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S4 PLUS
User Manual
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Alesis S4 PLUS User Manual

ALESIS S4 Plus
Reference Manual
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Alesis S4 Plus 64 Voice Sound Module. To take full advantage of the S4 Plus’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 S4 Plus. Though we recommend you take time to read through the entire manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about synthesizers should use the table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using the instrument. If you’ve upgraded your S4 to the new 2.0 “Plus” software, refer to Appendix D to find out about the many new features.
Chapter 1: Setting Up. Deals with the necessary preparation before playing,
including connections to external devices. Chapter 2: Your First Session with the S4 Plus. This section provides a brief tour
of the S4 Plus, shows you how to audition the various sounds of the S4 Plus, and points out the various performance features.
Chapter 3: Connections. Details rear panel connections (like MIDI, footpedals and the optical digital interface), proper hook-up procedures, plus application examples.
Chapter 4: Overview. Covers the structure of sound sources within the S4 Plus, how to read and navigate through the LCD display pages, how to edit parameters, and how to store edited Programs, Mixes and Effects.
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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,
Display Contrast, Keyboard Mode, Edit Mode and 48 kHz Clock In. 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 are referred to in this manual just as their names appear on the S4 Plus, using all capital letters and in brackets ( [PROGRAM] button, MIDI [¨] and [Æ] buttons, Quad Knob [1], etc.). When text from the S4 Plus’s display is quoted, it is indicated by a set of quotation marks ( “EDITING: SOUND 4”) .
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 S4 Plus.
Example:
Example:
S4 Plus Reference Manual 1
Index
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 S4 Plus ............................................................ 11
Powering Up................................................................................................................... 11
Adjusting the Display Contrast .......................................................................... 11
Playing the Demo Sequence............................................................................. 12
Enabling General MIDI Mode......................................................................................... 12
Playing the S4 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 Level ................................................................................... 18
3: Connections................................................................................................... 19
Basic MIDI Hookup ........................................................................................................ 19
Using the S4 in Live Performance.................................................................................. 20
Using an External Sequencer ........................................................................................ 21
Digital Audio/Optical Hookup ......................................................................................... 22
Recording Digital Audio..................................................................................... 22
48 kHz Clock In.............................................................................................................. 22
4: Overview........................................................................................................ 23
Basic Architecture .......................................................................................................... 23
S4 Plus Polyphony ......................................................................................................... 23
Modes ............................................................................................................................ 24
Program Play Mode........................................................................................... 24
Mix Play Mode .................................................................................................. 24
Program Edit Mode ........................................................................................... 24
Mix Edit Mode.................................................................................................... 25
Effects Edit Mode.............................................................................................. 25
Global Edit Mode .............................................................................................. 25
Store Mode ....................................................................................................... 25
Compare Mode ................................................................................................. 25
The User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages, and Parameters .................................. 26
About the Display.............................................................................................. 26
MIDI Buttons ..................................................................................................... 27
Quad Knob Editing ............................................................................................ 27
Parameter Editing ............................................................................................. 28
Editing Program Parameters............................................................................. 29
Edit 4 and Edit 1 Modes.................................................................................... 30
Resetting a Parameter Value............................................................................ 30
Comparing Edited and Stored Versions......................................................................... 31
Preset Memory and User Memory ................................................................................. 31
S4 Plus Reference Manual 3
Index
Storing............................................................................................................................ 32
Store a Program................................................................................................ 32
Copying Effects Between Programs ................................................................. 33
Store an Effect .................................................................................................. 33
Store a Mix........................................................................................................ 33
To Audition Programs Before Storing................................................................ 34
5: Editing Mixes ................................................................................................. 37
What is a Mix? ............................................................................................................... 37
Mix Edit Mode ................................................................................................................ 37
Understanding the Edit Buffers...................................................................................... 38
Program Assign for each MIDI Channel......................................................................... 39
Level Setting for Each Program ..................................................................................... 39
Pitch ............................................................................................................................... 40
Setting the Range and MIDI Switches ........................................................................... 40
Effects in Mix Play Mode................................................................................................ 42
Effect Level ....................................................................................................... 42
Effect................................................................................................................. 42
Naming a Mix................................................................................................................. 43
Polyphony in Mix Play Mode.......................................................................................... 43
Playing a Group of Channels in a Mix............................................................................ 44
6: Editing Programs........................................................................................... 45
Overview ........................................................................................................................ 45
The “Normalized” Synth Voice ....................................................................................... 45
How the S4 Generates Sound ....................................................................................... 46
Program Sound Layers .................................................................................................. 46
S4 Plus Signal Flow ....................................................................................................... 47
The Four Sounds of a Program......................................................................... 47
Lowpass Filter................................................................................................... 48
Amp................................................................................................................... 49
About Modulation ........................................................................................................... 49
Envelopes ......................................................................................................... 50
About Signal Processing ................................................................................................ 50
Drum Mode .................................................................................................................... 51
Program Edit Functions.................................................................................................. 52
Assign Voice ..................................................................................................... 52
Level .................................................................................................................. 54
Effect Level ....................................................................................................... 54
Pitch .................................................................................................................. 54
