Alesis S4 - Manual

Setting Up 8 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Do not operate any electrical equipment with ungrounded outlets. Plugging theQuadraSynth into an ungrounded outlet, or ÒliftingÓ the unit off ground with a three-to-twowire adapter, can create a hazardous condition. Alesis cannot be responsible for problems ...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth QuadraSynth Reference Manual 11 C HAPTER 2 Y OUR F IRST S ESSION W ITH T HE Q UADRA S YNTH Powering Up After making your connections, turn on the systemÕs power using this procedure: ➀ Before turning on the QuadraSynthÕs power , check the following items: ¥ Ha...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth 12 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Adjusting the Display Contrast Occasionally, the characters in the LCD display may be difficult to read, dependingon the viewing angle and existing lighting conditions. In such a situation, adjust thecontrast of the LCD display ...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth QuadraSynth Reference Manual 13 Playing the QuadraSynth The QuadraSynth is shipped from the factory with a full bank of 128 Preset Programs(sounds) and 128 User Programs. Additionally, there are 100 Preset Mixes and 100User Mixes, 128 Preset Effects Patches, a...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth 14 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Auditioning Internal Programs ➀ Press the [PROGRAM] button. You can now play the QuadraSynth keyboard; the Program will be whatever was selectedwhen last in Program mode (Program number 00 Ñ 127). ➁ Select a Program in any of th...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth 16 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Selecting the MIDI Channel While in Program Mode, the QuadraSynth can transmit and receive information onany single MIDI channel of the 16 available channels. The currently selected channelappears at the top left of the display....

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth QuadraSynth Reference Manual 17 Auditioning Mix Mode Mix Mode allows you to assign a Program to each of the 16 MIDI channels. Thismakes it easy to create multitimbral setups for use with an external MIDI sequencer.Additionally, a MIX can be used to ÒlayerÓ sou...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth 18 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Editing a Mix In this section, we will assign Programs to and set volume levels for the 16 MIDIchannels in a Mix, for playing back tracks from a MIDI sequencer. However, there ismuch more about a Mix that may be edited. Refer to...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth QuadraSynth Reference Manual 19 Auditioning Effects Each Program and Mix uses one of the 256 Effects Patches to enhance the sound. Youselect which Effect you wish to use from Program Edit or Mix Edit mode. While theProgram remembers which Effect Patch to use, ...

Your First Session with the QuadraSynth 20 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Setting the Effects Level Each Program can use up to four sounds, for either layering or splitting thekeyboard. Each of these sounds has its own effects , as well as effects bus assignment.Many of the Programs in the QuadraSynth...

Connections QuadraSynth Reference Manual 23 C HAPTER 3 C ONNECTIONS Basic MIDI Hookup MIDI is an internationally-accepted protocol that allows musical-related data to beconveyed from one device to another. See the MIDI Supplement in Appendix B ifyou are not familiar with how MIDI works. The MIDI con...

Connections 24 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Typical Application 1: MIDIKeyboard/Master Controller for Live Use Most live applications use the QuadraSynth to generate sounds, with (possibly) theMIDI output driving other MIDI devices, such as a QuadraSynth S4 rack unit,QuadraVerb Plus, and other keybo...

Connections 26 QuadraSynth Reference Manual MIDI OUT MIDI IN MIDI OUT MIDI IN COMPUTER MIDI INTERFACE If you are driving other MIDI gear (such as an expander module or MIDI-responsivesignal processor), youÕll usually drive these from the sequencer if it has additionalMIDI outputs. However, you can a...

Connections QuadraSynth Reference Manual 27 ¥ Or, the keyboard only sends on one MIDI channel, but you change the channelon the QuadraSynth for each separate track on the sequencer (CH SOLO). In OUT 1 Ñ OUT 16 mode, you will not hear the QuadraSynth unless yoursequencer echoes the MIDI data back to ...

Connections 28 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Digital Audio/Optical Hookup The QuadraSynth can send digital audio directly into ADAT , which provides betterfidelity than using the analog inputs and outputs. The digital I/O connector follows a proprietary Alesis format that carries all fouraudio output...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 31 C HAPTER 4 O VERVIEW Basic Architecture The QuadraSynth contains digitized acoustic and electronic samples , organized into 16 banks of sound groups. The banks are: Piano Waves Woodwind Voice Organ Bass String Sound FX Keyboard Guitar Ensemble Drums Synth Bra...

