User manual ALESIS QS6

[. . . ] ALESIS QS6 Reference Manual Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Alesis QS6 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer. To take full advantage of the QS6's functions, and to enjoy long and trouble-free use, please read this user's manual carefully. How To Use This Manual This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the QS6. To get the most out of your QS6, read the entire manual once, then use the table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using the instrument. Deals with the necessary preparation before playing, including connections to external devices. [. . . ] If this is set to 99, the envelope will remain at the Sustain level until the note is released. When set to 0, the envelope's level will immediately jump down to 0 upon reaching the sustain stage. Trigger (Normal, Freerun, Reset, Reset-Freerun) Page 7 The Trigger mode determines how the envelope will function. You may select either Freerun or Reset, or both (Reset-Freerun) or neither (Normal). When set to Normal, the envelope will always start at its current level (i. e. , if another note had been played which triggered the envelope's cycle, playing another note in the middle would not interrupt the cycle). Also in Normal mode, the envelope will immediately advance to its release stage upon releasing the note. When set to Freerun, the envelope will complete its entire cycle, even if the note is released in the middle. When set to Reset, the envelope starts at the beginning whenever a new note is played. When set to Reset-Freerun, the envelope will start at the beginning whenever a new note is played and will complete its entire cycle, even if the note is released in the middle. If a sound layer's Keyboard Mode parameter (found in the Pitch Function, Page 10) is set to "Mono", the Pitch Envelope will only retrigger when playing legato if the Trigger Mode is set to either "Reset" or "Reset-Freerun". Time Tracking (On or Off) Page 8 This determines whether or not keyboard position will affect the cycle speed of the envelope. When turned on, playing toward the higher end of the keyboard will result in a faster envelope cycle; playing toward the lower end of the keyboard will result in a slower envelope cycle. However, this does not effect the attack time, but only the decay, sustain decay and release segments. This feature will result in only a subtle change. The envelope's timing doubles or halves over a range of two octaves. 66 QS6 Reference Manual Editing Programs: Chapter 6 Sustain Pedal (On or Off) Page 9 This determines whether or not the Sustain Pedal will have an effect on the envelope. When turned on, holding down the Sustain Pedal while playing short notes is virtually the equivalent to holding down those notes on the keyboard with some subtle but important differences. If the Delay and Attack are set to 0 and either the Decay is 0 or the Sustain is 99, the envelope will immediately jump to the sustain decay stage (if not already there) when the note is released and the sustain pedal is held down. If a long attack is set, and the envelope does not reach the end of the attack segment when the note is released, it will be skipped and the envelope will jump immediately to the release segment. If a long delay is set, and the envelope has not reached the attack segment before the note is released, the envelope will remain at 0. However, if Freerun is turned on, the envelope will continue through the delay, attack, decay and sustain segments and remain at the sustain decay segment. This is exactly the same as holding down the note on the keyboard. When the Sustain Pedal parameter is turned off, the Sustain Pedal will have no effect on the envelope. Level (00 to 99) Page 10 This is the overall output level of the envelope. If this is set to 00, the Pitch Envelope will have no output and will have no effect, while at 99 it will have a maximum effect on whatever it is being routed to. Pitch Pitch TIP: When selectingto 00 ifEnvelope Level as a modulation0destination, set theEnvelope Envelope level the Modulation Level is above (or, set the Pitch level to 99 if the Modulation Amount is below 0). Velocity Modulation (00 to 99) Page 11 This determines how keyboard dynamics will affect the envelope level. [. . . ] Unlike a Start command, which re-starts a sequencer or drum machine from the beginning of a song each time it occurs, sending a continue message after stop will re-start units from where they were stopped. GENERAL MIDI General MIDI is an extension of the MIDI standard designed to meet the demands of the ever-growing multimedia industry, and to make simple the act of playing commercially produced MIDI sequences. The General MIDI standard utilizes all 16 channels available in MIDI. The QS6 is a perfect General MIDI companion, since its Mix Mode uses 16 channels. Although many channels are commonly used for specific types of instruments (Example: Channel 1 is usually piano, channel 2 is usually bass, etc. ), channel 10 is always used for drums. [. . . ]