Synth Secrets of the Alesis Quadraverb

[@jezgomez]

The sound of one of my favourite albums, Autechre's "Amber". Fantastic video!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! And yes!!! All over that album!

[@YoYoYo]

Awesome quadraverb video. Thanks!

[@bleepsandboops]

Glad you like it!

[@quietandpeacefulman]

Just thought I’d drop in and say thanks for this great little video. I own a QV and have never had a chance to consider real-time MIDI control - but this is what I’ll be doing today! Inspiring stuff and appreciate your focus on vintage classic hardware (like QV, Nord, etc). I’m also an enthusiast with added BassStation, DrumStation, A-Station, SY85, 3630, Esi sampler etc! Great that the music you make to demo is authentic early Warp IDM and not the trancey guff which almost everyone else on KZbin creates! All the best for 2024 and beyond

[@bleepsandboops]

Thank you, really glad it's been inspiring!! And please post a video of what you get up to!

[@neonether]

This unit is full of cool presets and fx that make different synth lines sound incredible, from bass lines to arps to pads, really a great retro treasure trove!

[@bleepsandboops]

I really like the grittiness from it - Hainbach did a good video on using the reverbs from it, though I don't think he ever explored the midi cc side of things. Great FX box though, and still relatively cheap!

[@MR-vj8dn]

It's funny to see these old things pop up in popularity now and then. I'm selling my unit for about $70. It's been with me since early -90s.

[@ciasux]

Can I buy it off you ?

[@bleepsandboops]

Everything goes in waves... 20 years from now, people will be dumping their digitakts for peanuts because they're seen as dated... 😁

[@MR-vj8dn]

@ 😄👍🏻

[@doktorwer]

I know we only get these videos every few months but when they arrive, they do make my day.

[@bleepsandboops]

It has been a while since the Squarepusher one went up... ! Something new soon maybe??

[@doktorwer]

@@bleepsandboops You seem to be doing all the artists that I love and the best songs that they've made. I eagerly await!

[@sidefish8362]

Another trick with the ring modulator.. in the menu there is an option for up or down. By going up or down by just one degree you can get an up or down barberpole type phaser effect, i.e, a phaser which gives the illusion of always going upwards or downwards, a very cool effect.

[@bleepsandboops]

Going to have to try that out - thanks!

[@sidefish8362]

@@bleepsandboops I sold my QV+ many years ago so the recipe might be slightly wrong. Not sure if it needs to be all wet or 50% wet.. probably 50% I'd guess.

[@LouisSerieusement]

Midi CC's are sooo overlooked. Well done !!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! CC74 should be filter cutoff everywhere!!

[@dougplate8234]

Cool! Now expecting the resale value of my Quadraverb to skyrocket! You've gained my subscription!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! 😂😂 Nah, you have to wait for Espen to cover it before the price goes up!!!

[@TayWoode]

Oh wow excellent tips! I’ve got one of these and I only ever use it for the effects without midi but I’m definitely gonna have a play around with it now. New subscriber 👍🏾

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks for subscribing! Yeah, I've seen a couple of videos about using the qv just for big reverbs (Hainbach did a good one) but nothing about the midi control side of things..! It sounds pretty awesome when you start playing about with it as its own instrument!

[@broklee]

I have 3 QVs. Purchased at less than $50/each USD. All of them have had the LCD go bad which I suspect is caused by the heat that builds up in these units. I use them with the lid removed. None of them have had excess noise problems people complain about on the web. You should use the official Alesis power supply and TRS cables. If you have to use an aftermarket PSU, get one that is transformer based and not a cheap switchmode PSU or you will inevitably have noise problems.

[@bleepsandboops]

Solid advice!

[@mjsthx1138]

How did you repair the screens?

[@NewUser2495]

Screen issue is related to the internal battery, swapping it fixed the issues with mine.

[@djwise98]

Where can you get replacement screens?

[@broklee]

@@djwise98 I got mine off of eBay. The MMT-8 and HR-16 use the same screen

[@piccadillynightmares]

Thank you so much for this video, I always wanted to know if it was possible to control the Quadraverb via MIDI but never found out if it was even possible. Thanks to your video I've managed to successfully connect my Digitakt to the Quadraverb and it is absolutely amazing. I've uploaded a jam where I'm glitching out drums by controlling the delay parameters same way you show in the video. Can't wait to explore this setup more!

