How The Qs6.1 Generates Sound; Program Sound Layers - Alesis QS6.1 Reference Manual

Part 8: Editing Programs
H QS6.1 G
OW THE
The QS6.1 uses custom integrated circuits, developed by the Alesis engineering team
specifically for the QS6.1. These resemble the types of chips used in computers and
other digital devices. In fact, you can think of the QS6.1 as a special-purpose
computer designed to generate and process audio. Although the user interface
maintains the metaphor of Òmodules,Ó in fact all sounds are simply a set of numbers
reflecting how youÕve programmed the various sound parameters. For example,
when you change the filter cutoff frequency, youÕre not actually messing with a filter;
youÕre telling the computer to simulate the effect of messing with a filter.
Each ÒmoduleÓ is represented by parameters that appear on one or more display
pages. The [
you change these parameters. All ÒpatchingÓ is done via software, so the only patch
cords you need are those that go to your mixer or amplifier.
You can take a ÒsnapshotÓ of the QS6.1Õs parameters and save this in memory as a
program. The QS6.1 comes with 512 factory preset programs, and 128 user-editable
programs.
P S
ROGRAM OUND
The simplest method of programming is to take one voice, process it through the
filter and amp sections, and (if desired) add some effect to it. However, more
elaborate Programs usually consist of 2 to 4 layers, with each layer making its own
distinct contribution to the sound, for example:
¥ An organ program with Program Sound 1 set to a sustained organ waveform,
and Program Sound 2 set to a percussion waveform with a fast decay.
¥ A piano program with one layer tuned normally, and a second layer tuned an
octave higher.
¥ A synthesizer program with one layer set to a sharp attack waveform, a second
layer set to an acoustic waveform, and a third layer with a slow-attack string
waveform.
This may remind you of Mix Play Mode, where playing the keyboard can sound up
to 16 different Programs at once. There are many similarities. In Mix Play Mode,
you can make the same kind of layered Mix as you can with the four Sounds of a
Program. But there are differences:
Use Program Layers:
¥ If you want multiple sounds to respond to a single MIDI channel. For example,
if you need to play a three-way layered synthesizer sound that was assembled in
Mix Play Mode instead of Program Play Mode, you must send 3 Note On
messages from your sequencer (one for each channel) for every note; a layered
program would need only one Note On message.
¥ When layers of a Program are designed to be used together, and the individual
layers by themselves wouldn't be used alone (for example, the percussion layer
of the organ sound).
106
ENERATES
VALUE ]/[ VALUE ] buttons and the [ CONTROLLER D] slider let
L
AYERS
S
OUND
QS6.1 Reference Manual