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.
Tip: Before editing, I recommend backing up the QSR User bank data
to your computer.
Click the menu item QS Mode > Mix Mode to enter Mix mode.
Click the Select button to open the Mix
Select window.
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.
Verify that QS Edit Pro displays the Mix Mode window
below.
Click Mix > Initialize
Note: Initializing the Mix location overwrites the Mix settings.
Review the initialized Mix Mode display.
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
Click Mix > Write Mix to QS to open the Write Mix window.
Use the Rename box in the Write
Mix window to enter the Mix name. Type
Template1. Click OK to confirm
the name change.
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.
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
Double-click the "TrueStereo" Program name in Mix channel 7 to open the
Select Program window.
Note: When editing Mixes, use the Select Program window to
select Programs for the individual Mix channels.
Click the User Bn tab to view the QS Drum Programs in
the User bank. Stretch the Select Program window for
easier viewing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Click the Channel Enable (En) control on Mix channels
7–16. The button will turn bright red as shown below.
Click the cell in the KbL<>KbH column for any of the
enabled channels to open the 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.
Use the arrow buttons to adjust the upper and lower ends of the note range for
each enabled Mix channel as shown below.
Click Done to close the Keyboard
Zone window, then press the STORE button
twice on the QSR front panel to save your changes.
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
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.
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.
Change the Effects Program Channel setting to Channel 6
and check the FX Prg Channel box.
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.
Click the STORE button twice on the QSR front
panel.
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.