Exploring the QSR Sound ROM

The QSR's built-in sound ROM contains the samples and kits that make up the QS drum Programs. Learn how to access the sound ROM to audition samples for use in your custom drum Programs.

Before you begin

  • Review the Sounds, Program, and Mixes concept topic.
  • Connect your computer's MIDI interface to the QSR and verify communication.
  • Upload the provided QS Drum Programs Bank SYSEX file to the QSR User bank.

About this task

The internal QSR sound ROM contains the samples and kits used in the factory preset drum Programs. The sound ROM cannot be edited. You will learn how to access and audition the internal samples for use in your custom Programs. To follow this procedure you will need to first upload the Alesis QS Drum Programs Banks SYSEX file to the QSR (use the link below to download the file).

Links to topic sections

Procedure

Accessing the QSR Drum Samples

  1. Open QS Edit Pro.
  2. Click Program > SELECT using the dropdown menus or click the Select button to open the Program Banks window.
  3. Click the User Bn tab in the Program Select window.
    QS Edit Pro program select window, QS drum programs in User bank

  4. Select the "9 Time" Program in slot 000, then close the Program Banks window.
  5. Verify that the QSR LCD display shows the "9 Time" Program name.
    Trouble: You may have to select another Program first and then reselect Program slot 000 before the QSR responds.
  6. Click the grey Layer 1 button to open Drum Edit window.
    Drum Edit window in QS Edit Pro showing Layer 1 of "9 Time" program

  7. In the first row, double-click the Group/Voice cell labeled "Kick/Tek Kick 1" to open the Drum Sound Select Window.
    QS Edit Pro Drum Sound Select window
    The pane on the left side shows the eight drum sample groups that organize the drum samples for easy access. Refer to Chapter 6 of the QSR Reference Manual (Programming Drum Sounds) for a listing of the samples in each group.
    The Drum Sound Select window opens showing the currently-selected Kick Sample Group and "Tek Kick 1" sample. Clicking on a different sample changes the sample selection for the drum slot, and allows auditioning other samples, but the change is not permanently stored in the QSR. Unless you hit the STORE button on the QSR front panel the change will be discarded when you change Programs.
  8. To audition samples from this window, temporarily change the MIDI Channel setting on the QSR front panel to MIDI channel 1. Then click the QS Edit Pro Drum Sound Select window note play button (Note Play) button to hear the sample in the headphones.
  9. Click to select other samples in the Kick Sample Group to audition the built-in samples.
  10. Select other Sample Groups in the left pane and explore the samples in those groups.
    Note: The Sample Groups labeled CARTD1 through CARTD6 refer to the banks on the PCMCIA cards. Unless you have samples stored on cards inserted into the two front panel slots you will not see any samples in those groups. Note that each card slot can contain three banks. CARTD1 through CARTD3 represent the banks on the first card slot.
  11. After auditioning drum samples, click the Restore button at the bottom of the Drum Sound Select Window, then click Done to close the window. Do not STORE the Program from the QSR front panel.
  12. Close the Drum Edit window.

Accessing the QSR Drum Kits

  1. Return to the Program Mode window in QS Edit Pro. It should show the four sound layers of the "9 Time" drum Program.
  2. Click the blue box in Layer 4, labeled Tek Kit DM, to open the Wave Select window.
    QS Edit Pro Program window, double-click on Tek Kit DM

    The Wave Select window shows the seventeen built-in Sound Groups in the top pane (plus the three banks available in each of the PCMCIA card slots). Use the slider to scroll horizontally to see the Rhythm sound group.
    The sounds contained in the selected group are displayed in the lower pane.
    QS Edit Pro Wave Select window

    Refer to Chapter 6 of the QSR Reference Manual for a complete listing of the samples contained in each group. The Drums Sound Group contains the factory preset drum kits in the QSR.
  3. Click to select the Drums Sound Group. "Tek Kit DM" should be highlighted.
    The Wave Select window can be used to select drum kits for auditioning or for use in custom Programs.
  4. To audition a kit, select the kit in the Wave Select window, then click Done to close the window. Play the drum kit sounds using the Virtual Keyboard (first disable the other sound layers to solo the Keyboard mode drum kit layer).
    The built-in drum kits use the same drum samples that are used in Drum mode sound layers. The drum kits apply some processing and effects to the samples so they may sound slightly different.
    Audition each drum kit and make notes about the kits you like. You can use these kits in Keyboard mode sound layers in your custom drum Programs.