Alesis qs6.1 User manual

ALESIS
QS6.1
Reference Manual

QS6.1 Reference Manual 1
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing an Alesis QS6.1 64-Voice Expandable Synthesizer. ItÕs a
powerful instrument and weÕre sure you will find it exciting to use. The more you
know about it the more youÕll be able to do, so we recommend that you make good use
of this manual.
But most importantly, donÕt forget to have fun! (ThereÕs a good reason they call
what musicians do playing.)
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
No manual can cover the needs of all musicians. There are simply too many of you,
and your needs are too different. But weÕve tried to make this a document that will
teach you what you need to know while encouraging you to explore new and
interesting territory.
It is divided into eleven parts. How many of these sections you need to read will
depend on what you want to do with your QS6.1.
Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS covers how to hook up your QS6.1 so it can be
turned on and played. This section also contains useful audio basics, some tips on
wiring and power, and directions for connecting your QS6.1 to other MIDI gear.
Part 2: OVERVIEW introduces the front panel controls and LCD, along with the
terms and internal structures that every QS6.1 owner ought to know. Here is where
youÕll learn what all the buttons do, and how the sounds are organized. This
chapter also covers the Card expansion options you have available.
Part 3: FIRST SESSION starts you playing.
Part 4: BASIC OPERATION takes everything in the First Session one step further.
After covering this material youÕll be a QS6.1 performance wizard, fully versed in
how to use the instrumentÕs Programs and Mixes and how to change Global settings.
ItÕll also take you through the basics of using the [STORE] button to save your
edits, how to go about naming them, and the procedures for playing back sequences
from a card.
Part 5: MIDI is for players who want to use their QS6.1 for MIDI performance and
sequencing. Because itÕs relevant, youÕll also find a little here about the very top
level of Mix editing. Sys-ex transfer operations are also covered in this section.
Part 6: EDITING EFFECTS will show you how to modify the the matrix of effects
processors that are built into your QS6.1. This is useful to know even if all you want
to do is Òplay the presets,Ó because even if you love a particular sound you might
find that its current processing doesnÕt quite fit in with your music. Need to lengthen
or shorten a ProgramÕs reverb time? Extend a delay? Make an echo louder? Or
maybe even shut the effects completely off, so you can run a raw signal into your
mixing deck or external effects processor? This is where youÕll find the answers.

Contents
2 QS6.1 Reference Manual
Part 7: EDITING MIXES takes you to the next level of editing power, showing you
how to change the preset Mixes and put together new ones of your own. It also
explains the parameters which give the QS6.1 its strength as a master MIDI
keyboard.
Part 8: EDITING PROGRAMS gets deep into the instrument. If you are interested in
pushing the QS6.1 synthesis engine to the max Ñ and itÕs a powerful engine, it
really is Ñ then youÕll want to study this section very closely.
Part 9: EXTRAS includes all sorts of fun and useful information that doesnÕt fit
neatly into the other sections. This is where to look for discussion of RAMcards,
Sound Bridge, the QS6.1 CD-ROM, and other things of general interest.
Part 10: APPENDICES contains reference material on service and maintenance,
troubleshooting, and the QS6.1Õs MIDI Implementation.
MANUAL CONVENTIONS
All buttons, knobs, and switches on the QS6.1 are referred to in bracketed capital
letters that match the instrumentÕs actual markings. Here are some examples:
[PROGRAM] means the button to the right of the LCD that says ÒPROGRAMÓ on it.
[PAGE] and [PAGE ]refer to the two buttons on the left of the LCD that have
left-and-right cursors on them.
[CONTROLLER D] is the slider on the right side of the slider grouping, with ÒDÓ
printed underneath.
[00 PIANO]refers to the leftmost button in the top row of numbered buttons.
Sometimes this will be shorthanded as [00], depending on whatÕs being discussed.
[PITCH] is the control wheel at the left side of the instrument.
And [SUS PEDAL]is the rear panel jack youÕd plug your sustain pedal into.
WHY THERE’S NO INDEX
Indexes are useful in really big books. They are also useful when you already know
what you are looking for. Otherwise, though,they are kind of frustrating: ÒIt says
here that there are references to The Thing I Am Interested In on pages 16, 23, 28-31,
47, 57-62, and 113. But which one of those has the bit IÕm looking for?Ó
We think having a really great Table Of Contents works much better. If you need to
find something, go to the ToC and see for yourself Ñ its clear, directive headings
tell you whatÕs in every section and subsection, making it easy for you to find your
way. And since the information is all in context, youÕll learn that much more about
your QS6.1 every time you look.

