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. 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.

Jim Harryman

April 16, 2012 @ 6:41 pm

I have a quadrasynth that works great. I was the lead on the keyboard manufacturing line at Alesis in Culver City in '93. Im selling it if anyone is interested.

Al

March 8, 2012 @ 10:54 pm

Just bought one from ebay. It works well and has some real rich sounds but one thing though I find i sounds a bit off tune.
can any one tell how to get it set on the right tuning. i sounds like it might be on transpose or so.

Olle

March 2, 2012 @ 10:15 am

I just unpacked my old friend - SQ PlusPiano :)

It don't just work. It's neary like new! I even found the settings for the band I played in 15 years ago. Nice! We are going to have a reunion next year.

There are just one little problem. The display are a bit dizzy so I think I will have to be just that geeky and fetch an old computer and check if I got the remote program to work :)

This will be a nice evening folks!!

martin

December 17, 2011 @ 10:32 pm

Got an original QuadraSynth. Still works fine. The MFG date sticker shows 3-14-94, #S50001575. Didn't know they were still popular. Bought it in Orlando, FL in 94. Really like the rich synth sounds. Used primarily in a studio setting for multi-track recording. Although, my nephew's band borrowed it once.

Arthur "Aardcore" Gardner

September 21, 2011 @ 6:53 pm

This is one of those synths I wish I could feel and reap the most out of and I turn green with envy when I see fully functional, outstanding, glorious sounding Quadrasynths on YouTube and such. I bought one, a risky purchase, off EBay a while ago and it was a sham. It was a miracle I even got the thing to work (the guy I bought it from kept it in a dingy garage and basically let it RUST to near death). Opened it up, cleaned it out (there were actually rats living in it if you can imagine...) and did everything I possibly could to bring it back to life, just barely. But wow oh WOW the sounds!

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