Filter .................................................................................................................. 57
Amp................................................................................................................... 59
Range................................................................................................................ 60
Mod ................................................................................................................... 62
Pitch LFO .......................................................................................................... 65
Amp LFO........................................................................................................... 68
Pitch Envelope .................................................................................................. 69
Filter Envelope .................................................................................................. 72
Amp Envelope................................................................................................... 74
Name ................................................................................................................ 78
Misc................................................................................................................... 79
Programming Drum Sounds........................................................................................... 80
Assign Voice ..................................................................................................... 80
Level .................................................................................................................. 80
Effects Level...................................................................................................... 81
Pitch .................................................................................................................. 81
Filter .................................................................................................................. 81
Amp................................................................................................................... 81
Range................................................................................................................ 82
4 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Index
Amp Envelope................................................................................................... 82
Copying Sounds............................................................................................................. 83
Copying Effects.............................................................................................................. 83
Initializing Programs....................................................................................................... 84
7: Editing Effects................................................................................................ 85
About Signal Processing ................................................................................................ 85
Selecting Effects in Mix Mode........................................................................................ 86
Setting Effects Send Levels ........................................................................................... 86
Editing Effects ................................................................................................................ 87
Storing Effect Patches In Program Mode....................................................................... 88
Storing Effect Patches in Mix Mode ............................................................................... 88
Copying Effect Patches.................................................................................................. 89
Configurations................................................................................................................ 89
Reverb............................................................................................................................ 96
Delay .............................................................................................................................. 101
Pitch ............................................................................................................................... 102
Mod ................................................................................................................................ 106
Mix ................................................................................................................................. 107
Misc................................................................................................................................ 108
EQ..................................................................................................................... 108
Overdrive........................................................................................................... 108
8: Global Settings .............................................................................................. 111
Editing Global Parameters ............................................................................................. 111
LCD Contrast ................................................................................................................. 111
General MIDI Mode........................................................................................................ 111
Enabling General MIDI Mode via MIDI.............................................................. 111
Master Pitch and Master Tuning .................................................................................... 112
Mix Group Channel........................................................................................................ 112
Controllers A – D............................................................................................................ 112
Reset Controllers A – D ................................................................................................. 113
Controller Pedal 1 and 2 Assignment............................................................................. 113
MIDI Program Select...................................................................................................... 114
Receiving and Transmitting Bank Change Message ........................................ 114
Edit Mode....................................................................................................................... 115
48 KHz Clock Input ........................................................................................................ 115
9: MIDI Transfer And Storage Operations ......................................................... 117
Saving the User Bank to an External Card .................................................................... 117
Loading a Bank from an External Card.......................................................................... 117
Storing an Individual Program or Mix to an External Card............................................. 118
Loading an Individual Program or Mix from an External Card ....................................... 118
Card Storage RAMifications.............................................................................. 119
Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex................................................................................. 119
Appendix A: Trouble-Shooting........................................................................... 121
Trouble-Shooting Index.................................................................................................. 121
Re-initializing.................................................................................................................. 121
Checking Software Version............................................................................................ 122
Maintenance/Service...................................................................................................... 122
Cleaning............................................................................................................ 122
Maintenance...................................................................................................... 122
Warranty Information......................................................................................... 122
Obtaining Repair Service .................................................................................. 122
Appendix B: MIDI Supplement .......................................................................... 125
MIDI Basics.................................................................................................................... 125
MIDI Hardware............................................................................................................... 125
MIDI Message Basics .................................................................................................... 126
S4 Plus Reference Manual 5
Index
Channel Messages: Mode Messages............................................................... 126
Channel Messages: Voice Messages............................................................... 126
System Common Messages............................................................................. 128
General MIDI.................................................................................................................. 128
MIDI Implementation Chart ............................................................................................ 130
Appendix C: Parameters Index.......................................................................... 131
Program Parameters...................................................................................................... 131
Mix Parameters .............................................................................................................. 133
Appendix D: What’s New in the 2.0 “Plus” Upgrade.......................................... 135
INDEX ............................................................................................................... 155
6 S4 Plus Reference Manual
CHAPTER 1
SETTING UP
Unpacking and Inspection
Your S4 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 S4 Plus for servicing.
Upon receiving the S4 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:
• S4 Plus with the same serial number as shown on shipping carton
• AC Power Supply
• 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
It is important to register your purchase; if you have not already filled out your
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warranty card and mailed it back to Alesis, please take the time to do so now.
AC Power Hookup
The S4 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.
