Vintage Digital

Alesis

Alesis Studio Electronics was founded in Hollywood in 1984 by MXR co-founder Keith Barr. Leveraging his ability to design custom integrated circuits, Barr’s company was able to introduce technologically advanced products at prices within the realm of most project studios. Alesis’ first product was the Alesis XT Reverb. Introduced in 1985, the XT Reverb was an all-digital reverb that carried an unprecedented low price of US$799. In 1986 Alesis produced the first under-$1000 16-bit professional effects processor, the Alesis MIDIverb, which had a 12-bit A/D converter and MIDI control. It was joined later in the year by the Microverb, which lacked MIDI but had a 16-bit A/D converter.

What followed from here was a string of affordable digital effects processors and digital reverbs. When Alesis had exhausted every opportunity with digital effects processing, they delivered their most historically significant product in the early 1990s, the Alesis ADAT 8 track digital recorder. The Alesis ADAT used S-VHS tape in a compact rack mount recorder that brought the cost of digital recording to the masses at a relatively affordable price of US$4,000. At this point, Alesis had the world at their feet and they went on to produce a range of studio electronics making them one of the most successful brands of the 1980s and 1990s. Like all good things however it all came to and end, and Alesis came crashing down around the early 2000s, when the company filed for bankruptcy. The company was restructured and continues to this day making a full range of musical products, but their prime period of innovation is certainly long gone.

Released in 2008

Alesis Microverb4 Signal Processor

The Alesis Microverb 4 brought full bandwidth 18 bit effects processing to the masses at an incredibly low price, with limited editing and a mass of presets. While not as flexible as Alesis’s other models, such as the Quadraverb 4, the Alesis Microverb 4 offered good value for money a range of effects for the home recording musician.

Released in 2002

Alesis 3630 Compressor

Since its introduction, the Alesis 3630 Compressor has become the most popular dynamics processor ever made. Despite what the official Alesis marketing department say about the Alesis 3630 Compressor below, it is not the holy grail of compressors, regardless of the fact it has become something of a cult classic among many musicians.

Released in 1995

Alesis MidiVerb 4 Digital Effects Processor

The Alesis MidiVerb 4 is the perfect effects processor for professional project studios and musicians who require an affordable solution for fully-programmable, high-fidelity effects. Its excellent effects algorithms produce dense, natural reverb, rich chorus, flange, delay, pitch effects and up to three simultaneous multieffects.

Released in 1994

Alesis Quadraverb 2 Octal Processing Master Effects

You should never have to compromise your sound when you need multiple effects. With the Alesis Quadraverb 2, you will never have to compromise at all. The best effects processors in the world are known not only for their stunning sonic quality, but also for their versatility and processing power.

Released in 1990

Alesis Midiverb III Digital Effects Processor

The Alesis Midiverb III is a high quality multi-effects unit which features up to 4 simultaneous effects at a full 15KHz bandwidth and with 16 bit resolution. Since all features of Alesis Midiverb III are accessible from the front panel, the operator can set up a wide range of complex effects without a complex user interface.

Released in 1989

Alesis Microverb II

The Alesis Microverb II represents a clear breakthrough in signal processing technology. Utilizing the Alesis R.I.S.C. (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture. The Alesis Microverb II provides clean, quiet, professional digital reverberation with the cost and simplicity of spring units, in a highly compact enclosure.

Released in 1988

Alesis Midiverb II Digital Effects Processor

For anyone holding out on buying the original Alesis Midiverb, the Alesis Midiverb II was enough to convince them it was time to jump on board. The Alesis Midiverb II improved on the original Alesis Midiverb in ever possible way. Firstly the greater bandwidth and better noise floor, but most importantly for many, the 1RU rack mount format.

Released in 1988

Alesis QuadraVerb Simultaneous 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 equalizer, simultaneously. And it did so with 20k bandwidth!

Released in 1988

Alesis Microverb

The Alesis Microverb represents a clear breakthrough in signal processing technology, utilising the Alesis R.I.S.C architecture. The Alesis Microverb provides clean quiet: professional digital reverberation with the cost and simplicity of spring units. The entire digital processing system is contained on a single chip, developed by Alesis.

Released in 1986

Alesis Midiverb

The one that changed everything, the Alesis Midiverb came along and gave everyone a digital reverb for their home studio recordings. It was no Lexicon that is for sure, but when the Alesis Midiverb came along it was a gift for home recording musicians and it launched Alesis as a company, into the stratosphere.