[@bleepsandboops]

👍👍 It's such a cool thing! Glad you've found it helpful!!!

[@emptyvesselnz]

Had mine for a while and really not seen the potential in hooking MIDI up to it, now I do :) Thanks for the inspiration, supercool!

[@bleepsandboops]

😎 Glad you found it useful!

[@antifred5538]

Just ordered one of these. Can t wait! Could you please post/send me the MIDI chart that you blended in at 2:11 min. ? Cheers!

[@bleepsandboops]

Enjoy! The midi chart is just the implementation on the S1 - it's a screenshot from the pdf on Roland's website 😁

[@solarlarvae]

Awesome, proper old school Autechre vibes. Will need to try this with mine. Thanks!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! I umm/arred over trying to do Glitch (you can hear the automated ring mod all over the intro on that track) or pairing with the R8, but hopefully this gives more of a broad set of ideas to try out - amazing to still be finding weird things on a piece of 30y/o gear... !

[@furlag2]

Squarepusher /Afx as well😊❤

[@atarirob]

Wow! I never experimented much with the MIDI note side of the modulation matrix on these...what an amazing sound with the spectrum shift, proper pseudo-sample rate reduction!! Might have to dig it out again and have a rinse. Quadraverbs are such great boxes, only recently stopped using one - I could happily sit in front of one of these for hours making different patches. Well cool, and so glad they're not going for stupid money as of yet!

[@bleepsandboops]

Do it! I've really only scratched the surface here for brevity (I got a bit carried away and needed to cut things back!!) There's (I think) 8 slots in the mod matrix that can be assigned to any parameter for a given configuration, so you can really go to town on it if you feel the need!!

[@atarirob]

@@bleepsandboops I remember watching one of Sean from Autechre's Twitch streams where he talked about doing it, but for some reason never investigated. I did go crazy with applying CC# values to parameters and sequencing them though. The great thing about the QV is that it's MIDI implementation is so tight and has virtually no aliasing - like you could drop the reverb decay time from max to min and then back to max and you'd get no artifacts whatsoever, and nothing would effect the trails...alright, yeah sod it, I'll make a track with it this weekend lol

[@bleepsandboops]

Do it! To my shame I've still yet to watch Sean's Twitch stream!!! Yep - it's a weird box; I found changing the delay times mid-delay introduced glitches as if you were holding the delay time button down, but not the pitch-shifting you'd get with (say) anything that tries to emulate a a BBD style delay. Also that cap of 99% feedback is really cool for resonant boings and bangs rather than the howling crescendo you normally get - such a great effect

[@smokey90]

I've been waiting for The QuadraVerb and midiverb to get some recognition, I love these rack units. Great video, thank you❤

[@bleepsandboops]

Thank you!

[@gonzinigonz]

I had a pair of these back in the 90's. It was well worth updating the firmware to the plus. Mainly used them for delays in the end. First one i brought was the midiverb 2 which was even older but totally preset. Definitely had its own 'character' sound about it. Thinking about it had a midiverb 3 as well that i found hanging out the back of a skip at the end of the road i lived in. Also pulled a TL Audio 5050 valve compressor out the same skip! Bonkers, i was on my way to work grabbing some food from the local shop! That 2nd example sound with the resonator reminds me of Sinebeats in Reactor, that was a techno favorite back in the day.

[@bleepsandboops]

That's mad! - I guess there was a point where it wasn't worth the hassle of trying to sell something like this on, so in the skip it went... I had no idea you could do similar in Reaktor - I *really* need to start looking at it tbh. I've had Komplete for a very long time, but it's a real investment of hours to get into making your own instruments. One day though 😁

[@shortattentionspa.....]

THis is awesome!!!!! thanks so much for the inspiration!!

[@bleepsandboops]

Have fun!

[@canecreek00]

Great video, I recently bought two broken ones which were very easy to fix, look forward to delving deeper into them with the help of your video.

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks and good luck!!

[@williamtell1477]

Very nice! Just picked one of these up and yes I will try these tricks out!

[@bleepsandboops]

Have fun!

[@LondraCalibro9]

nice work, I use the resonator a lot, but I've never tried the real time midi control - super exciting and clear tutorial - thank you!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thank you!

[@bradylasserre9320]

Still my favorite fx unit to this day. Nothing else sounds like it.

