Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 - MIDI Controller Manual

Introduction

Box Contents
Vortex Wireless 2
USB Wireless Receiver
USB Cable
Strap
Cable Harness
Software Download Card
User Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual

Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the included editor software.

Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit alesis.com.
For additional product support, visit alesis.com/support.

Setup

Items not listed in Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.

Strap and cable harness attachment (optional):

Features

Use the Vortex Wireless 2 editor software to assign various MIDI commands to: the pads, the faders, the three modes of the ribbon controller, the Sustain button, the pitch bend wheel, and the volume slider. Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the included editor software.

1. Power Switch: Use this three-position switch to power Vortex Wireless 2 on or off. Set this to Batt to power it on using 4 AA batteries (install these beforehand). Set this to USB to power it on using USB power from a connected computer. Set this to Off to power it off.
2. USB Port: Use a standard USB cable to connect this USB port to your computer. The computer's USB port provides ample power to Vortex Wireless 2. This connection is also used to send and receive MIDI data to and from your computer.
3. MIDI Out (5-pin DIN): Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI input of an external MIDI device (e.g., a synthesizer, sequencer, drum machine, etc.).
4. Keys: This 37-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive with aftertouch and, in conjunction with the Octave Up/Down buttons, can access the full range of 127 available MIDI notes (10 octaves).
5. Octave Up/Down: Press one of these buttons to move the keyboard up or down an octave. Press both buttons simultaneously to reset the octave shift to "zero."
6. Keyboard Zones (Lower, Split, Upper): Use these buttons to select the corresponding zones on the keyboard. Press Lower or Upper will apply the lower zone settings or upper zone settings to all 37 keys. Press Split to apply both lower and upper zone settings to the keyboard and use the split point. You can edit the range of each zone in the editor software.
7. Pads: Use these velocity-sensitive pads to trigger drum sounds or clips in your software or hardware. You can use the editor software to assign each pad's LED colors and the type of MIDI message it sends: note on/off, control change (toggle), control change (momentary), program change, or MIDI panic (all notes off).
8. Faders: Use these faders to send MIDI CC messages to your software. You can set the range and CC message number—and the direction ("polarity") of the fader—in the editor software.
9. Display: Use this screen to view parameter values, settings, and messages relevant to Vortex Wireless 2's current operation.
10. Up/Down (+/–): Use these buttons to move to the previous or next preset.
11. Tilt: Press this button to turn the built-in tilt sensor (accelerometer) on or off.
12. Ribbon Controller: Place and/or move your finger on this touch-sensitive strip to send a MIDI CC or pitch bend message. The length of the ribbon controller is similar to a fader; its minimum and maximium positions correspond to the highest and lowest values assigned to that MIDI message. You can set the range and type of MIDI message—and the direction ("polarity") of the ribbon controller—in the editor software. Use the Ribbon Bank buttons to select a bank.
    You can also set the ribbon controller's MIDI messages to Latch or Return. When set to Latch, the ribbon controller will not send additional MIDI messages when you release it, which is useful for changing modulation parameters. When set to Return, it will send the default MIDI message for the controller when you release it, which is useful for changing parameters like pitch-bend.
13. Ribbon Banks (1–3): Use these buttons to select any of the three banks of the ribbon controller. In each bank, the ribbon controller can send a different type of MIDI message, enabling you to send up to three different messages per preset. You can set the range (the values corresponding to its minimum and maximum positions) and type of MIDI message in the software editor.
14. Sustain: Press and hold this button to sustain any notes that are playing. Release the button to stop sustaining them.
15. Pitch Bend Wheel: Move this wheel to send MIDI pitch bend information. You can set the direction ("polarity") of the pitch bend wheel in the editor software.
16. Volume Slider: Move this slider to send a MIDI CC message. This control is set to volume (CC #7) by default, but you can edit the range and number of the CC message in the editor software.

Operation

Connecting Wirelessly to the USB Receiver
Vortex Wireless 2 can send its MIDI messages wireless to the included USB receiver. Simply connect the USB receiver to a USB port on your computer. The USB receiver is always "paired" (wirelessly connected) to your Vortex Wireless 2, so no further steps are required.

Calibrating the Tilt Sensor
You can calibrate the range of the tilt sensor (accelerometer) so that it will activate and send MIDI data when Vortex Wireless 2 is tilted at a specified angle.

To calibrate the tilt sensor:

1. Press and hold Tilt for 5 seconds. XY1 will appear in the display.
2. While watching the display, tilt Vortex Wireless 2 so that the number shown is in the000–110 range.
3. When you have reached the desired "minimum" position, press Tilt. XY2 will appear in the display.
4. While watching the display, tilt Vortex Wireless 2 so that the number shown is in the111–127 range.
5. When you have reached the desired "maximum" position, press Tilt. PAS will appear in the display for 3 seconds, and the calibration will be saved to Vortex Wireless 2.

Editor Software
Visit alesis.com and register your Vortex Wireless 2 to download the included editor software.

Technical Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without notice.