Alesis QuadraSynth Plus User Manual
ALESIS
QuadraSynth Plus
Reference Manual
Important Safety Instructions
WARNING - When using this electric product, basic precautions should always
be followed, including the following:
1) Read all the instructions before using the product.
2) Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bathtub,
washbowl,
kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, or the like.
3) This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and
headphones
or speakers, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause
permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high
volume level or at a level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing
loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.
4) This product should be located away from heat sources such as
radiators, heat
registers, or other products that produce heat.
5) The power-supply cord on this product should be unplugged from the
outlet
when left unused for a long period of time.
6) Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not
spilled into
the enclosure through openings.
7) The product should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
a) The power supply cord has been damaged; or
b) Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled onto the product; or
c) The product has been exposed to rain; or
d) The product does not appear to be operating normally or exhibits a
marked
change in performance; or
e) The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
8) Do not attempt to service this product beyon d that described in the
usermaintenance instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified
service personnel.
Grounding Instructions
This product must be grounded. If it should malfunction or break down,
grounding provides a path of least resistance for electric current to reduce the
risk of electric shock. This product is equipped with a cord having an equipmentgrounding conductor and a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an
appropriate outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with all
local rules and
ordinances.
DANGER - Improper connection of the equipment-grounding conductor can
result in a risk of electric shock. Check with a qualified electrician or serviceman
if you are in doubt as to whether the product is properly grounded. Do not
modify the plug provided with the product - if it will not fit the outlet, have a
proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.
CONTENTS
1: Setting Up 7
Unpacking and Inspection 7
AC Power 7
Line Conditioners and Protectors 8
About Audio Cables 9
Basic Audio Hookup 9
A Word About Sound Bridge 10
2: Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus 11
Powering Up 11
Adjusting the Display Contrast 11
Playing the Demo Sequence 12
Enabling General MIDI Mode 12
Playing the QuadraSynth Plus 13
Program Mode and Mix Mode 13
Auditioning Internal Programs 14
Selecting Banks 14
Selecting the MIDI Channel 14
Realtime Performance Functions 15
The Quad Knobs 15
Auditioning Mix Play Mode 16
Selecting Banks 16
Editing a Mix 17
Setting the Effects Level18
3: Connections 19
Basic MIDI Hookup 19
Example 1: Master Controller for Live Use 20
Example 2: Using an External Sequencer21
About the Keyboard Mode 22
Pedal and Footswitch Hookup 22
Digital Audio/Optical Hookup 23
Recording Digital Audio 23
48 kHz Clock In 23
4: Overview 25
Basic Architecture 25
QuadraSynth Plus 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
MIDI Buttons 29
Quad Knob Editing 29
Index
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 5
Parameter Editing 29
Direct Function Selection 31
Editing Program Parameters 31
Edit 4 and Edit 1 Modes32
Resetting a Parameter Value 32
Comparing Edited and Stored Versions 33
Preset Memory and User Memory 33
Storing 34
Store a Program34
Copying Effects Between Programs 35
Store an Effect 35
Store a Mix 35
To Audition Programs Before Storing 36
5: Editing Mixes 39
What is a Mix? 39
Mix Edit Mode 39
Understanding the Edit Buffers 40
Program Assign for each MIDI Channel 41
Level Setting for Each Program 41
Pitch 42
Setting the Range and MIDI Switches 42
Transmitting MIDI Volume and Panning 43
Effects in Mix Play Mode 44
Effect Level 44
Effect 44
Naming a Mix 45
Polyphony in Mix Play Mode 45
