Alesis QS6 User manual

ALESIS
QS6
Reference Manual

QS6 Reference Manual 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Alesis QS6 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer. To take
full advantage of the QS6’s functions, and to enjoy long and trouble-free use, please
read this user’s manual carefully.
How To Use This Manual
This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the
QS6. To get the most out of your QS6, read the entire manual once, then use the
table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using the instrument.
Chapter 1: Setting Up. Deals with the necessary preparation before playing,
including connections to external devices.
Chapter 2: Your First Session with the QS6. This section provides a brief tour of
the QS6, shows you how to audition the various sounds of the QS6, and points out
the various performance features.
Chapter 3: Connections. Details rear panel connections (like MIDI, footpedals and
the serial interface), proper hook-up procedures, plus application examples.
Chapter 4: Overview. Covers the structure of sound sources within the QS6, how to
read and navigate through the LCD display pages, how to edit parameters, and how
to store edited Programs and Mixes.
Chapter 5: Editing Mixes. Explains how to create and edit Mixes.
Chapter 6: Editing Programs. How to create and edit Programs.
Chapter 7: Editing Effects. How to create and edit Effects Patches.
Chapter 8: Global Settings. Describes all global functions, such as Master Tuning,
Keyboard Mode, Keyboard Scaling, and Program Change Mode.
Chapter 9: MIDI Transfer and Storage Operations. Discusses MIDI functions and
how to store sounds either to a MIDI device or to a RAM card.
Appendices. MIDI basics, trouble-shooting, maintenance and service information,
MIDI Implementation Chart and an Index.
Conventions
The buttons, knobs, and rear panel connectors and switches are referred to in this
manual just as their names appear on the QS6, using all capital letters and in
brackets ( Example: [PROGRAM] button, [
▲
PAGE] and [PAGE
▲
] buttons,
[CONTROLLER A] slider, etc.).
J
When something important appears in the manual, an icon (like the one on the left)
will appear in the left margin. This symbol indicates that this information is vital when
operating the QS6.
Mac™ and Macintosh™ are registered trademarks of Apple Corporation.

2QS6 Reference Manual

Table of Contents
QS6 Reference Manual 3
CONTENTS
1: SETTING UP.................................................................................................... 7
Unpacking and Inspection..............................................................................................7
AC Power.......................................................................................................................7
Line Conditioners and Protectors......................................................................7
About Audio Cables .......................................................................................................8
Basic Audio Hookup.......................................................................................................9
2: YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH THE QS6............................................................. 11
Powering Up...................................................................................................................11
Playing the Demo Sequences...........................................................................11
What’s a Program? ........................................................................................................12
What’s a Mix? ................................................................................................................12
What’s a Bank?..............................................................................................................12
About Sound Groups......................................................................................................13
Playing the QS6 .............................................................................................................13
Program Mode and Mix Mode...........................................................................13
Auditioning Internal Programs...........................................................................14
Selecting Program Banks..................................................................................14
Selecting the MIDI Channel ..............................................................................15
Realtime Performance Functions......................................................................15
The Controller A Slider......................................................................................16
Auditioning Mix Play Mode................................................................................17
Selecting Mix Banks..........................................................................................17
Choosing Programs in a Mix.............................................................................18
Storing an Edited Mix........................................................................................19
Enabling General MIDI Mode.........................................................................................19
Using the Sound Card Slot.............................................................................................20
A Word About Sound Bridge..........................................................................................20
3: CONNECTIONS ................................................................................................ 21
Basic MIDI Hookup ........................................................................................................21
Thru Mode......................................................................................................................21
Example 1: Master Controller for Live Use ....................................................................22
Example 2: Using an External Sequencer .....................................................................23
About the Keyboard Mode ................................................................................23
Example 3: Using a Computer .......................................................................................24
Pedal and Footswitch Hookup .......................................................................................24
4: OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 25
Basic Architecture ..........................................................................................................25
QS6 Polyphony ..............................................................................................................25
Modes ............................................................................................................................26
Program Play Mode...........................................................................................26
Mix Play Mode ..................................................................................................26
Program Edit Mode ...........................................................................................26
Mix Edit Mode....................................................................................................27
Effects Edit Mode..............................................................................................27
Global Edit Mode ..............................................................................................27
Store Mode .......................................................................................................27
Compare Mode .................................................................................................27
The User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages, and Parameters ..................................28
About the Display..............................................................................................28
Page Buttons.....................................................................................................30
Editing Values ...................................................................................................30
Resetting a Parameter Value............................................................................30

Table of Contents
4QS6 Reference Manual
Parameter Editing Overview..............................................................................30
Selecting Functions and Parameters ................................................................30
Comparing Edited and Stored Versions.........................................................................32
Preset Memory and User Memory .................................................................................32
Storing............................................................................................................................33
Store a Program or Mix.....................................................................................33
Copying Sounds Between Programs ................................................................34
Copying Effects Between Programs .................................................................34
To Audition Programs Before Storing................................................................36
5: EDITING MIXES ............................................................................................... 39
What is a Mix? ...............................................................................................................39
Program Assign for each MIDI Channel.........................................................................39
Mix Edit Mode ................................................................................................................39
Understanding the Edit Buffers......................................................................................40
Level Setting for Each Program .....................................................................................41
Pitch ...............................................................................................................................42
Effect..............................................................................................................................42
Keyboard/MIDI ...............................................................................................................42
Controllers......................................................................................................................43
Transmitting MIDI Volume and Panning............................................................43
Setting the Range and MIDI Switches ...........................................................................44
Naming a Mix.................................................................................................................44
Polyphony in Mix Play Mode..........................................................................................45
Using the QS6 as a Master Keyboard ...........................................................................45
Setting the MIDI Out Channels for a Mix in Global Mode ..............................................45
6: EDITING PROGRAMS ....................................................................................... 47
Overview ........................................................................................................................47
The “Normalized” Synth Voice .......................................................................................47
How the QuadraSynth Generates Sound ......................................................................48
Program Sound Layers ..................................................................................................48
QS6 Signal Flow.............................................................................................................49
The Four Sounds of a Program.........................................................................49
Voice.................................................................................................................50
Lowpass Filter...................................................................................................50
Amp...................................................................................................................51
About Modulation ...........................................................................................................51
LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) .......................................................................52
Envelopes .........................................................................................................52
About Signal Processing ................................................................................................52
Drum Mode ....................................................................................................................53
Program Edit Functions..................................................................................................54
Voice.................................................................................................................54
Level ..................................................................................................................57
Pitch ..................................................................................................................58
Filter ..................................................................................................................60
Amp/Range .......................................................................................................62
Pitch Envelope ..................................................................................................65
Filter Envelope ..................................................................................................68
Amp Envelope...................................................................................................70
Name ................................................................................................................72
Mod 1-Mod 6 .....................................................................................................73
Pitch LFO ..........................................................................................................76
Filter LFO ..........................................................................................................78
Amp LFO...........................................................................................................79
Tracking Generator ...........................................................................................80
Programming Drum Sounds...........................................................................................82
Voice.................................................................................................................82

