Alesis S4 Stroller User Manual


 
Mix Mode
QuadraSynth Reference Manual 49
Polyphony in Mix Mode
The QuadraSynth has 64-note polyphony. In Mix Mode, if you have all 16 MIDI
channels assigned to the same keyboard range, and each channel's Program has only
one active Program Sound, youÕll have 4-note polyphony as you play the keyboard
(but a really thick layer...). This is extreme, of course, but should tell you what you
can expect when you really pile on the layers from the keyboard.
Using the QuadraSynth as a Master
Keyboard
Mix Mode gives the QuadraSynth the capabilities of a MIDI master keyboard. You
can layer the QuadraSynthÕs internal sounds with an external synthesizer's sounds
without using up internal polyphony by adjusting the proper parameters in the Mix
Edit mode.
Example: You can have 2 layers (or a split) played directly from the QuadraSynth,
simultaneously playing on external synthesizers using a MIDI channel which has its
internal QuadraSynthÕs sound turned OFF.
Setting MIDI Out Channels for Mix in
Global Mode
(QuadraSynth Keyboard only)
The QuadraSynth offers a wide variety of ways to set the MIDI output. It is very
easy in Program Mode; you just use the MIDI [¬] and [®] buttons to set the MIDI
channel for the whole instrument. But when using the QuadraSynth in Mix Mode,
you need to be able to transmit on several MIDI channels at once, and to temporarily
isolate certain channels within a Mix. This is done with the Keyboard Mode
function.
From Mix mode, press [GLOBAL].
Press PAGE [®] to get to Page 2.
Press Quad Button [4].
You will see "KBD MODE: " in the top right of the display.
You can use the VALUE [¯] and [-] buttons or Quad Knob [4] to set the
Keyboard Mode.
The options are: FRM MIX, CH SOLO and OUT 1 Ñ OUT 16.
FRM MIX. In this mode, the MIDI channels sent out will correspond to whatever
layers or splits the Mix is set up for. For example, in the Preset Mix bank, there are
several Mixes in which the keyboard is split in two or more ways from left to right;
each of these "zones" is linked to a different set of channels. As you play through
each zone, it will send MIDI messages corresponding to that key range and trigger
the corresponding channels. Note that certain controllers such as pitch bend and
aftertouch will send on all channels at once. The MIDI Monitor indicators in the
display will show which channels are active.