Check the label on the AC adapter to ensure that the “input voltage” is correct for your area. Insert the AC adapter's smaller plug into the 9V AC Power jack on the S4 Plus’s rear panel. Then plug the AC adapter itself into a source of AC power, preferably a power strip with its own on/off switch. Alesis recommends turning off power to the supply or unplugging it when the S4 Plus is not in use, to prolong its life. Use only the AC adapter supplied with the S4 Plus; use of any other adapter will void your warranty.
Alesis cannot be responsible for problems caused by using the S4 Plus or any
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associated equipment with improper AC wiring.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 7
Chapter 1: Setting Up
Line Conditioners and Protectors
Although the S4 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.
MIDI Keyboard
AC Receptacle
9 VAC~
MIDI
INTHRU OUT
Stereo Amp
OUTPUTS
R
AUX
1/4" Audio Cables
L
MAIN
PHONESLDIGITAL OUT48 KHZ INPOWER
R
Stereo Headphones
8 S4 Plus Reference Manual
About Audio Cables
The connections between the S4 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 low-resistance shield. Although quality cables cost more, they do make a difference. Route cables to the S4 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.
Setting Up: Chapter 1
Basic Audio Hookup
When connecting audio cables and/or turning power on and off, make sure that all
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devices in your system are turned off and the volume controls are turned down.
Because the S4 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 S4 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–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.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 9
Chapter 1: Setting Up
A Word About Sound Bridge
Included with the S4 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 S4 Plus.
Sound Bridge is a Macintosh™ sound development utility which compiles custom samples from a variety of sources into the S4 Voice format, and downloads the compiled data to an Alesis PCMCIA Sound Card via MIDI Sysex to an S4 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 an S4 Plus or S4 Plus.
Sound Bridge creates an S4 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 S4 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. CD­ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.). For example, a user may load data from a Sample Cell CD-ROM, and send this data to the S4 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.
10 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Your First Session With The S4 Plus: Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH THE
S4 PLUS
Powering Up
After making your connections, turn on the system’s power using this procedure:
¿ Before turning on the S4 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 S4 Plus turned down?
¡ Turn on the [POWER] switch on the S4 Plus front panel.
Upon power-up, the S4 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 S4 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 [Æ] buttons.
The contrast and its value in the display will change.
MIDI
1
CHAN
PROG
PRESET
123456PAGE:
7
GLOBAL
VALUE
1
S4 Plus Reference Manual 11
Chapter 2: Your First Session With The S4 Plus
Playing the Demo Sequence
The S4 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 S4 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 [Æ] 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.
12 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Playing the S4 Plus
The S4 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
Your First Session With The S4 Plus: Chapter 2
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The S4 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.
If you ever get lost while programming the S4 Plus, press either the button or the
[MIX]
button to get back to their respective play modes.
[PROGRAM]
• Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode. In Program Play Mode, the S4 Plus plays a single Program. The display will look like
this:
MIDI
1
CHAN
PROG
PRESET
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 S4 Plus can combine up to 16 Programs for stacking sounds
together, splitting your keyboard controller into different regions, or working with a MIDI sequencer. The display will look like this:
MIDI
1234
CHAN
MIX PROG
PRESET PRESET PRESET
EFFECT
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.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 13
Chapter 2: Your First Session With The S4 Plus
Auditioning Internal Programs
¿ Press the [PROGRAM] button to select Program Play Mode.
You can now play the S4 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].
To hear the Stereo Grand Piano, select Program 00 in Preset Bank 1.
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Selecting Banks
The S4 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 [Æ] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 4).
User and Preset Banks are described in detail in Chapter 4.
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While in Program Play Mode, the S4 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.
MIDI
CHAN
Selecting the MIDI Channel
1
PROG
PRESET
¿ Use the MIDI [¨] and [Æ] buttons to select a MIDI channel from 1 – 16.
The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel.
MIDI
14 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Your First Session With The S4 Plus: Chapter 2
Realtime Performance Functions
The S4 Plus provides various ways to control the sound as you are playing. Try out some of these functions while playing your MIDI 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 or expression pedal. By
using a sustain pedal connected to your master MIDI keyboard, you can have the S4 Plus’ sound sustain even after you release the keys. By connecting an expression pedal to your master MIDI keyboard, 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.
1 234
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
S4 Plus Reference Manual 15
Chapter 2: Your First Session With The S4 Plus
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 [Æ] 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 S4 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.
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• Use the [-10] and [+10] buttons to step through the Mixes ten at a time.
• Hold the [MIX] button and rotate Quad Knob [1].
Selecting Banks
The S4 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 [Æ] buttons to select a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 4).
After switching between the Preset and User banks, press name of the Mix in the display again.
User memory and Preset memory are described in detail in Chapter 4.
Quad Button [1]
to see the
16 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Your First Session With The S4 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 [Æ] buttons.
MIDI
1234567891011 1213141516
CHAN
MIX
PRESET
EDITING: MIX PROGRAM – ASSIGN LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL PITCH RANGE EFFECT NAME
PAGE: 1
PROG EFFECT
PRESET PRESET
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÷ Use the MIDI [¨] and [Æ] 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 [¨]
MIDI [Æ]
, you’ll select channel 16).
, you’ll select channel 1. If channel 1 is selected and you press
ƒ Use Quad Knob [1] to choose a Bank (User, Preset 1 – 4).
ª Use Quad Knob [2] to select a Program for the selected Channel. D 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
[Æ]
buttons, in which case it is underlined)
.
« To set the Program’s level, press the FUNCTION [Æ] button once so that
“LEVEL” is underlined in the display. Use Quad Knob [1] to adjust the level.
» Repeat steps ¬ — « until all desired Programs are assigned to all desired MIDI
channels, and have the appropriate levels.
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.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 17
Chapter 2: Your First Session With The S4 Plus
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 S4 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.
MIDI
1
CHAN
PROG
PRESET
EDITING: PROGRAM SOUND 1
PITCH FILTER AMP RANGE MOD EFFECT NAME PLFO FLFO ALFO PENV FENV AENV TRACK
PAGE: 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.
ª 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
PROG
PRESET
EDITING: PROGRAM SOUND 1
PITCH FILTER AMP RANGE MOD EFFECT NAME PLFO FLFO ALFO PENV FENV AENV TRACK
PAGE: 1
ASSIGN – VOICE LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL
Note: If a Sound is not enabled in a Program, its title will be shown in lowercase (“snd4”), and adjusting its controls will have no effect on the Sound until the Sound is enabled. To enable a Sound, hold down its respective Quadp Button (i.e., Sound #3) and press
VALUE [Æ].
234
MISC.
[3]
for
18 S4 Plus Reference Manual
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 S4 Plus from a MIDI control device (such as a master keyboard, drum pad, guitar or bass controller, sequencer, etc.), connect the control device’s MIDI OUT to the S4 Plus’ MIDI IN.
Connections: Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
MIDI OUT
MIDI IN
The MIDI THRU jack carries a replica (or echo) of the signal appearing at the S4 Plus’ MIDI IN, allowing you to trigger other devices from the same controller which is feeding the S4 Plus. Simply connect the S4 Plus’ MIDI THRU to the other device’s MIDI IN. Note that the MIDI THRU jack will not send messages from the S4 Plus’ keyboard itself.
MIDI OUT
MIDI IN
MIDI THRU
MIDI IN
The MIDI OUT sends MIDI data from the S4 Plus to other MIDI devices. This can include storage device such as a MIDI librarian software program for later recall, or to transfer data to another S4 Plus.
System Exclusive
data (see the MIDI supplement) which can be sent to a
S4 Plus Reference Manual 19
Chapter 3: Connections
Using the S4 in Live Performance
Depending on the capabilities of your MIDI controller keyboard, you have two different options available for how the S4 Plus will respond when it is in Mix Play Mode:
• If your controller can only issue commands on one or two MIDI channels simultaneously, you may want to set the S4 Plus’ “Mix Group Channel” parameter (on page 2 of the Global display) to a channel between 1 and 16, so that your controller can play a mix of several S4 Plus Programs in response to a single channel of MIDI.
• If you have a master controller or QuadraSynth which can send on multiple MIDI channels, you may want to set the S4 Plus’ “Mix Group Channel” to “Off”. To create layers or stacks, your controller must send multiple MIDI messages to the S4 Plus simultaneously. This offers you the added control of changing the sound from the controller by sending Program Change commands on individual channels within a Mix. A disadvantage of this approach is that the controller must send many channels of duplicate MIDI messages simultaneously.
Note:
In Program Play Mode, the Mix Group Channel parameter has no effect. For
more information about the Mix Group Channel parameter, see pages 41, 44 and
112.
20 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Using an External Sequencer
MIDI OUT
The MIDI keyboard or controller (such as the QuadraSynth Plus) can generate MIDI signals that are recorded by a sequencer. On playback, the sequencer sends this data back into the S4 Plus, which then serves as a multitimbral sound module (in Mix Mode). The sequencer can generate data over several channels; in Mix Mode, the S4 Plus can be programmed so that individual Programs play sequenced data on specific channels.
Connections: Chapter 3
Example:
channel 2, and a drum part over channel 10, you could set up a S4 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 S4 Plus can store up to 100 User Mixes.
Connect your master keyboard’s MIDI Out to the sequencer’s MIDI In (if using a computer-based sequencer, connect to the computer’s MIDI interface’s MIDI In). Connect the sequencer’s MIDI Out to your keyboard’s MIDI In. Finally, connect your keyboard’s MIDI Thru to the S4 Plus’s MIDI IN (the Thru signal carries a replica of what appears at the keyboard’s MIDI In, which is the same as the sequencer’s MIDI Out).
Note:
although doing so allows the S4 Plus to send data to the computer (such as System Exclusive data to be stored into a librarian program).
