Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Since I haven't seen any definitive specs on the Quadraverb, and
    since I haven't seen any announcement date for the Quadraverb, and
    since I haven't seen a Quadraverb ...

    The Multiverb is better.  Never buy vapor.  This opinion is subject to
    change when any of the above become false. 

-b

    Here's a review of the Multiverb that was posted to the USENET. It
    seems to be quite complete. 

+---
 
    The ART MultiVerb is a multi-effects unit that allows you to combine up
    to 4 (this is misleading, but I'll save that for later) digital effects
    with MIDI control and 15kHz bandwidth, yet can be purchased for less
    than $500, making it perfect for home studios. 
 
    Some things to note while reading this is that I have been using a
    Yamaha SPX90II for almost a year and an Alesis MIDIVerbII for 8 months,
    and that the MultiVerb I got was an early unit that came with a
    preliminary manual (sending in the warranty registration promises to
    get me the real manual when it is available), so some information is
    not available to me. 
 
    Programming the unit is very simple.  A 3-digit LED display shows the
    current setup number, and a 2x16 backlit LCD display provides the
    programming data (a nice feature is that the LCD viewing angle can be
    set to one of 8 angles, so you don't have to strain to see the data).
    The setup is selected by a numeric keypad that allows for 2- or 3-
    digit sequences (i.e., setup 32 is selected by pressing 032, which
    selects instantly, or 32, which infers the leading 0 after a second).
    Edit mode is entered by pressing the keypad mode key. 
 
    Pressing "ADD EFFECT" cycles you through the list of effects that can
    be added to the current setup.  Pressing the "ENTER" button adds the
    effect.  As you might expect, a $500 unit is not going to allow all
    possible combinations of effects.  More complex effects take too much
    memory and processing power for this.  As an example, the pitch
    transposer can only combine with the EQ (a low-pass filter) and a mono
    delay (the Yamaha SPX90 can pitch transpose in stereo with delay, and
    each channel can have different pitch and feedback parameters).  Also,
    effects are not generally user-orderable (see below). 
 
    Deletion of effects is just as simple.  You press "DELETE EFFECT" and
    use "ENTER" to actually remove the effect from the chain. 
 
    The list of available effects is quite reasonable: EQ (low-pass
    filter), flanger, chorus, pitch transpose, panner, mono delay, reverb
    (3 complexities, 12 types), gated reverb (3 complexities, 12 types),
    tapped delay (18 algorithms), regenerated delay, stereo delay.  One
    thing I wonder is why more effects boxes don't come with distortion to
    grab the guitar market as well.  No big deal. 
 
    Editing the parameters is done by using two keys, "SELECT <" and
    "SELECT >", which page through all of the parameters for the effects in
    the chain.  Two more keys (marked with up and down arrows) are used to
    set the values.  It should be noted that many values are not very
    granular.  For example, the flanger width parameter is from 0-100% in
    6% increments.  This is not necessarily bad, but I didn't expect it. 
 
    The chorus and flanger effects can be set to PRE or POST.  POST means
    that the effect is placed last in the chain, thus processing an
    already-processed sound.  PRE means that the effect is done in parallel
    with reverb and delay effects. 
 
    MIDI control is provided for switching setups.  You can set the MIDI
    receive channel or run in OMNI mode (for the person that asked, this
    means that it hears program changes on all 16 channels).  An
    easily-edited table provides a means of mapping MIDI program changes to
    setup numbers.  This unit lacks a means for assigning continuous MIDI
    controllers to parameters.  There may be an easy way to assign
    controllers via MIDI SYSEX, or to change parameters in real-time via
    SYSEX, but the manual I got doesn't say how.  It also doesn't say how
    to set the remote footswitch to cycle through a set of setups. 
 
    The unit comes with 100 preset setups and 100 blank setups.  The
    presets are pretty thorough, providing a nice demo of the machine.  A
    nice feature is that you can "unlock" the presets and store into them,
    so you really have space for 200 of your setups. 
 
    The audio portion of the box is pretty standard.  There are two inputs
    and two outputs, a MIX control (for using the unit with a mixer effect
    loop), an INPUT level control with led level meter, and an OUTPUT level
    control.  This is fine for most applications, though I do like the fact
    that the Yamaha SPX90 lets you set the output level as part of the
    setup parameters. 
 
    The unit sounds good.  It's not as bright as the Alesis MIDIVerb II,
    and slightly noisier (my MIDIVerb is almost completely silent), though
    not nearly as noisy as the SPX90.  I did notice some flange/chorus
    noise when my input was low and the output high, but this was overcome
    by setting the levels correctly.  Also, there were audible clicks when
    changing effects while playing (the SPX90 seems to mute the effect
    during the switch, which is no less annoying). 
 
    The manual also mentions that software upgrades can be done in the
    field.  They mention using EEPROM in this documentation, though I don't
    know that that is such an advantage, unless you can reprogram it via
    the MIDI port.  Personally, I'd rather just get new proms. 
 
    Comparing it with other units is not that easy.  The items in the same
    price/feature range are the Digitech DSP128, Lexicon LXP-1 (or LXP-10;
    whatever it's called), Yamaha SPX90II, Yamaha SPX50, and the Alesis
    QuadVerb.  Overall, the MultiVerb looks most like the Yamaha units
    (same display, similar effects), but isn't exactly the same.  At first
    glance, it might appear to be the same as 4 SPX90s (4 effects at once,
    etc.), but is in reality about 2.5 times .5 of an SPX90, not fantastic,
    but still a great product.  If they were to add continuous parameter
    control and maybe more effects (distortion, and a real parametric EQ to
    combine with flange or chorus would be great), this would be a serious
    threat to other companies. 
 
    Overall, I think that the price/performance of this unit makes it one
    to consider.  If you always wanted an SPX90 and couldn't justify the
    cost in the presence of the DSP128, the ART MultiVerb is a good
    solution.  The only reason to wait now is to see what the Alesis
    QuadVerb brings. 
 
    One thing I would like to say is that ART's advertising of this unit is
    almost slimey.  Sure, you can combine 4 effects, but one of the effects
    has to be the low-pass filter, and only some combinations of the other
    3 are available.  Since I don't have a DSP-128, I can't really compare
    them.  Hopefully, nobody will decide to sell all their other effects
    boxes to replace them with a MultiVerb based solely on the advertising
    claims. 
 

My MultiVerb works.  I haven't had much time to play with it except to run
through the presets.  The first one I had got taken back to the store due
to a loud hum in it.  Second one works.  Eventually (read: long long time)
when I get around to really using it I will say something interesting about it.

CHad

    Talked to a service rep at Alesis last night (my HR16 has finally
    died). 

    The Quadraverb is supposed to be available "for touch & feel at most
    dealers by Thanksgiving, and should be shipping around Christmas". 

    Here are a few of the features: 3 band parametric EQ, pitch shifting,
    and the FX can be configured in *ANY* order (not a fixed order like
    some would have you believe).  The thing is completely controllable via
    MIDI.  According to this guy, the chorus and flange are very "silky". 

    There is one problem that he admitted to - the 20k bandwidth drops off
    to around 16k if you have 4 complex FX stacked, because the machine
    will run out of RAM and will sacrifice bandwidth in order to not crash.
    Sounds like a pretty hip toy, all in all. 

-b

    Boy, the service at Alesis is great!  The service rep I talked to sent
    me a preliminary sheet on the QuadraVerb, so I thought I would enter
    it.

    Incidentally, the reason I had to call Alesis in the first place is
    because my HR16 has the same serial number as someone else's; only the
    3rd time in the history of Alesis that it's happened. 

    Anyway, the QuadraVerb sheet is in the next reply.

-b

  Here it is.  If you want to read the propaganda, it'll follow the features
  and summary. 

