMC/MIDI SysEx. The PTEX setting is for
use with Avid®Pro Tools®Express only.
22. Loop: Press and hold this button to activate the Loop or Repeat feature in your software. This button is
considered a transport control, so it can be set to send the same messages as the other transport
control buttons: MIDI (Start/Stop), pre-assigned MIDI CC values, MMC (MIDI Machine Control), and
MMC/MIDI SysEx. The PTEX setting is for use with Avid®Pro Tools®Express only.
Important: Your software must be able to loop or repeat in order to use this feature. Also, make sure
that you are using the VX49 Preset named after your particular software. If your software does not have a
corresponding VX49 Preset, configure the Transport Format in Global Mode so it communicates
properly with your software.