All user reviews for the Alesis Ion

For specifications see below they are very well exposed.
-1 Point for against polyphony (not very annoying anyway) and flatness of the synthesizer, annoying as to the legibility of the screen but great in terms of design.

UTILIZATION

Ergonomics FABULOUS, sumptuous, BEAUTIFUL, GOD, exceptionally short I do not have enough adjectives for caracériser. It surpasses comfortable the Nord Lead 3 is yet a reference in the field thanks to the endless combinaision of knobs and widescreen. The two modulation wheels that light up proggressivement is the icing on the cake!
In short we have everything on hand where needed when needed.
Manuel almost useless. Note that the manual from the first version of the OS differs from reality, some menus are not in the same place in the synth, but nothing nasty.

SOUNDS

Again Alesis was strong. A rich, broad, thick, precise emanates from this machine. It can also sound out the general purposes but is rather ... sweet! The filters are very expressive, the oscilloscope very rich (white and pink noise are huge), the awesome routing and modulation possibilities virtually endless thanks to the matrix-powerful. In short sounds are alive. Some bass are really thinking about the moog and some cloths to Jupiter and Oberheim, and sync so Pro-5. The effects are still a little behind compared to the quality of the whole. Having said this synth sounds great already dry (no effect) then can not imagine a multi-effects worthy of the name ...

OVERALL OPINION

This is my first "analog". I have a microKORG complement and complete two perfectly. I have since 2 weeks. I have not much back but I am pleasantly surprised with the sound quality, ergonomics and opportunities for that price (777 € chez Thomann).
A real "instrument" Music

The best way to do this one ide of the bte CHARACTERISTICS and have a look at the Alesis site.
Anyway, in short, it's tough, from the keyboard that is too soft I got (note o)

UTILIZATION

Simple enough Dhaka, quickly found its brands to quon know little about programming analog synths and although lcran be a bit too small.
The manual? I do not know, I did not open!

SOUNDS

So the no complaints! Cest all good, even back jarrive trs sounds close to my old Micromoog too tired to go on scne.
In addition, the sounds blend well in a trs mix with electronic instruments or else sound (bass and percussion).

OVERALL OPINION

In my opinion, two default:
- A keyboard too soft, but I am trained pianist, and no aftertouch
- Some buttons incorrectly positioned (select envelopes for example)

Apart from a, it's a pleasure vritable program and play with a report quality / price ratio.
Son La and sound!
And if jen took a deuxime?

Virtual Analog Synth modlisation
4 banks of 128 sounds
The machine invented for KRAFTWERK by KRAFTWERK and his fans I think

UTILIZATION

Trs easy to use from the time a few basics of analog
known. The edition should a 4 year old without a care.
Manual: mastering the English language

SOUNDS

Ideally suited for industrial electro of my childhood.
Typical analog sounds.
The effects are a fair bit from the rest except arpgiateur (if indeed the class of course).
Raction is the time to nickel, no delay or ignition, or the dcollage nor atrissage ....
All excellent for my style.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had one month and I think a acqurir deuxime ....
The sounds are excellent, a true killing ....
I test Nord Lead 2 and 3, and Novation K Virus .... Ion and by far the winner is (almost with Galit
virus).
The report quality price hell: 649 euros I say more ....
Tomorrow I run the buy .....

The keyboard is very simple. No aftertouch and keys are slightly reduced compared to those found on most keyboards. I could 'see' a number of people complained about the keyboard .. I think it should suit all those who are not "requirements" as a pianist ...
All the endless rotary controllers make ion a great interface, and their number is sufficient to control the VSTi ... )
The third modulation wheel is a good capital gain.
The connection to the air robust.
on the other hand, if you want to read the screen, you must either tilt the keyboard or flat enough to put down (which I do)
Sounds? ben I had hoped more!
Effects? ditto! the reverb would have been welcome ..
The edition I like. Everything is almost immediate due to knobs.
Not require utility to edit, fortunately! on the other hand, examples on how to create sounds from the presets would have been welcome in the doc ..
As for the # of sounds, I think the polyphony is very limited. Is it really difficult to design machines that can play more than 8 sounds at once? ...

UTILIZATION

The configuration is not complicated. The options are clear (no need for manual)
He did the same with sounds and effects. Once you touch a knob, the corresponding function appears on the screen of the Ion.
I think in the manual, the Alesis would develop the way to use the sequencer with 4 Parts .. it's not easy to understand at once why we hear all the instruments of 4 shares simultaneously when the sequencer sends a NOTE ON message on a midi channel only ...