FEATURES:

  o  Programmable MIX for each effect in each of the 100 programs
  o  Fully Descriptive, 32 Character LCD
  o  Touch Sensitive Multi-Speed Contoured Programming Buttons with Integral
      LED Indicators
  o  Stereo Digital Reverb
  o  Stereo Delay
  o  Stereo Chorus with choice of Triangle or Square Wave Modulation
  o  Stereo Flange
  o  Stereo Phase Shifting
  o  Stereo Pitch Detuning
  o  11 Bands of Graphic EQ
  o  5 Bands of Parametric EQ
  o  16Hz to 20kHz Frequency Response
  o  Input and Output Level Controls
  o  Program Advance and Bypass
  o  Footswitch Jacks
  o  Stereo Input and OUtput on �" Jacks
  o  MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks
  o  Real Time MIDI Control of Parameters
  o  100 Programs (90 factory programs supplied with the unit)


  Here are a few things I've inferred from the sheet: 

  o  Factory programs are in ROM
  o  There's no more MIX knob - MIX is programmable and stored as a parameter
      with each program
  o  Mumble about 24 bit multipliers, 90db dynamic range and 16 bit resolution
  o  Programmer has complete access to all aspects of sound (eg, for EQ,
      bandwidth [Q], frequency, gain structure) in real time
  o  -18, -12, -6 db green LEDs and clip red LED
  o  s/w has program "pages", like most other popular gear
  o  power switch on front panel (!), unknown if power supply internal or brick


FRONT PANEL

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 L                ^   ^                                                   POWER
 E  I O  32cLCD  pag val  PROG   REVERB 1  DELAY 2  PITCH 3  EQ   4  MIDI   5
 D                v   v   STORE  CONFIG 6  MIX   7  MOD   8  NAME 9  BYPASS 0
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


[propaganda follows]  


				QuadraVerb

    Fully Programmable 20K Bandwidth Simultaneous Multi Effects Processor 
	     With Programmable Mix and Real Time MIDI Control

  Featuring one of the most powerful digital signal processing chips ever
  designed for the audio industry, our new fully programmable digital signal
  processor, QUADRAVERB, is an unbeatable mix of technical superiority and
  total musicality. QUADRAVERB's effects include stereo digital reverb, stereo
  delay, stereo chorus, flange, phasing and pitch detuning, and parametric and
  graphic EQ.  Up to four of these effects can occur simultaneously in one
  easy to use, elegantly designed 19" rack unit. 

  For the pro user, the sophisiticaion of the unit, both in terms of sound
  quality and user controlled parameters is sure to make QUADRAVERB(s)
  standard equipment in every studio.  We've really pulled out the stops with
  our new VLSI and the amount of onboard processing memory.  The reverb
  programs are as good as you can get.  The spatial effects are stunning.

  QUADRAVERB truly belongs in your rack.  From club gigs and arena concerts to
  demos and full-blown record productions, it offers the convenience, power
  and incredible value that you need for your music.  QUADRAVERB is the
  simnultaneous effects processor you;ve been hoping for.  From Alesis, the
  leader in digital signal processing. 

PROFESSIONAL SIMULTANEOUS EFFECTS PROCESSING

  QUADRAVERB is unique among simultaneous effects processors because each of
  its individual effects is totally uncompromised in sound quality. That is,
  each effect can stand on its own merits, with specs as good as any single
  signal processor available.  Even in quad mode, when four effects are
  happening at the same time, there are no weak components anywhere in the
  sound.  QUADRAVERB is truly like having four world class independent digital
  signal processors in one box. 

  In conversations with users of other simultaneous effects we heard comments
  like: "The chorus is okay, but the reverb stinks."; or "It's doing
  everything I wanted, but somehow the overall sound is just not right." At
  Alesis we found this unacceptable.  Rather than trying to cover the
  weaknesses of individual effects by grouping them simultaneously and hoping
  that the user wouldn't head their shortcomings, each effect is as strong as
  possible; each can stand on its own, and does.  QUADRAVERB's
  hardware/software package has been developed with the philosophy of 100%
  excellence thruout its full range of sounds.  One listen to QUADRAVERB
  will confirm this.

  Plus, the user interface is done right.  Experienced programmers will
  appreciate QUADRAVERB's comprehensive access to crucial parameters, while
  novice programmers and pros alike will appreciate the logical, intuitive
  user controls that will never leave you stuck in 'programmer land'. 
  There's plenty of visual feedback from the LCP display and LED indicators
  and, if desired, you can easily recall any of the original factory programs.
  
