4: Overview; Basic Architecture; Quadrasynth Plus Polyphony - Alesis QuadraSynth Plus Reference Manual

Alesis quadrasynth plus audio-keyboard: reference manual
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C
4
HAPTER
O
VERVIEW

Basic Architecture

The QuadraSynth Plus contains digitized acoustic and electronic voices,
organized into 18 groups of sound types. The groups are:
Piano
Organ
Keyboard
Synth
Waves
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 QuadraSynth 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 QuadraSynth 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.
A Mix consists of up to 16 Programs, each assigned to a specific MIDI channel
and one Effect Patch. The QuadraSynth 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 QuadraSynth Plus plays back different sounds on
different MIDI channels. Because of the 64 voices and built-in effects, the
QuadraSynth Plus is often the only sound generator needed.

QuadraSynth Plus Polyphony

The QuadraSynth 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 QuadraSynth Plus will
quickly run out of voices.
QuadraSynth Plus Piano Reference Manual
Bass
Ensemble
Guitar
Ethnic
Brass
Voice
Woodwind
Sound FX
String
Overview: Chapter 4
Drums
Percussion
Rhythm
QSPlus
37

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