A rather unusual title, but if you own an Alesis QuadraVerb in a standard send/return mixer or DAW setup, you might have noticed that some presets sound weird and unpleasant. The reason for this is the unusual approach to its preset design. It’s a mixed bag—some presets are partially dry, while others are fully wet.
Ideally, it should be either one or the other, or at least have a master knob to set the unit to fully wet. But no, that didn’t happen. As a result, presets that are not entirely wet can cause unpleasant phase cancellation, leading to the weird, unpleasant sound in some of them. Fortunately, I took the time to edit all of the factory presets and set them to 100% wet. Now, the QuadraVerb can be properly placed in the signal chain for standard send/return applications. The presets can be downloaded from here:
The Alesis QuadraVerb, released in the late 1980s, remains one of the iconic multi-effects processors in music history. Loved for its lush reverbs, warm choruses, and deep delays, this 16-bit rack-mounted unit became a staple in studios and live setups throughout the ‘90s. Despite its digital architecture, the QuadraVerb is known for its rich, slightly lo-fi sound, which adds a unique character to recordings. Countless Warp records releases, Aphex Twin, Orbital and of course The Future Sound of London, with the later being probably the heaviest users of these units.
Even in today’s world of high-definition plugins and DSP-powered hardware, the QuadraVerb continues to hold a special place in the hearts of musicians who crave its vintage, atmospheric magic. Whether you’re looking for classic ‘90s reverb or experimental sound design, the QuadraVerb remains a timeless tool worth exploring.
Are you a fan of the QuadraVerb? Let us know how you use it!