Using the QuadraSynth Plus as a Master Keyboard 45
Setting MIDI Out Channels for Mix in Global Mode 46
6: Editing Programs 47
Overview 47
The “Normalized” Synth Voice 47
How the QuadraSynth Generates Sound48
Program Sound Layers 48
QuadraSynth Plus Signal Flow 49
The Four Sounds of a Program 49
Voice 50
Lowpass Filter 50
Amp 51
About Modulation 51
Envelopes 52
About Signal Processing52
Drum Mode 53
Program Edit Functions 54
Assign Voice 54
Level 56
Effect Level 56
Pitch 56
Filter 59
Amp 61
Range 62
Index
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 6
Mod 64
Pitch LFO 67
Amp LFO 70
Pitch Envelope 71
Filter Envelope 74
Amp Envelope 76
Name 80
Misc. 81
Programming Drum Sounds 82
Assign Voice 82
Level 82
Effects Level 83
Pitch 83
Filter 83
Amp 83
Range 84
Amp Envelope 84
Copying Sounds 85
Copying Effects85
Initializing Programs 86
7: Editing Effects 87
About Signal Processing87
Selecting an Effects Patch in Mix Mode 88
Setting Effects Send Levels 88
Editing Effects 89
Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode 90
Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode 90
Copying Effect Patches 91
Configurations 91
Reverb 98
Delay 103
Pitch 104
Mod 108
Mix 109
Misc. 110
EQ 110
Overdrive 110
8: Global Settings 113
Editing Global Parameters 113
LCD Contrast 113
General MIDI Mode 113
Enabling General MIDI Mode via MIDI 113
Master Pitch and Master Tuning114
Keyboard Sensitivity 114
Keyboard Curve 114
Keyboard Transpose 114
Keyboard Mode114
Controllers A – D 115
Reset Controllers A – D 115
Controllers A – D Mode115
Pedal 1 and 2 Assignment 116
Index
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 7
Using Pedals to Control Volume or Modulation 116
MIDI Program Select 116
Receiving and Transmitting Bank Change Message 117
Edit Mode 118
48 KHz Clock Input 118
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 124
Maintenance/Service 124
Cleaning 124
Maintenance 124
Warranty Information 124
Obtaining Repair Service 124
Appendix B: MIDI Supplement 127
MIDI Basics 127
MIDI Hardware127
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 Parameters 133
Mix Parameters135
Appendix D: What’s New in the 2.0 “Plus” Upgrade 137
INDEX 159
Index
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 8
CHAPTER 1
SETTING UP
Unpacking and Inspection
Your QuadraSynth Plus 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 QuadraSynth Plus for
servicing.
Upon receiving the QuadraSynth Plus, carefully examine the shipping carton
and its contents for any sign of physical damage that may have occurred in
transit. If you detect any damage, do not destroy any of the packing material or
the carton, and immediately notify the carrier of a possible claim for damage.
Damage claims must be made by you. Contact your Alesis dealer.
The shipping carton should contain the following items:
• QuadraSynth Plus with the same serial number as shown on shipping
carton
• Sustain pedal
• AC Power Cable
• Computer floppy disk containing Sound Bridge software and electronic
manual
• This instruction manual, plus lists of Mixes and Programs, and Quick
Start guide
• Alesis warranty card
Setting Up: Chapter 1
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 QuadraSynth Plus works with the voltage of the country it is shipped to
(either 110 or 220V, 50 or 60 Hz), and comes with a line cord or power supply
suitable for the destination to which the keyboard is shipped.
With the QuadraSynth Plus off, plug the AC cord’s female (jack) end into
Quadra-Synth Plus’s AC socket and the male (plug) end into a source of AC
power. It’s good practice to not turn the QuadraSynth Plus on until all other
cables are hooked up.
The IEC-spec AC cord included with the QuadraSynth Plus (do not substitute
any other AC cord) is designed to connect to an outlet that includes three pins,
with the third, round pin connected to ground. The ground connection is an
important safety feature designed to keep the chassis of electronic devices such
as the QuadraSynth Plus at ground potential. Unfortunately, the presence of a
third pin does not always indicate that it is properly grounded. Use an AC line
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 9
Setting Up: Chapter 1
tester to determine this. If the outlet is not grounded, consult with a licensed
electrician.