[@bleepsandboops]

They're great! I'm still a newcomer to the qverb but it's really, really impressed me (as evidenced by the video!! 🤣)

[@favoriteblueshirt]

Yes it is really noisy isn't it?

[@bradylasserre9320]

@favoriteblueshirt It is noisy. And can be overdriven pretty quickly from the input but I'd argue that's part of its appeal in a world of everything sounding perfect now a days. Rawraw get off my lawn 👨‍🦯

[@broklee]

​@@favoriteblueshirtTry using TRS cables and use the official Alesis power supply.

[@ExpectResistance]

Niiiice. Really cool to see this being used so well. These boxes are amazing!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! Yeah, I only got it a few months ago but wanted to do something beyond the delay and reverb demos - I don't think many people realise how deep the qverb can go!

[@ExpectResistance]

@@bleepsandboops yeah totally, inspiring to see/hear.

[@aaiieenn]

Honestly, all of your demo jam's make me want to make IDM drum beats. Always inspiring to watch your video's!

[@bleepsandboops]

❤️❤️ Thank you!!

[@tristangieler]

I just got one second hand and what do you know, this video shows up in my feed. Off I go!

[@bleepsandboops]

Enjoy!!

[@symbiat0]

Google knew you were looking… 😉

[@nachom1971]

We are in resonance with the universe

[@electron7373]

Excellent work. Really clever creative use of the QV. I must dust off the old Alesis QV and give it a go.

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! It gets deep pretty quickly!

[@AndyVonal]

That was brill! I had no idea you could do that sort of thing on the Quadraverb... wish I still had one!

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! Grab one quick whilst they're still seen as boring 80s reverbs!!!!

[@lglg995]

Great video! Can I check - why do you turn the direct level signal down? Also what's the difference between using pitch bend and control change?

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! I turn the direct signal down so you can't hear the original synth sounds - otherwise there would be a layer or white noise or resonant squelch over the top of the Quadraverb's output. As for pitchbend vs cc, you can use pitchbend though you need a synth or sequencer that outputs it - the S1 I'm using to sequence the modulation on the Quadraverb doesn't output it so I'm using CC instead

[@krushagrape786]

The resonator is all over 'Arch Carrier' on LP5.

[@bleepsandboops]

Maaaan, that album was my intro to Autechre - so, so good!

[@RaquelFoster]

It kinda blows my mind that you can just pick which CC you want. The only thing that actually lets me configure CCs (that isn't a controller) is my Eventide H9, and that thing only lets you go up to CC 99 because I guess they're trying to save space on the ridiculous segmented display. But now I think everybody likes the Quadraverb, so it's actually almost twice as expensive as the Midiverb 4. But there's nobody making cool videos of driving the Midiverb 4 into interesting crunchy distortion like the Quadraverb.

[@bleepsandboops]

ikr... I guess the synth manufacturers decided amongst themselves around things like cc 74 and 71 should be filter c/o and resonance, but for the effects guys those options don't really mean a anything... Quadraverbs seemed to be available for not that much in every guitar shop not too long ago. I'm entirely blaming current trend for 20-minute ambient jams if that's changing 😂... It's a shame too, the Midiverb looks like it has loads more power and potential but lacks the resonator and ring mod modes, *and* Alesis hard-wired the MIDI to their choice of two parameters only. Very odd decision!!?!

[@RaquelFoster]

That's insane. I mean, I maybe the thing had a whole different architecture and at the time they didn't think the resonator was interesting so they didn't bother putting it in the MidiVerb ... but ... FFS it's called the MidiVerb how they gonna give it less MIDI functionality? I just think it's pretty exciting to have any basic FX where you can choose CCs to map params to whatever you want on a synth. And have a decent interface and rational form factor. I like pedals, but multi-FX pedals are completely ridiculous. Seems like there is currently someone in Japan and someone in Brooklyn with a warehouse full of MidiVerbs, because I saw a couple eBay listings with the seller having 20+ available. I just got one that looks brand new for $100 including shipping, so I sorta compulsively got two. I could only find a couple beat up QuadraVerbs for $200-$250, and the $200 one was missing the weird power cord. I think ppl go after the QuadraVerb because they see it in videos, but ... like people who watch this video and people who watch Bad Gear. Not exactly a crowd that's imposing substantial market pressure I don't think. But maybe. I mean try to get a Yamaha SPX90 and it's about the same. The SPX90 II is a bit cheaper. It's weird that eurorack is a thing but patching stuff together with MIDI isn't. I mean we don't need to try to go all the way back to the 1960s people. How come the only MIDI-controllable mixer I can find is a totally awful '90s thing from MOTU back when they said Mark Of The Unicorn? LOL. I don't know what's up with resonators. I know my SP-404MK2 has a nice resonator effect. Then the Volca Drum calls its delay section a resonator. Then I've seem some real weird stuff that says it's a resonator. Maybe I'm thinking of something different, but there's this Jomox thing with a bunch of knobs, and it's not a drum machine ... It's crazy. I think that said it was a resonator, too!