Table of Contents
QS6 Reference Manual 5
Level ..................................................................................................................83
Pitch ..................................................................................................................83
Filter ..................................................................................................................83
Amp/Range .......................................................................................................83
Amp Envelope...................................................................................................83
Copying Sounds.............................................................................................................85
Copying Effects..............................................................................................................85
Initializing Programs.......................................................................................................86
7: EDITING EFFECTS ........................................................................................... 87
About Signal Processing ................................................................................................87
Selecting an Effects Patch in Mix Mode.........................................................................88
Setting Effects Send Levels ...........................................................................................88
Clip.................................................................................................................................88
Editing Effects ................................................................................................................89
Navigating .........................................................................................................89
Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode.......................................................................90
Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode ...............................................................................90
Copying Effect Patches..................................................................................................90
Configurations................................................................................................................91
EQ ..................................................................................................................................98
Mod ................................................................................................................................98
Lezlie..............................................................................................................................100
Pitch ...............................................................................................................................101
Delay ..............................................................................................................................105
Reverb............................................................................................................................106
Input Levels.......................................................................................................106
Overdrive........................................................................................................................111
Mix .................................................................................................................................112
8: GLOBAL SETTINGS .......................................................................................... 113
Editing Global Parameters .............................................................................................113
Master Pitch ...................................................................................................................113
Master Tune...................................................................................................................113
Keyboard Curve .............................................................................................................113
Keyboard Scaling...........................................................................................................114
Keyboard Transpose......................................................................................................114
Keyboard Mode..............................................................................................................114
General MIDI..................................................................................................................115
Enabling General MIDI Mode via MIDI..............................................................115
Controllers A – D............................................................................................................115
Pedals 1 and 2 ...............................................................................................................115
Using a Pedal to Control Volume or Modulation ...............................................115
MIDI Program Select......................................................................................................116
Receiving / Transmitting Bank Change Message .............................................116
Input/Output ...................................................................................................................117
MIDI Out.........................................................................................................................117
9: MIDI TRANSFER AND STORAGE OPERATIONS ................................................. 119
Saving the User Bank to an External Card ....................................................................119
Loading a Bank from an External Card..........................................................................119
Storing an Individual Program or Mix to an External Card.............................................120
Loading an Individual Program or Mix from an External Card .......................................120
Card Storage RAMifications..............................................................................121
Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex.................................................................................121
APPENDIX A: TROUBLE-SHOOTING...................................................................... 123
Trouble-Shooting Index..................................................................................................123
Re-initializing..................................................................................................................123
Checking Software Version............................................................................................123

Table of Contents
6QS6 Reference Manual
Maintenance/Service......................................................................................................124
Cleaning............................................................................................................124
Maintenance......................................................................................................124
Obtaining Repair Service ..................................................................................124
APPENDIX B: MIDI SUPPLEMENT ........................................................................ 127
MIDI Basics....................................................................................................................127
MIDI Hardware...............................................................................................................127
MIDI Message Basics ....................................................................................................128
Channel Messages: Mode Messages...............................................................128
Channel Messages: Voice Messages...............................................................128
System Common Messages.............................................................................130
General MIDI..................................................................................................................130
MIDI Implementation Chart ............................................................................................132
APPENDIX C: PARAMETERS INDEX ...................................................................... 133
Program Edit Parameters ..............................................................................................133
Mix Edit Parameters.......................................................................................................135
INDEX ............................................................................................................... 137

Setting Up: Chapter 1
QS6 Reference Manual 7
CHAPTER 1
SETTING UP
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
Your QS6 was packed carefully at the factory. The shipping carton was designed to
protect the unit during shipping. Please retain this container in the highly unlikely
event that you need to return the QS6 for servicing.
The shipping carton should contain the following items:
• QS6 with the same serial number as shown on shipping carton
• Sustain pedal
• AC Power Supply Adapter
• Computer CD-ROM containing software
• This instruction manual, plus lists of Mixes and Programs, and Quick Start guide
• Alesis warranty card
J
It is important to register your purchase; if you have not already filled out your
warranty card and mailed it back to Alesis, please take the time to do so now.
AC POWER HOOKUP
The QS6 comes with a power adapter suitable for the voltage of the country it is
shipped to (either 110 or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz). With the QS6 off, plug the small end of
the power adapter cord into the QS6’s [AC] socket and the male (plug) end into a
source of AC power. It’s good practice to not turn the QS6 on until all other cables are
hooked up.
J
Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the QS6 or any
associated equipment with improper AC wiring.
LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS
Although the QS6 is designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, in today’s world
the voltage coming from the AC line may contain spikes or transients that can
possibly stress your gear and, over time, cause a failure. There are three main ways
to protect against this, listed in ascending order of cost and complexity:
• Line spike/surge protectors. Relatively inexpensive, these are designed to protect
against strong surges and spikes, acting somewhat like fuses in that they need to
be replaced if they’ve been hit by an extremely strong spike.
• Line filters. These generally combine spike/surge protection with filters that
remove some line noise (dimmer hash, transients from other appliances, etc.).
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This is the most sophisticated option. A UPS
provides power even if the AC power line fails completely. Intended for computer
applications, a UPS allows you to complete an orderly shutdown of a computer
system in the event of a power outage, and the isolation it provides from the
power line minimizes all forms of interference—spikes, noise, etc.