Overview 32 QuadraSynth Reference Manual and by comparison, many synths sound static. Being able to layer up to four soundsallows for creating large ensembles (e.g., brass section consisting of alto & tenor sax,trumpet, and trombone) or extremely realistic versions of single instruments. Whencre...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 33 ¥ select which Effect Patch will be used by the Program, set the effect level for eachsound layer, and set which of the four effect sends each layer will use for signalprocessing (such as reverb, delay, and chorusÑor any combination of these). Mix Edit Mode M...

Overview 34 QuadraSynth Reference Manual The User Interface: Display, Functions,Pages, and Parameters The key to the QuadraSynth user interface is the combination of the Display and fourQuad Knobs/Buttons [1] Ñ [4] located toward the right of the front panel. TheDisplay constantly informs you of the...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 35 ¥ Page number strip. Some functions have too many options to fit on a single screen. These functions use multiple screens, with each screen considered a page . This strip shows which page is selected by underlining the page number. ThePAGE [ ¬ ] and [ ® ] but...

Overview 36 QuadraSynth Reference Manual [SELECT] button switches between three groups of functionsÑone for editing the MixÕs parameters (Mix Edit mode), one for editing the Programs in the Mix (Program Editmode), and the last for editing the associated Effect (Effects Edit mode) . ➂ Use the FUNCTIO...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 37 ➁ Select a Program using either Quad Knob [1], the VALUE [ ¯ ] and [ - ] buttons, or the MIX/PROGRAM SELECT [1]Ñ[0] buttons. The currently selected Program will appear in the upper right of the display. ➂ Press the [SELECT ] button. Pressing this button toggl...

Overview 38 QuadraSynth Reference Manual while above each bargraph are the words ÒSND1 SND2 SND3 SND4.Ó If a sound isdisabled, the display will show the soundÕs name in lower case (Òsnd1Ó means thatsound 1 is disabled). If a sound is in Drum mode, the soundÕs name will readÒdrmX,Ó where X is the sou...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 39 Preset Memory and User Memory The QuadraSynth has two internal memory banks for Mixes, Programs and EffectsPatches: and . The Preset bank is kept in ROM (Read Only Memory), and thereforecannot be altered. However, the User bank is stored in RAM (Random Access...

Overview 40 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Store a Program ➀ While in either Program mode or Program Edit mode, after making your editspress the [STORE] button. ➁ Select the memory location to which you want to store the Program using QuadKnob [1] or the VALUE [ ¯ ] and [ - ] buttons. DonÕt use the MI...

Overview QuadraSynth Reference Manual 41 To Audition Programs Before Storing To look for an available memory location to permanently store your Program orEffects Patch data, you can always go from Program mode to Mix mode, or viceversa, without losing your changes. ThatÕs because Program mode has a ...

Mix Mode QuadraSynth Reference Manual 43 C HAPTER 5 M IX M ODE What Mix Mode Does Mix Mode is one of the most powerful features of the QuadraSynth. While inProgram Mode you can play only one Program at a time, in Mix Mode you can playup to 16 Programs at once, either from the keyboard (as layers or ...

Mix Mode 44 QuadraSynth Reference Manual use. Each channel may be enabled or disabled, without changing any of its parametersettings. When a channel is disabled, its number will not appear in the upper leftdisplay, except when it is selected for editing. You can set levels, effect levels and busassi...

Mix Mode QuadraSynth Reference Manual 45 Program Assign for each MIDI Channel The first function of Mix Edit is Program Assign. Program Number (000 to 127) This determines the Program Number (000Ñ127) for the selected MIDI channel. Program Type (Preset or User) This determines whether the selected P...

Mix Mode 46 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Octave (-2 to +2 octaves) This sets the ProgramÕs pitch in (12 semitones) steps from -2 (transposed down 2octaves) to +2 (transposed up two octaves). Semitone (-12 to +12 semitones) Sets the oscillator pitch in steps, from -12 (transposed down one octave) to ...

Mix Mode QuadraSynth Reference Manual 47 Range (Page 2) MIDI In (On or Off) This determines whether or not the selected channel will respond to incomingmessages on the same channel. MIDI Out (On or Off) This determines whether or not the selected channel will transmit MIDI messages.This has no effec...

Mix Mode 48 QuadraSynth Reference Manual (1, 2, 3, 4, or PROG) Quad Knob [2] determines which effect bus the selected channel will be routed to.When set to PROG, the effect bus assignment will be that stored by the channelÕsProgram. 1, 2, 3 or 4 overrides the ProgramÕs bus assignment, sending all so...