[@bleepsandboops]

@@RaquelFoster be interested to see how you get on with the Midiverb. My guess is Alesis looked at what people were actually using Quadraverbs for and stripped back everything else, so you get your Jeff Buckley reverb, your FOH halls etc but nothing more creative than that... I think people like eurorack because it's straightforward and analogue.. midi is a weird 5 pin plug with channels and ccs and digital stuff, whilst modular is a cable for each bit of voltage you want to move around? I dunno, it's something I don't want to get it to for fear of going down that rabbit hole!! On the midi mixer thing, see if you can get hold of an older digital one, Yamaha O1V or something? Haven't seen anything do a resonator in a box for a while tbh - possibly one of the reasons the original qv still goes for reasonable $$.. expect some boutique pedal manufacturers to put out an Instagram-friendly version for $500 soon..! 😂😂

[@stekker1]

really nice video, bigup. have never actually done much with mine except using the presets but this shows how it could be used in lots of interesting ways. giving me BoC and early warp records vibes

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! I think the availability of the qverb back in the day means it made its way onto a bunch of those early IDM records - great to be able to breathe a bit of new interest on to it too, even now!!

[@stekker1]

@@bleepsandboops definitely it was used a bunch by all those artists ! but just never thought about the other capabilities with the modulations besides just the standard presets how they probably used this to make simple synth sounds like the sh101 into more complex stuff

[@djshire1984]

I got a GT ages ago (it was the cheapest QV I could find), and I really need to explore it more. This video really helped!

[@bleepsandboops]

Do! I'm surprised they haven't been used more like this! I think most people just put it on delay/reverb mode and that's it..

[@djshire1984]

@@bleepsandboops I used the preamp on the GT And it sounds likes shit, which is exactly what I was going for, awful sounding distortion.

[@jasgarcia8838]

Este se puede utilizar como procesador de voz ?

[@bleepsandboops]

yes!

[@nickolassucharew840]

You should try to deconstruct some breakcore/drill n bass stuff. Was listening to Hasty boom alert yesterday, I think that would make for a fun video

[@bleepsandboops]

Will take a listen!

[@michaelarthurholloway9539]

All these years later, and I still have no idea what the Quadraverb's Reverb > "Predelay Mix" does. I've read the paragraph in the manual 1,000 times, and remain totally flummoxed. It's full of words that mean nothing. I play with the value, and can't hear the difference (but sometimes I *think* I can).....So, if by any chance you could explain the Predelay Mix to me in actually meaningful terms a mortal can understand, I'd be forever indebted!

[@bleepsandboops]

😂😂 You know, I've never really looked at it tbh! I know pre-delay from other reverb units as being the time between the sound source and the reverb starting - so you can add reverb without making everything muddy. My guess would be pre-delay mix blends some of that reverb signal in early? So instead of it being sound, pre-delay, reverb, what you actually get is sound, small bit of reverb, rest of the reverb... They haven't made it clear or easy though!

[@AgustinDavidF]

Soooo, so good

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks!

[@geordiegeorge1948]

Hi Could you please give me settings for a smooth chorus Many Thanks

[@bleepsandboops]

Any of the chorus presets on the quadraverb will give you an 80s chorus sound, but you might be better off with a dedicated chorus pedal!

[@atommachine]

Nice , great units, mine is only outputting on one channel which is odd. atb.

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! Hope you get it fixed - they're great units though probably susceptible to bad caps and dry joints by now...

