Alesis Quadraverb

Alesis QuadraVerb Digital Effects Processor

BY 1988 Alesis were on a roll, and with the release of the Alesis Quadraverb, they took things to the next level and continued to dominate the market for home recording. The Alesis Qudraverb's party trick of course, was that it could use up to four different effects, reverb, delay, pitch and equaliser, simultaneously. And it did so with 20k bandwidth!

Alesis QuadraVerb Digital Effects Processor Details

The Alesis QuadraVerb is a full 20K bandwidth stereo effects processor allows up to four of the most popular digital effects (Reverb, Delay, Pitch Change, and EQ) to be used simultaneously.

The signal path order of the effects is highly flexible and programmable. All effects parameters are fully and programmable. The Alesis QuadraVerb is also MIDI controllable, with many of its parameters accessible from any MIDI controller in real time.

Alesis QuadraVerb Features

  • 16Hz to 20KHz Frequency Response
  • Up to 4, excellent quality, simultaneous effects
  • Touch sensitive, multi-speed contoured programming buttons with integral LED indicators
  • Fully descriptive 32-character LCD display
  • Stores up to 100 programs
  • Full MIDI implementation
  • Most parameters adjustable in reel-time via external MIDI controllers
  • Easy editing of all parameters
  • All functions, parameters, and volume levels fully programmable
  • Stereo in end out
  • Extremely flexible effects routing and mixing
  • Several choices of reverbs including Plate, Room, and Reverse
  • Several choices of delay including Delay, Mono Delay, and Stereo Delay
  • Several choices of Pitch Shift, including Mono Chorus, Stereo Chorus, Flange, Stereo Flange, Pitch Detune. and Phase Shifter
  • Several choices of EQ including: 3 band Parametric, 5 bard Parametric, 11 band Graphic
  • Any or all Alesis presets can be recalled from ROM at any time

 

The Alesis QuadraVerb contains 90 factory programs which can be modified or erased as needed. At any time one or all of these programs can be recalled in their original form, even if they have been erased or modified, since they are resident in Read Only Memory onboard the unit.

Factory Program 89 is a demo program that can be used to listen to the differences between the five effect configurations, which are variations of the signal flow path through the Alesis QuadraVerb. You can use the CONFIG and VALUE buttons to select and audition the five configurations, while listening to the differences in effects in each one.

Effect Subtypes

  • EQ Subtypes: Lowpass Filter, Bandpass Filter, Highpass Filter, Lowpass Shelving, 1-Band Parametric Low & High, Highpass Shelving, 2-Band Sweepable, 3-Band Parametric, 4-Band Parametric, 5-Band Graphic, Resonator, Mono Tremolo, Stereo Tremolo, Stereo Simulator
  • Pitch Subtypes: Mono Chorus, Stereo Chorus, Quad Chorus, Mono Flanging, Stereo Flanging, Phasor, Mono Lezlie, Stereo Lezlie, Pitch Shifter, Pitch Detune, Ring Modulator
  • Delay Subtypes: Mono Delay, Stereo Delay, Ping Pong Delay, Multi Tap Delay, Tap Tempo Mono Delay, Tap Tempo Ping Pong Delay
  • Reverb Subtypes: Mono Room, Room 1, Hall 1, Plate 1, Chamber 1, Room 2, Hall 2, Plate 2, Chamber 2, Large Plate, Large Room, Spring, Nonlinear, Reverse

 

Alesis QuadraVerb Applications

  • Recording Studio Primary Reverb
  • Powerful Studio Mult effects
  • Stage and Studio Instrument Rigs
  • Special Effects for Broadcast and Postproduction
  • Live Sound Reinforcement

