Back in the day, I used to own a QS7. More keys and 4 assignable sliders instead of 1 beside the volume slider. Its non-rompler purely synth sounds were AMAZING. I think one of the sound designers for this was Glenn D'Arcy, who later also designed the Alesis Fusion and nowadays has the overlook design for the ASM Hydrasynth, which I also have and adore.
Still have a QS8 after all these long years! Alesis is one of those companies I always have a soft spot for... They were just a little bit ahead of their time...
I had a QS7 for a bit (drove 2 hours to pick on up for a great deal). Later found Q cards (Sanctuary and Classical Strings) for a bit cheaper than they went for online. I never did dig into the editing. But had fun playing church organ patches 2012-2014. Later sold it for $165.00 to someone who was taking it to their church in the Philippines. I was glad to get rid of it.
@@LukeRaith I didn’t dig in very much. Never understood the menu system. Always wished I’d have a synth with a piano patch that didn’t have quite so obvious split points across keys. Synth patches were great sounding, as were some of those pipe/church organ samples on the Sanctuary card.
❤ it has a semiweighted kinda keybed stiff af same as wavestation had. perfect as a master Keyboard if nothing else. Lots of digital scifi goodness. Good for cinematic industrial stuff
The 6.1, 7, 7.1, 8, and 8.1 also have the 8mb piano. Only the 6 doesn't. The 6.2 and 8.2 are actually a bit of a downgrade because they are more plasticy and lose one of the expansion slots. I believe the DAC and/or DSP got upgraded in those so there's that, though.
Looks and sounds like a cool keyboard from yesteryear to tinker on - perhaps somewhat like the Ensoniq VFX. PCM ROM based with a deep synth engine and lots of adjustable parameters.
I've got a QS7.1 and I'll never part with it. I love the tank-like construction and the solid feeling semi-weighted key bed and aftertouch. They don't make them like this anymore.
I loved my ESQ-1 hated to let it go, but I needed 88 Keys. I actually purchased an Alesis QS8.1 next, which was OK at the time. I recently located a Kontakt ESQ-1 VST Library and I'm going to give it a go. Agreed on Swamp-Level Home Keyboards. Junk. I'm on a Roland FP-E50 these days, and I'm in the process of getting a 61 Key MIDI Controller. Enjoy your channel, good stuff!
True, that was also my first impression. Except that the K1 is very lofi, and the K4 has astronomically less Rom Space, but offers a more charming digital sounding nature, which also may not be to everyones taste (I like it)
@@patrikknoerr9777 yeah, I had Kawai PH50 (featured on this great channel too) bought new back then in 1993 - turned out, it was a consumer grade playback only 8-Bit Kawai K1, fed with the "B-Side" PCM samples. I called it John Carpenter synth for it had beautiful sci-fi horror movie sounds.
Your'e right. The PH50 is a disgrace as a keyboard, but great as a toy for exactly that. Funny thing, I pondered what the QS6 could actually be useful, and the idea of using it for horror sounds for a cheap VHS movie was exactly the one thing I came up with :)@@gameon2000
Back in the day, I used to own a QS7. More keys and 4 assignable sliders instead of 1 beside the volume slider. Its non-rompler purely synth sounds were AMAZING. I think one of the sound designers for this was Glenn D'Arcy, who later also designed the Alesis Fusion and nowadays has the overlook design for the ASM Hydrasynth, which I also have and adore.
I'm looking forward to reviewing a HydraSynth!
Still have a QS8 after all these long years! Alesis is one of those companies I always have a soft spot for... They were just a little bit ahead of their time...
I agree - but then they released a monstrosity like the "Melody61". uuuurghh!!! ua-cam.com/video/pH90QmzpFGA/v-deo.html
I got a QS6, probably the oldest synth I own. Don't play it too often, but it does what I want when I do.
I like that nuts-lookin' smiley emoticon
I had a QS7 for a bit (drove 2 hours to pick on up for a great deal). Later found Q cards (Sanctuary and Classical Strings) for a bit cheaper than they went for online. I never did dig into the editing. But had fun playing church organ patches 2012-2014. Later sold it for $165.00 to someone who was taking it to their church in the Philippines. I was glad to get rid of it.
You've gotta go with what makes you smile :)
I'm curious, why were you glad to get rid?