PROGRAMMABLE MIX

  And to insure total control oer your sound in any application, QAUDRAVERB
  allows you to program and store the complete mix between the dry dignal and
  each effect in each of the 100 programs. 

THE HARDWARE

  Essential to the design of QUADRAVERB was the development of a
  super-powerful signal processing VLSI.  This Alesis designed chip doesn't
  leave anything out.  A huge 24 bit multiplier coupled witha massive random
  access memory guarantees the ultimate sounding reverb algorithms as well as
  superb chorusing, flanging, phasing and pitch detuning.  In fact, because of
  QUADRAVERB's large random access memory the reverb programs are
  astonishingly realistic, crossing over the theoretical limins of where the
  human ear can detect the difference between a simulation and the real thing. 

  Another advantage of this advanced architecture is that it allows the
  implementation of very sophisiticaed parametric and graphic EQ, utilizing
  intricate filters (5 band parametric EQ, for instance), and, because
  QUADRAVERB is fully programmable, the user has complete access to all EQ
  parameters: bandwidth (Q), frequency, and gain structure. 

  QUADRAVERB's very high sampling rate enables it to have a 16Hz to 20kHz
  frequency response, which is the ultimate for audio signal processing, and
  until now, available on only a few of the world's most expensivce
  processors.  Rounding out the QUADRAVERB's world class audio quality are its
  90dB dynamic range and 16 bit resolution that deliver the highest quality
  performance in even the most demanding professional applciations. 

  NOTE - these specs are based on preliminary information and are subject to
  change without notice. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1898.0               Alesis Quadraverb--Base Note                 3 replies
AQUA::ROST "Two slightly *distorted* guitars"       223 lines   9-FEB-1989 08:26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    This arrived over USENET last night...  Notice that this guy is from
    Lowell, MA
    
    
    
     
My long-awaited QuadraVerb showed up over the weekend.  Here's some
initial impressions, I only played with it for a few hours.  I don't
work for Alesis, etc, I'm just a regular guy.  Feel free to repost
this elsewhere if you feel it's worthwhile, but don't take what I say
for granted -- I might be wrong.  Finally, my dealer said he didn't
think he'd see more units for about a month.
 
Executive Summary:  Fantastic.  Alesis has done it again.
 
------------------------------
 
I'm not sure where to start.  OK, how about an overview:
 
The Alesis QuadraVerb is a 16Hz-20kHz bandwidth stereo programmable
effects box with four digital effects (EQ, Pitch Change, Delay,
Reverb).  The effects can be used in parallel or in serial (or a
combination).  Specs say the dynamic range is 85dB, less than .1%
distortion.  Processor speed is 24 MIPS (no Z80 in this baby!).
Conversion scheme is 16-bit linear PCM.  It's fully MIDI-fied.
 
In the following description, 'program' could mean 'patch'.  I would
say 'effect' but there are multiple effects in a program...
 
Some features:
- Touch sensitive (multi-speed!) programming buttons.  Many have
  integral LED so you know what mode you're in.  If you press harder
  you move the parameter faster.
- 2x16 character LCD display.
- Stores 100 programs.  Comes with 90 (in ROM) that you can overlay
  into the RAM.  At any time you can recall one or all the ROM
  programs into RAM.
- Real-time control of 8 simultaneous parameters via MIDI
  (you pick the controller type and the parameter it controls).
- All functions, parameters and volume levels are programmable
  per program.
- Stereo In/Out (via four 1/4 inch jacks).
- Effect bypass jack on the back (as well as a button on the front).
- You can name your programs (up to 14 characters).
 