Chapter 1: Setting Up
8QS6 Reference Manual
9 VAC
Stereo Amp
Stereo Headphones
AC Receptacle
1/4" Audio Cables
MIDI
INOUT LEFT RIGHT
OUTPUTFOOT PEDAL
POWER
ON/OFF
Expression Pedal
Pedal Switch
PEDAL 1 SUSTAIN
ABOUT AUDIO CABLES
The connections between the QS6 and your studio are your music’s lifeline, so use
only high quality cables. These should be low-capacitance shielded cables with a
stranded (not solid) internal conductor and a low-resistance shield. Although quality
cables cost more, they do make a difference. Route cables to the QS6 correctly by
observing the following precautions:
• Do not bundle audio cables with AC power cords.
• Avoid running audio cables near sources of electromagnetic interference such as
transformers (such as the QS6’s Power Supply), monitors, computers, etc.
• Do not place cables where they can be stepped on. Stepping on a cable may not
cause immediate damage, but it can compress the insulation between the center
conductor and shield (degrading performance) or reduce the cable’s reliability.
• Avoid twisting the cable or having it make sharp, right angle turns.
• Never unplug a cable by pulling on the wire itself. Always unplug by firmly
grasping the body of the plug and pulling directly outward.

Setting Up: Chapter 1
QS6 Reference Manual 9
• Although Alesis does not endorse any specific product, chemicals such as Tweek
and Cramolin, when applied to electrical connectors, are claimed to improve the
electrical contact between connectors.
BASIC AUDIO HOOKUP
J
When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, make sure that all
devices in your system are turned off and the volume controls are turned down.
Because the QS6 includes extensive signal processing as well as a full complement
of sounds, you can make great sounds with nothing more than an amplifier or a set of
headphones.
The QS6 has two Main outputs, plus a stereo headphones output. These can provide
an amplification system or mixer with two different audio hookup options:
• Mono. Connect a mono cord from the [RIGHT] OUTPUT jack to a mono
amplification system or individual mixer input.
• Stereo. Connect two mono cords from the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] OUTPUT jacks to
a stereo amplification system or two mixer inputs.
• Stereo Headphones. Plug a set of high-quality stereo headphones into the
headphones [ ] jack on the rear panel.

Chapter 1: Setting Up
10 QS6 Reference Manual

Your First Session With The QS6: Chapter 2
QS6 Reference Manual 11
CHAPTER 2
YOUR FIRST SESSION
WITH THE QS6
POWERING UP
After making your connections, turn on the system’s power using this procedure:
¿Before turning on the QS6’s power, check the following items:
• Have all connections been made correctly?
• Are the volume controls of the amplifier or mixer turned down?
• Is the volume of the QS6 turned down?
¡Turn on the [POWER ON/OFF] switch on the QS6 rear panel.
Upon power-up, the QS6 will display the last selected Program or Mix. If this
Program/Mix has been edited, the display will indicate this by showing an “
*
” to
the left of the name of the Program or Mix.
¬Press [PROGRAM] to select Program Play Mode.
The display should look something like this:
PROG PRESET1 ºº
GrandPiano Ch01
VOLUME
÷Raise the QS6’s master [VOLUME] slider to maximum.
The best signal-to-noise ratio is achieved when [VOLUME] is set to maximum.
ƒTurn on the power of the amplifier/mixer, and adjust the volume.
PLAYING THE DEMO SEQUENCES
The QS6 has built-in demo sequences which demonstrate the wide variety of sounds
this amazing instrument is capable of generating. In order to get the full effect of the
demo, we recommend that you connect both the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] outputs to your
sound system, or listen on headphones.
To play the demo sequence:
¿Hold the [MIX] button, and press [GLOBAL].
The display will read:
PLAYING DEMO....
<MIX>=STOP
¡Press [MIX] to stop the demo.
There will be no MIDI out messages during the demo, and the keyboard will be
disabled.

