Re: Please help with Alesis QS6 synth


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Message ] [ The QuadraSynth Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Larry Kehl on August 14, 1999 at 17:53:59:

In Reply to: Please help with Alesis QS6 synth posted by Peter Morris on August 14, 1999 at 08:24:50:


: Can you have a different effect on each channel?

I don't have a QS6 but I do have a QS8 (and had a QSR and Nanosynth - the Nanosynth is very similar to QS6).

First you cannot assign different effects to different channels. Out of the 16 possible patches/parts in any one mix, the effects configuration of only ONE patch can be used. I'll explain more in a second.

By now you should know that when editing, creating, or using individual patches/parts/programs in "program mode" (pick your favorite term) you can edit or change the effects for that patch. That effect configuration and its' setup (e.g., reverb level, chours speed, etc.) is saved with the patch/program when do a store. And most factory programs (if not all) have some kind of effect.

Now each patch, part, or program has it’s own effects configuration. Out of the five (5) effects configurations four will accept 4 inputs (or “send levels”) from the basic sounds of the program or patch. The other effect configuration will only accept two send levels (config #4 “Reverb and Eq”). You can think of each of the five effect configurations as an external effect box. Then configurations numbers 1, 2, 3, and 5 are like a quad input external “rack” effect (e.g., Digitech Studio 400 - 4 inputs or in QS terminology 4 FX buses) and effect configuration number 4 as a “stereo” rack effect (e.g., Lexicon MPX-100 – 2 inputs or FX buses). In all cases you chose which sound(s) (out of the four possible in a program or patch) go to which inputs (the “FX bus” 1-4).

Somewhere in your QS6 manual, probably chapter 6 “editing Program” there should be a section with a diagram called “QS signal flow.” This shows how each of the four sounds coming out of the “amp” section is split – the signal is routed to the panner then main outs AND it is also routed to ONE of the FOUR fx buses (sends 1-4). If you didn’t already understand this maybe this helped (if you did stay with me a little while longer).

I’ve seen it explained that you can think of each program having it’s own multi-effects box attached. When you are in program mode this analogue is OK but not the best. The best way to think of it is that - the QS has ONE multi-effects box with 5 programs (the five effects configurations). When you are in “program mode” (one patch/part/program at a time) that individual program “remembers” what effect configuration and effect settings it likes. Now when you call up that program it tells the SINGLE multi-effects box how to configure itself.

Now, when you go to “mix” mode (the question you asked about) you still only have one multi-effects box. You can use ONLY ONE program out of the (up to) 16 programs that make up a mix, to be the master effects selection program. That is, you must decide which program will choose the Effects Configuration for the other 15 programs/patches in the mix. Look at QS6 Manual Section 5 (“editing mixes”) and there is a subsection called “Effect” it explains about the “FX MIDI Channel” (“the FX channel determines which channel’s Program’s Effects Patch will be used for the entire mix”). By setting this parameter (in mix edit mode) to say channel 7 – you are telling the QS that all 16 patches in the mix will use the Effects Configuration of the program YOU have assigned to channel 7. There are other menu pages (page 6 of the Mix edit mode “level” – button press 80 synth1) which direct EACH program of the mix which FX bus to send it’s output to (for the effect configuration assigned to program on channel 7 in this example).

You can let each patch/program send it’s output to the “default” sends (1,2,3, or 4) you already programmed (or the factory already programmed) for that patch. But be aware - assume you had a Guitar patch on channel 6 that was using sends 3 and 4 of Effect Configuration #5 (Overdrive and Lezlie – cause you wanted a little delay, reverb, and Leslie but no distortion) – when you were in program mode. Although in the current “MIX” on channel 7 you have a nice piano patch that uses Effect Configuration number 4 “Reverb and EQ.” This configuration has no inputs (buses) for sends 3 or 4 – it only has inputs for sends 1 and 2. Hence, your Guitar patch would be sending its' output to the "bit“-bucket" (no effects at all on the guitar patch). You could still take advantage of the Effect Configuration #4’s pitch modulation effects, delays, reverbs, and EQ by setting patch 6 (channel 6 really) to use either fx bus 1 or 2 (Mix edit mode, “levels” button – press [60 bass], goto page 6).

I hope this helps a little – but MIX effects take some “playing” around and studying the diagrams to fully understand. If it makes you feel any better it took a couple days to get the hang of it – and I’ve used lost of synths – and they are all not as simple as they could be. Roland JV synths use a similar “single effect configuration” in their “mix” mode - only they call theirs’ “inserts” (suppose to analogous to a hardware mixer inserts) as opposed to buses or sends.


: Please help or would you like to buy a two week old Alesis QS6 synth for £1.50

I don't need it - but I'd buy a QS6 for rougly $3 U.S.

good luck
lgk




Follow Ups: