Alesis VORTEXT WIRELESS 2 User's Guide

User Guide

English ( 3 – 5 )

Guía del usuario

Español ( 6 – 8 )

Guide d’utilisation

Français ( 9 – 11 )

Guida per l’uso

Italiano ( 12 – 14 )

Benutzerhandbuch

Deutsch ( 15 – 17 )

Appendix

English ( 18 )

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User Guide (English)

Introduction

Box Contents

Vortex Wireless 2 Strap User Guide

USB Wireless Receiver Cable Harness Safety & Warranty Manual

USB Cable Software Download Cards

Important: Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the included
editor software.

Support

For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information,
etc.) and product registration, visit alesis.com.

For additional product support, visit alesis.com/support.

Setup

Items not listed in

Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.

Computer

USB Wireless
Receiver

Strap and cable harness attachment (optional):

Vortex Wireless 2

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Features

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Important: Use the Vortex Wireless 2 editor software to assign various MIDI commands to: the
pads, the faders, the three modes of the ribbon controller, the Sustain button, the pitch bend
wheel, and the volume slider. Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the

included editor software.

1. Power Switch: Use this three-position switch to power Vortex Wireless 2 on or off. Set this to
Batt to power it on using 4 AA batteries (install these beforehand). Set this to USB to power it
on using USB power from a connected computer. Set this to Off to power it off.

2. USB Port: Use a standard USB cable to connect this USB port to your computer. The
computer’s USB port provides ample power to Vortex Wireless 2. This connection is also used
to send and receive MIDI data to and from your computer.

3. MIDI Out (5-pin DIN): Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI
input of an external MIDI device (e.g., a synthesizer, sequencer, drum machine, etc.).

4. Keys: This 37-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive with aftertouch and, in conjunction with the
Octave Up/Down buttons, can access the full range of 127 available MIDI notes (10 octaves).

5. Octave Up/Down: Press one of these buttons to move the keyboard up or down an octave.
Press both buttons simultaneously to reset the octave shift to “zero.”

6. Keyboard Zones (Lower, Split, Upper): Use these buttons to select the corresponding zones
on the keyboard. Press Lower or Upper will apply the lower zone settings or upper zone
settings to all 37 keys. Press Split to apply both lower and upper zone settings to the keyboard
and use the split point. You can edit the range of each zone in the editor software.

7. Pads: Use these velocity-sensitive pads to trigger drum sounds or clips in your software or
hardware. You can use the editor software to assign each pad’s LED colors and the type of
MIDI message it sends: note on/off, control change (toggle), control change (momentary),
program change, or MIDI panic (all notes off).

8. Faders: Use these faders to send MIDI CC messages to your software. You can set the range
and CC message number—and the direction (“polarity”) of the fader—in the editor software.

9. Display: Use this screen to view parameter values, settings, and messages relevant to Vortex
Wireless 2’s current operation.

10. Up/Down (+/–): Use these buttons to move to the previous or next preset.

11. Tilt: Press this button to turn the built-in tilt sensor (accelerometer) on or off.

12. Ribbon Controller: Place and/or move your finger on this touch-sensitive strip to send a MIDI
CC or pitch bend message. The length of the ribbon controller is similar to a fader; its minimum
and maximium positions correspond to the highest and lowest values assigned to that MIDI
message. You can set the range and type of MIDI message—and the direction (“polarity”) of
the ribbon controller—in the editor software. Use the Ribbon Bank buttons to select a bank.

You can also set the ribbon controller’s MIDI messages to Latch or Return. When set to Latch,
the ribbon controller will not send additional MIDI messages when you release it, which is useful
for changing modulation parameters. When set to Return, it will send the default MIDI message
for the controller when you release it, which is useful for changing parameters like pitch-bend.

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13. Ribbon Banks (1–3): Use these buttons to select any of the three banks of the ribbon controller. In
each bank, the ribbon controller can send a different type of MIDI message, enabling you to send
up to three different messages per preset. You can set the range (the values corresponding to its
minimum and maximum positions) and type of MIDI message in the software editor.

14. Sustain: Press and hold this button to sustain any notes that are playing. Release the button to
stop sustaining them.

15. Pitch Bend Wheel: Move this wheel to send MIDI pitch bend information. You can set the
direction (“polarity”) of the pitch bend wheel in the editor software.

16. Volume Slider: Move this slider to send a MIDI CC message. This control is set to volume (CC
#7) by default, but you can edit the range and number of the CC message in the editor software.

Operation

Connecting Wirelessly to the USB Receiver

Vortex Wireless 2 can send its MIDI messages wireless to the included USB receiver. Simply connect
the USB receiver to a USB port on your computer. The USB receiver is always “paired” (wirelessly
connected) to your Vortex Wireless 2, so no further steps are required.

Calibrating the Tilt Sensor

You can calibrate the range of the tilt sensor (accelerometer) so that it will activate and send MIDI
data when Vortex Wireless 2 is tilted at a specified angle.

To calibrate the tilt sensor:

1. Press and hold Tilt for 5 seconds. XY1 will appear in the display.

2. While watching the display, tilt Vortex Wireless 2 so that the number shown is in the 000–110 range.

3. When you have reached the desired “minimum” position, press Tilt. XY2 will appear in the display.

4. While watching the display, tilt Vortex Wireless 2 so that the number shown is in the 111–127 range.

5. When you have reached the desired “maximum” position, press Tilt. PAS will appear in the display
for 3 seconds, and the calibration will be saved to Vortex Wireless 2.

Editor Software

Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the included editor software.

Restoring the Default Settings

You can erase all settings currently stored
in your Vortex Wireless 2 and restore its
original/default settings (a “factory reset”).

To restore the default settings, press
and hold the lowest C and Gb keys on the
keyboard and use the power switch to
power it on.

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Guía del usuario (Español)

Introducción

Contenido de la caja

Vortex Wireless 2 Correa Guía del usuario

Receptor inalámbrico USB

Cable USB Tarjetas de descarga de software

Importante: Visite alesis.com y registre su Vortex Wireless 2 para descargar el software de
edición incluido.

Soporte

Para obtener la información más completa acerca de este product (los requisitos del sistema,
compatibilidad, etc) y registro del producto, visite alesis.com.

Para soporte adicional del producto, visite alesis.com/support.

Instalación

Los elementos que no se enumeran en Introducción > Contenido de la caja se venden por separado.

rnés del cable Manual sobre la

seguridad y garantía

Computadora

Receptor inalámbrico USB

Correa y accesorio para el arnés del cable (opcional):

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Vortex Wireless 2