When Quasimidi launched this rack module in 1993, they made a bold choice: instead of chasing General MIDI presets like everyone else, they loaded it with sounds designed for electronic and trance techno. The result was a machine that felt genuinely different from its competitors, built specifically for producers who wanted to make dance music without compromise.
This is a 2U rack-mounted digital synthesizer with 21 voices of polyphony and 16 multitimbral parts, meaning you can layer up to 16 different sounds simultaneously across separate MIDI channels. The synthesis engine uses Quasimidi's proprietary M.A.S.S. technology, which blends multiple synthesis methods including PCM sampling, FM synthesis, and additive synthesis to create sounds that capture the character of vintage analog gear without using traditional oscillators. You get 1000 sounds in ROM plus 200 performance layer combinations, giving you a massive palette right out of the box. The filter section includes high-pass and low-pass filters with resonance control, paired with standard ADSR envelopes for shaping each voice. Two independent effects processors handle everything from reverb and delay to chorus, vocoder, distortion, and phasers—FX1 focuses on spatial effects with 22 types while FX2 covers modulation with 29 types, and you can route signal between them for deeper processing.
The control layout centers around a 2x40 character display for editing, with real-time parameter control that lets you tweak knobs and record your movements directly into a MIDI sequencer. An arpeggiator with multiple playback modes adds percussive dimension to sustained chords, and it can even drive external synths. The backpanel includes six separate outputs so you can route different parts to different mixer channels or effects chains. Community feedback has been consistently enthusiastic—users praise the grungy, sparkling character of the sounds and the quality of the arpeggiator, though some note that the editing capabilities are limited compared to more recent machines. Owners tend to hold onto these units, making them surprisingly difficult to find on the secondhand market.