QS6.1 Reference Manual 3
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
The shipping carton for your QS6.1 should contain the following items:
¥ QS6.1 (with the same serial number as shown on the shipping carton)
¥ Sustain pedal
¥ AC Power Cable
¥ Computer CD-ROM containing software
¥ This instruction manual, plus Mix and Program lists and a Quick Start guide
¥ Alesis warranty card
If you havenÕt filled out your warranty card and mailed it back to us, please take
the time to do so. This will help us give you the best support we possibly can.
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Contents
4 QS6.1 Reference Manual

Table of Contents
QS6.1 Reference Manual 5
CONTENTS
Part 1: SETUP & CONNECTIONS..........................................................9
AC Power...............................................................................................................9
Audio ....................................................................................................................10
MIDI .....................................................................................................................12
Direct Computer Link.............................................................................................14
Pedal and Footswitch Hookup................................................................................16
Part 2: OVERVIEW.............................................................................17
A Quick Tour Of The Front Panel.............................................................................17
Programs, Mixes, And Banks...................................................................................22
The Performance Controls.......................................................................................24
PCMCIA Expansion Cards ......................................................................................26
Part 3: FIRST SESSION.......................................................................27
Powering Up ..........................................................................................................27
Playing the Demo Sequences...................................................................................27
Playing Programs...................................................................................................28
Playing Mixes........................................................................................................29
The Performance Controls, Pt. II..............................................................................31
Transposing The Keyboard .........................................................................31
Performance Transposition Chart................................................................32
Part 4: BASIC OPERATION.................................................................33
Recap ....................................................................................................................33
The Double-Button Press Trick................................................................................33
Copying Existing Programs And Mixes To A New Location In The User Bank.............34
ÉOr To A New Location On A Card Bank................................................................34
Changing The Programs In A Mix............................................................................35
Storing Altered Mixes To The User Bank (Or To A Card)..........................................35
Storing Altered Programs To The User Bank (Or To A Card).....................................35
Changing The Name Of A Program Or Mix..............................................................36
Compare Mode.......................................................................................................36
Playing Sequences From A Card ..............................................................................37
The Global Settings (And How To Change Them)....................................................38
Part 5: MIDI......................................................................................47
The Power of Mix Mode ..........................................................................................47
Using an External Sequencer....................................................................................48
Program Assign for each MIDI Channel...................................................................50
Sending and Receiving Bank Select Messages ..........................................................50
Using the QS6.1 as a Master Keyboard....................................................................52
Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex...........................................................................56
Editing Programs via MIDI Sys Ex ..........................................................................57
Part 6: EDITING EFFECTS...................................................................59
Basic Info...............................................................................................................59
Entering Effects Edit Mode From Program Mode.......................................................60
Entering Effects Edit Mode From Mix Mode..............................................................60
Navigating In Effects Edit Mode.............................................................................61
Selecting From Among The Available Effects Patches In A Mix....................61
The ÒFX Program Change via MIDIÓ function..............................................62
How The Display Changes When You Alter An Effect.............................................63
Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode ..................................................................63
Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode.........................................................................63
Copying Effects From One Program To Another........................................................64

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6 QS6.1 Reference Manual
Keeping Track: The Interaction Of Effects, Programs, And Mixes..............................65
Picking An Effect Configuration..............................................................................65
Configuration #1: 1 REVERB...................................................................................66
How Ò1 ReverbÓ Is Arranged.......................................................................67
Configuration #2: 2 REVERBS.................................................................................68
How Ò2 ReverbsÓ Is Arranged......................................................................69
Configuration #3: LEZLIE+REVERB .......................................................................70
How ÒLEZLIE+REVERBÓ Is Arranged.........................................................70
Configuration #4: 1 REVERB+EQ............................................................................71
How ÒREVERB+EQÓ Is Arranged................................................................71
Configuration #5: OVERDRIVE+LEZLIE ................................................................72
How ÒOverdrive+LezlieÓ Is Arranged ........................................................72
Routing Sounds or Programs Through The Effects Only.............................................73
Setting Effect Send Levels ......................................................................................74
If The Send Inputs Clip...........................................................................................74
[00] to [30] ÑEffect Sends 1 - 4 ................................................................................74
EQ.........................................................................................................................75
Mod.......................................................................................................................76
Lezlie....................................................................................................................79
Pitch .....................................................................................................................81
Delay....................................................................................................................87
Reverb ..................................................................................................................88
Overdrive..............................................................................................................94
Effect Mix..............................................................................................................95
Part 7: Editing Mixes........................................................................97
What is a Mix?......................................................................................................97
Polyphony in Mix Play Mode..................................................................................97
Program Assign for each MIDI Channel...................................................................97
Mix Edit Mode .......................................................................................................98
Understanding the Edit Buffers ..............................................................................99
Level Setting for Each Program...............................................................................100
Pitch .....................................................................................................................101
Effect.....................................................................................................................101
Keyboard/MIDI.....................................................................................................102
Controllers.............................................................................................................103
Setting the Range...................................................................................................104
Naming a Mix........................................................................................................104
Part 8: Editing Programs……………………………………………………………………………..105
Overview ..............................................................................................................105
The ÒNormalizedÓ Synth Voice..............................................................................105
How the QS6.1 Generates Sound .............................................................................106
Program Sound Layers ............................................................................................106
QS6.1 Signal Flow..................................................................................................107
About Modulation ..................................................................................................109
About Signal Processing..........................................................................................110
Drum Mode ............................................................................................................111
Storing Your Edited Programs .................................................................................112
Program Edit Functions...........................................................................................113
Voice.........................................................................................................114
Muting and Unmuting Sounds ..........................................................114
Level.........................................................................................................117
Pitch .........................................................................................................118
Filter.........................................................................................................121
Amp/Range ...............................................................................................124
Pitch Envelope...........................................................................................128

