Quasimidi

[crystalmsc]

so, there are:
Rave-O-Lution 309
Polymorph
Sirius
Technox
The Raven
Quasar

which one is your go to Quasimidi and why?
what's the different between those..and if you should only choose one, which one is going to be....the Sirius?

[Jexus]

and if you should only choose one, which one is going to be....the Sirius?

Yes. I just bought one. Seems to be da best.
BTW, Quasimidi is a strange name.

[bigbadbarns]

I remember they produced a few synths which didn't get a big run- one perhaps was just before they folded. I remember thinking "THAT is awesome." I can't remember the name of it tho.

I had a Sirius. I sold it. I wish I'd kept it. It was a simple, fun, gritty sounding synth. An excellent notepad (easy to use sequencer for both drum programming and synths, lots of knobs and buttons). The sound quality on the Sirius wasn't great (I don't know if it was cheap converters or what), but depending on what kind of music you're making, it was fun (though it didn't offer the same depth of programming as other synths aimed @ the same market- the dance/techno VAs).

I think they raven looks pretty good, if only for a sequencer/master KB.

[crystalmsc]

Yes. I just bought one. Seems to be da best.
BTW, Quasimidi is a strange name.

I'm also think that the Sirius is the best bet. but since they term of synthesis is not too clear..I wonder which one is using analog modelling and which one is just a sample based synth. I sometime wonder if the Quasar is actually their best!?

about the name, may be they're focusing too much on the Quasar with the highlight of providing the quad: Analogue, PCM, FM and additive synth sounds in one box. sound interesting to me.

[crystalmsc]

I think they raven looks pretty good, if only for a sequencer/master KB.

yes, the Cyber 6 is always an interesting product with the motivator feature. anyone have experienced with either one?

[Jexus]

about the name

In my (and Latin) language it translates as "almost like Midi"

[Soundwave]

so, there are:
Rave-O-Lution 309
Polymorph
Sirius
Technox
The Raven
Quasar

which one is your go to Quasimidi and why?
what's the different between those..and if you should only choose one, which one is going to be....the Sirius?

If you want an ‘all in one’ go for the Sirius but be aware it only has one set of stereo outputs and limited internal FX but if you’re arrangements aren’t too busy this shouldn’t become too much of a problem. The UI is more limiting than the 309 but you get more synths parts.

The Technox and Cyber6 were there first modules designed for dedicated European dance/techno that tried to keep the 'phat' edge of the popular analogues of the time. Both like the Raven had limited editing capabilities.

For a master keyboard and sequencer the Raven of Cyber 6 is very good. The Raven was QM’s first workstation and unfortunately there’s very limited editing of the sounds but the sequencer is very capable with external gear.

The Rave-o-loution is a dedicated drum machine with a nice array of knobs and a decent amount of very useful ROM sounds especially with the drum expansion. The main downside of the machine is the percussion section isn’t as immediate as it should be fom the UI and you have to stop plying to load another song or 8 patterns/8 motif banks. I find it best to use another hardware sequencer for the percussion section to give a little more scope for realtime use but I haven’t found a ROM based drum machine that sounds ‘phater’ and dirtier than the 309. he bass synth can also sound very analogue but all the presets in the machine need to be cleansed of those dated hardfloor clichés.

The Polymorph was the last and most sophisticated QM synth, its 4 part a 3 vco twin filter affair with each part having its own dedicated analogue style 4 row 16 step sequencer. It has its quirks and you won’t get a big octave range with most sounds but its aggressive sound blows most most polite sounding far eastern VA’a away with little effort. It’s the sequencer and filters that are its strongest points but you really have to find the sweet spots wit the sound as it can often sound harsh and flat if not tweaked in the right places oh yeah and it also doubles as a good MIDI controller.

All in all Quasimidi had the right idea of the hard sounds the techno market lusted for (well before the Jomox, Future Retro, Elektron ect) which was missing form the new range of clean Roland and Yamaha groovboxes that were flooding the market. The 309, Sirius and Poly still have a big sonic potential you just need to tame the beast.