Initial observations:
- The QuadraVerb comes in a 1U rack mount enclosure, about 5" deep.
  It's a metal case, painted black.  Phillips screws hold the case
  together.
- The power supply is detached from the unit, so it's one of those
  'transformer on the wall' kind.  Reduces noise and hum maybe, but
  it's a pain too.  It's bigger than the HR-16/MMT-8 power supply.
- Alesis doesn't supply audio cords with the unit, so you'll need to
  pick up four if you want to do stereo in/out.
- I picked up the unit and there was a rattle.  It sounded like
  something heavy, not like a piece of paper.  Opening the case
  showed a spare screw and nut.  I looked hard but could not determine
  where these should have gone, so I removed them.  (that's a hell of
  a way to pack spares :-)  I checked to make sure nothing was scratched
  or otherwise messed up by the bouncing parts.  Everything looked OK.
  [note: if Alesis says this voids my warranty, think of how much more
  it would have cost them had I plugged it in [under warranty] while the
  nut shorted three pins on an IC]
- The ROM was under an RF shield (at least I think it was an RF shield,
  but it was only a flat piece of unpainted metal, no sides at all).
  There was a sticker that said '15-JAN-89' on it.  I forgot to check
  to see if the ROM was socketed.
- The PC board had several (about six) 'goofs' where jumps had to be
  made by hand, including some piggybacked resistors and the like.
  Generally the PCB looked clean.  Mine was labelled Rev C.
- The user manual is 68 pages, and not too bad.  You really should
  leave your studio and read it (the manual) fast once, then go back
  to the studio and read the Theory section again while you play with
  the unit.  I would have presented the material differently, but
  I'm picking nits.  If you've suffered with most manuals for musical
  equipment, you'll love this one.  My manual came with a one-page
  insert that covers two items not covered in the manual.
- The front panel is clean (well laid out) and easy to use.
- 85 of the 90 ROM programs are 'musical' unlike some programs
  you get from many vendors.  The last 5 are 'demo' programs so you
  can hear differences between five 'configurations' (explained later).
- Parameters can be varied over a generous range.  Delay times can be
  specified in 1ms increments for example, percentages are by 1%.
  The input mix levels are between -100 and +100 in steps of 1, etc.
- There is a footswitch jack on the back to step through programs,
  and a range parameter you can adjust.  You could use it to step
  through programs 50-62 for example, or backwards through 28-14.
- While editing programs, you can flip between the 'original' and
  the edited versions of the program, to compare the two, without
  having to store the 'edited' version first.
- At any time, pressing the two value buttons (up and down) together
  sets the parameter to a 'default' value.
 
Here's the basic signal diagram:
 
	dry signal --> EQ  --> Pitch --> Delay --> Reverb --> output
 
I'm not going to draw in all the possible signal routes, so I'll tell
you: Each output can be routed to just about any input.  For Pitch
input, you can select either Pre- or Post-EQ.  Any amount of Pitch
output can be fed back into its input.  For Delay input, you can
select select either Pre- or Post-EQ, and mix it with as much or as
little of the Pitch output as you want.  Any amount of Delay output can
be fed back into its input.  There are two Reverb inputs: One is
switchable: Pre-EQ, Post-EQ, Post-Pitch or Pre-Delay (the Pre-Delay is
after the Delay Mix).  The second Reverb input is either the
Post-Delay or the Post-Pitch.  These two inputs can be mixed before
being sent to the reverb.
 
The unit has five preset 'Configurations' which are variations on
the above theme.  They are:
 
Config 1: QuadMode(tm): 3-bandEQ->Pitch->Delay->Reverb
Config 2: Leslie->Delay->Reverb
Config 3: GraphicEQ->Delay
Config 4: 5-bandEQ->Pitch->Delay
Config 5: 5-bandEQ->Reverb
 
You don't really need to grok configurations to understand the rest of
this description, and these five configurations don't make the
QuadraVerb as limited as it might look at first glance.
 
Each effect is impressive by itself.  All are full bandwidth.  A rundown:
 
EQ - Usually an (almost) three-band parametric.  The low and high
bands are modified shelf-type EQs (you can't adjust the bandwidth,
just the frequency) while the mid-band EQ is truly parametric
(bandwidth adjustable from .2 to 2.55 octaves).  Everything is +/-14db.
 
You can also get a five-band parametric.  In config 4, you lose the
Reverb but almost double the Delay time.  In config 5 you lose the
Delay but you can still get a chorus out of the Pitch section.  Again,
the low and high bands don't have bandwidth controls, but the middle
three do.  All are frequency adjustable, like the 3-band EQ.
 
