Getting a new reverb unit. Alesis Microverb IV?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Krakit
  • Start date Start date
Krakit

Krakit

Rzzzzz!
I need a shallow unit or it won't fit in my rack.
The Alesis MV4 has the dimensions that I need, but does it also have the balls?

To be honest, I'm using this for my live rig and not for recording, so it dosen't have to be that spectacular. However, I don't want metalic sounding reverbs that don't sound natural. I need good decay, and blend with my synths and keyboards.

Extra effects aren't that important. I don't really need to lean on this for delay, phasing or anything like that. Such things are nice, but not essential.

Is the verdict that I've made the right choice here?

Carl
 
How about the Lexicon MPX-100 or 110, or their new MX-200? Another unit that will probably have the right dimensions is the TC Electronic M300.

I'd take any of these over the Alesis you are thinking of. The only Alesis units I would consider for your purposes would be the Q20 or Wedge. However, the Wedge is a desktop unit and the Q20 may be too deep (it's deeper than the MV4).
 
the Lexicon MX200 and the TC M300 do look like very good units. Perhaps too good.

Like I said, I don't need any additional effects from this gear. Just decent reverb. What I'm seeing on both of these are tons of other effects that I don't want to pay for because I won't be using them.

At a price difference of almost double the Microverb, the Alesis would have to be a real dog for me to start searching in the $200 range for what amounts to a live only peice of gear.

The Harmony Central reviews for the Alesis look good. Admittedly, I've not gotten to play around with it in person. I couldn't find any HC reviews for the units that you mentioned (other than the discontinued ones).

Would I be paying for the flangers/chorus/echo/delay etc. if I spent the two Franklins on these?

Carl
 
I just bought the TC Electronics M300 and so far I have been quite impressed with it. You can use as much or as little of the effects they provide. It's very "tweakable" if you want it to be. It's also only about four or five inches deep. And for only $200 you can't beat it.
 
If you dropped a couple Franklins on the Lexicon or TC models you'd be buying better sounding reverb. How good do you want to sound?

The Microverb 4 has a bunch of delay, chorus, flange, etc. effects as well. That's just the way it is with these kind of boxes. You're paying for that stuff no matter whose you buy, so the idea is if you go up $50 or so you can get a lot better sounding box for not a whole lot more money.

I also really hate the power brick Alesis uses. I have found it to bleed noise into audio lines at a fairly alarming level. That's one reason I don't use their stuff anymore.

The Microverb is an old design, a lot of advances have been made since it was originally released in the early to mid 90's (something like that). I think you'll have a lot better sounding reverb by using one of the Lex or TC units. The extra money would be worth it in my opinion.
 
I've found the Microverb for $118 new and GC will price match it.

Unless I could get one of these other units (which look like fine units) for $150 or less, I'll have to shrug my shoulders and stick with the Alesis.

Unless the Alesis is so noisy that it's worth all that extra cash.

Carl
 
i've had the TC M300 for about three weeks now. i've used it live once and at one rehearsal, as well as done some recording - both as an effect and a converter.

i'm really pleased with it, and haven't really found anything i expected it to do, or wanted it to that it can't. the presets are good, and it has a good range from 'quite subtle' to 'completely OTT' - switch it to chorus and turn all the knobs to full and you can play any note, and it won't make much difference, what with the amount of 'wobble' you get.

sadly, i can't really compare it to anything other than free plugins, which it wipes the floor with.

Andy
 
fraserhutch said:
No, but apparently that doesn't matter to you, so why bother asking?
Click to expand...

No kidding, huh? :rolleyes:

Alesis is noisy, trashy equipment. Stay far away. ;)
 
I have other Alesis gear and I don't find any of it noisy.

That dosen't mean that the Microverb isn't noisy (haven't heard one yet), but I can't say the same about my other Alesis peices.

If it seems like I'm hanging onto the Alesis through this thread, it's because the size and price are right and the reviews on Harmony Central look good. No compalints about noise there.