[Soundwave]

Yes. I just bought one. Seems to be da best.
BTW, Quasimidi is a strange name.

I'm also think that the Sirius is the best bet. but since they term of synthesis is not too clear..I wonder which one is using analog modelling and which one is just a sample based synth. I sometime wonder if the Quasar is actually their best!?

about the name, may be they're focusing too much on the Quasar with the highlight of providing the quad: Analogue, PCM, FM and additive synth sounds in one box. sound interesting to me.

In essence all Quasimidi’s are essentially ROMplers in VA clothes. The Poly has PWM and sync but its only a kinda of wavetable that sweeps though the different squrewave or Sync samples. Things can get a bit mickey mouse inthe higher octaves but as long as you stick around C2-C4 range it doesn’t sound all that bad and the sync sound is very aggressive. I think the main difference between the QM gear and the usual ROMplers is the dirty aggressive filters which are more akin to a top end VA like a Virus, they almost self oscillate and can be overdriven which really helps fatten up those ROM samples. If you like it lo-fi aggressive and dirty Quasimidi’s are a very good choice just don’t expect a complex mod matrix or fancy multi stage envelopes.

[Sealed]

I chose QUASAR as it's relatively cheap and as it has unique architecture - PCM, FM and additive.

I like its sounds. It has unique samples, and the arpeggiator with 4 patch layer is nice.

But don't dream too much. The resonance is very weak - almost diminishes the sound. FM is virtually non-editable. Additive is just like a single cycle loop.

I like the FX section - especially the ring modulator.

[crystalmsc]

great explanation, thanks a lot Soundwave! make things much clearer now.

[Sealed]

they term of synthesis is not too clear..I wonder which one is using analog modelling and which one is just a sample based synth.

With the exception of QUASAR/RAVEN with M.A.S.S. engine, I guess all other QUASIMIDI synths are PCM synths.

[Jexus]

they term of synthesis is not too clear..I wonder which one is using analog modelling and which one is just a sample based synth.

With the exception of QUASAR/RAVEN with M.A.S.S. engine, I guess all other QUASIMIDI synths are PCM synths.

M.A.S.S, M.O.S.S,... sometimes I get lost in all this MESS...

going back to the sirius
I've read many reviews praising this synth with superlatives oooch's and aaaach's and 5/5 and I seen the video on youtube and it sounded quite professional and massive,i mean; impressive
and here the reaction has been like...lukewarm... 'that's not good' / 'missing this or that...'
makes me wonder.

what would you choose then, the sirius or an1x in terms of synthesis ? cause I know the sirius has the drum and vocoding stuff

[Soundwave]

they term of synthesis is not too clear..I wonder which one is using analog modelling and which one is just a sample based synth.

With the exception of QUASAR/RAVEN with M.A.S.S. engine, I guess all other QUASIMIDI synths are PCM synths.

I think M.A.S.S. is just another fancy term for ROMpler in a time when the market it was aimed at were still a little wet behind the ears as far as synths go. My guess is that they made a kinda wavetable of FM or Additive samples and tried to pass that off as the real thing on the Quasar/Raven and hid the fact that they wern't with limited editability. It's as I said all Quasimidi's are essentially ROMplers with a decent analogueish filter.

[Soundwave]

what would you choose then, the sirius or an1x in terms of synthesis ? cause I know the sirius has the drum and vocoding stuff

For synthesis and sound exploration the AN1X hands down but for a raw gritty techno workstation/drum machine the Sirius is hard to 'beat' (excuse the pun).

[23]

so, there are:
Rave-O-Lution 309
Polymorph
Sirius
Technox
The Raven
Quasar

which one is your go to Quasimidi and why?
what's the different between those..and if you should only choose one, which one is going to be....the Sirius?

If you want an ‘all in one’ go for the Sirius but be aware it only has one set of stereo outputs and limited internal FX but if you’re arrangements aren’t too busy this shouldn’t become too much of a problem. The UI is more limiting than the 309 but you get more synths parts.