Mix Mode QuadraSynth Reference Manual 49 Polyphony in Mix Mode The QuadraSynth has 64-note polyphony . In Mix Mode, if you have all 16 MIDIchannels assigned to the same keyboard range, and each channel's Program has onlyone active Program Sound, youÕll have 4-note polyphony as you play the keyboard(...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 51 C HAPTER 6 E DITING P ROGRAMS Overview Synthesizer programming is the art and science of shaping sounds in a particularway by altering the parameters of various modules. Like music itself, learning synthprogramming is an ongoing process. Although this...

Editing Programs 52 QuadraSynth Reference Manual How the QuadraSynth Generates Sound The QuadraSynth uses custom integrated circuits, developed by the Alesisengineering team specifically for the QuadraSynth. These resemble the types of chipsused in computers and other digital devices. In fact, you c...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 53 ¥ When layers of a Program are designed to be used together, and the individuallayers by themselves wouldn't be used alone (for example, the percussion layerof the organ sound). Use Mix Mode: ¥ When you want to layer more than four voices. In Mix Mode...

Editing Programs 54 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Note that the waveforms in the QuadraSynth are different from those found insamplers or many sample-playback units. Because the QuadraSynth has its ownfilter module and amplitude module for each voice, the pure waveforms arerelatively bright--as brigh...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 55 About Modulation modifies some aspect of a sound over time. Since oscillators make static sounds(unlike acoustic instruments, whose timbre and dynamics changeÑoften radicallyÑover the duration of a note), modulation is the key to making rich and expre...

Editing Programs 56 QuadraSynth Reference Manual (for pitch, filter, and amp) in each Program Sound. An envelope generator hasdifferent effects on different modules. Example: The Amp Envelope creates level changes. Amplitude that decays over time creates percussive effects (plucked strings,drums, et...

Editing Programs 58 QuadraSynth Reference Manual If you enable Drum Mode for a sound while in Edit 4 mode, the QuadraSynth willautomatically switch to Edit 1 mode for that layer. Program Edit Functions Assign Voice To edit a Program you must select Program Edit mode, Press [SELECT] fromProgram Mode....

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 59 Wave Pure Sine, 10% Pulse, 15% Pulse, 20% Pulse, 25% Pulse, 33% Pulse, 50% Pulse, Velo Pulse, Mini Saw, Saw Fltr 1, Saw Fltr 2, Saw Fltr 3, Saw Fltr 4, Saw Fltr 5, Saw Fltr 6, Saw Fltr 7, Velo Saw, MiniSquare, Sqr Fltr 1, Sqr Fltr 2, Sqr Fltr 3, Sqr F...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 63 Filter (Page 1) Frequency (00 to 99) This sets the filter's initial cutoff frequency. Lower values give a duller sound sincethis removes more harmonics; higher values let through more harmonics, whichgives a brighter sound. Tip: Signals with complex h...

Editing Programs 68 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Mod About General Purpose Although there are several dedicated modulators in the QuadraSynth (e.g., the pitchcan always be modulated by the pitch LFO and pitch envelope), sophisticatedsynthesizer programming demands the ability to use as many modulati...

Editing Programs 70 QuadraSynth Reference Manual ¥Ê MIDI continuous controllers (A, B, C, D) Four incoming MIDI controllers can be recognized by the QuadraSynth and used as modulation sources. Thesecontrollers are assigned as A, B, C and D within Global Mode (see Chapter 8). ¥Ê Tracking Generator Th...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 75 Amp LFO (Page 2) Level (00 to 99) This is the base output level of the Amp LFO. If you want to have a constant value oftremolo, even without using the Mod Wheel or Aftertouch, set LEVEL above 00. TheMod Wheel and Aftertouch will add or subtract from t...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 83 Input In Page 1 of the TRACK function, Quad Knob [1] selects the input of the TrackingGenerator: ¥ Note Number ¥ Velocity ¥ Release Velocity ¥ Aftertouch ¥ Poly Pressure ¥ Mod Wheel ¥ Pitch Wheel ¥ MIDI Volume ¥ Sustain Pedal ¥ Pedal 1 ¥ Pedal 2 ¥ PLF...

Editing Programs 84 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Programming Drum Sounds To program a sound in Drum Mode, you must first enable Drum Mode for thatparticular sound in the Misc. Function (see previous section). Quad Knob [4] isalways used to select a Drum (1Ñ10), regardless of which Function or Page i...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 85 Effects Level The function determines how much of the selected drum is being routed to theeffects processor, and on which bus. Quad Knob [1] adjusts the Effect Send level (00to 99), and Quad Knob [2] selects the Effects Bus (1, 2, 3 or 4). Use Quad Kn...