If the sequencer transmits a piano part over channel 1, a bass part over
It is not necessary to connect the S4 Plus’s MIDI OUT to the sequencer,
COMPUTER
MIDI
INTERFACE
MIDI IN
MIDI IN
MIDI THRU
MIDI IN
If you are driving other MIDI gear (such as an expander module or MIDI-responsive signal processor), you’ll usually drive these from the sequencer if it has additional MIDI outputs. However, you can also use the S4 Plus’s MIDI THRU connector to drive other modules since the Thru carries a replica of what appears at the S4 Plus’s MIDI IN, which is the same as the sequencer’s MIDI OUT.
Note:
For most sequencer applications, the S4 Plus’ “Mix Group Channel” parameter (on page 2 of the Global display) should be set to OFF. See page 112 for more information.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 21
Chapter 3: Connections
Digital Audio/Optical Hookup
The S4 Plus can send digital audio directly into ADAT, which provides better fidelity than using the analog inputs and outputs.
The digital I/O connector follows a proprietary Alesis format that carries all four audio outputs on a single fiber optic cable. Either pair of outputs can be converted into standard AES/EBU or S/PDIF stereo digital audio format by using the Alesis AI-1 interface. Fiber optic cables of various lengths are available from your Alesis dealer. The shorter the cable, the better. The model OC cable is 5 meters long and is the maximum length recommended.
To hook up the optical cable:
¿ Remove the two pieces of clear plastic, tubular sleeving (if present) that protect
the tips of the optical cable plugs.
¡ Insert one cable end into the S4 Plus DIGITAL OUT and the other end into the
ADAT or AI-1 DIGITAL IN.
To test the cable and S4 Plus digital output, plug one cable end into the S4 Plus. The other end should emit a soft red light (it is not dangerous to look directly at this light).
Recording Digital Audio
Once the fiber optic connection is made between the S4 Plus and ADAT or an AI-1, the S4 Plus will output audio on the first four channels of the digital bus (the bus is capable of handling eight channels of digital audio). The Main Left and Right outputs are routed to channels 1 and 2, while the Aux Left and Right outputs are routed to channels 3 and 4. Note that the volume knob controls the level of all analog and digital output channels simultaneously. Set the volume to maximum for most applications.
48 kHz Clock In
If your ADAT system has an Alesis BRC Remote Controller, the S4 Plus’s digital clock must be synchronized to the clock coming from the BRC. Connect a BNC-to­BNC cable (such as the Alesis BN cable) between the BRC’s 48 kHz CLOCK OUT and the S4 Plus’s 48 kHz CLOCK IN. For more information about using the 48 kHz clock, see page 118 in Chapter 8. When using only one ADAT without the BRC, it is not necessary to connect the 48 kHz Clock.
SYNC
IN
ADAT #1
ADAT #2
ADAT #3
DIGITAL
IN
DIGITAL
OUT
48 KHZ
IN
48 KHZ
OUT
BRC
SYNC
OUT
Tip:
With this type of connection, the ADAT tracks will remain in tune with the S4 Plus
even when the BRC’s pitch value is adjusted.
22 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Basic Architecture
The S4 Plus contains digitized acoustic and electronic voices, organized into 18 groups of sound types. The groups are:
Piano Bass Ensemble Drums Organ Guitar Ethnic Percussion Keyboard Brass Voice Rhythm Synth Woodwind Sound FX QSPlus Waves String
Several functions (filter, amplitude envelope, pitch envelope, LFO, multiple modulation sources, signal processors, etc.) can be used to process a sample. A Sound is the combination of a sample with its associated processing.
A Program consists of up to four sounds. These sounds can be layered, split over specific keyboard ranges, or selectively overlapped. The S4 Plus has a User Bank of 128 Programs that you can modify, plus 4 Preset Banks with 512 Preset Programs that are permanently installed in the S4 Plus at the factory (although the Preset Programs can be edited, they must be stored into the User bank to permanently retain your changes). Each Program is linked to its own Effects Patch.
Overview: Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
OVERVIEW
A Mix consists of up to 16 Programs, each assigned to a specific MIDI channel and one Effect Patch. The S4 Plus has 100 Mixes in the User Bank, plus 4 Preset Banks with 400 Preset Mixes. This is extremely useful for multitimbral setups where the S4 Plus plays back different sounds on different MIDI channels. Because of the 64 voices and built-in effects, the S4 Plus is often the only sound generator needed.
S4 Plus Polyphony
The S4 Plus provides 64-voice polyphony (i.e., how many notes can play at once). If a program uses one sound, up to 64 notes can play at once. Layering two sounds allows for 32-note polyphony and layering four sounds, 16-note polyphony.
