Bob Page, February 12, 1989
This information is presented in the hope that it will be useful, but no warrantees about its accuracy are expressed or implied. I'm interested in any changes/additions you have. Feel free to use this information in any way for any purpose, but please don't pretend you wrote it (leave my name in this document). I'd be happy if you send me code you write based on this info, but of course that's up to you.
Alesis is currently saying they are not going to release the QuadraVerb info "at this time". That could mean the "format" is subject to change, or they are withholding the info until some pet software companies get QV patch editors to the market, or maybe some other reason, I dunno. In any event, I needed the info, so I created it. And on with the show...
Contents:
Seven QuadraVerb bytes (each line represents one byte):
Byte 0: a7 a6 a5 a4 a3 a2 a1 a0
1: b7 b6 b5 b4 b3 b2 b1 b0
2: c7 c6 c5 c4 c3 c2 c1 c0
3: d7 d6 d5 d4 d3 d2 d1 d0
4: e7 e6 e5 e4 e3 e2 e1 e0
5: f7 f6 f5 f4 f3 f2 f1 f0
6: g7 g6 g5 g4 g3 g2 g1 g0
are transmitted as eight MIDI bytes:
Byte 0: 00 a7 a6 a5 a4 a3 a2 a1
1: 00 a0 b7 b6 b5 b4 b3 b2
2: 00 b1 b0 c7 c6 c5 c4 c3
3: 00 c2 c1 c0 d7 d6 d5 d4
4: 00 d3 d2 d1 d0 e7 e6 e5
5: 00 e4 e3 e2 e1 e0 f7 f6
6: 00 f5 f4 f3 f2 f1 f0 g7
7: 00 g6 g5 g4 g3 g2 g1 g0
Here is a C fragment to decode the data (note that you don't want to
decode the SysEx status messsages; they are not encoded):
unsigned char c, oc;
oc = 0;
for (i=0; ((c = getc(ifp)) < 0x80); i++) {
i %= 147; /* end of program */
if (shift = i % 8) {
oc = (oc << shift) + (c >> (7-shift));
putc(oc, ofp);
}
oc = c;
}
All the info given below assumes the data has been decoded. If you are
going to send the data back to the QV after editing it, you have to encode
it first. Code fragment left as an exercise for the reader.
A QuadraVerb SysEx command string looks like (in hex):
f0 - SysEx start
00 \
00 - Alesis mfr code
0e /
02 QuadraVerb ID number
cc QuadraVerb command code
pp QuadraVerb command code parameter
dd data stream (variable length)
..
f7 End of SysEx
The command codes are:
01 Change Parameter
02 Load Program
03 Dump Program
The parameters depend on the command and are discussed below.
f0 00 00 0e 02 03 pp f7
where '03' is the "dump data" command, and 'pp' is the hex parameter:
00-63 single program, 0-99
64 edit buffer
65 all program memory
Keep in mind if you're doing many edit/compares on program 27 you
probably want to be dumping the edit buffer, not program 27, as #27 is
only modified once the STORE is done.
f0 00 00 0e 02 02 pp (data) f7
where 'pp' is the same as in the above description. The data must be
encoded before being sent. If you do it right you should send 155 bytes
out the MIDI port (including SysEx etc) for an individual program.
f0 00 00 0e 02 01 gg pp dd dd dd f7
where 'gg' is the 'parameter group' you want to change:
00 - program
01 - reverb
02 - delay
03 - pitch
04 - eq
05 - midi
06 - store
07 - config
08 - mix
09 - mod
0a - name
and 'pp' is the parameter number within parameter group (for example in
'reverb', parameter number 0 is 'Reverb Type', and the numbers increase
the same as if you used the PAGE UP key).
The "dd dd dd" string is the value you want in that parameter. It must be encoded, even if it fits in 7 bits. Sometimes the value takes two bytes; in that case they should be sent MSB first, then LSB (this is the opposite of the HR-16). When one byte is encoded it will become two bytes; likewise two become three. If you're sending two bytes (after encoding) send them first, then 00, then f7.
The QV will also send you these Change Parameter requests every time a parameter is changed using the front panel. If somebody selects the Delay Time parameter and pushes the button to go from 1 to 400ms, you're going to get 400 of these messages. You will get messages every time the VALUE buttons get pushed, even when nothing changes (like being in program mode and pressing the down key when you're already at program zero), so be prepared for them.
You can't send running parameter change requests; each one has to be a separate SysEx message.
Unused locations have zeros in them. The EQ bytes change meaning depending on whether graphic EQ is being used, so both are given. Everything here is listed in decimal.
