Alesis VX49 User Manual
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Alesis VX49 User Manual

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User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.0

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Summary of Contents for Alesis VX49

  • Page 1 User Guide English Manual Version 1.0...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents (Click a chapter/section to skip to it.) Introduction ................................ 5 Box Contents ..............................5 Support ................................5 About This User Guide ..........................5 Initial Setup ................................ 6 1. Software/Driver Download and Installation ................... 6 2. Controller Setup ............................6 3.
  • Page 3 Operation ................................12 Setup Scenarios ............................13 With VIP in Your DAW ..........................13 With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) ..................13 With Your DAW Only ..........................14 With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer) ................14 Display and Navigation ..........................15 Basic Functions ............................
  • Page 4 MIDI Mode ..............................34 Selecting Controls ..........................34 Adjusting Controls ..........................34 MIDI Edit Mode ............................35 Selecting Controls ..........................35 Editing Control Parameters ........................35 Available Control Parameters ......................... 36 Multi Mode ..............................41 About Multis ............................41 Creating and Editing Multis ........................41 Adjusting Multi Slots ..........................

  • Page 5: Introduction

    About This User Guide This User Guide was written to help you get familiar with the VX49 hardware. For consistency and to help prevent confusion, we used a uniform set of symbols to show topics of interest or significance: Important/Note/Tip: Important or helpful information on a given topic.

  • Page 6: Initial Setup

    Important: When installing these plugins, we recommend installing them on your computer’s internal hard drive rather than on an external hard drive. 2. Controller Setup Here is just an example of how to use VX49 to your setup. Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.

  • Page 7: Software-Controller Configuration

    (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes. 8. On VX49, turn the Data Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will appear under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.

  • Page 8: With Vip In Standalone Mode (Without A Daw)

    (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes. 6. On VX49, turn the Data Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will appear under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.

  • Page 9: Features

    Features Top Panel 21 21 22 21 1. Keyboard: This 49-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and, in conjunction with the Octave Up/Down buttons, can control a 10-octave range. 2. Octave Down/Up: Use these buttons to shift the keyboard’s range up or down. Press both buttons simultaneously to reset the octave shift to “zero.”...
  • Page 10 Important: Your software must be able to loop or repeat in order to use this feature. Also, make sure that you are using the VX49 Preset named after your particular software. If your software does not have a corresponding VX49 Preset, configure the Transport Format in Global Mode so it communicates...

  • Page 11: Rear Panel

    3. USB Port: Use a standard USB cable to connect this USB port to your computer. The computer’s USB port provides ample power to VX49. If you connect it to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub. This connection is also used to send and receive MIDI data to and from your computer.

  • Page 12: Operation

    VX49. Read Modes to learn about each of VX49’s modes, which let you browse and select your plugins and patches, assign/edit controllers and parameters, adjust global settings, and more. Read Timing Functions to see an overview of VX49’s time-related features.

  • Page 13: Setup Scenarios

    With VIP in Your DAW The included VIP software lets you get the most control and function out of your VX49. VIP is essentially a host for your plugins, a hub where you can create, edit, and manage your patches (presets) for your various plugins.

  • Page 14: With Your Daw Only

    You can use VX49 as a standard USB MIDI controller for your music creation software. We’ve created presets for several popular DAWs so you can use VX49 with your projects in the most logical and intuitive way possible. You can use VX49’s MIDI Mode to control your DAW (see the...

  • Page 15: Display And Navigation

    Cursors Page Left/Right VX49’s display shows information about its current mode and operations. You can navigate its different modes, pages, etc. by using the following controls: • Data Dial: Use this dial to change a selected parameter values, settings, etc. in the display. Press the dial to enter or confirm a command or setting.

  • Page 16: Basic Functions

    We’ve pre-mapped several presets that let you use VX49 to control your DAW in the most logical and intuitive way possible. Setup Mode will show a list of presets that let you use VX49 to control your DAW. If you are not using VIP, you can see this list in Main Mode, as well.

  • Page 17: Controlling Your Patch Or Your Daw

    Controlling Your Patch or Your DAW VX49 has two modes that let you view and control your patch parameters in VIP or functions your DAW: Control Mode and MIDI Mode. Control Mode shows you the current settings of VX49’s controls in VIP.