You can also get an 11-band graphic EQ with delay (you lose Pitch
and Reverb, however, the delay time is just about doubled from 'normal'
operation).  The EQ really is graphic!  They use 11 line segments that
can each move up and down on the LCD.
 
PITCH - The pitch can be either a Mono/Stereo Chorus, Mono/Stereo
Flange, Pitch Detune or a Phase Shifter.  You can vary the depth,
speed and waveshape (triangle or square) of the LFO.  The waveshape is
only available in Chorus mode.  You can also adjust the feedback,
except in detune mode.  It is possible to retrigger the flange at
every new input signal event; good for drums and other percussive
input sources.
 
DELAY - Usually 800ms delay in mono.  In stereo, it's 400ms each
channel.  If you use the 5-band or graphic EQ you get 1500ms/750ms
mono/stereo.  There's also a ping-pong delay, where the delay bounces
between the left and right channels.
 
REVERB - In addition to the two mixed inputs I already discussed, you
can set and mix the amount of pre-delay - you can hear some of the
reverb before the loudest part of the reverb.  You can also adjust the
decay time, as well as the separate controls for the low and high
frequency decay (for shaping the reverb envelope).  There are controls
for adjusting the reverb diffusion and density (the manual has some
nice graphs to show what these do).  Finally, you can have the reverb
gated and adjust the gate's hold rate, release rate and release level.
 
LESLIE - a Leslie simulator is built in.  If you use it, you lose EQ
and pitch controls, but keep delay and reverb.  You can control stereo
separation, motor control (on/off), speed (slow/fast), and the level
of the high rotor in case you want the treble a little louder/softer
than the bass.  If you shut the motor off, the Leslie slows down until
it stops!
 
MIX - each effect has its own level control, and there are Effects &
Direct (dry) level controls, all programmable from 0-99, per program.
This is in addition to the potentiometer on the front panel, which is
not programmable.
 
MODULATION - as I said before, you can control just about everything
via real-time MIDI controllers.  Up to eight params can be controlled
per program.  For example, you can control LFO depth via aftertouch,
Reverb High Decay via pitch bend, Mid EQ Bandwidth via note number,
Leslie speed by an on/off switch, etc.  You get the idea.
 
MIDI - you can assign channel (1-16 or omni, in omni mode it transmits
on channel 1), turn program change on/off, SysEx on/off, start bulk or
individual dump, etc.  The usual stuff.  In addition it has a program
table, so you can map any of the 128 possible MIDI program numbers to
any of the 100 available programs.  Possible use would be to leave
0-99 alone and map 100-127 to various programs.
 
There are MIDI IN and MIDI THRU jacks.  If you disable the MIDI THRU
jack, it acts as a MIDI OUT only.  Like the HR-16, The MIDI THRU never
passes SysEx info.
 
And the sound?  Wondferful.  Clean.  Relatively free of digital
aliasing.  Studio quality stuff here, folks.
 
Some minor complaints or wishes:
- The user manual doesn't have the SysEx programming info, nor the
  bulk data dump format.
- the LCD display is meant to be looked at at eye level or below.
  It just so happens that when sitting at my computer, I have the
  unit above my eye level.  I can still see the characters, but
  they're not as defined.  For most folks this will not be a problem.
- I wish I could pass SysEx info through the MIDI THRU.
- I'd like to be able to use the program advance table to point to
  the MIDI program table, rather than the 'hard' program numbers.
- I'd like to be able to have control over what MIDI channel each
  real-time modulator listens to.
 
Finally, I saw no reason ten mode buttons were also numbered 0-9 in
addition to their regular functions.  I discovered that by holding the
PROGRAM button in you can select the program number by direct entry.
Much better than stepping through!  I couldn't find this in the
manual; maybe they took it for granted that people would know?
 
Anyway, I'm glad I waited.  I already love this unit.  The sound is
fantastic.  This thing is as versatile as a synthesizer, and it's one
of those units you have to 'get to know' to exploit the power beyond
the factory programs.
 