Chapter 2: Your First Session With The QS6
12 QS6 Reference Manual
WHAT’S A PROGRAM?
A Program is a stored configuration of parameters which emulates the sound of an
instrument or sound effect, such as a piano or synthesizer or drum set. A QS6
Program is made up of hundreds of parameters which, when set to specific values,
create a specific type of sound. This setup of parameters can be stored so that you
can get back to it instantly at the touch of a button. When you select a Program, all of
its parameter settings are recalled to recreate the original sound.
The QS6 provides 640 internal Programs, divided into 5 Banks of 128 Programs
each. More Programs can be added by inserting a Sound Card into the Sound Card
slot on the rear panel of the QS6. Each Bank is broken down into 12 Groups of 10
Programs each, plus a 13th Group with 8 Programs. These group together similar
sounding Programs, such as pianos [00], guitars [30], bass [40] and drums [120].
A Program may have from 1 to 4 different sounds which can be combined in a variety
of ways to create the overall sound of the instrument the Program is intended to
emulate. These four sounds can be layered on top of one another, or split up into
different sections of the keyboard. You can even have different sounds played
depending on how hard you play the keyboard (this is known as velocity).
WHAT’S A MIX?
A Mix is a combination of 1 to 16 Programs. These Programs can be combined in
many ways. The most common is multi-timbral when connected to a MIDI sequencer,
which means that for each MIDI channel the QS6 receives (up to 16), a different
Program may be selected, thus creating anything from a small pop/rock ensemble to
a complete orchestra. Another way of using a Mix is by layering two or more
Programs together, so that they play simultaneously from the keyboard. You can also
create a split , where one Program is in the lower half of the keyboard, while another
is at the top half; you can even have these Programs overlap in the middle.
WHAT'S A BANK?
A Bank is a collection of 128 Programs and 100 Mixes. There are at least five banks
available at any time, with more added if a card is in the Sound Card slot. The
current bank is shown on the top line of the display:
PRESET1
PRESET2
PRESET3
GenMIDI
USER
and optionally CARD 1, CARD 2, etc.
Each bank contains its own unique Programs and Mixes. Program 10 in Preset 1 is
different from Program 10 in Preset 3, although they are usually related sounds. A
Mix may contain Programs from any bank.
The [
▲
BANK] and [BANK
▲
] buttons change the current bank from the top panel,
and MIDI Bank Select commands may also be used to select any of the 640
Programs on board, or additional card programs.
Preset and General MIDI banks are permanently "burned in" at the factory. User
banks, and Card banks from an SRAM card, may be changed by the user. If you edit
a Preset Program or Mix, it can be saved to a User or SRAM card bank only.

