Creating the Mix Template

Create a Mix Template to save time and ensure consistency when programming the QSR Drum Synthesizer.

Before you begin

  • Review the general concepts presented in this Manual.
  • Determine your system configuration, download the software, and assemble your hardware.
  • Verify communication between the QSR and QS Edit Pro.
  • Familiarize yourself with Programs and Mixes using the Working with Programs and Working with Mixes topics.
  • Refer to the Loading the QS Drum Bank Sysex File topic for instructions on loading the Programs into the User bank.

About this task

In this topic, you will learn basic Mix editing techniques while creating your Mix Template. The template will simplify creation of Mixes that conform to the Programming Strategy topic guidelines. You will use the editing techniques presented here in later topics.

Links to topic sections

Procedure

Initializing the Mix

  1. Open QS Edit Pro software.
    Tip: Before editing, I recommend backing up the QSR User bank data to your computer.
  2. Click the menu item QS Mode > Mix Mode to enter Mix mode.
  3. Click the Select button to open the Mix Select window.
  4. Click to select the "Multitmbrl" Mix (User bank Mix location 000) and close the Mix Select window.
    Note: The "Multitmbrl" Mix is part of the factory preset User bank. If the Mixes in your User bank have been modified, you may have another Mix in User bank Mix location 000. We will overwrite this Mix location so the specific contents are not important.
  5. Verify that QS Edit Pro displays the Mix Mode window below.QS Edit Pro Mix mode screen
  6. Click Mix > Initialize
    QS Edit Pro Mix Menu

    Note: Initializing the Mix location overwrites the Mix settings.
  7. Review the initialized Mix Mode display.
    QS Edit Pro, Mix initialized

    The Mix Mode window shows the 16 Mix channels, each of which responds to a different MIDI channel. Note that all 16 Mix channels are now set to the "TrueStereo" Program, the Mix name has been cleared, and all parameters have been reset.
    We will now create a drum Mix Template using the QS Drum Bank Programs loaded into the User bank, following the guidelines presented in the Programming Strategy topic.

Renaming Mixes

  1. Click Mix > Write Mix to QS to open the Write Mix window.
  2. Use the Rename box in the Write Mix window to enter the Mix name. Type Template1. Click OK to confirm the name change.
    QS Edit Pro Write Mix window with "Template1" name change

  3. Verify that the QSR LCD display shows the "Template1" Mix name.
    Note: Note that the LCD display also shows a status of "Edited" at the bottom of the display. This means the changes have not been saved.
  4. Click the STORE button on the QSR front panel twice to save the changes to the User bank. Verify that the status displayed is now "Edit", which means that the changes have been saved and the QSR is still in Edit mode.

Selecting Programs for the Mix

  1. Double-click the "TrueStereo" Program name in Mix channel 7 to open the Select Program window.
    QS Edit Pro Program Select window in Mix edit mode

    Note: When editing Mixes, use the Select Program window to select Programs for the individual Mix channels.
  2. Click the User Bn tab to view the QS Drum Programs in the User bank. Stretch the Select Program window for easier viewing.
    QS Drum Program listing in Select Program window

  3. Find Program 046 labeled "Rock Drumz". Click the Program name to select the Program, then close the Select Program window. The new Program name will appear in Mix channel 7.
    QS Edit Pro Mix mode window showing Program name change in channel 7

  4. The Program change made to channel 7 is temporarily held in the QSR edit buffer. Click the STORE button twice to save the change. Verify the QSR LCD display changes from "Edited" to "Edit" status.
  5. Repeat the steps in this section for Mix channels 8 through 16. The Mix mode screen should now show the "Rock Drumz" Program in these channels. STORE the changes from the QSR front panel. The Mix Mode window should match the figure below.
    QS Edit Pro Mix mode showing "Rock Drumz" in channels 7-16

Set Mix Channel Note Ranges

The table below shows the standard Keyboard Zone note ranges defined in the guidelines for my Programming Strategy.

