🚀 go-pugleaf

In a message dated 96-03-12 03:30:16 EST, you write:

>
>Don't even touch the JV880 unless you can live without polyphony,
>decent samples and effects. It comes with about 3 sounds, you'll have to
>expand it to make it usable..
>The 1080 is just way too expensive, for that kind of money you should be
>able to buy a real synth. 
>Roland is trying real hard to sell the same synth over and over again in
>different boxes, they should think about improving it a little to get my
>money.
>The Alesis S4+ maybe not perfect, it's just beats everything under $1000.
>It's the first synth that offers 64 voice polyphony (you need it for
>sequencing
>and for two hand performances), 20 MB high quality linear samples, Alesis
>effects and drums, and a user interface, that actually makes sense (first
>time in the history of synths)
>I'd give it a try.

i have given it a try and here is what i thought:

i thought its sounds were absolutly sterile.  not a single one of them had
any life to it at all.  particularly its string and bass sounds.  i blame
this on the fact that it lacks resonant filters, something that i find
indespensible in synth programing.  without resonance, you might as well
just call the "filter" a glorified brightness control.

the 880, on the other hand, has resonant, multimode filteters, as well as
2 lfo's per voice.  you can midi sync the lfo's for excellent rhythmic
fxs.  the fx on it are not exceptional, however they do alot for the
instrument.  polyphony is an issue with the 880, i will agree, however, id
rather have a monophonic synth that used that voice to its fullest, than a
note that could play 64 absolutly anemic sounding voices(the quadrasynth)

your critisim of the 1080 is unwarranted.  its street price is around
1200, which is not bad for what it is. as to your comment about being able
to buy a "real" synth for that money, i would really like to know what
your qualifications for a "real" synth are.  Mine are that it is flexible,
and has a unique sound. the 1080 is a dream machine. it does alot of
things other synths wont, and offers 64 note polyphony.  it is expandable
to all hell, and its sounds make alot of synths sound like bad fm sound
cards.   

on the whole, i think alesis dropped the ball with the quadrasynth and its
various children.  the keyboard version has a cheap feel to its look, and
it just doesnt feel like it would stand up to much abuse (i would not take
it on the road).  it was a good idea that just doesnt work.  i
particularly hate that giant volume wheel.  why does it have to be that
big?  
I personaly own an alesis Quadraverb, Quadraverb2 and D4 drum module,
which i plan to sell and trade up to a DM5 soon.  I really like alesis
products, i just think that this instrument is less than exciting,
particularly for electronic type music styles.  i would put its sound
quality and flexiblity on par with my Yamah TG33, which i paid 300 for 2
years ago.  Maybe in 2 years, i will find an S4 at that price point, at
whic point i will think about it.

deity 2@aol.com