Vintage Synth Explorer

Alesis • QuadraSynth

The QuadraSynth was introduced in 1993 by Alesis, and it was their first major synthesizer. It's a 64-voice, 76-key digital synthesizer that also came in a rack-mountable version: the S4 Sound Module. It had a whopping 16 MB of sample ROM, and was the first synth to offer the ADAT Optical Digital interface. It also featured the same multi-effects processor as the QuadraVerb 2, drum kits based on the D4 drum module, 4 assignable control knobs, one PCMCIA card slot, 48kHz clock input, and 4 audio outputs.

The QuadraSynth is undoubtedly a powerful and flexible synthesizer capable of creating rich sounds - both acoustic and electronic. It uses digital additive/subtractive sample playback synthesis to create high quality stereo grand pianos, organs, strings, drums/percussion, brass, woodwinds, new and classic synth textures, and more.

Released in 1995/1996 came the new and improved QuadraSynth Plus synthesizer (pictured). The QuadraSynth Plus has more ROM (24MB expandable to 32), many more program patches (640) and mixes (500). The General MIDI library has been added, as well as an 8MB stereo Grand Piano sample (also found in the stream-lined QS7, QS8, QS6.1, QS7.1, QS8.1 and QSR models), and a PCMCIA expansion slot. For an all around versatile modern synthesizer that isn't focused just on dance or trance, be sure to consider the QuadraSynths.

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planetplayer

Posted 313 days ago

It has nice sounds Filter is simple.
A favourite.

Rick Tofte

Posted 321 days ago

I have had My QS+ Piano for 10 years.
With a good amplifier and speakers, close to a real piano sound.
I have a good set of PC speaks and put them on top and it is neat.
You can get lost in the library of over 1000s of sounds programed.
Put another 8 banks of 128 programed sounds on a PCMCIA card.
Making your own is possible, but tedious without software developed for it. The editing/library software for it is available.
I would put the value of a nice QS+ at $400

DavidEW

Posted 412 days ago

Grabbed a mint never used one still in the box for $140 on eBay. If you find one in great shape for less than $300 and don't buy it you're an idiot. Bang for the buck can't be beat. Even to just have it around to screw with it's worth it as a scratchpad. Sounds still work today.

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