  • Page 18: Modes

    Modes VX49 has ten different modes of operation. Enter each mode by pressing its corresponding mode button (or Shift and the button, if it is a secondary button command). Note that a mode’s appearance may depend on whether or not you are using the VIP software.

  • Page 19: Selecting The Browser Or Setlists

    Loading Patches While using VIP with VX49, you can load a patch using the Patch Browser (the right half of the display), which will show all available patches or multis currently in VIP’s Patch Browser or in a setlist (described earlier).

  • Page 20: Loading And Saving Daw Presets

    Loading and Saving DAW Presets If you are not using VIP, Main Mode will show a list of presets that let you use VX49 to control your DAW. We’ve pre-mapped each so you can use VX49 to control your DAW in the most logical and intuitive way possible.

  • Page 21: Editing Various Global Settings

    Editing Various Global Settings Whether or not you are using VIP, you can change some of VX49’s global setings in Main Mode. To adjust global settings in Main Mode: 1. Use the Cursor Buttons to select any of the three fields in the lower-left corner of the display: •...

  • Page 22: Setup Mode

    Loading and Saving DAW Presets Setup Mode will show a list of presets that let you use VX49 to control your DAW. We’ve pre-mapped each so you can use VX49 to control your DAW in the most logical and intuitive way possible.

  • Page 23: Editing Various Global Settings

    4. Press the Data Dial. The preset is now saved. Editing Various Global Settings Whether or not you are using VIP, you can change some of VX49’s global setings in Setup Mode. To adjust global settings in Main Mode: 1. Use the Cursor Buttons to select any of the three fields in the lower-right corner of the display: •...

  • Page 24: Browser Mode

    Browser Mode Browser Mode lets you browse and select patches of your plugins. You can access this mode only when using VIP. To navigate this mode: • Use the Cursors to move between different fields and tabs. • Use the Data Dial to scroll through the different lists. •...

  • Page 25: Loading Patches

    To deselect all tags in the currently shown category, use the Cursor Buttons to select X Category (in the lower-left corner of the display), and then press the Data Dial. To deselect all tags, use the Cursor Buttons to select X All (in the lower-left corner of the display), and then press the Data Dial.

  • Page 26: Global Mode

    Below is a list of available global parameters. Common Channel VX49 will send its messages over this MIDI channel. This is the same as the MIDI Ch setting in Main Mode or Setup Mode. You can select any one of Channels A1–...
  • Page 27 Note Repeat (Roll) feature and Arpeggiator. The available range is 30–300 BPM. Tap Average This is the number of times you would need to press Tap Tempo for VX49 to detect and enter a new tempo. The available range is 2–4.

  • Page 28: Control Mode

    Control Mode Control Mode shows you the current settings of VX49’s controls in VIP. You can access this mode only when using VIP. Orange/yellow controls are assigned to parameters in VIP. Green/aqua controls are assigned to MIDI CC messages, which are sent to your DAW.

  • Page 29: Selecting Controls

    Selecting Controls In Control Mode, you can select a control (A) to view its settings or (B) to edit it in Control Edit Mode. To select a control: 1. Select the type of control by pressing the Control mode button. Each time you press it, the display will show the next type of control: encoders, switches, and pads.

  • Page 30: Control Edit Mode

    Control Edit Mode Control Edit Mode lets you edit the parameters of your controls (minimum values, maximum values, CC or note numbers, etc.) for the current patch in VIP. You can access this mode only when using VIP. Orange/yellow controls are assigned to parameters in VIP. Green/aqua controls are assigned to MIDI CC messages, which are sent to your DAW.

  • Page 31: Available Control Parameters

    Available Control Parameters Below is a list of available parameters for each type of control. Encoders Type This determines whether the encoder controls a parameter for a plugin in VIP (VST Param; the encoders will be orange/yellow) or sends a MIDI CC message to your DAW (the encoders will be green/aqua).
  • Page 32 Switches Type This determines whether the switch controls a parameter for a plugin in VIP (VST Param) or sends a MIDI CC message to your DAW. When Type is set to VST Param, this is the parameter for a plugin in VIP that is Parameter or CC controlled by the switch.
  • Page 33 Pads Important: In VIP, the pads’ parameters are global. In other words, the pads’ MIDI note and channel assignments are not associated with a specific plugin or patch. The pads’ colors will change depending on what bank is currently selected. This is the MIDI note that the pad will send when you press it.