J
Do not operate any electrical equipment with ungrounded outlets. Plugging the
QuadraSynth Plus into an ungrounded outlet, or “lifting” the unit off ground with a
three-to-two wire adapter, can create a hazardous condition.
J
Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the QuadraSynth Plus or any
associated equipment with improper AC wiring.
Line Conditioners and Protectors
Although the QuadraSynth Plus 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.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 10
Setting Up: Chapter 1
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 11
Setting Up: Chapter 1
About Audio Cables
The connections between the QuadraSynth Plus 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 lowresistance shield. Although quality cables cost more, they do make a difference.
Route cables to the QuadraSynth Plus 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, 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.
• 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 QuadraSynth Plus 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 QuadraSynth Plus has two Main and two Aux audio outputs. These can
provide an amplification system or mixer with several different audio hookup
options:
• Mono. Connect a mono cord from the [MAIN–R] Audio Output to a
mono amplification system or individual mixer input.
• Stereo. Connect two mono cords from the [MAIN–L] and [MAIN–R]
Audio Outputs to a stereo amplification system or two mixer inputs.
• Dual Stereo/Four Individual Outs. Connect two mono cords from the
[MAIN–L] and [MAIN–R] Audio Outputs and two mono cords from the [AUX–
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 12
Setting Up: Chapter 1
L] and [AUX–R] Outputs to a dual stereo amplification system, or four mixer
inputs.
• Stereo Headphones. Plug a set of high-quality stereo headphones into
the rear panel [PHONES] jack.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 13
Setting Up: Chapter 1
A Word About Sound Bridge
Included with the QuadraSynth Plus is a 3-1/2" floppy disk containing a
software program called Sound Bridge. This software has been provided free of
charge in an effort to promote sound design for the QuadraSynth Plus.
Sound Bridge is a Macintosh™ sound development utility which compiles
custom samples from a variety of sources into the QuadraSynth Voice format,
and downloads the compiled data to an Alesis PCMCIA Sound Card via MIDI
Sysex to a QuadraSynth Plus or S4 Plus. Originally developed for in-house use
only, Alesis soon realized the need for individuals and sound developers to be
able to burn their own Sound Cards as well, using whatever samples they
wanted. Sound Bridge makes this possible without having a PCMCIA card
burner attached to your computer. All you need is a QuadraSynth Plus or S4
Plus.
Sound Bridge creates a QuadraSynth Voice (multi-sample) by loading Sample
Cell I or Sample Cell II format Instrument files. Using this format, Sound Bridge
is able to determine key group and velocity group split points, root notes, sample
playback rates, tunings, start points, loop points, and loop tunings. Sound Bridge
can also create QuadraSynth Voices without Sample Cell Instruments by loading
single AIFF, Sound Designer, or Sound Designer II files.
Sound Bridge does NOT require Sample Cell hardware. The Sample Cell
Instrument file, or sample file, may be loaded directly into Sound Bridge from
any disk (i.e. CD-ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.). For example, a user may
load data from a Sample Cell CD-ROM, and send this data to the QuadraSynth
PCMCIA Card, without ever using Sample Cell!
Sound Bridge can write to PCMCIA cards (or PC Cards) of up to 8MB in size.
These cards must be either Type I SRAM (150ns or faster) or Type I Flash RAM
cards (AMD C-series or D-series 5V Flash Memory Cards). If you are unsure
whether a card is compatible with the S4 Plus, contact Alesis Product Support for
more information.
The Sound Bridge disk contains the Sound Bridge application, and an electronic
manual which will give you all the information you need to know to run Sound
Bridge.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 14
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH
THE QUADRASYNTH PLUS
Powering Up
After making your connections, turn on the system’s power using this procedure:
¿ Before turning on the QuadraSynth Plus’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 QuadraSynth Plus turned down?
¡ Turn on the [ON/OFF] (power) switch on the QuadraSynth Plus rear
panel.
