Alesis Unveils DG8 64 Voice Digital Grand Piano

January 28, 1999 -- Alesis unveils the DG8, the first digital grand piano to combine Alesis' renowned keyboard technology, ROM-expandability and its award-winning speaker technology. DG8 is an affordable professional-quality 64 voice digital piano with remarkable sonic quality, 24MB internal sound ROM, 8 MB of ROM-expandability and an authentic keyboard feel. Incorporating a stereo biamplified internal speaker system, the DG8 provides a realistic and convenient alternative to acoustic pianos or more complicated multi-keyboard rigs. At $2499 USD MSRP, DG8 is expected to win strong acceptance in home, professional studio and live performance applications.

Unlike any other digital piano in its class, the DG8 includes a PCMCIA-format expansion slot for adding new sounds to those provided in the internal memory. Alesis offers a full line of QCard ROM expansion cards with samples, programs and sequences in a variety of instrumental and musical styles, including Classical, Vintage Keyboards and Sanctuary.

"Nobody's done this before," said Jim Mack, Alesis vice president of sales and marketing. "We've developed a revolutionary keyboard with features that have never been seen before in the market - like the full-on professional studio monitoring system and the ability to supplement the sound set. We expect the DG8 will have such widespread appeal that it will significantly expand our business in the keyboard market. "

With a total of 24 megabytes of sound ROM onboard, the DG8 offers significantly more sounds than the nearest comparable model. The 88 preset programs in the DG8 use a variety of piano samples, from dark-toned classical grands to bright pianos for jazz, rock and pop. The acclaimed stereo grand piano found in Alesis' professional QS Series synthesizers is included, as well as organs, electric pianos, synthesizers, strings, choirs and miscellaneous keyboard instrument sounds.

According to David Bryce, Alesis marketing manager- synthesizers, "The crown jewels of the DG8's sound set are its grand pianos, which were digitally sampled in stereo from the best acoustic grand pianos in the world. All of the high-quality sounds were crafted from non-compressed 16-bit linear samples to get realism you just can't get from other pianos in this price range."

A major component of the DG8 is its professional studio monitoring system that is based on Alesis' TEC award-winning studio reference monitoring technology. The bi-amplified speakers deliver 75 watts to the woofers and 25 watts to the tweeters per side, resulting in excellent frequency response with extended bass. The DG8 also features Alesis' renowned SuperPort technology for remarkable, unparalleled low frequency reproduction.

The DG8's 88-key, fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard is an advanced design that offers the feel of a finely crafted acoustic grand piano. The DG8 also has inputs for four pedals - standard sustain control (pedal included), additional sostenuto and soft pedal control inputs, and a continuous control pedal input for volume and modulation effects.

The DG8 offers true 64-voice polyphony, so every note sustains naturally as additional keys are played. The DG8 is tri-timbral with preset and user-definable splits and layers. The piano provides built-in effects such as reverb, chorus, and rotary speaker simulation, as well as a built-in 5-band graphic equalizer and dedicated effect balance sliders so adjusting the mix of effects and instrument sounds is quick and efficient.

The DG8 is expected to ship in the second quarter of 1999.

For more information, visit Alesis at www.alesis.com.