Graphic EQ parameters, only used in the Graphic_EQ->Delay configuration:
Byte Description Default Range 0 ??? ?? ?? [usually set to 14] 1 16Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 2 32Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 3 62Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 4 126Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 5 250Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 6 500Hz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 7 1kHz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 8 2kHz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 9 4kHz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 10 8kHz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 11 16kHz 14 0-28 (14 is center) 12 ??? ?? ?? [usually set to 24]Graphic EQ also seems to change all modulation targets to 16Hz boost/cut.
Here's the complete list, in byte order. Note that all parameters have a 'default' value you can get by pressing both VALUE buttons at the same time - if you're building a patch editor you might want this info so your user can hit a button to get the default value for some parameter.
Byte Description Default Range
0 Low EQ Frequency MSB
1 Low EQ Frequency LSB 200 20-999Hz
2 Low EQ Amplitude MSB
3 Low EQ Amplitude LSB 280 0=-14db, 280=0db, 560=14db, 0.05 steps
4 Low EQ Frequency MSB
5 Mid EQ Frequency LSB 2000 200-9999Hz
6 Mid EQ Bandwidth 100 20-255 (0.2-2.55 octaves)
7 Mid EQ Amplitude MSB
8 Mid EQ Amplitude LSB 280 0=-14db, 280=0db, 560=14db, 0.05 steps
9 High EQ Frequency MSB
10 High EQ Frequency LSB 8000 2000-18000Hz
11 High EQ Amplitude MSB
12 High EQ Amplitude LSB 280 0=-14db, 280=0db, 560=14db, 0.05 steps
13 Leslie High Rotor Level 20 0=-20db, 26=+6db
14 Low-Mid EQ Freq. MSB
15 Low-Mid EQ Freq. LSB 100 20-500Hz (really 100Hz default!)
16 Low-Mid EQ Bandwidth 100 20-255 (0.2-2.55 octaves)
17 Low-Mid EQ Ampl. MSB
18 Low-Mid EQ Ampl. LSB 280 0=-14db, 280=0db, 560=14db, 0.05 steps
19 High-Mid EQ Freq. MSB
20 High-Mid EQ Freq. MSB 6000 2000-18000Hz
21 High-Mid EQ Bandwidth 100 20-255 (0.2-2.55 octaves)
22 High-Mid EQ Ampl. MSB
23 High-Mid EQ Ampl. LSB 280 0=-14db, 280=0db, 560=14db, 0.05 steps
24 [unused]
25 [unused]
26 Pitch Mode 1 0-5 m/s_chorus, m/s_flange, phase, detune
27 Pitch Input 1 0=pre-eq, 1=post-eq
28 LFO Waveshape 0 0=triangle, 1=square
29 LFO/Phaser Speed 20 0=1, 98=99
30 LFO/Phaser Depth 50 0=1, 98=99
31 [unused]
32 Pitch Feedback (%) 0 0-99
33 Detune Amount 99 0=-99, 99=none, 198=+99
34 Leslie Stereo Separation 99 0-99
35 Leslie Motor Control 1 0=off, 1=on
36 Leslie Motor Speed 0 0=slow, 1=fast
37 Trigger Flange 0 0=off, 1=on
38 [unused]
39 Delay Type 1 0=mono, 1=stereo, 2=ping-pong
40 Delay Input 1 1 0=pre-eq, 1=post-e1
41 Delay Input Mix 99 0=input1, 99=center, 198=pitch/leslie
42 Left Delay Time (MSB) 1-400ms (1-800ms mono)
43 Left Delay Time (LSB) 100 If graphicEQ: 1-750ms (1-1500ms mono)
44 Left Delay Feedback (%) 0 0-99
45 Right Delay Time (MSB) (Right not used in mono)
46 Right Delay Time (LSB) 100 1-400ms (if graphicEQ: 1-750ms)
47 Right Delay Feedback (%) 0 0-99
48 [unused]
49 [unused]
50 Reverb Type 0 0=plate, 1=room, 2=chamber, 3=hall, 4=rev
51 [unused]
52 Reverb Input 1 3 0=pre-eq, 1=post-eq, 2=pitch, 3=delay_mix
53 Reverb Input 2 1 0=pitch out, 1=delay out
54 Reverb Input Mix 0 0=Input1, 99=center, 198=Input2
55 Reverb PreDelay 40 1-140ms
56 PreDelay Mix 198 0=Pre, 99=center, 198=Post
57 Reverb Decay 50 0-99
58 Reverb Diffusion Amount 8 0=1, 4=5, 8=9
59 Low Frequency Decay 60 0=-60, 30=-30, 60=0
60 High Frequency Decay 40 0=-60, 30=-30, 60=0
61 Reverb Density 8 0=1, 4=5, 8=9
62 Reverb Gate 0 0=off, 1=on
63 Reverb Gate Hold Time 0 0-99
64 Reverb Gate Release Time 80 0-99
65 Reverb Gated Level (%) 0 0-99
66 [unused]
67 [unused]
68 Configuration 0 0-4
69 Direct Signal Select 0 0=pre-eq, 1=post-eq
70 Direct/EQ Signal Level 99 0-99 (EQ Out if Direct Signal Select = 1)
71 Master Effects Level 50 0-99
72 Pitch/Leslie Out Level 50 0-99
73 Delay Output Level 50 0-99
74 Reverb Output Level 50 0-99
75 [unused]
76 [unused]
77 [unused]
78 [unused]
79 [unused]
