Alesis QS8.1

The QS8.1 is a 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer based on the QS8, QS6.1 and QS7.1. It's basically the same as the QS6.1 and QS7.1 but has an 88-note weighted keyboard with piano style hammer-action and a super cool metal chassis with solid oak wood end-pieces...it's the flagship QuadraSynth model! And compared to the older QS8, it offers up a much needed larger LCD display screen and a few more direct access buttons to certain edit function and parameters. It uses digital ROM samples (16MB) of sounds containing a library of 640 programs and 500 multitimbral mixes. Really amazing pianos, orchestral sounds as well as vintage synth sounds, strings, brass, winds, guitars, drums, percussion loops and groove patterns can all be found here.

The QS8.1 features 64 multitimbral parts over 16 MIDI channels. That's a lot. And since it's 64 voices polyphonic, you can arrange some pretty complex and complete music, from full orchestras to trance dance tracks, beats and sfx heaven! The keyboard can be split into 16-zones! Control the volume, panning, transposition, effects level and more of each channel independently. Four on-board edit/control sliders are assignable to most modulation parameters. Onboard multi-effects based on the QuadraVerb 2 include reverb, chorus, distortion, EQ, delay, rotary speaker simulation and more. These are on four independent busses so it's like having four FX units!

Powerful MIDI implementation suits the QS8.1 for any studio situation. But it has more! It can connect to your Mac or PC using its RS422 or RS232 ports. The QS8.1 comes with a CD-rom (Mac/PC) with Alesis' Sound Bridge and FreeLoader applications, plus programs for sequencing, editor/librarians, notation, extra samples, programs and mixes, sample sequences, demos and more. Either way you choose to use the QS8.1 it is a truly professional yet affordable versatile synth for the demanding player who needs a full-sized keyboard with the authentic feel of a real piano.

Alesis QS8.2

The QS8.2 is virtually identical to the QS8.1 except that it has only one expansion slot to the 8.1's two and it has a bright shiny new silver design. The ROM Soundsets may also be a slightly newer version too.