User manual ALESIS Q20

[. . . ] ALESIS Q20 User Manual Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Alesis Q20 Professional 20-Bit Master Effects Processor. To take full advantage of of the Q20s fuctions, and to enjoy long and trouble free use, please read this users manual carefully. How To Use This Manual This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the Q20. Though we recommend you take time to read through the entire manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about effects devices should use the table of contents and index to reference specific functions while using this device. Deals with the necessary preparation before using, including connections to other components, such as instruments, mixing consoles, and multitrack recorders, as well as digital connections to ADAT. [. . . ] Or this can be set to OFF when you do not wish to use the gating effect. The Hold Time determines how long the gate will be held open before it begins to turn off; this can be set from 10 to 500 ms. The rate at which it closes is determined by the Gate Release Time, which can be set from 0 to 500 ms. The Gate Level controls the level of the reverb signal after the gate closes. In other words, if the Gate Level is set to 99, then no reverb will sound after the gate turns it off. If the Gate Level is set to 50, then some reverb signal will still be present even after the gate turns off the main reverb signal. Q20 Reference Manual 53 Chapter 3 - Overview 54 Q20 Reference Manual Making Your Own Programs - Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4 MAKING YOUR OWN PROGRAMS Getting Started Because the Q20s custom LCD display clearly shows the audio routings between each of the 8 possible Effect Blocks, creating and modifying your own patches is extremely easy and flexible. There are 300 possible Program locations available, divided into three banks Preset, User 0 and User 1 of 100 Programs each. The Q20 is shipped with 100 factory presets in the Preset bank; these can be modified but not permanently changed. Lets start by creating a simple single-Block program starting from scratch, then go on from there by adding other blocks. Well use Preset #99, which has been left unprogrammed for the purpose of this tutorial. Refer to Chapter 2 for information on selecting programs. DIG. IN MIDI PAGE 1 PROGRAM IN L R PRESET OUT L R This program has the L/R INs routed directly to the L/R OUTs, respectively. Consequently, there is no audible change to the signal we are feeding to it. Our signal is clean (dry) now, so let's add an effect. 7 If the Global Direct Signal Mute function is turned on, any Programs which have the L/R IN routed to the L/R OUT will not display these patch cords except when editing the Programs routings. There are generally five Block Functions available for creating and editing Programs, which are: Type, Routing, Parameter, Mix and Modulation. Modulation deals with controlling various parameters in real-time via a MIDI controller. For now, lets stick to the basics, and go through the Functions one at a time. Q20 Reference Manual 55 Chapter 4 - Making Your Own Programs Programming A Single Block Type 7 A Block can provide Equalization, Pitch, Delay, Reverberation or be turned OFF. A program can contain up to eight Blocks, which can be in almost any combination or order within the confines of available DSP memory. The Blocks Type determines not only what parameters are available in the Parameter function, but also what routings are available in the Routing function. Each Block can be modified according to the available parameters (based on the Blocks type), and routed independently of the other Blocks. Press the [TYPE] button. The [TYPE] buttons LED will light . Press the [< BLOCK] button repeatedly until the pointer is above the leftmost Block in the display (this is Block #1s position). The display will show page 1 of Type mode (there are 3 pages in this mode): BLOCK 1 FUNCTION: OFF Turn the [VALUE/ENTER] knob to select EQUALIZATION as the Block Function. The function will flash until you press the [VALUE/ENTER] button. Press the [VALUE/ENTER] button. The display will read: ADD ROUTE FROM INPUT: NONE This function allows you to quickly add routes to the new block from the input and to the output when writing simple programs. [. . . ] This means if you had three Pitch Blocks and a reverb Block using one of the larger reverbs, you would not be able to add a fourth Pitch Block. Also, the Pitch type Mono Lezlie uses two LFOs, which means that when using it you will only have two LFOs available. While the Q20 has a custom DSP chip that processes all the effects, some of the effects available require that the main microprocessor assist in handling some of this responsibility. On occasion, you may be using enough effects simultaneously that no more processing power is available from the main microprocessor; example: when you try to create more than three Multi Tap Delays in a Program. [. . . ]