Upon power-up, the QuadraSynth Plus will display the last selected Program or Mix. If
this Program/Mix has been edited, the display will indicate this by showing the word
“EDITED” below either the word “MIX” or “PROGRAM.”
¬ Turn the QuadraSynth Plus’s master [VOLUME] control to maximum.
The best signal-to-noise ratio is achieved when [VOLUME] is set to maximum. This is a
digital volume control, and lower settings have lower resolution.
Turn on the power of the amplifier/mixer, and adjust the volume.
Adjusting the Display Contrast
Occasionally, the characters in the LCD display may be difficult to read,
depending on the viewing angle and existing lighting conditions. In such
a situation, adjust the contrast of the LCD display using the following
procedure.
¿ Press [GLOBAL].
The display will change to the Global Page.
¡ Use Quad Knob [1] to adjust the contrast, or use the VALUE [¬]
and [] buttons.
The contrast and its value in the display will change.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 15
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
1
PROG
1 2 3 4 5 6P AGE:
7
GLOBAL
1
V ALUE
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 16
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Playing the Demo Sequence
The QuadraSynth Plus has a built-in demo sequence which demonstrates
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 [GLOBAL] button, and press [MIX].
The upper-right display will read “Playing Demo. Press MIX to stop.”
¡ Press [MIX] to stop the demo.
There will be no MIDI OUT messages during the demo, and the
keyboard will be disabled.
Playing Specific Sections of the Demo
The demo sequence is currently comprised of four sections. Any
of these sections can be played directly, without listening to the
sections preceding it. This can be done by holding [GLOBAL]
and pressing one of the Quad Buttons [1] – [4] buttons which
corresponds to the section you would like to hear.
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.
To turn the General MIDI function on:
¿ Press [GLOBAL].
The display will now be in Global Edit Mode.
¡ Press Quad Button [2].
This selects the General MIDI parameter in the display.
¬ Press the VALUE [] button.
This turns on General MIDI mode, and automatically puts you into Mix Play Mode with
Mix 00 of Preset Bank 4 selected.
For more information about General MIDI, refer to the the MIDI Supplement in
Appendix B.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 17
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Playing the QuadraSynth Plus
The QuadraSynth Plus 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 QuadraSynth Plus is always in one of two modes: Program Mode or
Mix Mode. When selecting Programs, you will be in Program Play Mode.
When editing a Program, you will use Program Edit Mode. When
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 QuadraSynth Plus, press either the
[PROGRAM] button or the [MIX] button to get back to their respective play
modes.
• Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode.
In Program Play Mode, the QuadraSynth Plus plays a single Program.
The display will look like this:
1
PROG
The current PROGram number is displayed, and the Program’s name
appears in the top-right. The current Bank is shown to the left of the
Program name. The current MIDI channel is shown in the top left corner
left.
• Press the [MIX] button to select Mix Play Mode.
In Mix Play Mode, the QuadraSynth Plus 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 like this:
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 18
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
1 2 3 4
MIX PROG
EFFECTEFFECT
All MIDI channels that are active in the current Mix are shown at the top
left, to indicate multitimbral operation. The current MIX and EFFECT
numbers are displayed, along with the current Bank and Mix’s name.
The PROGram number display shows the program assigned to the
underlined MIDI channel.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 19
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Auditioning Internal Programs
¿ Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode.
You can now play the QuadraSynth Plus keyboard; the Program will be
whatever was selected when last in Program mode (Program number 00 —
127).
¡ Select a Program using any of these methods:
• Use the [-1] and [+1] buttons to step through the Programs one
at a time.
• Use the [-10] and [+10] buttons to step through the Programs ten
at a time.
• Hold the [PROGRAM] button and rotate Quad Knob [1].
• Use the DIRECT SELECT [1]—[0] buttons for direct entry.