@@LukeRaith I didn’t dig in very much. Never understood the menu system. Always wished I’d have a synth with a piano patch that didn’t have quite so obvious split points across keys. Synth patches were great sounding, as were some of those pipe/church organ samples on the Sanctuary card.
I have the QS8 with the weighted keys and the Emerson sounds and that weighs a ton… but the sound is magnificent
Great vid👍☢️
Cool, thanks!
No dynamics? Are you sure the velocity is not turned off? I had one. I'm sure it was sensitive to velocity.
Yeah, I’ve got a feeling that was my mistake :/
qs6 was god tier, i always wanted a 6.2 myself
The 6.1 is actually better than the 6.2.....the 6.2 has more plastic and loses one of the expansion slots.
@@MrAdamGC I have had both and I don't notice any quality differences really. Maybe plastic ends but that's really getting picky.
❤ it has a semiweighted kinda keybed stiff af same as wavestation had. perfect as a master Keyboard if nothing else. Lots of digital scifi goodness. Good for cinematic industrial stuff
Totally agree!
Pure ear candy!
Absolutely - so good to find something original and exciting :)
Get QS 6.2 it has a huge 8mb piano. A monster by 1996 standards. As comparison the whole Yamaha XG standard kit sounds was only 4mb
Yes XG sounds very tired compared to this
The 6.1, 7, 7.1, 8, and 8.1 also have the 8mb piano. Only the 6 doesn't. The 6.2 and 8.2 are actually a bit of a downgrade because they are more plasticy and lose one of the expansion slots. I believe the DAC and/or DSP got upgraded in those so there's that, though.
Looks and sounds like a cool keyboard from yesteryear to tinker on - perhaps somewhat like the Ensoniq VFX. PCM ROM based with a deep synth engine and lots of adjustable parameters.
Yep, and a bit of thought and passion has gone into the presets which is great to see
I've got a QS7.1 and I'll never part with it. I love the tank-like construction and the solid feeling semi-weighted key bed and aftertouch. They don't make them like this anymore.
Do u have the SYSEX files for the program preset banks on the QS6?
I was able to recover the user bank but cannot find the other program presets.
I don’t sorry
I don't think Alesis will be doing synths again. I'm sure InMusic will leave all that stuff in their other brands like Akai and Moog.
Yeah it's a shame that a company with such a significant legacy has gone el-cheapo.
this thing weighs more than my motif 7, and that is a tank that I dont wanna be moving around! 😂
Yes, definitely not to be cheerfully taken out for an open mic night!
I want it
Since Alesis bought Ensoniq, maybe the QS6 was the result?
Could be. It's a shame that Alesis have entered the swamp-level home keyboard market. Very undignified :/
I've seen current eDrum Sets by Alesis that are actually not bad. @@gearfacts
I loved my ESQ-1 hated to let it go, but I needed 88 Keys. I actually purchased an Alesis QS8.1 next, which was OK at the time. I recently located a Kontakt ESQ-1 VST Library and I'm going to give it a go. Agreed on Swamp-Level Home Keyboards. Junk. I'm on a Roland FP-E50 these days, and I'm in the process of getting a 61 Key MIDI Controller. Enjoy your channel, good stuff!
It could definitely do with a good cleaning. 😉
As could most of my gear :)
❤ very Kawai K1 K4 like. But the best sounds you showed were extra from that pcmcia card. The are not standard
True, I didn't really put things in order (onboard, PCMCIA)
@@gearfacts don't sweat it, you're doing a marvellous job! Keep on going mate! 😎👍
True, that was also my first impression. Except that the K1 is very lofi, and the K4 has astronomically less Rom Space, but offers a more charming digital sounding nature, which also may not be to everyones taste (I like it)
@@patrikknoerr9777 yeah, I had Kawai PH50 (featured on this great channel too) bought new back then in 1993 - turned out, it was a consumer grade playback only 8-Bit Kawai K1, fed with the "B-Side" PCM samples. I called it John Carpenter synth for it had beautiful sci-fi horror movie sounds.
Your'e right. The PH50 is a disgrace as a keyboard, but great as a toy for exactly that. Funny thing, I pondered what the QS6 could actually be useful, and the idea of using it for horror sounds for a cheap VHS movie was exactly the one thing I came up with :)@@gameon2000
😂 got me one myself for 100 bucks. Mint condition
Deal :) :) :)
DBZ
ufo