New to audio production - Alesis QX25 Help

[Ezro]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up my first midi controller yesterday (Alesis QX25), and I am already feeling a bit lost, heh.

My main issue is regarding the sensitivity of the keys/pads. If I press the keys lightly, as I would normally play a piano, it is practically inaudible. I have to really attack the keys in order to produce the volume that I expect.

I investigated this a bit, and was able to find out that this can be fixed by altering the velocity of an instrument/note; is there a way to have a global setting for a type of... general velocity, though? It would be really nice to have it set so that there is a minimum velocity of x dB, with a max of y dB.

Is this sort of thing possible?

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
Justin

[c5]

Hi Ezro,

I think there's two possible solutions to your issue.
First, in Ableton Live there is a MIDI effect called 'Velocity' where you can alter the velocity of incoming notes for each track. You can set a min/max in the effect, however you would have to do this for every MIDI track you create.

The second way is to change the velocity curve on your QX25 controller. You'll have to read the manual to figure how to change the velocity curve function, once you do you can try the different settings and see if there is a more 'sensitive' curve that reacts more like you expect.

hope that helps.

[Ezro]

Hi Ezro,

I think there's two possible solutions to your issue.
First, in Ableton Live there is a MIDI effect called 'Velocity' where you can alter the velocity of incoming notes for each track. You can set a min/max in the effect, however you would have to do this for every MIDI track you create.

The second way is to change the velocity curve on your QX25 controller. You'll have to read the manual to figure how to change the velocity curve function, once you do you can try the different settings and see if there is a more 'sensitive' curve that reacts more like you expect.

hope that helps.

Oh, I see. I didn't even know I could change the velocity on the controller itself.

I read through the manual, but I must have missed (or not been looking for) this functionality.

When I get home, I'll try to fiddle with that, and try to get that working.

Thanks!
Ezro

[c5]

i found this, since i couldn't find a copy of the manual online:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec11/a ... s-qx49.htm

I was initially puzzled as to how the velocity curve of a knob could be adjusted (some kind of logarithmic rather than linear calibration?), and to be honest I still am. I’m also puzzled as to what the characteristics of the QX49’s different velocity curves are, or even how many are available. The manual is no help: it just says to use “the Keyboard’s numeric keys”, along with the Advanced button, and the Curve key, “to enter the new velocity curve number”, which is easily enough done, but it neglects to mention what the valid range of numbers is, or what kind of curve corresponds with what number. I exchanged a few emails on the subject with Alesis’ UK technical support, who were polite and courteous... and evidently just as much in the dark as I was.

So looks like it might be tough to figure out. From my little bit of research I think you have 8 different velocity curves available, but maybe somebody who actually owns the keyboard can help you out.

[Ezro]

i found this, since i couldn't find a copy of the manual online:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec11/a ... s-qx49.htm

I was initially puzzled as to how the velocity curve of a knob could be adjusted (some kind of logarithmic rather than linear calibration?), and to be honest I still am. I’m also puzzled as to what the characteristics of the QX49’s different velocity curves are, or even how many are available. The manual is no help: it just says to use “the Keyboard’s numeric keys”, along with the Advanced button, and the Curve key, “to enter the new velocity curve number”, which is easily enough done, but it neglects to mention what the valid range of numbers is, or what kind of curve corresponds with what number. I exchanged a few emails on the subject with Alesis’ UK technical support, who were polite and courteous... and evidently just as much in the dark as I was.

So looks like it might be tough to figure out. From my little bit of research I think you have 8 different velocity curves available, but maybe somebody who actually owns the keyboard can help you out.

Thanks a lot for the info.

I actually just got home and checked the manual, and sure enough, it's all in there.



I just set it to max velocity (8), and I will have one of the knobs adjust the velocity accordingly, in Ableton.

Hopefully this information helps someone else out who has the same controller.