Leading zeroes must be entered for Programs 0 — 19. Example: Press [0] then
[0] then [5] for Program 5; press [0] then [1] then [3] for Program 13. Only
begin with [1] if you are selecting a Program from 100 — 127. If you start
entering a number and change your mind, wait a few seconds and the
QuadraSynth Plus will revert to the previous Program number.
J
To hear the Stereo Grand Piano, select Program 00 in Preset Bank 1.
Selecting Banks
The QuadraSynth Plus 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 display just
to the left of the currently selected Program’s name.
• Use the BANK [♦] and [∅] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset
1 – 4).
J
User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4.
Selecting the MIDI Channel
While in Program Play Mode, the QuadraSynth Plus can transmit and
receive information on any single MIDI channel of the 16 available
channels. The currently selected channel appears at the top left of the
display.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 20
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
1
PROG
¿ Use the MIDI [♦] and [∅] buttons to select a MIDI channel from
1 — 16.
The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel.
MIDIMIDI
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 21
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Realtime Performance Functions
The QuadraSynth Plus 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.
• The Quad Knobs. These are 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 one
of the pedal jacks (PEDAL 1 or PEDAL 2), 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).
The Quad Knobs
To the right of the display are four knobs referred to as Quad Knobs,
[1]—[4], each with its own button. The Quad Knobs provide control over
various parameters depending on the mode you are in. The parameters
in the display will change depending on which function and page are
selected. Not all four Quad Knobs are active in all windows; there are
many pages that have only one active Quad Knob.
In Program Play Mode and Mix Play Mode, the Quad Knobs act as
Controllers A–D. These Controllers are defined in Global Edit Mode
(Page 3) to transmit various MIDI controller messages. If a Program or
Mix uses these Controllers A–D, a pair of arrows will point towards the
active controller’s letter in the display. This indicates that moving the
related Quad Knob will have some kind of effect on the selected Program
or Mix. In the illustration below, Controller A (Quad Knob [1]) is used by
the selected Program.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 22
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
1 2 3 4
When in Program Edit Mode or Mix Edit , the Quad Knobs are linked to
the parameters that appear in the right side of the display. The lower line
of the alphanumeric display will show the abbreviated name of each
parameter, with a bar graph below it representing the current setting of
the parameter. By turning Quad Knob [1], you adjust the setting of the
first parameter on the left. Turning Quad Knob [2] adjusts the next
parameter, and so on. Once a Quad Knob has been turned, or its button
has been pressed, the top line of the display will immediately show the
parameter’s name and current setting. At this point, the parameter will
have a thick underline beneath its bargraph, indicating that you can now
use the VALUE [¬] and [] buttons to adjust the parameter’s setting.
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 QuadraSynth Plus 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 [-1] and [+1] buttons to step through the Mixes one at a
time.
• Use the [-10] and [+10] buttons to step through the Mixes ten at a
time.
• Hold the [MIX] button and rotate Quad Knob [1].
• Use the DIRECT SELECT [1]—[0] buttons for direct entry.
Leading zeroes must be entered for Mixes 0 — 9. Example: Press [0] then [5] for
Mix 5. If you start entering a number and change your mind, wait a few
seconds and the QuadraSynth Plus will revert to the previous Mix number.
Selecting Banks
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 23
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
The QuadraSynth Plus 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.
• Use the BANK [♦] and [∅] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset
1 – 4).
J
After switching between the Preset and User banks, press Quad Button [1] to
see the name of the Mix in the display again.
User memory and Preset memory are described in detail in Chapter 4.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 24
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Editing a Mix
In this section, we will assign Programs to and set volume levels for the
16 MIDI channels in a Mix, for playing back tracks from a MIDI
sequencer. However, there is much more about a Mix that may be edited.
Refer to Chapter 5 for more about Mix editing.
¿ Press [MIX] and select a Mix using one of the three methods
described above.
¡ Press [SELECT].
The top line of the LCD’s function list will read “EDITING: MIX”.
