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Alesis | S4 (Plus)

Description

The QuadraSynth was introduced in 1993 by Alesis, and it was their first major synthesizer. The S4 is the rack-mount version of the QuadraSynth. It's a 64-voice digital synthesizer with a whopping 16 MB of sample ROM, and was the first synth to offer the ADAT Optical Digital interface. It also featured the same multi-effects processor as the QuadraVerb 2, drum kits based on the D4 drum module, 4 assignable control knobs, one PCMCIA card slot, 48kHz clock input, and 4 audio outputs.

The S4 is undoubtedly a powerful and flexible synthesizer capable of creating rich sounds - both acoustic and electronic. It uses digital additive/subtractive sample playback synthesis to create high quality stereo grand pianos, organs, strings, drums/percussion, brass, woodwinds, new and classic synth textures, and more.

Released in 1995/1996 came the new and improved S4 Plus version. The S4 Plus rack module came with only 20MB ROM, losing the coveted 8MB stereo Grand Piano sample found in the QuadraSynths in favor of 4MB of General MIDI pianos. For an all around versatile modern synthesizer module that isn't focused just on dance or trance, be sure to consider the S4 or S4 Plus.

BrandAlesis
ModelS4 (Plus)
DeviceSynth
TypeRack
Engine TypeDigital
EngineSample
Voices (max)64
Multitimbral16
Oscillators1
Engine Detailed48kHz Linear samples S4: 16MB, expandable to 24MB using PCMCIA ROM and RAM cards S4 Plus: 20MB, expandable to 28MB using PCMCIA ROM and RAM cards
FX4 On-board effects, based on the Alesis QuadraVerb 2 FX processor
MemoryS4: 128 preset 128 user programs, 100 preset, 100 user mixes S4 Plus: 512 preset 128 user programs, 400 preset, 100 user mixes
Keys0
Key typeN/A
VelocityN/A
AftertouchN/A
Audio2 stereo outputs.
Produced:1993 - 1995
Legend: Obvious Y: Yes, N: No, N/A: Not Applicable
VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator DCO Digital Controlled Oscillator
LFO Low Frequency Oscillator Sub Sub Oscillator
VCF Voltage Controlled Filter VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier
Velocity As with a piano, the harder you hit a key, the louder the sound, unlike most organs which always produce the same loudness no matter how hard you hit a key. Aftertouch Pressing a key after you activated it. Channel Aftertouch, no matter which key, it will send a Channel message. Poly Aftertouch, sends the pressure per key instead of the whole channel.
Values for OSC, LFO, Filter, Envelope are per voice unless stated otherwise.

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