Editing Programs QuadraSynth Reference Manual 87 Copying Sounds While editing a Program, it is helpful to be able to copy a sound to another sound ineither the same Program or a different Program, especially if you are building a splitor layered Program. This can be done very easily from within the ...

Editing Effects 90 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Selecting an Effects Patch To select an Effects Patch from either the User bank or the Preset bank, you must bein either Program Edit mode (if currently using Program mode) or Mix Edit mode (ifusing Mix mode), by pressing the [SELECT] button until the ...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 91 While routing sounds into the effects processor, the word ÒCLIPÓ will temporarilyappear in the display if the input to the effects is being overloaded. If this shouldoccur, try reducing the Input Levels for each of the effects devices in the currentcon...

Editing Effects 92 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Once an Effects Patch has been altered, the display will show the word ÒEDITEDÓnext to the Effects Patch number. This indicates that the current Effects Patch in theedit buffer is different from what is stored in memory. While in Effects Edit mode, pre...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 99 Reverb can be thought of as a great number of distinct echoes, called reflections, that occurso fast that our ear hears them blurred together as one. In nature, different sizedspaces give distinctly different sounding reverbs, depending on the size and...

Editing Effects 100 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Input level Quad Knob [4] controls the overall Input Level going into the Reverb. Chorus Input Level If Configuration #2 is selected (refer to block diagram of Configuration #2, earlier inthis chapter), the first page of the Reverb function will look ...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 101 If Configuration #2 is selected and you press [EDIT 1] to advance to effect send 2while the Reverb function is selected, the display will look like this: PROG EFFECT PRESET EDITING: EFFECT PITCH MOD NAME CONFIG REVERB DELAY MIX PAGE: 1 SEND 2 INPUT: 0...

Editing Effects 102 QuadraSynth Reference Manual automatically decreases the volume once the signal falls below a certain level) acrossthe output of the reverb thereby causing the initial attack of the reverb to sound verybig, but the tail of the reverb to be cut off very quickly. Although this effe...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 103 Reverb (Page 4) Diffusion Reverb can be thought of as a great number of distinct echoes, called reflections, thatoccur so fast that our ear hears them blurred together as one. Diffusion is the spacebetween these echoes. On some Reverb programs, you ma...

Editing Effects 104 QuadraSynth Reference Manual The Delay function is used to edit Delay parameters. Delay (Page 1) The QuadraSynthÕs effects processor has three different Delay types available. Note: Some delay modules only feature a mono Delay, and therefore the Delay Type parameter will be unava...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 105 The Pitch function is used to edit Pitch parameters. Pitch (Page 1) The first page of the Pitch function will look different depending on the selectedConfiguration and which effect send you are editing. Normally, there will only beone parameter: Pitch...

Editing Effects QuadraSynth Reference Manual 107 LFO DELAY DRY SIGNAL RIGHT FLANGED OUTPUT FEEDBACK DELAY FEEDBACK DRY SIGNAL DRY SIGNAL LEFT FLANGED OUTPUT Pitch Detune. As the name implies, Pitch Detune takes a part of the signal and detunes it either sharp or flat. When mixed back with the origin...

Editing Effects 108 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Speed Quad Knob [2] is used to adjust the LFO Speed of all Pitch types, with the exceptionof Pitch Detune and Resonator. Depth Quad Knob [3] is used to adjust the LFO Depth of all Pitch types, with the exceptionof Pitch Detune and Resonator. The LFO D...

Editing Effects 110 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Mix Not to be confused with an actual or Mix mode, the EffectÕs Mix function is whereyou can mix the various signal levels of all the effects to the Main Left and Rightoutputs of the QuadraSynth. Only effect modules that have access to the Mainoutputs...

Global Settings QuadraSynth Reference Manual 111 C HAPTER 8 G LOBAL S ETTINGS Global Edit mode is where you will find several parameters which affect the entireinstrument, such as overall master tuning, display contrast, controller settings,keyboard mode, edit mode and the 48 kHz input. Editing Glob...

Global Settings 112 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Keyboard Sensitivity (QuadraSynth only) In Page 2 of Global Edit mode, Quad Knob [1] adjusts how sensitive the keyboardÕsvelocity will be (00 to 99). When set to 0, the keyboard will not transmit any velocity,no matter how hard or soft the keys are pl...