Table of Contents
QS6.1 Reference Manual 7
Filter Envelope..........................................................................................131
Amp Envelope............................................................................................134
Name ........................................................................................................136
Mod 1 Ð Mod 6.............................................................................................137
Pitch LFO..................................................................................................142
Filter LFO .................................................................................................144
Amp LFO...................................................................................................145
Tracking Generator.....................................................................................147
Programming Drum Sounds in Drum Mode................................................................149
Voice.........................................................................................................149
Level.........................................................................................................151
Pitch .........................................................................................................151
Filter.........................................................................................................152
Amp/Range ...............................................................................................152
Amp Envelope............................................................................................153
Mute Group ....................................................................................153
Special Programming Functions...............................................................................154
Copying Sounds..........................................................................................154
To Audition Programs Before Storing...........................................................155
Part 9: EXTRAS ................................................................................157
A Word About the QS CD-ROM..............................................................................157
Sound Bridgeª..........................................................................................157
Using PCMCIA Expansion Cards.............................................................................158
Saving the User Bank to a PCMCIA Card....................................................158
Loading a Bank from an External Card........................................................159
Storing an Individual Program or Mix .........................................................160
Loading an Individual Program or Mix........................................................160
Card Storage Ramifications ...................................................................................161
More about SRAM Cards.............................................................................162
SRAM Cards and Mix Mode........................................................................162
Part 10: Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………….163
Appendix A ...........................................................................................................163
Troubleshooting .........................................................................................163
Recovering From A ÒCrashÓ............................................................164
Re-initializing ..............................................................................164
Checking The Software Version......................................................165
Maintenance/Service .................................................................................165
Cleaning your QS6.1.......................................................................165
Preventative Maintenance..............................................................165
Refer All Servicing to Alesis ..........................................................165
Obtaining Repair Service...............................................................166
Appendix B: MIDI Supplement...............................................................................167
MIDI Basics...............................................................................................167
MIDI Hardware.........................................................................................167
MIDI Message Basics..................................................................................168
Channel Messages: Mode Messages .................................................168
Channel Messages: Voice Messages.................................................168
Continuous Controllers List.............................................................169
System Common Messages...............................................................170
General MIDI.............................................................................................170
MIDI Implementation Chart ......................................................................172
Appendix C: Parameters Index................................................................................173
Program Edit Parameters............................................................................173
Mix Edit Parameters ..................................................................................175

Table of Contents
8 QS6.1 Reference Manual

Setup & Connections: Part 1
QS6.1 Reference Manual 9
PART 1
SETUP & CONNECTIONS
AC POWER
HOOKUP
Your QS6.1 is set to work with the voltage of the country it was shipped to (either 110
or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz) and comes equipped with the appropriate power cable.
Hooking that cable up is simple.
·Make sure your QS6.1 is turned off.
·Plug the female (jack) end of the power cable into the QS6.1Õs power socket.
·Plug the male (plug) end into a source of AC power. ItÕs good practice not to turn
the QS6.1 on until all other cables are hooked up.
The IEC-spec power cable included with your QS6.1 is designed to connect to an outlet
with three holes, the third of which Ñ the round one Ñ is the ground connection. This
connection is an important safety feature: it keeps the QS6.1Õs chassis at ground
potential, preventing accidental shocks.
Unfortunately, not all three-hole sockets are properly grounded. We recommend that
you use an AC line tester to check the ground connection on any socket you may use, just to
be on the safe side. If you find an ungrounded outlet, consult with a licensed electrician
about getting the problem fixed.
Avoid using ungrounded outlets. Plugging the QS6.1 into an ungrounded outlet can
be hazardous. The same goes for ÒliftingÓ the unit off ground by using a three-to-
two plug adapter. DonÕt do it!
Alesis cannot be responsible for any problems that might be caused by using the
QS6.1 with improper AC wiring.
LINE CONDITIONERS AND PROTECTORS
The power coming through some AC lines contains voltage surges, spikes, or transients
that can stress your gear, causing failure or malfunctions. Although the QS6.1 is
designed to tolerate typical voltage variations, it isnÕt invulnerable. So if the power in
your area is particularly bad (or if you are out playing live gigs) you will probably
want to take precautions. You have three basic options:
¥Line spike/surge protectors. These relatively inexpensive devices are designed
to protect against strong surges and spikes. They act somewhat like fuses and
will have to be either replaced or reset (depending on the unit) if theyÕve been
hit by an extremely strong spike.
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