Justin Havu Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Hey gang! I just acquired an Alesis Quadrasynth, and I've got the factory patches via SysEx. Problem is I'm not quite sure how to go about loading them into the QS. I have a DAW (Sonar), I have the SysEx loaded into Sonar, tried sending it, but not sure if the QS is receiving it. Hardware Yamaha MODX7, DX7, PSR-530, MX61/Korg TR-Rack, 01/W Pro X, Trinity Pro X, Karma/Ensoniq ESQ-1 Behringer DeepMind12, Model D, Odyssey, 2600/Arturia Keylab MKII 61 Software Studio One/V Collection 9/Korg Collection 4/Cherry Audio/UVI SonicPass/EW Composer Cloud/Omnisphere, Stylus RMX, Trilian/IK Total Studio 3.5 MAX/Roland Cloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthizen2 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I'm still an avid QS user myself (not original Quadrasynth, but one of the later QS models). Same essential engine, though. I would use a simple MIDI utility like Bome's SEND-SX instead of a full-fledged DAW. I haven't done this in years, though, so make sure to read the manual carefully -- check things like global MIDI channel, whether or not write-protect is on or off, etc, etc. In fact I've had more recent experience doing full-fledged sampling into the QS (using those re-writable flash cards) than with simple sysex transfers of programming data. That's one of the main reasons I still use my QS and haven't traded up to a Motif, S-90, Kurz, or other ostensibly better board. 'Cause I've got my own acoustic piano and Rhodes samples in there, and I like them. Kurzweil PC3, Yamaha MOX8, Alesis Ion, Kawai K3M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I would use a simple MIDI utility like Bome's SEND-SX instead of a full-fledged DAW. Agreed. MIDI OX should also do the trick. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Sherry Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Also, you may need to slow the transmission speed. I had no problem sending patch banks from my ALESIS Ion to my Mac, but sending them back to the Ion failed consistently until I halved the transmission speed. Sysex Librarian had a control for setting this (didn't see anything like that in my DAW), and it also provided nice visual feedback about the transmission, unlike Digital Performer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Havu Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 MIDI OX worked like a charm! Got all 8 factory banks (and a few others) from MIDIworld. Y'know, for being over 20 years old, this synth still sounds great! Hardware Yamaha MODX7, DX7, PSR-530, MX61/Korg TR-Rack, 01/W Pro X, Trinity Pro X, Karma/Ensoniq ESQ-1 Behringer DeepMind12, Model D, Odyssey, 2600/Arturia Keylab MKII 61 Software Studio One/V Collection 9/Korg Collection 4/Cherry Audio/UVI SonicPass/EW Composer Cloud/Omnisphere, Stylus RMX, Trilian/IK Total Studio 3.5 MAX/Roland Cloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Y'know, for being over 20 years old, this synth still sounds great! I still have my QS Plus Piano. ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Havu Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Another question. I need to replace the battery in my newly-acquired QS6.2. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, but I'm wondering if installing a battery holder would be easier than just soldering a battery onto the main board. If so, it's just a matter of finding a holder that will fit the QS. Hardware Yamaha MODX7, DX7, PSR-530, MX61/Korg TR-Rack, 01/W Pro X, Trinity Pro X, Karma/Ensoniq ESQ-1 Behringer DeepMind12, Model D, Odyssey, 2600/Arturia Keylab MKII 61 Software Studio One/V Collection 9/Korg Collection 4/Cherry Audio/UVI SonicPass/EW Composer Cloud/Omnisphere, Stylus RMX, Trilian/IK Total Studio 3.5 MAX/Roland Cloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTeechur Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I still have my original QuadraSynth I purchased new in 1994. I also bought a QS S4 module. You can use any sequencer to load SySex patches. Manual is available online and details how to do it. Muzikteechur is Lonnie, in Kittery, Maine. HS music teacher: Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, Music Theory, AP Music Theory, History of Rock, Musical Theatre, Piano, Guitar, Drama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Another question. I need to replace the battery in my newly-acquired QS6.2. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, but I'm wondering if installing a battery holder would be easier than just soldering a battery onto the main board. If so, it's just a matter of finding a holder that will fit the QS. Yes - that's what I did. There is plenty of room to work. BTW, I own 3 QSPlus Piano, 2 S4+, 2 QS7.1, and a QSR, so if you have any Alesis questions . . . http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/HandsomeTramp/smilies/thumbsup.gif The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Y'know, for being over 20 years old, this synth still sounds great! I still have my QS Plus Piano. Hey Dave - do you also own a Motif? I started another thread about my recent Motif-Rack XS purchase, and how unhappy I am with it's pianos. I am used to my QS pianos, especially Bright Grand, True Stereo, and Roll Piano. Have you compared them? Thanks! The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I still have my QS Plus Piano. Hey Dave - do you also own a Motif? I started another thread about my recent Motif-Rack XS purchase, and how unhappy I am with it's pianos. I am used to my QS pianos, especially Bright Grand, True Stereo, and Roll Piano. Have you compared them?] Yes, I have a MOTIF ES8. I actually quite like its pianos - IIRC, they're CFIIIS samples. I was using both the Alesis and Yamaha piano samples for a long time - each has it's own sound. I mainly tend to use Ivory when I'm in the studio these days, though. Little known fact - the version of the Bosendorfer sample set in the QuadraSynth Plus is bigger than the version that's in the QS series. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I still have my QS Plus Piano. Hey Dave - do you also own a Motif? I started another thread about my recent Motif-Rack XS purchase, and how unhappy I am with it's pianos. I am used to my QS pianos, especially Bright Grand, True Stereo, and Roll Piano. Have you compared them?] Yes, I have a MOTIF ES8. I actually quite like its pianos - IIRC, they're CFIIIS samples. I was using both the Alesis and Yamaha piano samples for a long time - each has it's own sound. I mainly tend to use Ivory when I'm in the studio these days, though. Little known fact - the version of the Bosendorfer sample set in the QuadraSynth Plus is bigger than the version that's in the QS series. dB Is that why the pianos on the QS+ transfer to the QS7.1, but not quite exactly? The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Little known fact - the version of the Bosendorfer sample set in the QuadraSynth Plus is bigger than the version that's in the QS series. Is that why the pianos on the QS+ transfer to the QS7.1, but not quite exactly? Probably... The Alesis system was capable of supporting 32 MB of data. The Quadrasynth Plus had 24MB of onboard wave ROM, and one card slot that could be used to add up to 8MB more. The QS synths had 16 MB of wave ROM (except for the original QS6, which only had 8MB), and two card slots that could each support up to 8MB (except for the original QS6, which only had one card slot). The piano sample set from the Quadrasynth was the object that got the biggest reduction in shrinking the wave ROM to 16MB while adding a bunch of new waves, including the new Emerson and LA Phil samples. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Little known fact - the version of the Bosendorfer sample set in the QuadraSynth Plus is bigger than the version that's in the QS series. Is that why the pianos on the QS+ transfer to the QS7.1, but not quite exactly? Probably... The Alesis system was capable of supporting 32 MB of data. The Quadrasynth Plus had 24MB of onboard wave ROM, and one card slot that could be used to add up to 8MB more. The QS synths had 16 MB of wave ROM (except for the original QS6, which only had 8MB), and two card slots that could each support up to 8MB (except for the original QS6, which only had one card slot). The piano sample set from the Quadrasynth was the object that got the biggest reduction in shrinking the wave ROM to 16MB while adding a bunch of new waves, including the new Emerson and LA Phil samples. dB That's great info, and I never realized that the QS series had only 16MB. Thanks! It's hard to believe that they would make the same mistake twice, the first being to leave the 8MB piano off the S4+ module, in favor of - ugh - improved GM sounds. Shorting the piano on the successor synth seems self-destructive for a forward-moving keyboard maker. Do you know: If you use the Grand Piano QCard in an S4+, is it virtually the same as the Quadrasynth Plus Piano? There is also a Jazz Piano QCard. I don't know which one is better. The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowMan Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I used both cards in a QS+Piano and thought the Grand Piano card was much brighter and more expressive. I sold the Jazz Card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I used both cards in a QS+Piano and thought the Grand Piano card was much brighter and more expressive. I sold the Jazz Card. Thanks! How do the pianos on the card compare to the QS+Piano ones, like True Stereo and Bright Grand? The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Do you know: If you use the Grand Piano QCard in an S4+, is it virtually the same as the Quadrasynth Plus Piano? Yes. There is also a Jazz Piano QCard. I don't know which one is better. They're just different. The original QS piano is a sample set from a Bosendorfer Imperial grand. The Jazz QCard is a K Kawai piano...and the Classical Piano QCard is a Fazioli F308. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowMan Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 The stereo patch on the keyboard was my preferred piano sound when recording or running in stereo. When in mono I liked the card sounds better. I thought the QS+P was really a terrific board, but mine later developed the known problem of dropping tune randomly and the service place could never fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Do you know: If you use the Grand Piano QCard in an S4+, is it virtually the same as the Quadrasynth Plus Piano? Yes. There is also a Jazz Piano QCard. I don't know which one is better. They're just different. The original QS piano is a sample set from a Bosendorfer Imperial grand. The Jazz QCard is a K Kawai piano...and the Classical Piano QCard is a Fazioli F308. dB Thank you for that info, Dave! The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amillionpictures Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 I have an Alesis QS 6.2 that I need to change the battery, (and send the user presets to a PC to backup), but I am having trouble sending the presets,....tried sound bridge, and MIDI OX,...I need help with this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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