Your First Session With The QS6: Chapter 2
QS6 Reference Manual 13
ABOUT SOUND GROUPS
Presets 1-3 and the User bank follow the program group organization of the buttons
on the top panel (programs 0-9 are pianos, 50-59 are basses, and so on). The
GenMIDI bank does not follow that arrangement; it follows the program list of the
General MIDI standard. Programs on some sound cards may not follow that
arrangement either, depending on the card type.
PLAYING THE QS6
The QS6 is shipped from the factory with 5 Banks of 128 Preset Programs (sounds)
each. Additionally, there are 100 Mixes in each of the 5 Banks.
PROGRAM MODE AND MIX MODE
The QS6 is always in one of two modes: Program Mode or Mix Mode . When you are
auditioning Programs, you will be in Program Play Mode. When editing a Program,
you will use Program Edit Mode. When you are auditioning Mixes, you will be in Mix
Play Mode. When editing a Mix, you will use Mix Edit Mode.
J
If you ever get lost while programming the QS6, press either the [PROGRAM] button
or the [MIX] button to get back to their respective Play Mode.
• Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode.
In Program Play Mode, the QS6 plays a single Program. The display will look
something like this: Play Mode Bank Program Number
ØØ Ø
PROG PRESET1 ºº
GrandPiano Ch01
ππ
Program Name Current MIDI Channel
The current mode (PROG) is displayed in the top-left corner, followed by the current
Bank (PRESET1) and the current Program number (00). The Program’s name
(GrandPiano) appears on the lower line of the display and the current MIDI channel
appears to its right.
• Press the [MIX] button to select Mix Play Mode.
In Mix Play Mode, the QS6 can combine up to 16 Programs for stacking sounds
together, splitting the keyboard into different regions, or working with a MIDI
sequencer. The display will look something like this:
Play Mode Bank Mix Number
ØØ Ø
MIX PRESET1 ºº
Piano&Pad ‹
ππ
Mix Name Active MIDI Channels

Chapter 2: Your First Session With The QS6
14 QS6 Reference Manual
The current mode (MIX) is displayed in the top-left corner, followed by the current
Bank (PRESET1) and the current Mix number (00). The Mix’s name (Piano&Pad)
appears on the lower line of the display and the active MIDI channels (1 and 2) are
shown at the bottom right. In a Mix that uses all 16 MIDI channels (such as the Mixes
found in the General MIDI Bank), the display would look something like this:
MIX GenMIDI ºº
GM Multi ´´´´
AUDITIONING INTERNAL PROGRAMS
¿Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode.
You can now play the QS6 keyboard; the Program will be whatever was selected
when last in Program mode (Program number 00 –127).
¡Select a Program using either of these methods:
• Use the Group buttons ([00/PIANO], [10/CHROMATIC], etc.) to select a
Program Group, then use the [0] – [9] buttons to select a Program within the
Group.
The selected Group determines the fensdigit of the selected Program’s
number. Example: Selecting the [60/BRASS] Group lets you select Programs
60 through 69. Selecting the [100/SYNTH 3] Group lets you select Programs
100 through 109.
• Use the [s VALUE] and [VALUE t] buttons to step forwards and backwards
through all the Programs one at a time.
J
When in Program Play Mode and the [120/DRUMS/PERC] Group is selected, the [8]
and [9] buttons will not function, since Programs only go from 00 to 127 .
SELECTING PROGRAM BANKS
The QS6 provides five internal Banks containing 128 Programs in each (and 100
Mixes each, but we’ll get to Mixes in a moment). The currently selected Bank will be
shown in the upper line of the display, just above the currently selected Program’s
name. Current Bank
Ø
PROG PRESET1 ºº
GrandPiano Ch01
• Use the [
▲
BANK] and [BANK
▲
] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 3,
GenMIDI).
User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4.
SELECTING THE MIDI CHANNEL
While in Program Play Mode, the QS6 can transmit and receive information on any
single MIDI channel of the 16 available channels. The currently selected channel
appears in the bottom-right corner of the display.
PROG PRESET1 ºº
GrandPiano Ch01 π

Your First Session With The QS6: Chapter 2
QS6 Reference Manual 15
Current MIDI Channel
¿Use the [
▲
PAGE] and [PAGE
▲
] buttons to select a MIDI channel from 1 – 16.
The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel.
REALTIME PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONS
The QS6 provides various ways to control the sound as you are playing. Try out
some of these functions while playing the keyboard. The sound of the effects can
also change by using these controllers. The effect of these realtime controllers varies
from Program to Program; in some they may not be active, and in others they may
have a dramatic effect.
•Velocity. The volume and tonal quality of the sound will change according to how
hard you play the keyboard.
•Aftertouch. The action of pressing a key down after playing it is called
“aftertouch” (it is also sometimes referred to as “Pressure” since it corresponds to
the amount of pressure being applied to the keyboard). Pitch, tone and volume
(among other things) can be changed using aftertouch.
•Pitch Bend Wheel. While playing a note, you can move the PITCH BEND
WHEEL up to raise the pitch, or down to lower the pitch. The amount of pitch
bend available can be different for each Program.
•Modulation Wheel. By raising the MODULATION WHEEL, you can add
expressive modulation effects (such as vibrato or tremolo) while you play. The
type of modulation effect can be different for each Program.
•Controller A Slider. This is described below.
Further expressive control is available with a pedal switch (included) or expression
pedal (optional, see page 25). By connecting a pedal switch to the [SUSTAIN] jack on
the rear panel, you can have the sound sustain even after you release the keys. By
connecting an expression pedal to the [PEDAL 1] jack, you can use the pedal to
change the volume or tone (or some other quality such as reverb depth or vibrato
speed) of the sound, if the Program is edited to use the pedal(s).
CONTROLLER
A
EDIT VALUE
THE CONTROLLER A SLIDER
To the right of the [VOLUME] slider is the [CONTROLLER A] slider. The
[CONTROLLER A] slider provides control over one or more parameters depending
on whether you are in a Play mode, or an Edit mode.
In Program Play Mode and Mix Play Mode, the [CONTROLLER A] slider acts as
Controller A. This Controller is defined in Global Edit Mode (Page 8) to transmit a
specific MIDI controller message. Many of the QS6’s internal Programs use
Controller A to provide control over one or more of its tonal aspects. When
auditioning Programs, move the [CONTROLLER A] slider up and down to find out
what effect it has; it will be different from Program to Program.
When in Program Edit Mode or Mix Edit Mode, the [CONTROLLER A]
slider is used to edit the parameters that appear in the display. The lower line of the
display will show the parameter’s name and current setting, which will have an
underline below it. At this point, you can now use the [CONTROLLER A] slider to
adjust the parameter’s setting; or use the [
▲
VALUE] and [VALUE
▲
] buttons to
raise or lower the parameter’s setting one step at a time.

Chapter 2: Your First Session With The QS6
16 QS6 Reference Manual
AUDITIONING MIX PLAY MODE
Mix Play Mode allows you to assign a Program to each of the 16 MIDI channels. This
makes it easy to create multitimbral setups for use with an external MIDI sequencer.
Additionally, a MIX can be used to “layer” sounds together, or “split” the keyboard in a
number of ways, or any combination of these. There are many different ways to
program a Mix. For more about Mix Play Mode, refer to Chapter 5. For more about
connecting the QS6 to a MIDI sequencer, see Chapter 3.
¿Press the [MIX] button.
The display will change to Mix Play Mode.
¡Select a Mix from 00–99 using one of these methods:
• Use the Group buttons ([00/PIANO], [10/CHROMATIC], [20/ORGAN], etc.) to
select a Mix Group, then use the [0] – [9] buttons to select a Mix within the
Group.
• Use the [s VALUE] and [VALUE t] buttons to step forwards and backwards
through all the Mixes one at a time.
J
When in Mix Play Mode, the [100/SYNTH 3], [110/RHYTHM/FX] and
[120/DRUMS/PERC] buttons will not function, Mixes only go from 00 to 99.
SELECTING MIX BANKS
The QS6 provides five internal Banks containing 100 Mixes in each. The currently
selected Bank will be shown in the display just to the left of the currently selected
Mix’s name. Current Bank
Ø
MIX PRESET1 ºº
Piano&Pad ‹
• Use the [
▲
BANK] and [BANK
▲
] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 3,
GenMIDI).
User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4.

