Alesis Quadraverb

well.. like a roland unit.. you have to run for a master in sience to get rid with it..
it's not very guitarist-friendly, because you only have a small display and many submenues..

ok, we do HD-RECORDING with our PC Pentium IV + terratec 88. If you cant get a good sound, by placing only microphones in front of your amp, go into your favourite FX unit, and then EQ that bitch and at the end of the signalchain put in the alesis, and use it's speakersimulation/ampsim. and you get what you want. this thing rescued me a lot of times with bands, who did have poor quality amps, FX, guitars..

ITS JUST GREAT FOR RECORDING.

I like the reverb, and the chorus/delayfunction.

Never used it live.. so i dont know in livesituations..

For recording its perfect...

i hate these unchangeable signalchains, like the older FX units have and the Quadraverb has also. you can choose of 5 diffrent signalchains *reverb, 3 band EQ.. or chorus, phaser, 5 Band.. bla*
this is disappointing..

if you are interested in home or semi-prof. recording, and need an ampsim this is the best you can get for "NO"-money..

so come and get it!!!

As others have said, it is a bit complex and it would be nice to have knobs instead of buttons, but you have to balance that with the functionality and flexibility is awesome! The buttons are touch sensitive, so that helps as well. Once you've gotten over the learning curve of the menus, it's a breeze to modify the patches.

I have used this unit for guitar for the last 10 years or so. I typically run this through the stereo effects loop of my Ampeg 140C, with other foot pedals on the floor between my guitars, a 1972 Les Paul Custom and a strat copy, and the input jack of the Ampeg.

The QV can be somewhat noisy, but with some settings tweaking is acceptable. The sound that comes out and the way it softens and adds to the guitar sound is fantastic. I have been complemented numerous times on the sound, including several people who thought I was running through a tube amp. This unit is somehow so much more musical than other similar units, and the flexibility of the effects routing makes it more so. Experimenting with the settings opens up a wide array of potential sounds.

I have never had a problem with the unit from dingy, hot warehouse practices, to playing gigs, to leaving it in a box for a couple years (while I was trying out another guitar-oriented unit...that didn't sound nearly as good) and cranking it again. I have tried to take good care of it though.

I vaguely remember having to deal with Alesis on getting an upgrade chip to the QV+ for a second QV that I owned. No problems there. It was sent in a couple weeks for about $50.

I typically play alternative, usually ambient rock and have been playing for about 15 years or so. This would be a fantastic addition to your sound and a pleasure to hear and work with. I would never part with mine...Highly recommended!

First things first - it's not easy to use. Indeed, my Quadraverb had been presumed to be "broken" by the previous user, because they couldn't get it to work. By the time I got my hands on it, they'd gone over to PC based effects (Logic etc), so I got it for free. Having never seen the manual, I can't really comment on that either.

However, if you know a bit about audio tech in general you should at least be able to get this machine up and running on presets - it took me a few hours to get to know it, and start playing around.

Audio quality is pretty good, although I only really use it's sample function (more on that later) and reverb for theatre work.
I've never had noise issues, and the presets seem OK - but I only really use the plates.
Although some people think the SampleQV patch is a joke, I've found it pretty useful - sure, you only get 2 seconds of sample time, but it's been a great tool to use in the theatre - looping phrases, etc. I'm guessing if you're using it for music it's pretty useless though.

Either way, it's as good, if not better, than most of the units on the market at the same price as this one used.

It's been in a school theatre and music department for ten years - with teenagers banging the hell out of it in their bands, and generally abusining all of our equipment in general.
And it still works.

I'd certainly rely on it to tour (and have done so).

I've never dealt with Alesis, because I've never had any problems, although the previous did upgrade the OS to a Quadraverb Plus (the upgrade is still available on the net somewhere).

It's as good , if not better, than the units available new for the same price...that said, I'd probably replace it with something else if it was stolen - although I'd certainly consider Alesis.

i do voice over work. As a VOP. I can tell you. the Original Alesis QuadraVerb is a studio Standard. Yes there are many others around under differant names. But, there is something about the sound that is a clasic. i't's like compairing a Newman with a GrooveTube studio microphone. need i say more? Never had a single problem with it. other then going a bit tweek crazy with makeing that just right sound to give my voice that edge! :) i spent $500.00 bucks for it back in the 80's at a music store in San Fransisco. It's never failed me. as a matter of fact? It's holding up better then i am! I don't think i could ever bring myself to parting with this old friend. It truly is like a pair of cumfy slippers on my feet.

Like most rack units with a lot of patches the adjusting of the patches is slow and cumbersome. I love knobs to twist so much better. Why can't they just put knobs on this things?

I really liked the sound of this unit compared to the Midiverb 2 which was dark compared to the Quadraverb.

The eq could have been better but still improved my vocals during recording on my home studio.

I used mine only for home recording projects on a 8 track Tascam 688 home recording studio.

I think it sounded better when used between the Tascam and the 2 track recorder during mix downs then when I had it in the effects loop of the Tascam. Having everything going through it to get to the 2 track recorder gave my originals a better blended sound. It made everything [instrument, vocals, effects like reverb] sound more like a live performance in one room than a series of mixes manipulated into sounding like a one take performance.

