Alesis Q20 Effects Processor

I thought it was a little overwhelming at first, but over time I've managed to get some really good sounds out of it. Mine is the 20-bit version.

I use les paul standards(w/EMGs), monster cables, a few pedals, and 2 amps(AB box). The Q20 is in the loop of my lead amp (a soldano-type gain modded 100wt tube head)...a roctron hush IIC is after it, I think the head is noisy-not the Q20. My cabs are various 2x12s and 4x12s w/65wt & 85wt celestions. I'm after the Zakk "Mr. Tinkertrain sound"...I have it. I love the chorus, delays, the 5 band EQ is useful (I use it very lightly). I like the reverbs, but wish they were a little darker & deeper (think of the solo for Led Zep's 'what is and what should never be'). I think the Q20 sounds a bit sterile, but the super lush chorus wins me over...I do get several comments on my "sound"...(p.s. who would use the overdrive effect? Not me)-I start my main sound starts on preset #63("guitar rack 01" is the title)

I had a Q2 that I had to get serviced once with little to no hassles, but the Q20 hasn't stopped on me yet. I have 2 amps, so I don't need a back-up. I don't think I would ever carry a back-up processer.

no hassles

Overall, for the $$ I don't think I could do better for the $500 range (or more). I've had rocktron effects(intellifex, Chameleon) and would not go back. The Rocktrons might be a little warmer, but the Alesis sounds more lush and studio-like ( in a live setting-which is my primary usage)

A little tricky at first but trial and error worked for me. The manual is great... and funny. I wish there was more info on the net that I could find out about this unit.

I am using a custom built Strat w/ hot and cool rails through a Boss V-wah, Digitech Whammy, Smallstone Phase, DOD Envelope filter 440 >> Korg DTR-2 tuner >> Yamaha DG-1000 preamp >> the Q-20 >> BBE Sonic Maximizer 322 >> DBX 266xl compressor(for more gain) >> Marshall EL34 50/50 >> Marshall 1960 B-cab with 4 Vintage 30's.
I also use other Fender-style customs with Texas Specials.

This unit is NOISE FREE! I mean REALLY QUIET.

The effects sound sweet once you know how to play with them. A lot of the factory presets also sound good.

Jag Tanna (guitar god) of I Mother Earth uses an Alesis Q-2 which is the 16-bit version of this 20-bit unit. I can definately get his sound.

The reverbs and delays are supreme and I also love the Tremelo. All other effects are amazing as well, you just need to find the sweet-spot.

I use it without a backup 4 times per week. So yes I would reccomend the same.

I am not sure if Alesis is still around. I think after they launched this one, they went tits up. That may be why info is so little on this product.

If this was stolen I would call a ninja and have this persons head cut off. Then I'd buy 5 more....

It is quite easy to hook up the unit and get good sounds through it. The presets are quite extensive. It is a bit more difficult to program your own settings, but I managed to split it into a dual effects having one input for sibulance enhancement and the other for reverb. It is quite flexible in that you can use it for insert EFX or for auxillary EFX send mix from a mixer. Warning! I easily deleted all the user patch space and found that once gone, they are gone forever. Kissed goodbye!

Sound quality is very good. As in many devices, make sure that you adjust input and output levels to nominal value to avoid poorer signal to noise ratio scenarios.

I haven't had it long enough, but so far no glitches (i.e. way more reliable than my keyboard).

No support for it on the web site except PDF files for the manual. No SYSX files for the patches I deleted. They didn't answer my email inquiry.

I am using the Q20 for vocal processing, sometimes with my acoustic guitar. I also bought it so that when recording, I can use it for extra two A/D channels. I haven't used it enough to really figure it all out, but fun so far. I got it because of flexibility. I can use it for a variety of single and even dual purpose applications. What I wish it had was compression / dynamics processing units in its repertior of effects.