Layering is a powerful technique that allows you to build up complex timbres. This is crucial because acoustic instruments have extremely complex, evolving sounds and by comparison, many synths sound static. Being able to layer up to four sounds allows for creating large ensembles (e.g., brass section consisting of alto & tenor sax, trumpet, and trombone) or extremely realistic versions of single instruments. When creating layered Programs, keep polyphony in mind. If all Programs in a Mix use all four available sounds, the S4 Plus will quickly run out of voices.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 23
Chapter 4: Overview
Modes
The S4 Plus is always in one of two main modes: Program Mode or Mix Mode. Pressing [PROGRAM] selects Program Play Mode, while pressing [MIX] selects Mix Play Mode. While in Program Play Mode, you can press [SELECT] to access Program Edit Mode and Effects Edit Mode. While in Mix Play Mode, pressing [SELECT] alternates between Mix Edit Mode, Program Edit Mode and Effects Edit Mode. Pressing [GLOBAL] accesses Global Edit Mode, pressing [COMPARE] accesses Compare Mode, and pressing [STORE] accesses Store Mode. Here are descriptions of these modes:
Program Play Mode
Program Play Mode lets you play the S4 Plus’s various Programs one at a time. The S4 Plus contains 512 Preset and 128 User instruments, effects, ensembles, etc.) that show off just how cool this instrument really is. Initially, the 4 Preset Banks and the User Bank contain data loaded in at the factory. The User Programs can be edited or replaced with your own Programs. However, you cannot replace the Preset Programs, because these are stored in ROM (permanent memory). In Program Play Mode, the S4 Plus responds to or generates messages on a single MIDI channel.
Mix Play Mode
Mix Play Mode lets you audition the S4 Plus’s various Mixes, and use it as a MIDI master controller. The S4 Plus contains 400 Preset Mixes and 100 User Mixes. A Mix can combine up to 16 different Programs, and the keyboard can generate up to 16 channels of MIDI data at once. Therefore, much thicker and richly textured sounds can be created. In Mix Play Mode, the S4 Plus can be used in a wide range of applications. It can be used for live performance, in which sounds are layered or assigned to sections of the keyboard. It can also be used as a multitimbral sound source for desktop music and home studio applications. A Mix can use the Effects Patch associated with one of its Programs. Although there may be 16 Programs in a Mix, there can only be one Effects Patch per Mix. In Mix Mode, the S4 Plus can respond to messages on up to 16 MIDI channels simultaneously; different channels are available depending on which Mix is selected.
Programs
(i.e., the sounds of various
Program Edit Mode
In Program Edit Mode, you can change the various settings which determine the sound of an individual Program, or create an entirely new Program from scratch. Each Program is made up of four Sound layers, which you can edit individually, or simultaneously. In Program Edit mode you can:
• select which sample waveform from the 24 megabytes of onboard sample ROM
will be used, in each of the 4 sounds;
• change the tone, level, attack and decay characteristics, modulation inputs, and
pitch of each layer;
• set modulation routings so any parameter can be controlled via MIDI;
• set the effect level for each Sound layer, and set which of the four effect sends
each Sound layer will use for signal processing (such as reverb, delay, and chorus—or any combination of these).
Mix Edit Mode
Mix Edit Mode lets you change the parameters of an existing Mix. Up to 16 Programs can be active in each Mix, and Mix Edit mode sets up how each will be played. Mix Edit Mode allows you to:
24 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Overview: Chapter 4
• select which Programs will be played by the different MIDI channels and by the
keyboard in multiple layers or splits;
• set the output level, effects level, and pan of each Program in the Mix;
• select which Program’s Effects Patch will be used by the Mix.
Effects Edit Mode
Effects Edit Mode is used for setting up the Digital Signal Processing effects. Each Effect Patch has 4 effect bus inputs, and an internal configuration of multiple effects such as reverb, delay, and pitch-related effects (chorus, flange, etc.). You can determine what kinds of effects are used on each bus (this is called a “Configuration”), change each effect’s parameters (such as reverb decay time or chorus speed), set modulation routings (such as having the modulation wheel change the decay time), and set the effects mix (how much reverb, delay and chorus on the output of each effect bus).
Global Edit Mode
Use Global Edit Mode to set various parameters which effect the entire instrument, such as overall master tuning, display contrast, MIDI controller settings, keyboard sensitivity, and how the unit will respond to or generate messages in Mix Mode.
Store Mode
Store Mode is used for storing changes of Programs, Mixes and/or Effects into the User Bank or onto a QuadraCard PCMCIA memory card accessory. It is also used for transmitting the S4 Plus’s parameters over MIDI for data storage purposes, copying sounds or effects from one Program to another, and for transferring entire Banks to or from a Sound Card.
