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Basic Architecture
The S4 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 S4 Plus has a User Bank of
128 Programs that you can modify, plus 4 Preset Bank s 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.
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
C
4
HAPTER
O
VERVIEW
Bass
Guitar
Brass
Woodwind
String
Overview: Chapter 4
Ensemble
Drums
Ethnic
Percussion
Voice
Rhythm
Sound FX
QSPlus
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