Figure: Mix Channel Note Range Settings

Mix Channel Drum Group Note Range
7 toms F1–D2
8 kick C1–C1
9 snare D1–D1
10 Mix Group channel C-2–G8
11 hi hat F#1–A#1
12 ride cymbals D#2–B2
13 crash cymbals C#2–A2
14 User Defined User Defined
15 User Defined User Defined
16 percussion C-2–G8

The Programming Strategy uses MIDI channels 7–16 for drum groups. Channel 10 is reserved for the Mix Group control channel. Channel 16 is used for percussion instruments. Channels 14 and 15 can be assigned by the user for other sounds or effects as required. Channel 6 will be used as the Mix Effects Program channel and does not require a note range setting.

The note ranges are based on the General MIDI standard for drum and percussion instruments. In the GM standard, some ranges overlap. For example, toms, cymbals, and certain percussion instruments overlap. The overlap will not create problems as long as drum groups are controlled using separate MIDI channels. However, if overlapping drum groups are assigned to the Mix Group, then unexpected results will occur.

To prevent this, only one of the overlapping drum groups should be assigned to the Mix Group in a Mix. An alternate approach involves remapping note numbers, ignoring the General MIDI note number standards, to eliminate overlaps. Cymbals, for example, could be moved below the standard drum note range to eliminate the overlap with tom notes.

  1. Click the Channel Enable (En) control on Mix channels 7–16. The button will turn bright red as shown below.
    QS Edit Pro Mix mode screen, channels 7-16 enabled

  2. Click the cell in the KbL<>KbH column for any of the enabled channels to open the Keyboard Zones window.
    QS Edit Pro Keyboard Zones window

    Attention: The channel number labels on the left side are not properly aligned with the note range controls. The window shows all 16 channels but the channel 16 label is next to channel 13. Do not be confused by this.
    Note: You cannot adjust the Keyboard Zone note ranges for disabled channels in the Mix Mode window.
  3. Use the arrow buttons to adjust the upper and lower ends of the note range for each enabled Mix channel as shown below.
    QS Edit Pro Keyboard Zone window, drum note range settings

  4. Click Done to close the Keyboard Zone window, then press the STORE button twice on the QSR front panel to save your changes.
  5. Test the Mix sounds using the Virtual Keyboard. Use the MIDI Channel slider to select a Mix channel for testing. Only notes enabled in the Keyboard Zone should respond to the Virtual Keyboard.

Complete the Drum Mix Template

  1. Click the En button to disable sounds on Mix channel 10. This will be the Mix Group control channel.
    Restriction: When you use channel 10 as the Mix Group master (this is controlled in Global Settings), Mix channel 10 should be disabled. Otherwise, it will play any sounds in its Keyboard Zone note range using that Mix channel's Program. By disabling the channel, other Mix channels assigned to the Mix Group (MG control column) will respond within their respective note ranges.
  2. Disable MIDI inputs on Mix channels 1 through 6 by clicking the MI buttons. The buttons will turn dark green. The Programming Strategy guidelines do not use Mix channels 1–6.
    Tip: If you decide to use these Mix channels in your Mixes, you can enable the MI button later.
  3. Change the Effects Program Channel setting to Channel 6 and check the FX Prg Channel box.
    QS Edit Pro Effects Program Channel control
  4. Disable all controls for Pitch-bend, Aftertouch, Sustain Pedal, and Controllers by clicking the buttons in the respective columns. These controls relate to keyboard applications.
    The Mix Mode window should match the screen shot below.
    Mix template settings in QS Edit Pro

  5. Click the STORE button twice on the QSR front panel.
  6. Click Mix > Save Current Mix to Disk, then specify a folder and file name for your drum mix template.
    You now have a Mix Template that will save you time when creating new Mixes. To create a Mix, first load this template file to a User bank Mix location and then make changes to the Mix Template.