This is for a live rig and not a studio rack. A bit of noise would be acceptable. Until it died on me, I was using a Zoom RFX 1000 for this job. That was fine for me for the six or seven years that I gigged with it. The Alesis is a step up I'm sure.

Basically, I'm feeling out if there are other units of COMPERABLE price that will do the job better than the Alesis.

Seems to me that oft times when gear advice is sought, other people are very quick to spend other people's money. I scrape to get by so even as little as $50 is a lot of cash to me. I have to work for five hours to make that much and I have a family to support as well.

So jumping from $118 to $200 just because of a little noise that in a crowded venue might never be heard seems a bit extravagant to me.

I didn't trash the other units. I'm not saying that the Alesis is a better unit. I'm sure (SURE) that it is not. However, some hum isn't what's going to make me steer clear of it for my intended use. Unless the SNR on the Alesis is something like 3:1 it's not going to effect my decision.

But, if the onboard reverbs in the Microverb sound like they are made of tin, have sudden decay drop offs, synthetic sounding starts and stops then I will pass on it.

Anyone going to state that in their personal experience with the unit in question that this is the case?

I would love to be able to get the Lexicon or TC. But if I were asking for a station car to get myself to work and home every day and was looking at something like a fully loaded Hyundai Elantra for $13,000 and someone kept asserting that a Honda Accord for $22,500 is the way to go because "it's better than the Hyundai" I would have to say Pffft on that too.

If the Behringer Virtulizer wasn't eight inches deep, I would probably be getting that instead of the Alesis because it too has good reviews at HC and costs only $99.

So, unless there is another low priced (or even comprably priced) NEW unit that will provide no frills, good reverberation in the size I want, then I will be getting the Alesis.

A bit of hum is not going to be enough incentive to drop another $70. Sorry, haven't got that kind of income at the moment.

"You're going to get the Yamaha upright? Don't be a fool, get the 9 foot Steinway grand for $30,000 or you're an asshole."

:rolleyes:

Carl
 
Last edited:
The Alesis MV4 has got to be the best reverb unit ever made, rivalling units ten times it's price...

Is that what you wanted to hear?

I think the earlier comments were in response to you not actually asking for an opinion, but seeking validation on your decided purchase...And your insistance on continuing the thread until you got the answer you wanted.

Well there you have it...
 
Krakit said:
So jumping from $118 to $200 just because of a little noise that in a crowded venue might never be heard seems a bit extravagant to me.
Click to expand...

In my mind, there is no difference in price between $118 and $200. It's basically the same price.

I think the important question, the only real issue here, is this:

Are you making your living from playing, or is this a hobby?

If you are making your living at it, then do yourself a favor and spend the money on the better box. If this is just a hobby, then in all honesty it doesn't matter that much.

Where I live, guys that show up with 2nd or 3rd rate gear that is 10-15 years old don't work much. And when they do work it is the lower tier jobs that pay lousy.

The people working the better jobs generally have spent the money on better gear and therefore sound better. They put the care, thought, and money into having good tools to use at all times.

So again, if this is a hobby, go ahead and save a few bucks and it probably won't matter. But if you are making a living at this, even a good portion of your living, then spend the few extra dollars and make yourself sound better. It will work out a lot better in the long run. That's been my experience anyway.

Just my opinion.
 
No, I don't make a living at this anymore.
I do play out from time to time and by no means is it a substantial portion of my income.

I'm making about $10 an hour after taxes thanks to outsourcing.

What I wanted was not validation (unless validation was what I should get for my choice).

What I want to know is pretty simple.

1. Is the Alesis the only decent device in this price range (literally) that is shallow in depth.

2. Is the Alesis reverb metallic? Does it have a sudden drop off in decay? Does it have an unatural attack? Are the reverbs so unconvincing that they sound like an effect and not natural reverberation? Is the answer to these questions "no?"

3. Is the signal to noise ratio 3:1 or worse? Does it have more hum in it then say a guitar pedal effect?

I have not trashed any suggestions made so far. I have not stated that the gear suggested so far was inferior. It IS more expensive and expensive is not an option.

I'm so glad that this economy is working out for so many of you that $70 is a drop in the bucket.

