It's good to hear people still talking affectionatly about the QS8 series. I've used a QS8.1 as the centre of my rig for 5 years now and I also agree that it still stacks up against the newer market leaders such as the Tritons and the Motifs. Sure they have higher rate samples etc but put your QS8.1 through a small stereo PA as I do and I'd challenge anyone to find fault with the sounds in a live band situation. The main stereo piano sound though groundbreaking for it's day, lacks the subtlety and dynamics for a solo ballad style piano but sounds fine as a cutting stage piano for rock, pop and blues, and the keyboard action has always been one of the best around. Incidently the keyboard on the QS8.2 not only lacks aftertouch (criminal to take it off) but I think Alesis also changed the manufacturer. My brother has a QS8.2 and it has much looser and slacker feel to it. The 8.2 became available for a much cheaper price than the 8.2 so the changes were made to capitalise on the limited remaining market life of the keyboard. It's still got the same great sounds though. The master keyboard facilities are great once you take time understand them fully and I drive other keyboards, modules, lights,laptop VSTi's and also have several splits going on at the same time on the QS8.1 itself. I genrally midi up the piano sounds on one of my Roland boards when I want a solo grand piano these days such as my VR760 combo, or use a VSTi piano.

A second hand 8.1 is the keyboard to go for if you can find one.

The QS8.2 doesn't get a lot of respect, being that they didn't update the system at all since 8.1, and in fact they stripped down on the hardware a little (esp. with regards to outputs and expansions on the back of the synth). They did increase the effects to 24-bit and have 24-bit DACs. This gives it a slightly crisper sound than the 8.1. And they also re-wrote the User bank. Otherwise, this review would apply to QS8.1 as well.

It is still a very useful board for gigging and for bread + butter keyboard sounds. It still holds up to newer offerings with regard to the actual quality of its sound and its diverse sample-set. Newer machines like the big 3 workstations have more memory, a resonant filter, and that's about it. I play the newest offerings of the big 3 companies all the time at Sam Ash, and the QS8.2 can still compete with them. It is only ROMpler technology, which matured back in the mid 90s and hasn't really changed much since then.

So you really get a lot of sounds and a quality, sturdy board for your money here. A much better choice IMHO than plastic crap like X-50, Juno-D, MM6, etc. Here you get a good feeling 88-key weighted board with tons of great organs, EPs, pianos, synth sweeps and basses, gorgeous pads -- all for under $800. Holds up to gigging, it's been road-tested by yours truly. The 8.2 is still metal (with a silver finish) but with plastic endcaps. It's pretty solidly built to withstand the rigors of the road. Can you say that about Yamaha's MM6? No.

If you can do without the resonant filter and just want great sounds to take out on the road, get this board, or get a used QS8.1 if you need the extra outputs and extra expansion slot. Also the Q-Cards for these things really open up a new world of sound.... even better samples of Rhodes, Acoustic Grands, vintage synths, and whatever else you can ask for. The library of sounds is almost endless. Great performance mode too, including layers and splits! Can import sequences onto an expansion card if you need to have them.

In addition, the QS series of synths are also expandible via the Soundbridge software.... you can put your own samples in there!! I've done this. It's amazing.... you've got the capability of the top-end workstations right there at a fraction of the cost.

Great synth! I have lots of other stuff including analog gear that I use in the studio but would never think about taking to gigs. This one does the job for me for gigs, sometimes it's the only board I take out.

The only drawback in my case is the durability. After 2 months of owning, the backlit led would flicker and the wood at the keyboard ends chipped, maybe it's caused from heavy use.

If you can still find the alesis 8.1, go for it! Overall I would give it a perfect score!