The Technox and Cyber6 were there first modules designed for dedicated European dance/techno that tried to keep the 'phat' edge of the popular analogues of the time. Both like the Raven had limited editing capabilities.

For a master keyboard and sequencer the Raven of Cyber 6 is very good. The Raven was QM’s first workstation and unfortunately there’s very limited editing of the sounds but the sequencer is very capable with external gear.

The Rave-o-loution is a dedicated drum machine with a nice array of knobs and a decent amount of very useful ROM sounds especially with the drum expansion. The main downside of the machine is the percussion section isn’t as immediate as it should be fom the UI and you have to stop plying to load another song or 8 patterns/8 motif banks. I find it best to use another hardware sequencer for the percussion section to give a little more scope for realtime use but I haven’t found a ROM based drum machine that sounds ‘phater’ and dirtier than the 309. he bass synth can also sound very analogue but all the presets in the machine need to be cleansed of those dated hardfloor clichés.

The Polymorph was the last and most sophisticated QM synth, its 4 part a 3 vco twin filter affair with each part having its own dedicated analogue style 4 row 16 step sequencer. It has its quirks and you won’t get a big octave range with most sounds but its aggressive sound blows most most polite sounding far eastern VA’a away with little effort. It’s the sequencer and filters that are its strongest points but you really have to find the sweet spots wit the sound as it can often sound harsh and flat if not tweaked in the right places oh yeah and it also doubles as a good MIDI controller.

All in all Quasimidi had the right idea of the hard sounds the techno market lusted for (well before the Jomox, Future Retro, Elektron ect) which was missing form the new range of clean Roland and Yamaha groovboxes that were flooding the market. The 309, Sirius and Poly still have a big sonic potential you just need to tame the beast.

I have to admit Sound, you got me interested in the Poly. Sorta one of those things that I very well may end up grabbing when if the urge befalls me for a new toy. BUT, I'm not sure I agree wit hyou on the "hard" sound deal.
I mean the fact of the matter was with Roland range was there actually were some pretty reliable means of getting some darn right harsh and hard tones out of the things. FXM and/or ringmodulation could pretty much get you there with just about no effort.....pretty much instant "harsh" deals you could turn to. Of course that's coming from a very nonchalant point of sound design, but my point is still there, that if someone wanted simple and harsh, there it was.

The 777 rolled out in '98, I actually obtained one of the first units (color had JUST been shifted to black rather than purple and future-retro was still being housed on a free webhosting site). As synth, I really think it wrong to liken Qusi's stuff to it.
Now if I remember correctly, the bulk of Quasi's stuff was actually rolling out right around the same time.
The 505, RM1X, 309, etc. all pretty much hitting out within fairly close proximity to each other. The 777 hitting out not to long after them. In the end, they were really all sorta around the same time period.
I really think it best to rule out looking at the 777 as a 303 type synth....doing such provides an extremely distorted view of what the synth actually is or how wide it's timbral capabilities are.
When it comes to harsh basses and leads, and some pretty darn quick harshness at that, the 777 can take things pretty damn far all on it's own (oddly, for reasons similar to the 505). But then again, if one wanted to start dealing with simply hard bass kicks/drums, the 777 is more than willing to accommodate. From basses and leads, to percussion and effects.....from the deep in low, to the subtle and nice, to just sheer abrasiveness....the 777 can really cover the bases.
People are better off forgetting the 777 can do one h**l of a 303 emulation.....looking at it from that vantage point is really to ignore the larger portion of it's architecture.

Anyhow, like I said, I wouldn't give Quasi a jump in this regard really just because it's not like they really had that much of a lead on anyone or that things weren't already being issued that had some pretty darn harsh abilities. In regard to the 505, I'll give that the FXM, ring mod, booster, etc. features were things you were going to have to dig under the hood for. Those that liked to forgo reading the manual would probably totally miss out on the existence of those aspects, but that doesn't mean they weren't there or that they were hard to get to.