With gas prices what they are and mouths to feed at home on my meager salary, I can't splurge that much whenever I want to.

I have a project that needs immediate attention and my current reverb bit the dust. I need a replacement ASAP and can't wait the month or two to squriell away another $70 without my wife getting upset and rightly so.

So to recap.

Money to spend = $150+tax MAXIMUM no wiggle room.
Reverb must be new (for warranty purposes)
Reverb should sound as good as $150+tax new can sound.

Validate that.

Also let me make this clear (in case I haven't already). If I could afford it I would buy the TC or the Lexicon without hesitation. I KNOW these are good units. No doubt about that.

Can't make this any plainer than that. Suggesting either of these to me right now is like suggesting a $1000 or even a $10,000 unit. It isn't going to happen.

I'm guessing even the comedians that offered no alternatives, just heckles have got the picture now.

To further clarify. Even if the Alesis is the worst sounding reverb on the market today, if it's the only one that costs what it does and fits in my rack I'm going to have to be satisfied with it.


Carl
 
Last edited:
I have the microverb, and I dont get any noise from mine. I can notice that the quality is less than the better verb units, but for live-only apps I dont think anyone will notice at all. I use mine just for providing some spaciousness to my drum machine, and it is quite up to that task.

If you can afford the better units, do it.

If you absolutely must stick to your price point, the Microverb will function adequately for your live rig.
 
I could go on.. but I've already stepped over the line... my apologies. (Too much coffee this AM)

If that's your strict budget, and dimensions are more important than sound (whoops... slipped there again), the only other new unit filling that bill would be a behringer... so I'd stick with the Alesis.
 
MOFO Pro said:
I could go on.. but I've already stepped over the line... my apologies. (Too much coffee this AM)

If that's your strict budget, and dimensions are more important than sound (whoops... slipped there again), the only other new unit filling that bill would be a behringer... so I'd stick with the Alesis.
Click to expand...

I did find a behringer unit but it's too deep.

Is there another behringer that is less than 5 inches in depth?

Carl
 
I was thinking of the Behringer DSP1000 Virtualizer, but that one's eight inches deep.
 
MOFO Pro said:
I was thinking of the Behringer DSP1000 Virtualizer, but that one's eight inches deep.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I considered the Virtualizer. It's only $99 and really had my interest until I discovered that it was eight inches deep.

Honestly, the Microverb was NOT my first choice. I considered getting another Zoom (which I could afford and would fit in my rack), but this one dying on my left a bad taste in my mouth.

Carl
 
I'd take practically anything Alesis over most Behringer gear.

Since you don't do this professionally, I'd say then stick with your budget and buy the Alesis unit that you want.

The trouble with saying that it has to be new and a max of $150 is that you are imposing what you think the pricing should be. You end up actually get less value for your money, because by spending a bit more you get more value for your money.

There is a clear cutoff in quality below $200 for new units. I highly doubt you will get an M300 or Lexicon MX200 for $150, although you probably could find them for a little below $200. So if it is strictly $150 or less, the Alesis will be one of your few choices for a new unit.

As far as the comment about the $70, I do this for a living so I have to sound as good as possible. For me, putting an extra $70 (or $700) toward sounding better will probably pay off further down the road. It's an investment, and it does make a difference.

And the money is not a drop in the bucket, $70 for me is the same as $70 for you. The difference is, I see *value* in spending the extra dough and you don't. Which is cool, our situations are different. It might be a waste for you to put the extra money out, while for me it isn't.

soundchaser59 said it best, the Microverb is "adequate". It is not better or worse than that.
 
I've owned three Alesis components...

The Quadraverb Plus... which I've owned forever with no troubles, but is less than stellar, and is strictly for guitar. (Resale is too low to unload it)

The Masterlink... great piece with decent converters, no problems.

and the DM-Pro... which I love... but have had to have serviced on a few occasions because the caps in the triggering circuit keep drying out.

The Alesis seems to be exactly what you're looking for... and I would choose over the Zoom, in a heartbeat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top