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Box Contents
Q49 MKII
USB Cable
Software Download Card
User Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
Visit alesis.com to view and download the latest documentation, system requirements, and other information about your product.
For additional product support, visit alesis.com/support.
Connecting Your Keyboard
It is recommended that you connect the Q49 MKII to an onboard USB port or to a powered USB hub. Use a USB cable to power Q49 MKII when connecting to a computer to trigger software synths.
You can also use Q49 MKII with your iPad to control supported music creation apps.
Connecting your Q49 MKII to an iPad requires the iPad Camera Connection Kit, which is available from the Apple Store.
Once you have finished installation you will need to configure your MIDI software to use the Q49 MKII. Please note that when you press a key on the keyboard, you will not hear any sound. This is because pressing a key causes the keyboard to send out MIDI data. MIDI data gives instructions on how a sound should play, but in order to actually hear that sound you need to configure your music software to read the MIDI data being sent from the Q49 MKII and play the sound back accordingly. This setup will more than likely entail going into an Options or Device Set-Up menu in your music software application and selecting the appropriate device. The Q49 MKII should appear under the name "USB Audio Device" for Windows 7, Windows 8, or as "Q49 MKII" for other operating systems in the MIDI devices section of your music software application. Please consult the manual that came with your software for the proper setup procedure.
Items not listed under Introduction >Box Contents are sold separately.
Top Panel
Rear Panel
In addition to setting an octave shift, the two OCTAVE "+" and "-" buttons discussed earlier in the manual under the section "Octave Buttons" can also be used to control one of seven MIDI functions.
The first 7 black keys are used to select the function of the octave buttons. Some of the functions that these keys can be used for cannot send out a value less than 0. When used to control these functions, both LEDs above the buttons will remain on, regardless of the current setting of that function.
To select an alternate function:
Octave Shift
Another method of shifting the Q49 MKII octaves is with the use of the keys labeled "Octave +" and "Octave -". After the Advanced button has been pressed, placing the keyboard in Edit Mode, pressing these keys will shift the keyboard's pitch up or down one or more octaves (one for each time pressed). The default octave shift designation is "0" and will be the octave setting each time you power up the keyboard. The lights above the octave buttons indicate that 0 octave shift is set when both are on.
To assign the "+" and "-" keys to control the octave:
There is also a method of performing a quick octave change, which can be useful when using the octave buttons to control another MIDI function. This is accomplished as follows:
Transposition
In some cases, it may be useful to reduce or increase the pitch by a number of semitones rather than an entire octave. For example, if you are playing a song with a singer that is having difficulty hitting the top notes, you may want to reduce the pitch by one or two semitones. This is achieved using a MIDI function called "Transpose."
Transpose works in the same way as Octave Shift, except the shift can be up to +/- 12 semitones. As with Octave Shift, there are two ways of transposing the keyboard. You can use the Octave "+" and "-" buttons, or the black keys "TRANSPOSE -," "TRANSPOSE 0" and "TRANSPOSE +," respectively.
To assign the Octave "+" and "-" buttons to transpose:
Program Change
Program Changes are used to change the instrument or voice you are using. For the sake of example, we will change the instrument to a bass sound. To do this we need to send a program change of 32. There are two ways to send a program change:
Incremental/Decremental Program Change:
Quick Select Program Change:
Bank LSB and Bank MSB
Program Changes are most commonly used to change instruments and voices. However, the number of instruments accessible via Program Changes is limited to 128. Some devices have more than 128 voices and require a different method to access these extra voices. Generally, these devices use Bank LSB and Bank MSB messages.
Incremental/Decremental Bank LSB and Bank MSB Changes:
Using the Quick Select Method:
MIDI Channel
MIDI data from the keyboard can be sent on any of 16 MIDI Channels. However, certain MIDI devices and MIDI software applications require the keyboard to send data on a specified channel. If this is the case, you can change the channel the data is sent using the following method:
Control Change
To assign the Octave/Data buttons to send Control Change messages that can be toggled on and off, follow these steps:
The Octave +/- buttons can also send momentary MIDI Control Change messages. To assign the Octave/Data buttons to Control Change momentary messages, follow these steps:
Volume Slider Assignment
To assign the Volume Slider to an effect:
Modulation Wheel Assignment
It is possible to assign different CC, and MIDI messages to the Modulation Wheel. Some useful messages are: MIDI CC 01 (Modulation), MIDI CC 07 (Volume), MIDI CC 10 (Pan), and MIDI CC 05 (Portamento).
There are 132 messages in total. However, for these messages to have any affect on the sound, the receiving MIDI device must be able to read and respond to these MIDI messages. Most devices will at least respond to volume, modulation, and pan data.
To assign a message to the Modulation Wheel:
If you have made an error while entering the numerical data value, you can press the CANCEL key to exit Edit Mode without changing the effect assigned to the Modulation Wheel.
For the sake of example, we will assign CC number 10 (pan, or balance) to the Modulation Wheel.
Directional Buttons and Transport Controls
The directional buttons and transport buttons use the MIDI, Mackie Control, or HUI protocols to control certain functions in software that support them.
To select which protocol these buttons use to communicate with your software:
General
Here are answers to common questions you may have, using your Q49 MKII keyboard:
Problem 1: My Alesis hardware suddenly stopped working after having performed fine since installation.
Solution 1: Switch off the unit and let it sit for 10 seconds. Then restart your computer and try again.
Problem 2: I have plugged a sustain pedal into my Alesis keyboard, but it works the wrong way around.
Solution 2: The polarity of the sustain pedal is calculated by the keyboard when it is powered up. On power up, the sustain pedal is assumed to be in the OFF position. So if you want the sustain pedal to be off when it is not depressed, make sure the pedal is not depressed when you power up.
Problem 3: When I press a key, there is a delay before I hear any sound.
Solution 3: This delay is known as latency. Latency with MIDI signals is due to the software application you are using. MIDI data is simply control data. The MIDI data is read by your software. The software then completes a large number of complex calculations in order to produce the sound you hear—all this takes time.
We strongly recommend a proper audio interface. Refer to alesis.com for a selection of options. If you already have an adequate audio interface, try reinstalling the latest drivers for the audio interface, or try reducing the buffer sizes of the audio drivers.
MIDI Functionality
The Q49 MKII keyboards have been designed to make working with MIDI on your computer as simple as possible. Nonetheless, you may still experience some difficulties. In many cases, the keyboard is not at fault; the problem lies with the receiving device. To counter this, there is a useful MIDI function: Reset All Controllers.
Reset All Controllers
If you find there is an effect on a voice that you do not want, rather than having to isolate and identify that effect, you can send a "Reset All Controllers" MIDI message by performing the following:
Factory Reset
Power | via USB |
Dimensions (width x depth x height) | 7.4" x 2.6" x 32.3" 18.8 x 6.6 x 82.0 cm |
Weight | 2.1 kg 4.7 lbs. |
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
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