..Bob
-- 
Bob Page, U of Lowell CS Dept.  [email protected]  ulowell!page
Have five nice days.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1898.1               Alesis Quadraverb--Base Note                    1 of 3
NORGE::CHAD "Ich glaube Ich t�te Ich h�tte"           7 lines   9-FEB-1989 11:08
                          -< FWIW -- daddy's Nashua >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FWIW

Daddy's Nashua also has one of these if you're looking.

Have an A-50 controller keyboard too but that is another note.

Chad

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1898.2               Alesis Quadraverb--Base Note                    2 of 3
DECSIM::BERRETTINI "Jim, DTN 225-5671"                3 lines   9-FEB-1989 13:30
                        -< Important spec missing :^O >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Brian --
    
    What was the price?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1898.3               Alesis Quadraverb--Base Note                    3 of 3
CTHULU::YERAZUNIS "Pushing back the limits of common" 7 lines   9-FEB-1989 13:47
                              -< Another source >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Also in stock at Only Guitar, near Albany, NY.
    
    They take telephone plastic and UPS it if you ask politely.
    
    Mine should be here tonight....
    
    	-Bill

    $ 449 at Only.
    
    	-Bill
    
    

    
    Well, I just received my Quadraverb in the mail yesterday.  This thing
    is great!!  I had always thought my guitar sounded muddy with effects
    on it....shows you what 10K/wet effects will do to your ears after a
    while!! :^)  Anyway, my guitar sound bright and clear, and the effects
    are all great on this unit.  I like the inherent sound of the QR much
    better than the Multiverb.  Now if I can just figure out how to program
    this thing!! 

Ok Quadraverb experts question for ya...

How do I change from one type of reverb to the other variants of that same
type? Ie: plate 1 to plate 2??

I confess to not having read the entire manual yet (in progress) but I did 
search the section on programming the reverb and the initial set up stuff...
I have a gig soon and am trying to be semi-ready for it and my reading time is 
scarce...

thanks

dbii

  The fancy reverbs (plate2, chamber, hall2) are only available in the
  ummmm..."eq+reverb" algorithm.  The equations are more complicated,
  so there's no processing power left for other tricks.

  The math for the rooms reverbs, "Plate 1", and the like is simpler,
  so they can be run in tandem with other effects, e.g "eq+rev+pch+dly"

  Have fun,
  Dave

Thanks, I'm gonna get through the book eventually...

dbii

Hey guys, a few questions for ya...

     - Is the Qverb still one of the best in price/performance? ($300-400 range)
     - Who wants to sell me one?
     - If no one is into charity, where's the best place to mailorder one from?

Curt

    Depends on what you want to use if for.  For synth FX etc, it's not
    bad.  If you want all the "hip" FX (like exciter, distortion,
    harmonize, etc), you won't get it here.  If you're looking primarily
    for a reverb that can do a few things besides, the MIDIverb III has
    better reverb algorithms than the QV.
    
    There is a $30 mod available for the QV that allows 1� sec of sampling
    (samples are lost at power-down ... this is word of mouth, as I've not
    seen or heard the mod proper.
    
    I have one and like it, but am not sure I'd buy another.
    
    You should be able to get decent mailorder from Caruso's, Sam Ash or
    East Coast Sound (see topics 1-15 for DECMS contacts).
    
+b

I'd like an all-round effects box - primarily for keyboards, all studio
work.  I suppose the reverb is the most important need at the moment but delay,
chorus, flange are desirable too.  I've used a MIDIverb III and have been
impressed with the quality - just haven't compared it to any other units.

Thanks for the input...

Curt

Curt your welcome to come check my quad out...

dbii

    I've always thought that (if I were to get into it again) the best
    combination would be to have one or two multi-FX boxes that would
    handle sends from the mixer and could do all of the wild stuff.  Then,
    have a high-quality reverb on the output for general ambience.  I
    understand that when the MIDIVerb II came out sales of MicroVerb II's
    were boosted for this reason.  That is, folks would buy them in pairs,
    using the MIDIVerb for special FX and the Microverb for ambience.
    
    Steve