It's hard enough to get the desired sound from it...mainly because of the routing system that it's tricky.
The manual it's good and exhaustive.

i use the q20 with a fender american standard stratocaster through a fender hot rod deville 2X12. the unit isn't noisy and the effecs sound always great. just the flanger isn't too good in my opinion...

i think this is a good match.i've been playing since 10 years. i own also a korg a2 multieffects processor; but those 2 units can't be compared, because the a2 it's much older than the q20...anyway i think the q20 it's better for the chorus,the tremolo,the EQ and the delays and reverbers...compared to other actual effects rack units, i think the q20 it's one of the best...at the top of his category.
But it depends for what you use it...i think that it's better use the q20 in a studio for recording; if you want to use it for a gig, i think that it's too much! i think for a concert it's better use stompboxes or pedal multieffects....i think to change my q20 with another multieffects such a digitech because the q20 it's too complicated for gig use.....anyway that's just my opinion..

Well, the presets sound good, but not quite for my use (in a guitar rack). Once you've read the manual, using it is not that hard. The tricky part is the routing of effects. Once you've got that, it's just dial'n'go.

Setup :
ADA MP-1 -> (hissssss) -> Rocktron Patchmate /w HUSH (thank god for that...) and then the Q20, fed into a Mesa-Boogie 50/50.
The Q20 is very quiet, effects sound great. The only disadvantage is, there is no Master-level per preset (well, if you combine direct level and effects-level there is, but that's 2 parameters to change, and I'm lazy..)
The only thing I haven't tried is the distortion, but I believe you will always need a (tube)preamp for that..
The sampler is a lot of fun to play with also. A little like the lexicon jam-man.

Overall : Good, clean sounding effects

It never gave up...

Where is it on the alesis website??? I'd love a patch-editor / midi-map editor for it for my PC....

I play in a TOP-40 (rock)coverband. I get all the sounds I need from this thing. Basically I only use a little chorus /w delay/reverb, but what I use sounds great. Dumped my boss GX-700 for it :-)

It's relatively easy to set up when you use the factory presets. Just plug-in and go. I originally owned a Quadraverb+ and so I was familiar with the four effects processors (Reverb, Pitch, Delay, and EQ).

Editing patches proved to be tricky - I knew how to set the parameters for the 4 types of effect, but routing them was frustrating.

The Q20 has 8 slots for one of the four effect types, with comprehensive routing options - the graphical display of the signal lines is a nice touch, but only confirmed that the unit wasn't actually doing what I wanted. In theory the Q20 is like owning 2 independant mono Quadraverbs. The Left and Right channels can use 4 of the 8 blocks independantly.

Manual? Maybe I should read it! :)

I'm using the Q20 as a digital FX unit with the Cubase VST mixer on a PC. I communicate with the Q20 via a Gina (SP/DIF) interface.

It's a very flexible unit, it can be used as a regular analog FX unit with an outboard mixer, or as an Analog to Digital frontend to a DAW.
(Balanced analog IO is a welcome improvement)

It's MUCH quieter than my old Quadraverb+. The reverbs and pitch FX on the old unit used to be very noisy - the Q20 sounds so much cleaner. I haven't owned to for long enough to tell if the algorithms are much improved - but SNR definitely is!!

However I find the pitch shifter to be rather weak. It's useful vocally for scaring kids at Halloween, but musically I'm not so sure.
The overdrive doesn't sound that hot either...

Other have complained about the EQ section, but I find it adequate for my needs. I record a lot of synth/sampler and so it's easier to tweak the sounds using built in filters, rather than external EQ.

In summary, the reverbs, delays and pitch effects are great for my needs.

Don't know - haven't had it long enough.

But Alesis have dropped the "wall wart" in favour of direct power:.

Not needed them... yet!

I play/record a lot of electronic music using a DAW. So the Q20 is a useful toold for me. I like the ADAT, Sp-DiF, and balanced analog i/o - being able to couple the device digitally is a real plus.

I would buy it again if I lost it.