Specifications

  • Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz, ±1dB
  • Dynamic Range: >92dB “A” wtg., 20Hz – 22kHz
  • THD+N:
    • <0.009% @ 1kHz, nominal level (-12dbfs)
    • <0.005% @ peak level
  • Crosstalk: <91dB below full scale
  • Conversions:
    • A/D Conversion: 18-Bit Delta-Sigma, 128x oversampling
    • D/A Conversion: 18-Bit Delta-Sigma, 64x oversampling
    • Sampling Frequency: 48kHz (variable from 40.4kHz – 50.8kHz via external control)
    • Internal Processing: 24-Bit accumulator
  • Audio:
    • Audio Inputs: 2 balanced/unbalanced 1/4″ TRS jacks
    • Audio Outputs: 2 balanced/unbalanced 1/4″ TRS jacks (servo balanced)
    • Input Impedance: 500Kohms unbalanced, 20Kohms balanced
    • Output Impedance: 500 Ohms
    • Max. Output Level: +17.5 dBu
  • Digital I/O: ADAT MultiChannel Optical Digital Interface
  • Presets: 100 ROM Program Slots
  • User Memory: 100 RAM Program Slots
  • Front Panel:
    • L/R Input Level Controls
    • Output Level Control
    • LED Level Indicators
    • Custom LCD User Interface
    • Value/Enter Wheel
    • Programming Buttons
  • Rear Panel:
    • Audio, Power, and MIDI connections
    • Footswitch Bypass
    • Footswitch Program Advance / Tap Tempo
  • MIDI: In, Out/Thru
  • Power Requirements: 9VAC, 13.5W
  • Dimensions: 19″ x 1.75″ x 6″
  • Weight: 4.2 lbs

TRY OUR ‘MY EFFECTS RACK’ FEATURE TO TRACK WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EFFECTS RACK NOW, AND THOSE ITEMS YOU WISH TO ADD.

The details provided above are drawn from historical documents like advertising brochures or user manuals. They’re shared without bias or review. This info is given solely for your consideration, helping you gauge its usefulness to you.

Alesis QuadraVerb
User Reviews

GRAINY GOODNESS

By Campbell

Sound Quality 65%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 100%
Reliability 45%

Build quality: The buttons are nice. Its intuitive and fast to program. Its only like 6 inches deep, so with cables plugged in back that’s about 9 inches deep. Sound quality: Its grainy and noisy. Has unbalanced connections. Usefulness: Unique character that’s not easily replicated in-the-box. Mojo: I like to use Quadraverb for its great huge reverb decay because it makes block chords or strings sound beautiful, beefy, and full of grainy character. Reliability: The front panel and screen work great and interface is responsive and easy to navigate. But I probably have a bad unit because sometimes, especially when its first powered on and still cold, the right channel dips by like 14dB so i give the unit a little shake and wiggle the cables in the back to get it working correctly.

Crisp

By Rene Kirchner

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 90%
Mojo/Funk 90%
Reliability 70%

Had the unit in our electro studio, was great on all the drum reverbs. To my ears very 1980’s sounding, our unit required a new display.

Used it? Leave your rating and review.

Audio Samples

There are no samples available at the moment. If you can help, please contact us.

Alternatives

Currently no information available…

Plugin Alternatives

Currently no information available…

Classic Tracks

Currently no information available…
The absence of information doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t been used on classic tracks or albums; it just means we don’t have the details.

Famous Racks

No results found.

Related Articles

No results found.

2 Responses

  1. I just stumbled upon this old gem in my dad’s attic and I’m blown away by the sounds I’m getting out of it. The Quadraverb was definitely ahead of its time and it’s amazing to see how far reverb technology has come since then. Thanks for sharing this retro audio goodness, loved the post!

  2. I have one of these units, it needs a look at, makes a noise, hard to describe it, you only hear it when you turn the amp up, i have the shadows on the 100 programs, some of them have been changed to the list i been given. want the original shadows added back. do not want to any factory reset i might lose them all together.
    regards
    Andrew

Leave a Reply

Just a Quick

Question?

Can you tell us quickly what it is you love about Vintage Digital, and what it is you would like to see more of on the site? Is there anything you think we should add?
Let us know!