I was so excited to find a used Alesis 8.1 locally for only $200. The keyboard action is fabulous and it’s already started to improve my technique. My next step was to finally connect it up to Logic Pro as a controller. Despite many efforts, deliberate and careful troubleshooting, and the use of two different MIDI to USB cables that work like a dream on my Behringer Motor 61, the serial cable, and proper selection (as far as I can tell) of Global parameters, and being certain of what’s plugged where, I’ve been forced into acceptance of what seems to be a fact: There is no way to get MIDI into or out of the board.
I’m not asking for more troubleshooting tests unless there’s something not in the manual. I’ve tried it all, including multiple resets.
If I wanted to get this to work, would I need a new board? If so, any idea how to find one? Is it possible there’s just a ribbon controller in there that might need to be re-connected (Yeah, I know. Desperation.). I haven’t cracked the case yet. Is it possible I could find the problem if I do. Funny, I just bought a used Saab convertible. 1996. As with this keyboard, I’d rather save a classic than simply give it away or toss it.
For using the Alesis QS8 as a MIDI Controller with USB and your notation program or your “player” program here are the steps I worked out.
First make sure your MIDI to USB cable is: Cable MIDI OUT Connector plugged into the QS8 MIDI IN port. The Cable MIDI IN Connector is plugged into the QS8 MIDI OUT port.
I recommend that you reset, clear prior settings, in the QS8.
Turn power off on Alesis.
While depressing button “0” and button “3” simultaneously, turn power on. This is a general reset on the Alesis.
Depress “Edit Select” and then “Global”
Depress “Page>” about 7 times and you will see “General Midi: off” in the display.
5 Depress “Value^” and the display will read “MIX GenMIDI 00” or “General midi On”.
Press “Edit Select” and “Global” again.
Depress “Page>” about 15 times and you will see “I/O:MIDI” in the display. (Leave it reading “I/O: MIDI”)
Depress “Program” button.
Depress “Mix” Button.
Depress “Bank” button until “Mix GenMidi” appears in display.
Depress “Edit Select”
Depress “Global”
Depress “Page>” to P6
Depress “Value ^” to arrive at: KBD MODE: Out 01
The QS8 is now ready to respond with your notation program (I use Notion and Sibelius) or VST’s like EW Play or PianoTech 5.
I get the sense I’m not alone. However, the way in which I am alone is that in all the searching I’ve done on this topic, including feeding the entire User Manual into an AI I could then interrogate. Nothing helpful. I was a minute away from moving the Alesis QS8.1 out and a plastic Behringer in.
THANK YOU!!!
What Worked:
For me, the key was in numbers 8-14. I haven’t see that ANYWHERE. That doesn’t mean I haven’t read it. I just didn’t get it if I did. I hope people do something to boost your reply because there’s a lot supposed solutions that don’t include these latter steps, again, to the best that I could understand them. The only thing I had to riff on a bit was your step 10. The LCD’s content at that step was a bit different, but close enough that I apparently got it right.
This has been a dream since I was in my early 20s in the early 80s and had a Korg Poly Six, a Sequential Circuits Six Trak, a Drumulator, Drumtraks, and a Yamaha four track cassette recorder. With this board and my M4 Pro Mac mini, I’m in the driver’s seat of a rig I couldn’t have envisioned in my wildest spring reverb days.