¬ Simultaneously press both the FUNCTION [♦] and [∅] buttons.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 14 15 16
MIX
EDITING: MIX
PROGRAM – ASSIGN LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL
PITCH RANGE EFFECT NAME
PROG EFFECT
P AGE: 1
Use the MIDI [♦] and [∅] buttons to select a MIDI channel for
editing.
The MIDI monitor and selection strip will indicate the selected MIDI channel
with an underline. These buttons “wrap around” (e.g., if you’re on channel 16
and press MIDI [∅], you’ll select channel 1. If channel 1 is selected and you
press MIDI [♦], you’ll select channel 16).
ƒ Use Quad Knob [1] to choose a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 4).
H Use Quad Knob [2] to select a Program for the selected Channel.
J
Don’t use the MIX/PROGRAM SELECT [1]—[0] buttons while in any edit
mode. If you do, you will be kicked out of Mix Edit mode and will select another
Mix, losing your changes.
Use Quad Knob [4] to enable or disable the Program on the
selected Channel.
When enabled, the Channel number will appear in the top left of the display.
When disabled, the Channel number will not appear (unless selected for editing
using the MIDI [♦] and [∅] buttons, in which case it is underlined).
« To set the Program’s level, press the FUNCTION [∅] button
once so that “LEVEL” is underlined in the display. Use Quad Knob [1] to
adjust the level.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 25
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
» Repeat steps ¬ — « until all desired Programs are assigned to
all desired MIDI channels, and have the appropriate levels.
J
Changes to Mix parameters are temporary and will be lost if another Mix is
selected. To make changes permanent, you must store the Mix into the User
bank. Refer to Chapter 4 for information about storing changes.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 26
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Setting the Effects Level
Each Program can use up to four Sounds, for either layering or splitting
the keyboard. Each of these Sounds has its own effects send level and
effects bus assignment. Many of the Programs in the QuadraSynth Plus
use only one or two Sound layers, while others may use all four Sounds.
You can adjust the effect send amount for each Sound independently, or
you can view/edit all four sounds simultaneously.
¿ Press [PROGRAM] to access Program Play Mode, and select a
Program you wish to edit, using the methods described on page 14.
¡ Press [SELECT] to access Program Edit Mode.
¬ Press the [EFFECT] button (located among the DIRECT SELECT
buttons on the far left); the words “EFFECT - LEVEL” are underlined in
the display.
This is where you determine how much level will be sent from the current
Program sound layer to the effects processor, and on which of the four busses.
1
PROG
EDITING: PROGRAM SOUND 1
PITCH FIL TER AMP RANGE MOD EFFECT NAME
PLFO FLFO ALFO PENV FENV AENV TRACK
P AGE: 1
ASSIGN – VOICE LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL
MISC.
Turn Quad Knob [1] to adjust the effect send level of the selected
Sound (1—4).
For the most dramatic effect, set this to 99.
ƒ Press the [EDIT 1] button to select another Sound to adjust.
The display will indicate “SOUND 1” or “SOUND 2,” etc., to indicate which
of the four Sounds is being edited.
H Press the [EDIT 4] button to display the effect send levels of all
four Sounds simultaneously; use Quad Knobs [1] — [4] to adjust each
Sound’s effect level.
The display will indicate “SOUND 1 2 3 4.”
MIDI
1
CHAN
PROGPROG
PRESET
EDITING: PROGRAM SOUND 1
PITCH FIL TER AMP RANGE MOD EFFECT NAME
PLFO FLFO ALFO PENV FENV AENV TRACK
P AGE: 1
ASSIGN – VOICE LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL
2 3 4
MISC.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 27
Your First Session With The QuadraSynth Plus: Chapter 2
Note: If a Sound is not enabled in a Program, its title will be shown in lowercase
(“snd4”), and adjust its controls will have no effect on the Sound until the
Sound is enabled. To enable a Sound, hold down its respective Quad Button
(i.e., [3] for Sound #3) and press VALUE [].