Compare Mode
Once a Program has been edited in Program Edit Mode, or a Mix has been edited in Mix Edit Mode, the word “EDITED” will appear in the display next to the Mix/Program number. If [COMPARE] is pressed, the word “COMPARE” will appear in the display, and you will temporarily be hearing (and seeing) the original version of the Mix/Program. If you are editing a Mix and press [COMPARE], the original unedited MIX is temporarily recalled. Likewise, if you are editing a Program or its Effects Patch and press [COMPARE], the original Program will be temporarily recalled. Pressing [COMPARE] again switches back to the edited version, and the word “COMPARE” disappears from the display.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 25
Chapter 4: Overview
Current Mix, Program and Effect Strip
Editing Status
The User Interface: Display, Functions, Pages, and Parameters
The key to the S4 Plus user interface is the combination of the Display and four Quad Knobs/Buttons [1] – [4] located toward the right of the front panel. The Display constantly informs you of the S4 Plus’s status.
About the Display
MIDI Channel Cursor MIDI Monitor/Selection Strip
MIDI
1234567891011 1213141516
CHAN
MIX PROG
PRESET
EDITED
EDITING: MIX PROGRAM SOUND 1234 EFFECT CLIP
PROGRAM – ASSIGN – VOICE LEVEL EFFECT–LEVEL
PITCH FILTER AMP RANGE MOD EFFECT NAME
PLFO FLFO ALFO PENV FENV AENV TRACK
CONFIG REVERB DELAY MIX MISC. GLOBAL
PAGE: 1234567891011 12 131415 16 COMPARE
Page Number Strip Function List Function Cursor
PRESET
EDITED
Compare indicator
EFFECT
PRESET
Page Cursor
Global indicator
Mix/Program/Effect/Parameter Name Strip
EDITED
Quad Knob/Button Label Strip
Quad Knob bar-graph meters Quad Knob Cursor
Clip indicator
Note: This illustration shows all display flags turned on at once. Actual displays show only some of these at any time.
The display has eight main sections:
• MIDI monitor and selection strip. Selects different MIDI channels for the
programs in Mix Play Mode (a thick underline indicates the selected channel), monitors keyboard and incoming MIDI activity (thick lines above active channel numbers indicates activity either from the keyboard or MIDI In), and chooses the basic MIDI channel in Program Play Mode.
• Current Mix, Program and Effect strip. Shows the currently selected Mix
and/or Program and its associated Effect.
• Editing Status. Indicates what you are editing (either Mix Edit, Program Edit, or
Effects Edit), after pressing [SELECT]. “1 2 3 4” indicates which Sound (1–4) is selected for editing when in Program Edit mode; or, which effect send (1–4) is selected for editing when in Effects Edit mode. Press [EDIT 1] to cycle through the four Sounds/sends. When Edit 4 mode is selected (press [EDIT 4]), all four numbers appear, to indicate that all four Sounds are available for simultaneous editing (Edit 4 mode is available in Program Edit mode only).
• Functions list. Displays the various editing functions available in a particular
editing mode. Use the FUNCTION [¨] and [Æ] buttons to select a function, as indicated by the small line (cursor) underneath one of the words in the list. When a function is chosen, the page number strip and right-hand side of the display will show values related to that function. Only the functions used by the current edit mode will be displayed and selectable. Functions can also be selected from the DIRECT SELECT buttons (see page 31).
• Page number strip. Some functions have too many options to fit on a single
screen. These functions use multiple screens, with each screen considered a
page
. This strip shows which page is selected by underlining the page number.
The PAGE [¨] and [Æ] buttons allow you to select a page.
26 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Overview: Chapter 4
• Name strip. When in Mix Play Mode, the name of the currently selected Mix will
appear here. Likewise, when in Program Play Mode, the name of the currently selected Program will appear here. In any Edit mode or Store mode, the name of the currently selected parameter will appear here indicating it is selected for editing using the VALUE [¨] and [Æ] buttons.
• Quad Knob/Button Label strip. This line is used to show the labels of the bar
graph meters, which determine the functions of the four Quad Knobs and Buttons. These labels change depending on which function and page is currently selected. The labels are abbreviations of the parameters; the complete name (and value) of a selected parameter will appear in the Name strip.
• Quad Knob bar graph meters. When a Quad Knob controls a function’s
parameter, an associated bar graph appears which reflects the Knob’s setting.
Note:
Not all four Quad Knobs are active in all pages. If a single line appears somewhere in the bargraph area, it indicates its corresponding Quad Knob is active.
MIDI Buttons
The MIDI [¨] and [Æ] buttons serve two purposes. In Program Play Mode, they select the basic MIDI channel the S4 Plus will receive and transmit MIDI messages on. In Mix Play Mode, they are used to select one of the 16 Channels for viewing and editing.
For more information on MIDI and its uses, see Chapters 8 and 9, and Appendix B.
Quad Knob Editing
The Quad Knobs have two editing modes: Immediate and Pass-thru. When using the Quad Knobs to adjust parameter values, you may prefer using one mode over the other. When set to Immediate, parameter values jump immediately to the Quad Knob’s exact position the moment it is moved. When set to Pass-thru, the Quad Knob must be turned beyond the parameter’s current setting before it becomes “live” and begins adjusting the parameter’s value.