Global Settings QuadraSynth Reference Manual 113 CH SOLO. In this mode, the only sounds coming from the QuadraSynth, and the only MIDI messages, will come from the layer or range of the underlined MIDI channel in the display. This allows you to isolate individual channels in a Mix. So, ifyou play in...

Global Settings 114 QuadraSynth Reference Manual MIDI In Page 5 of Global Edit mode, Quad Knob [1] determines the MIDI Program Selectmode (Off, On, Mix Select Channel 1Ñ16). When set to Off, the QuadraSynth will notrespond to incoming MIDI program change messages, nor will it transmit programchanges...

MIDI Transfer And Storage Operations QuadraSynth Reference Manual 117 C HAPTER 9 MIDI T RANSFER A ND S TORAGE O PERATIONS Saving to External Card The entire contents of the QuadraSynthÕs User memory (100 Mixes, 128 Programs,128 Effects Patches) can be stored to an Alesis QuadraCard RAM card inserted...

MIDI Transfer And Storage Operations 118 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Saving Programs via MIDI Sys Ex As an alternative to storing data to a card, the QuadraSynth lets you transmit internaldata via MIDI messages. This data can be sent to a storage device, such as the AlesisDataDisk, or recorded into...

APPENDIX A: Troubleshooting QuadraSynth Reference Manual 121 A PPENDIX A T ROUBLE -S HOOTING Trouble-Shooting Index If you are experience problems while operating the QuadraSynth, please use thefollowing table to locate possible causes and solutions before contacting Alesiscustomer service for assis...

APPENDIX A: Troubleshooting 122 QuadraSynth Reference Manual Checking Software Version The current software version may be determined by holding [GLOBAL] and pressing[PROGRAM]. The QuadraSynth will indicate the current software version installedin the upper right display. Maintenance/Service Cleanin...

APPENDIX B: MIDI Supplement QuadraSynth Reference Manual 125 A PPENDIX B MIDI S UPPLEMENT MIDI Basics Most current electronic instruments and signal processors, including theQuadraSynth, contain an internal computer. Computers and music have beenworking together for decades, which is not surprising ...

APPENDIX B: MIDI Supplement 126 QuadraSynth Reference Manual MIDI Message Basics The are two main types of MIDI messages. Channel messages, which are channel-specific, consist of Voice and Mode messages. System messages, which do not havea channel number and are received by all units in a system, in...

APPENDIX B: MIDI Supplement 128 QuadraSynth Reference Manual System Common Messages Intended for all units in a system, some of these MIDI messages are: Song Position Pointer. This indicates how many ÒMIDI beatsÓ (normally a 16th note) have elapsed since a piece started (up to 16,384 total beats). I...

Index QuadraSynth UserÕs Manual 129 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Function Transmitted Recognized Remarks BasicChannel DefaultChanged 1 Ñ 161 Ñ 16 each 1 Ñ 161 Ñ 16 each Memorized Mode DefaultMessagesAltered Mode 3 X * * * * * * * * Mode 3 X NoteNumber True Voice 0 Ñ 127 * * * * * * * * 0 Ñ 1270 Ñ 127 V...

Index 130 QuadraSynth UserÕs Manual APPENDIX C: P ARAMETERS I NDEX Program Parameters Parameter Function Page Quad Knob Page inManual Aftertouch Depth: Amp Amp 1 2 61 Aftertouch Depth: ALFO ALFO 2 3 71 Aftertouch Depth: Filter Filter 2 2 60 Aftertouch Depth: FLFO FLFO 2 3 70 Aftertouch Depth: Pitch ...

Index 132 QuadraSynth UserÕs Manual Parameter Function Page Quad Knob Page inManual Tuning: Type Pitch 1 4 57 Velocity Filter 1 4 59 Velocity Curve/Crossfade Amp 1 1 61 Voice Select: Group Assign Voice 1 1 54 Voice Select: Sound Name Assign Voice 1 3 54 Volume Level 1 1 55 Mix Parameters Parameter F...

Index QuadraSynth UserÕs Manual 133 INDEX 48 kHz CLOCK IN 25, 110ADAT 25Aftertouch 15 amp 61filter 60pitch 57 AI-1 25COMPARE 29, 34contrast 12, 107copy a sound 83demo 12digital I/O 25Drum Mode 53, 79EDIT 4 30edit buffer 34, 40Effect Clip 87Configuration 88, 92, 94 Delay 100Mix 106Modulation 104Name ...