  • Page 34: Midi Mode

    MIDI Mode MIDI Mode shows you the current settings of VX49’s controls when used with your DAW. To navigate this mode: • Press Shift and the Control (MIDI) mode button to view each set of controls (encoders, switches, and pads).

  • Page 35: Midi Edit Mode

    MIDI Edit Mode MIDI Edit Mode lets you edit the parameters of your controls (minimum values, maximum values, CC or note numbers, etc.) when used with your DAW or external MIDI device. To navigate this mode: • Press Shift and the Control (MIDI) mode button to view each set of controls (encoders, switches, pads, footswitch, expression pedal, modulation wheel, and pitch-bend wheel).

  • Page 36: Available Control Parameters

    Available Control Parameters Below is a list of available parameters for each type of control. Encoders This determines whether the encoder sends a MIDI CC message or an Type increment/decrement message (Inc/Dec). When Type is set to MIDI CC, this is the MIDI CC number that the encoder controls. The available range is 0–127.
  • Page 37 Switches Type This determines whether the switch sends a MIDI CC message, Program Change message (Program Chn), or Program Bank message. When Type is set to CC, this is the MIDI CC number that the switch controls. The available range is 0–127. Program When Type is set to Program Chn or Program Bank, this is the Program number that the switch sends.
  • Page 38 Pads Important: Remember that you can use the Page Left/Right buttons or the Pad Bank buttons to select the desired bank, which is shown in the upper-left corner of the display. Note This is the MIDI note that the pad will send when you press it. Tip: You can set whether this appears as a Name (e.g., C1, F#2, etc.) or a Number (e.g., 36, 66, etc.) in Global...
  • Page 39 Footswitch Type This is the type of message that the footswitch will send when you press it. The footswitch can send a Sustain message, send a MIDI CC message, or act as a switch for Tap Tempo, Play, Record, Stop, Play/Stop, or Arp On/Off. Mode When Type is set to Sustain or MIDI CC, this determines whether the footswitch’s operation is Toggle or Momentary:...
  • Page 40 Modulation Wheel MIDI Channel This is the MIDI channel over which the modulation wheel will send its MIDI message when you turn it. You can select the Common Channel (Common:##) or any one of Channels A1–16 or B1–16. When Type is set to MIDI CC, this is the MIDI CC number that the modulation wheel controls.

  • Page 41: Multi Mode

    Multi Mode About Multis Multi Mode lets you use your VX49 to control a multi in VIP. A multi is collection of 2–8 patches (from 1 or more plugins). Each patch is assigned to a slot, and each slot has an assigned color. When using a multi, you can simultaneously control volume, panning, solos, and mutes for each slot in a mixer-style interface.

  • Page 42: Adjusting Multi Slots

    Adjusting Multi Slots Use the following VX49 controls to adjust the volume, panning, solos, and mutes for each slot in a multi. The 8 slots correspond to the 8 encoders, switches, and pads. • To solo a slot, press its switch. The S button will light up in the display and its pad will flash.

  • Page 43: Multi Edit Mode

    Multi Edit Mode Multi Edit Mode lets you edit the various settings of each slot when using VX49 (keyboard range, transposition, MIDI channel, and mute or solo status). To navigate this mode: • Use the Cursors to select the parameter you want to edit.

  • Page 44: Available Multi Slot Parameters

    This also is useful for creating different regions on your VX49 to play specific patches only. For instance, you could assign 5 non- overlapping, 2-octave regions of the keyboard to play 5 different patches.

  • Page 45: Timing Functions

    Global Mode) is set to Internal, its Tap Tempo button will flash at rate the current tempo. The button will be disabled and its light will remain off when VX49’s Clock Source is set to External. You can use Global Mode to customize the Tap Tempo button’s operation. Use Tap Average to set the number of times you would need to press Tap Tempo for VX49 to detect and enter a new tempo.

  • Page 46: Arpeggiator

    Note Repeat (Roll) While VX49’s Note Repeat feature is active, striking a pad causes its note to retrigger at a rate based on the current tempo and time division settings. You can sync Note Repeat to an internal or external MIDI Clock source.

  • Page 47: Technical Specifications

    Alesis is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Portions of the VX49 software are Copyright ©2014 The FreeType Project (freetype.org). All rights reserved. Avid and Pro Tools are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
  • Page 48 Manual Version 1.0...

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