Product: Alesis Classical Q-Card
Price Paid: US $80 used
Submitted
04/17/2003
at
02:05pm
by
Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
9
Easy. Just plug and play. Be careful, though, because if you try to play a MIDI file using an external sequencer (like the MMT-8), the demo on the card tries to play. So, move it to Bay B, not A.
Features
:
8
No extra polyphony here. Just gives you more sounds to play with. Sounds fully programmable, though. You can adjust effects, sliders, aftertouch, mods... just like all other Qcards.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
Sounds are good if used right. The sole demo that comes with this card shows what can go wrong... not very good, in other words. Some of the strings sound absolutely great, especially Legato Strings and SingaString, which I've used extensively. Winds are great, including Vibrato Flute, which I can use completely alone and it sounds awesome. Brass are okay alone, but sound especially good with percussion... once again, in context! Percussion is good, but I would have liked to have seen more variety in this section. Nice organs and choir, about on par with what is already in the Alesis keyboard's ROM. Piano is downright laughable (thank goodness there's only 3 programs that use it. Don't use this voice for anything other than really fast pieces.
Overall, a decent quality card.
Reliability
:
10
Never failed me. Works great with no bugs.
Customer Support
:
1
I've tried them for other stuff and they are awful. Never answer e-mails, and are rude on the phone after you've waited about a half hour.
Overall Rating
:
8
I'd definitely get this card again. It's worked brilliantly for what I need. I write orchestral pieces/movie soundtracks with this card, though sometimes I use it for pop...
Product: Alesis Classical Q-Card
Price Paid: 100 euro
Submitted
09/12/2002
at
04:32pm
by
Andy
Email: edwin dot andy<at>tiscali dot nl
Ease of Use
:
10
Very simple. Don't need a manual. Just put it into a slot.
Features
:
8
No extra polyphony. Adds more basic samples, programs and combi's to your Quadra or QS synth.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
Orchestra sounds are great. The cello's, voilins, realistic strings are too. Full of life. Tubulars, gongs, sounds like that are good. Choirs and classic organs are good too, but you will find much better on the Sactuary card. Flutes and flute-like sounds are good but no real improvement, because the synths have already some good from its own. After all a high quality set. If you make ballads or symphonic things this card is an improvement.
Reliability
:
8
It seems strong. Slot of the QS-series seem better than the quadra, but in both cases never had any troubles.
Maybe a tip for Alesis: built the (2) slots in future models on a place where the cards can stay in it while transporting like Korgs or Rolands.
Customer Support
:
9
Dutch dealer gave me all the time I needed to find out what carts I could use, including looking in the basicsamples.
Overall Rating
:
8
If it was stolen I would buy it again. Some Combi's I made depend on this card.
