Vintage Synth Explorer

Alesis • QSR

QSR - Rack mount model

The QSR is identical to the QS7 and QS8, except that it is a keyboard-less rackmount version. Also lost are the real-time controllers, but the two PCMCIA expansion slots are easily accessible right from the front of the unit. It's LCD display, on the other hand, is much larger than the keyboard version which makes navigating and editing easier. A great source of Alesis' brand of high quality synthesis and sounds! It featured 16 MegaBytes of sample/synthesis ROM (and is expandable to 32 MegaBytes), 4 stereo outputs, discrete MIDI OUT and THRU ports, ADAT optical digital output and a 48kHz clock input.

The QSR is undoubtedly a powerful and flexible synthesizer capable of creating rich sounds - both acoustic and electronic. There's 64 voices of polyphony and 16 parts multitimbrality and tons of memory and expand-ability! The QSR 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, General MIDI, and rhythmic/sonic loops. Most of them sound pretty darn great too!

The QSR implements the powerful QS Modulation Matrix, allowing users to assign virtually any controller source to any modulation parameter. There's an onboard multi-effects processor (based on the QuadraVerb 2) with four totally discrete effects busses that include reverb, delay, rotary speaker simulation, distortion, chorus and much more. With a direct Mac or PC hook-up, loading patches and editing via software is a snap! QS synths shipped with Alesis' Sound Bridge software for Mac/PC which lets you write AIFF and WAV samples, Standard MIDI Files and Program data to PCMCIA Flash or SRAM cards. It can play Standard MIDI file sequences from the expansion cards without the use of an external sequencer. For a Studio-quality synthesizer module that isn't focused just on dance or trance, be sure to consider the QSR.

VISITOR COMMENTS

Comments page 2 of 2

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Andre

Posted 113 days ago

This device is my oldest to survive the last 12 years of changing setups. Easy to use, very good and solid sounds, good for gigs, no complaints. A perfect product.

Levar

Posted 192 days ago

I love this little device. When I bought this, I was already sequencing with a Fantom, a Motif and a MicroKorg. I got the QSR to get some vintage sounds... perhaps some nice synths and things. I didn't expect so much realism from a device manufactured in 1997. This thing sounds amazing. The sounds are so full and rich and the synth sounds like no new synthesizer that I've heard. I like to add unique patches to my performances in the studio and playing live. The pianos/e. pianos/organs/strings really shine. I haven't use it's drums for "live sounding" productions; i.e.- rock, jazz, etc (haven't tried it because I assume they may not sound realistic... of course I may be wrong), but when it comes to such applications as pop, hip-hop or techno, it performs very well. It's one of the best purchases I've made. With the Soundbridge software, you can add multiple libraries. I also have a 512 card that I use and the Orchestra qCard. If you have any opportunity to get one... Do it.

Peter Sturges

Posted 235 days ago

Don't forget this can also be a 16 MB sampler with 4 outs and FX ( in addition to the built in synth sounds) if you bother to learn the Soundbridge software and get 2 - 8MB flash cards.

In my live sequencing rack, I replaced my heavy, 3 rack space Akai with this one space wonder. It sounds great (though the Akai does sound a bit better, no one will notice.)

Other options - play up to 50 sequences from each card and load the samples for those sequences on the same card. You can put all the custom drum and bass sounds, as well as vocal harmony parts and other synth sounds. 50 sequences take 2MB or so, that leaves 6 MB for the samples.

Email me if you want help - ogusa(at)lava.net

Randy

Posted 253 days ago

This single rack space synth sounds wonderful and is very easy to use. Calling up a voice and saving to the user bank is a breeze. The screen is large and bright and easy to read. The pianos are very good to excellent, the organs are full and rich and the synth voices are excellent. One of Alesis' nicest vintage synths! There is one voice I particularly like that starts as a piano, morphs into strings and then ends as an organ - very cool! These are relatively cheap on eBay at $100-$150. An Excellent addition to your rig!

A Jansik

Posted 436 days ago

the best sounds on single box for live performance, very nice acoustic pianos, fender rodhes, organs, synth pads and leads.

<21>