80 Mod 1 Source 0 0-125 (see list below)
81 Mod 1 Target 0 (see Modulation Targets section below)
82 Mod 1 Amplitude 0 0=-99, 99=0, 198=+99
83 Mod 2 Source
84 Mod 2 Target Sources: 0=pitch_bend, 1=after_touch,
85 Mod 2 Amplitude 2=note_number, 3=note_velocity,
86 Mod 3 Source 4-125 correspond to MIDI
87 Mod 3 Target controller numbers 0-121.
88 Mod 3 Amplitude
89 Mod 4 Source
90 Mod 4 Target
91 Mod 4 Amplitude
92 Mod 5 Source
93 Mod 5 Target
94 Mod 5 Amplitude
95 Mod 6 Source
96 Mod 6 Target
97 Mod 6 Amplitude
98 Mod 7 Source
99 Mod 7 Target
100 Mod 7 Amplitude
101 Mod 8 Source
102 Mod 8 Target
103 Mod 8 Amplitude
104 [unused]
105 [unused]
106 Edit Name Character 1 32 The following 96 characters, in order:
107 Edit Name Character 2 !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?
108 Edit Name Character 3 @ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[Y]^_
109 Edit Name Character 4 `abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}><
110 Edit Name Character 5
111 Edit Name Character 6 The second Y is the Japanese 'Yen' or
112 Edit Name Character 7 Chinese 'Yuan' (monetary) symbol. The
113 Edit Name Character 8 last two characters are right and left
114 Edit Name Character 9 arrows. The backslash and tilde
115 Edit Name Character 10 characters are not available.
116 Edit Name Character 11
117 Edit Name Character 12 Note this list is in ASCII order, and
118 Edit Name Character 13 the ASCII equivalent is what's stored.
119 Edit Name Character 14
120 [unused]
121 [unused]
122 [unused]
123 [unused]
124 [unused]
125 [unused]
126 [unused]
127 [unused]
0 Reverb Input Mix 1 Reverb PreDelay 2 Reverb PreDelay Mix 3 Reverb Reverse Time (Reverb Decay? I think the LCD mislabels this) 4 Reverb Diffusion 5 Reverb Density 6 Reverb Low Decay 7 Reverb High Decay 16 Delay Input Mix (L/Mono Delay Time if GraphicEQ) 17 L/Mono Delay Time (L/Mono Delay Feedback if GraphicEQ) 18 L/Mono Delay Feedback (R Delay Time if GraphicEQ) 19 R Delay Time (R Delay Feedback if GraphicEQ) 20 R Delay Feedback 32 LFO/Phaser Speed (Leslie Stereo) 33 LFO/Phaser Depth (Leslie Motor) 34 Pitch Feedback (Leslie Speed) 48 Low EQ Frequency (16Hz boost/cut) (Leslie High Level) 49 Low EQ Amplitude (32Hz boost/cut) 50 Mid EQ Frequency (62Hz boost/cut) (Low-Mid EQ Frequency) 51 Mid EQ Bandwidth (126Hz boost/cut) (Low-Mid EQ Width) 52 Mid EQ Amplitude (250Hz boost/cut) (Low-Mid EQ Amplitude) 53 High EQ Frequency (500Hz boost/cut) (Mid EQ Frequency) 54 High EQ Amplitude (1kHz boost/cut) (Mid EQ Bandwidth) 55 (2kHz boost/cut) (Mid EQ Amplitude) 56 (4kHz boost/cut) (High-Mid EQ Frequency) 57 (8kHz boost/cut) (High-Mid EQ Bandwidth) 58 (16kHz boost/cut) (High-Mid EQ Amplitude) 59 (High EQ Frequency) 60 (High EQ Amplitude) 64 Direct/EQ Mix Level (Effect Mix Level if GraphicEQ) 65 Effect Mix Level (EQ Mix Level if GraphicEQ) 66 Pitch/Leslie Mix Level (Delay Mix if GraphicEQ, Reverb Mix if cfg 5) 67 Delay Mix Level 68 Reverb Mix Level
i %= 147
statement in
the decoding fragment above). The edit buffer is not dumped on a full
dump, so after decoding, your data should have 12800 bytes.
No MIDI parameters are ever dumped, and there is no checksum information. I don't know how to get the version of the ROM (without opening the case).
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