During vocal recordings I would run the vocals right thru it [as opposed to running it thru the effects loop of the Tascam}. I used the 15 band eq patch to make the vocals sound furthur away from the mike.

This unit would have been a lot cooler if the 15 band eq could have been used with the all the other effects instead of with only the reverb.

One day it died completely. It doesn't work at all now. i could get it fixed but i'm sure buying a new rackmount would be a more practical use of my money. Maybe a dedicated stereo eq and a lexicon for reverb, phase, delay and all that. Maybe expensive multieffects are not the way to go considering if one goes they all go.

Like an company I'm sure they are a ripoff when it comes to support. We live in a disposable world. Why bother fix last years technology? Unless of course it's an old guitar or tube amp.

I play grunge and metal. I've been playing for well over 20 years. I own a Yamaha SPX90, Alesis Midiverb2, Rocktron 300A Compressor and a Alesis HR-16 drum machine.
Well, it broke and I'm not fixing it. I don't need a ton of patches that are midi controlable. I would rather have numerous rack effects with easy and fast knobs [not slow and difficult buttons] to quickly adjust my sound with.
I suppose I got my moneys worth with 500 hours of use on it before it died. 50 cents an hour. cool .....rock on!

The Quadraverb is very easy to handle.I bought mine second hand.
I don't have a manual but as I mentioned before it is easy to handle.

My setup is: Fender Strat HM USA with EMG pickups.I run this trough a
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre Amp, Mesa Boogie 50/50 stereo Power Amp, a Rocktron Prorax CE1(compressor) and Prorax EXH(hush),The Quadraverb and Roland FC50 Midi footswitch.The Quadraverb is a bit noisy but with the EXH you can handle that.Yes I can get the sound that I want.
But I like Steve lukather,Scott Henderson,Larry Carlton,Arnold van Dongen, Leendert Haaksma and Lee Ritenour.The Effects are good.

I admire the intuitivity of the Quad... I bought it 2nd hand, and it lacked a manual. I spent a few hours fiddling with it and found what i needed to edit the patches.

My setup is a Boss VF-1 through the Quad to a Valvestate 8240. I experience buzzing from time to time... especially when using distortion, other than that i have no noise problems. The colorisation could be better at some points, but considering the multitude of the Quad im satisfied.

havent had it long enough, havent had the need to contact them. Mine looks pretty beat up, but works fine.

I play different styles of music, everything from Van Halen, right down to Marillion, Yes and the alikes. I would probably replace it if it was stolen.

I love this unit and have owned it some 13 years. I used to have a manual, but not anymore. Bought it in 1990 for $299.00 USD. I love its warm feel for vocals, used it for guitars and even bass. Had it through 4 track to 8 track reel to reel, now use it on an input mixer recording into computer...still sounds great.

Warm soft feel, kinda noisey, but does what it supposed to do. Use it now with computer digital tracks. I always liked to vocals using reverb and chorus, has such a warm lush feel in the sound. Kinda like a rock ballad deep reverb vocal sound without the fake sounds as found in cheaper units.

never broke...use it more now than in the past 3-5 years.

Called once for upgrade, could not help me at all! Basically told me to fly a kite in so many words...lol

I play and record rock and rock ballads,not good for country....use microverb II for country vocals.

I bought mine 3 years ago, boxed and with manuals for #80. The following is my opinion.

Colours the sound quite distinctly. I would say that it sounds grainy and harsh. It makes anolgue gear sound a little digital....but this is NOT neccesariy a bad thing I've had superb results from this unit. The Quadraverb proccessor can create colours that no other effects processors can produce. Try using a DX7 through this....you'll see what I mean. For analogue synths, use an analog effects processor. If you want harsh, metallic cold balls from outer space, then this is it. Overall its a little noisy and unrefined sounding but make no mistake this IS a quality unit found in most studios world wide.

Never gone wrong.

Never had use them! Hopefully never will. Long live my Quadraverb.

If the sound is to your taste (Personally I use this unit for harsh Underground electronic music) then its bloody cool/useful! Personally I believe it excels in this area.

If you are easy listening/pop/classical music producers then buy a Lexicon or something in that order. Vocal processing is not a strong point of the Quadraverb.

Overall an absolute bargin for the current 2nd hand price. An original Quadraverb is an asset to any studio, enough said.

It took a bit of getting onto, still fighting with it somewhat, especially for lead tone, trying to figure out if putting the effects pre or post eq, which is better?
Manual came with it.
I found editing to be really easy, again with a bit of time.

I find the Quadraverb does sound really good, again, it just takes time to get the sound you want, all the effects eq, chorus, delay, reverb etc... sound very good.

I haven't had a problem with mine yet, but again, I haven't had it that long, still awaiting the trials of the road.

Haven't had a problem yet, so I can't say.

I think the Quad is pretty versatile.
One negative thing I will say is that in the graphic eq config, you can only use delay with it, no reverbs or anything else, for the life of me I can't figure that one out.