[@RekidsRecordings]

Are you familiar with the lead/ bass part that starts off Autechre’s Glitch track on the Amber album. Do you have any insights on how this was done? I’m almost certain it was a Roland 202 with a quadraverb. But I’m researching across the internet about actual settings. Is the oscillator a square wave, what is the ADSR, what is the cut off and res balance on the filter and then finally how is the quadraverb effecting the signal of the 202. 8th or 16ths ping pong delay with ring modulation? Any insights would be greatly appreciated Have a great day

[@bleepsandboops]

Yeah! I love that track! I think it's probably the 202's resonant filter they're manually tweaking - so no actual square/saw waves needed, and then into the quadraverb which is covering the ring modulation and delay. Hope that helps!

[@RekidsRecordings]

@@bleepsandboops any chance of a demo video as I think that would really interesting for a lot of people! Of course myself included

[@RekidsRecordings]

Just doing some test at home with my quadraverb and I can't seem to find any configuration that states RING>DL>REVERB as shown in your video @ 5:06 timestamp. Also on my unit i dont seem to have any ring effect function at all? Is your unit the plus model?

[@RekidsRecordings]

Did you happen to change the internal EPROM on your quadraverb unit?

[@RekidsRecordings]

When you turn your unit on does it say quadraverb plus? Sorry for all the questions just internet can be a bit of a minefield

[@indiejohn]

It may be a random observation, but I like the mic&preamp voiceover sound you are getting. Whats the mic & preamp?

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks! I *think* this one was an RE20 through a DAV BG preamp. I do a lot of audio/band/singer songwriter recording outside of the bleeping and booping, and tend to grab whatever was to hand for the voiceovers

[@edmx]

You should try the sampling as well :)

[@bleepsandboops]

It's the one thing I've yet to explore!! Seems super lo-fi!

[@YokadaYokada]

I only found about the resonator modes a few months ago. I hadn't realised there were multiple versions of the Quadraverb like the plus and QT. Great video, it directly inspired me to order a 2.03 eprom for my garden variety Quadraverb this evening. Amazing channel, congrats 🙌

[@bleepsandboops]

Woop! Thanks so much and enjoy the EPROM!

[@Dave_Frain]

Shiterider @ 9 min 🔥

[@bleepsandboops]

Soundtrack for the straight to VHS version...

[@demerit5]

That intro track literally could have been a Legowelt track

[@bleepsandboops]

😎 Thanks so much!

[@NullStaticVoid]

Alessy? A-Lee-SIS is how we pronounce it stateside. Where they are from.

[@bleepsandboops]

I'd originally thought they might have been French... But no. Fixed in later videos 😎🤟

[@JuanArias-xr6je]

SUSCRIBED 👏👏👏

[@bleepsandboops]

🙏🙏 Thank you!!

[@gobblegobblebarfbarf]

The company name is pronounced ah-LEE-sis. Was it pronounced AH-lessy in the UK?

[@bleepsandboops]

Breaking new ground here... 😂

[@wrenchposting9097]

@@bleepsandboops You're doing a great job. I would have wondered if your pronunciation was correct if I wasn't good friends with a former Alesis employee!

[@bleepsandboops]

​@@wrenchposting9097Thanks! I think it's too engrained by now, I'll be wrong but wrong with conviction 😂😂😂

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Going a bit Karplus-Strong!

[@bleepsandboops]

😁 Don't tell the eurorack club!!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@bleepsandboops 🤣

[@ambrosefogarty6423]

Oh this sounds like what was responsible for Tim Exile's Sliiiiiiiiiiime

[@bleepsandboops]

If not this then something very close!

[@voltijuice8576]

It's a really nice unit, but... is it washable?

[@bleepsandboops]

The maroon version is...

[@HappyKingPeople]

Autechre vibes

[@bleepsandboops]

100%

[@HappyKingPeople]

@@bleepsandboops reminds me of 'Cichli' but in the style of Amber

[@frankmuelder4539]

So, I need time for my Quadraverb ....

[@bleepsandboops]

Fantastic bit of kit - you definitely do need to sit down with it!

[@frankmuelder4539]

I would like to control it live with midi, its on my list

[@CaalamusTube]

...never heard it pronounced like that! We always say Uh Lee Sis. I think I like Uh Less Sea better! :P That opening Tune was cool√

[@bleepsandboops]

😁 Thanks!

[@FairuzOsman]

Noice

[@bleepsandboops]

Thanks!

[@loalrecords]

quadraverbs are secret weapons.

[@bleepsandboops]

I think so! It's funny, I only got hold of it for the reverb but it's turned into quite the mangling monster...