The editing mode is set in Global Edit mode, Page 2, using Quad Knob [3]. For more information about selecting the Quad Knobs’ editing mode, see Chapter 8.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 27
Chapter 4: Overview
Parameter Editing
All parameter editing involves the same general procedure, with minor variations:
¿ Select the type of parameters you want to edit with the corresponding button:
[MIX], [PROGRAM], or [GLOBAL].
Mix parameters edit a Mix. Program parameters edit a Program. Effects parameters can be edited from within a Mix or a Program (see below). Global parameters edit general characteristics that affect the entire instrument.
¡ Select an Edit Mode with the [SELECT] button.
Example: If you pressed two groups of functions—one for editing the Program’s Sound layers(Program Edit Mode), and the other for editing the associated Effect (Effects Edit Mode). If you’re editing a Mix, the functions—one for editing the Mix’s parameters (Mix Edit Mode), one for editing the Programs in the Mix (Program Edit Mode), and the last for editing the associated Effect (Effects Edit Mode)
¬ Use the FUNCTION [¨] and [Æ] buttons to select a function (level, pitch, etc.).
Press backwards. The selected function will be underlined in the display. Press both
FUNCTION [¨]
FUNCTION [Æ]
and
[Æ]
[PROGRAM]
[SELECT]
to advance through the list, and
simultaneously to get back to the first function in the list.
, the
[SELECT]
button switches between three groups of
.
button switches between
FUNCTION [¨]
to move
÷ If a function has multiple pages, select the appropriate page by using the PAGE
[¨] and [Æ] buttons.
The LCD’s page number strip shows the number of pages in a function; an underline shows the currently selected page (e.g., if the display shows “1 2 3” then
page two is selected). Press the
[¨]
to select the next lower-numbered page. Press both
simultaneously to get back to the first page of the selected function.
PAGE [Æ]
button to select the next higher-numbered page, and
PAGE [¨]
and
[Æ]
PAGE
ƒ Select a parameter on the page for editing.
There can be up to four editable parameters on a page. The right side of the display shows these parameters with both text and bar graph meters to give instant visual feedback concerning a parameter’s value. Each of the four columns has an associated Quad Knob and Button: the leftmost column monitors
Knob/Button[1]
Turning a Quad Knob or pressing its Button selects the associated parameter for editing. The currently selected parameter is indicated by a thick line at the bottom of one of the four bar graph meters.
, the second from left column monitors
Quad Knob/Button [2]
Quad
, etc.
ª Change the parameter value.
You can edit the value either by turning the associated Quad Knob (for large value changes) or pressing the
Each bar graph indicates a parameter’s approximate value—increasing a value raises the column height. With clockwise increases the column height upward from the midpoint, and turning a knob counterclockwise increases the column height downward (more negative value) from the midpoint.
bipolar
VALUE [¨]
values that can go positive or negative, turning a knob
and
[Æ]
buttons (for smaller changes).
Always refer to the parameter name strip in the display above the bargraphs for the current parameter label and value.
28 S4 Plus Reference Manual
Overview: Chapter 4
Editing Program Parameters
Here is an example of how to use the S4 Plus’s editing features to change Program parameters. Feel free to make changes and twist dials; these will not be made permanent unless you store the Program (described later).
¿ Press the [PROGRAM] button.
This selects Program Play Mode.
¡ Select a Program using the methods described on page 14.
The currently selected Program will appear in the upper right of the display.
¬ Press the [SELECT] button.
Pressing this button toggles between Program Edit mode and Effects Edit mode. The display’s editing status line will indicate either “Editing: Program” or “Editing: Effect.” To change edit status, press the “Editing: Program.”
÷ Select the desired function by using the FUNCTION [¨] and [Æ] buttons to step
through the various Function in the display (Assign Voice, Level, Effect Level, Pitch, Filter, Amp, etc.). Alternatively, you can use the DIRECT SELECT buttons (located on the far left of the front panel) to directly select a Function.
Pressing returns to the previous function. As you select the different edit Functions, the page number strip shows how many pages exist for that function, and the right part of the display will show the parameters on the current page.
FUNCTION [Æ]
advances to the next function, and
[SELECT]
button again. For now, select
FUNCTION [¨]
ƒ Some functions have more parameters than will fit on a single display page, and
therefore will have multiple pages, as indicated in the lower left corner of the display. To select a page within a particular edit function, use the PAGE [¨] and [Æ] buttons.
Press the
PAGE [¨]
PAGE [Æ]
to return to the next lower-numbered page.
button to advance to the next higher-numbered page or
ª To adjust a parameter on a page, either:
• Turn the associated Quad Knob [1] – [4].
• Press the associated Quad Button [1] – [4] to select a parameter in the
display, then adjust its setting with the VALUE [¨] and [Æ] buttons.
S4 Plus Reference Manual 29
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