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 28
CHAPTER 3
CONNECTIONS
Basic MIDI Hookup
MIDI is an internationally-accepted protocol that allows musical-related data to
be conveyed from one device to another. See the MIDI Supplement in Appendix
B if you are not familiar with how MIDI works.
The MIDI connections provide three different functions. To trigger the
QuadraSynth Plus from a MIDI control device (keyboard, drum pad, guitar or
bass controller, sequencer, etc.), connect the control device’s MIDI OUT to the
QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI IN.
Connections: Chapter 3
The MIDI THRU jack carries a replica (or echo) of the signal appearing at the
QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI IN, allowing you to trigger other devices from the
same controller which is feeding the QuadraSynth Plus. Simply connect the
QuadraSynth Plus MIDI THRU to the other device’s MIDI IN. Note that the
MIDI THRU jack will not send messages from the QuadraSynth Plus’s keyboard
itself.
The MIDI OUT sends MIDI data from the QuadraSynth Plus’s keyboard to other
MIDI devices, but can also send System Exclusive data (see the MIDI supplement)
to a storage device such as the Alesis DataDisk for later recall.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 29
Connections: Chapter 3
Example 1: Master Controller for Live Use
Most live applications use the QuadraSynth Plus to generate sounds, with
(possibly) the MIDI output driving other MIDI devices, such as an S4 Plus rack
unit, QuadraVerb 2, other keyboards and sound modules, etc.
To drive MIDI controlled devices from the QuadraSynth Plus, patch the
QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI OUT to the MIDI device’s MIDI IN. If there is more
than one MIDI device, patch the first device’s MIDI THRU to the second device’s
MIDI IN, the second device’s MIDI THRU to the third device’s MIDI IN, etc.
Caution: Do not attempt to connect more than three or four units together using
thru connections as this may impede the MIDI data flow to the connected
devices. Instead, insert a MIDI patch-bay to the QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI OUT
so that all devices receive its MIDI information simultaneously.
In Program mode, the keyboard sends and receives MIDI information on only
one MIDI channel at a time. In Mix mode, however, the keyboard can transmit
on as many as 16 MIDI channels, each with its own keyboard range (for more
information on Program mode and Mix mode, see Chapter 4).
When using the QuadraSynth Plus as a master keyboard to play other MIDI
devices, be sure the Keyboard Mode is set to “NORMAL.” The Keyboard Mode
parameter is found on Page 2 of Global mode (for more information, see Chapter
8).
It is possible for the QuadraSynth Plus to transmit volume and pan settings via
MIDI (as controllers 7 and 10, respectively). This occurs whenever a new
Program
is selected, or when a new Mix is selected. In the case of a Mix, the volume and
pan settings may be transmitted for each Channel (up to 16) used in the selected
Mix.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 30
Connections: Chapter 3
Example 2: Using an External Sequencer
The QuadraSynth Plus can generate MIDI signals that are recorded by a
sequencer. On playback, the sequencer sends this data back into the
QuadraSynth Plus, which then serves as a multitimbral sound module (in Mix
mode). The sequencer can generate data over several channels; in Mix mode, the
QuadraSynth Plus can be programmed so that individual Programs play
sequenced data on specific channels.
Example: If the sequencer transmits a piano part over channel 1, a bass part over
channel 2, and a drum part over channel 10, you could set up a QuadraSynth
Plus Mix so that a piano sound plays only the MIDI data assigned to channel 1, a
bass sound plays only the MIDI data assigned to channel 2, and drums play only
the MIDI data assigned to channel 10. The QuadraSynth Plus can store up to 100
User Mixes.
Connect the sequencer’s MIDI Out to the QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI IN, and the
QuadraSynth Plus’s MIDI OUT to the sequencer’s MIDI In. This allows the
QuadraSynth Plus to send data to the sequencer for recording, and play back
data from the sequencer.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual 31
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