Your First Session With The QS6: Chapter 2
QS6 Reference Manual 17
CHOOSING PROGRAMS IN A MIX
In this section, we will choose Programs for the 16 channels in a Mix, for playing back
tracks from a MIDI sequencer. There are many other aspects of a Mix we may wish
to edit, however. Refer to Chapter 5 for more information about Mix editing.
You do not have to access Mix Edit Mode to select Programs for a Mix (i.e. you don’t
have to press the [EDIT SELECT] button). Instead, you simply use a two step
process:
A) Use the [
▲
PAGE] and [PAGE
▲
] buttons to select one of the 16 channels in the
Mix.
B) Use a combination of the [
▲
BANK] and [BANK
▲
] buttons, the [00] – [120]
buttons and the [0] – [9] buttons to choose a Program for the selected channel.
Here’s the process broken down into simpler steps:
¿Press [MIX] and select Mix 000 from the GenMIDI Bank using one of the
methods described on page 16.
MIX GenMIDI ºº
GM Multi ´´´´
¡Press [PAGE
▲
].
The display will look like this:
Channel Bank Program Number
ØØ Ø
CHå: GenMIDI ºº
GrandPiano ´´´´
π
Program Name
The [
▲
PAGE] and [PAGE
▲
] buttons are used to select one of the 16 channels
in the Mix.
The actual channel number shown in the display will be whatever was last
selected. In the illustration above, channel 1 is shown. If the channel number in
your display is not “ å ”, press both [
▲
PAGE] and [PAGE
▲
] buttons
simultaneously to select channel 1.
¬Use the [
▲
BANK] and [BANK
▲
] buttons to select a Program Bank.
÷Use the [00] – [120] buttons to select a Program Group.
Example: Press [00] for pianos, [20] for organs, etc.
ƒUse the [0] – [9] buttons to select a Program.
ªPress [PAGE
▲
] to select to the next channel up.
If channel 1 had been selected, pressing [PAGE
▲
] will select channel 2.
DRepeat steps ¬– ªas needed to select Programs for the remaining channels.
J
Changes you make to a Mix are temporary and will be lost if another Mix is selected.
To make changes permanent, you must store the Mix into the User bank (see next

Chapter 2: Your First Session With The QS6
18 QS6 Reference Manual
page).

Your First Session With The QS6: Chapter 2
QS6 Reference Manual 19
STORING AN EDITED MIX
Once you have made changes to a Mix, you will need to store the Mix into the User
Bank; that is, if you want to keep the changes you have made. The User Bank is
designed to hold up to 100 (00 – 99) of your custom-made Mixes. Whenever you
store an edited Mix, the User Bank is automatically selected. All you have to do is
select a Program location (00 – 127) within the User Bank to store the edited Mix into.
However, if an SRAM Sound Card is inserted into the Sound Card Slot on the rear
panel of the QS6, you may select any of the available Banks on the Sound Card to
save the edited Mix into.
¿Press [STORE].
This selects Store Mode. The display will look like this:
SaveMix? (STORE)
to USER 12
· ·
(Mix Bank) (Mix Number)
The Mix Number will be the identical to the last Mix number selected.
¡ Optional: If a Sound Card is inserted, Use the [s VALUE] button to select a Bank
on the Sound Card.
¬Use the Group buttons ([00/PIANO], [10/CHROMATIC], [20/ORGAN], etc.) and
[0] – [9] buttons to select a Mix location (00 – 99) within the selected Bank.
The selected Bank and Mix number location will appear in the display.
÷Press [STORE] to save the Mix into the selected location.
The Mix has now been stored, and the display will revert back to whatever was
shown before [STORE] was pressed the first time.
ENABLING GENERAL MIDI MODE
If you are using a General MIDI sequencer, and/or playing a sequence that is
programmed to take advantage of General MIDI, turn the “General MIDI” function in
the QuadraSynth on.
¿Press [EDIT SELECT], then press [GLOBAL].
The display will now be in Global Edit Mode.
¡Press [PAGE
▲
] 6 times to advance to page 7.
This selects the General MIDI parameter in the display.
¬Press the [sVALUE] button.
This turns on General MIDI mode, and automatically puts you into Mix Play Mode
with Mix 00 of Preset Bank 4 selected. This display should look like this:
MIX GenMIDI ºº
GM Multi ´´´´
For more information about General MIDI, refer to the MIDI Supplement in Appendix
B.
USING THE SOUND CARD SLOT