Alesis Air - FX/Synth

The Lounge Other Gear
1

So they’re old, they’re cheesy, and you know you love them.

SonicState named their recent episode ‘Like a D-Beam But Menacing’ after them. You know they’re about to shoot up in price. So let’s talk about them.

Alesis Air FX
Alesis Air Synth

I was inspired to make this thread (couldn’t find another specifically discussing these things) after watching my absolute all-time guitar hero, Nick Reinhart, talking about using them for a live performance side-project he did a few years back. Here’s the video, in which he incorporated the Air FX and Air Synth into the back of a huge smiley face, where these devices were used as the eyes:

This video is a great overview of the sounds:

And a great demo of the Air FX:

So, who has these? Who had them and sold them? Who regrets that decision?

2 Likes
2

I had a Photon X-25 midi controller which had one of those dome things. Ended up throwing it in the trash because it started malfunctioning. No regrets.

Related: I had a Leap Motion on loan for a bit a couple of years ago which does these kinds of things a lot better, but ultimately also felt gimmicky.

2 Likes
3

Aside from the devices in question that’s quite a rig he’s working with there. Pretty cool performance.

1 Like
4

Agreed. I mean I could go on for hours about Nick Reinhart and Tera Melos and bands in the similar ballpark like Don Caballero and Hella… But I’ll save that for another thread. Basically Nick grew up with punk music but was introduced to Aphex Twin and Squarepusher so his guitar playing adopted more electronic elements like bass synth sounds and blips and bloops. I’m fascinated to see electronic and guitar fusion stuff. It’s rare for a guitarist to have a foot in both worlds.

3 Likes
5

I didn’t even recognize him and was trying to figure out where I’d seen that :smiley: face before. Pretty cool dude.

1 Like
6

I know this is few months later, but strangely, my search for airsynth led me here. I have an airfx which was stuffed in a cupboard for decades, found it and set it up in my studio. There really is nothing quite like it. It really makes a presence when im wobbly drunk. :rofl:

1 Like
7

Nice!! I’d still like to grab one, if not as a go-to effects box then as an amusement when intoxicated. :smiley:

One day they will look back and say ‘Alesis were visionaries coming up with these crazy toys in an era when nobody else was’.

Or maybe they’re destined for further obscurity. Either way, they’re goofy and fun!