SOUNDS

The sounds are very good but not necessarily unique .. (I found a little in the virus or the Proteus ...)
Many give much in the bass and bass is my favorite!
Some others are more acidic or with less 'body'; those left me indifferent ..
pfff, a slight reverb frankly, they eat no bread! ..
Expression: RAS

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 7 months.
What I like most: ergonomics (buttons, synth 'slim')
The least: the operation of Parts, the # of sounds, the low polyphony (if we seek the same 4 shares Ion)
No I did not listen to other models to make my choice is that the other models that I compared him I liked least: micron, microKORG, ms2000BR, MFB Synth2.
Despite the drawbacks that I found, the Ion is a very good value for Q / P (with respect to the concurrency ...)
With experience, I might remake this choice ...

Keyboard action is extremely short, very awkward to play on the black keys (horror!). Apparently many people do almost as white, so it goes.

Those who mourn for the aftertouch can plug an expression pedal.

8 voice polyphony is very short to play multitimbral. I do not make him play more than two tracks simultaneously. For playing live, it's OK.

512 rewritable sounds, that's great.

UTILIZATION

General configuration very simple. Editing is very easy. Personally I only creates sounds based on specific pieces I'm working on, and there was everything at hand so it goes very quickly.

The manual is very clear, he explains each parameter of the synth. I warn, however, certain that this manual does not say how to become a musician, and this is not an encyclopedia of sound synthesis. Moreover it is in English. Forewarned ...

SOUNDS

This synth is capable of many sounds very different. I use it for the pop / rock, sometimes a little electro. Tablecloths, strings, brass, leads, basses, electric pianos, effects, vocals. All to the sauce "synth" of course. That is to say no realism.

OVERALL OPINION

I just bought it 10 minutes ago, I could not help but come to an opinion ... No, seriously I use it for 2 years. I like this synth because it does what I ask him to do. It perfectly complements my other synths (the "romplers", true analog, and an FM module).

I have tried no other model before buying it, however I hesitated between a virus and a Nordlead Rack 2X. None of these there were two in stock. I wanted to do crazy, so I took the Alesis straight home.

Quality / price ratio OK. Crap customer service in Belgium (imported by AUC). Technicians incompetent and incapable of harmful trace a synth without damaging it and without losing the screws. Anyway, if I had the budget for an Alesis A6, I managed to go buy it in another country not to go through these sausages.

T have all CHARACTERISTICS dveloppes prcdesseurs by my ...
So, see below!

UTILIZATION

THE FIRST Ds use, we feel that something is happening between the machine itself.

The manual is clear: it helps to have a sufficient basis to really discovering the possibilities of the ion, which are almost endless!
Then it's the ear that does the rest ...! The most important thing to know as tame modlisation analog, and thus affect the desired effects during a search of his ...

Gnrale the config is simple: everything is in front of you! and frankly, this synth has a powerful look!

SOUNDS

The range of sounds is vast trs. As others have said before me, it passes the beautiful tablecloths, the organ sounds and electro sounds great. APRS to you to find the effects that will bring your own sound.

It is now the one relishes the ease of shipping.
Sometimes a simple effect will delight you, and sometimes you will spend hours, but which way to the end!

The layers are varied, and can provide a powerful background music compo.
The lead bass, couple of electro sounds a little bold, but not be too aggressive can be of vritables bombs!

In fact, everything is a matter of dosage? o Intrets to know the effects that we have in hand!

OVERALL OPINION

I use the Ion for the past three months. I spent time exploring before you buy. I tried one micron in-store, and I liked the sounds now! Suddenly After a few weeks rflexion, and a second test of a micron, I turned to the ion to bnficier its configuration, aesthetic, and practical! OCCAZ found grace audioF, thank you guys!

I play in groups, with a small Roland and Korg EA1 MK2 module, and the Ion overwhelms me because it allows me to find the sounds for our effective compositions, while remaining discreet (and yes we play 6, so should not be too cumbersome musically either!)

I love his look, CHAC direct effects.

For the price I redo this choice without PBS! the synths of this stamp costs at least twice. And then it quickly becomes sentimental, there's existing YahooGroup see: we love our machine!

See data sheet

UTILIZATION

configuration:
Despite the high number of knobs, which allow instant access to the functions of ION, the key to a complex configuration that requires time to grip.

Indeed it is the only cheap keyboard has a programmable fabric making it a semi-modular synthesizer powerful. The sounds created with this machine can be very varied.

Over time you get to create warm sound very good even if the filters sometimes make it sound a little too metallic for my taste.
The knobs are very good against the bill by selection buttons are very poor (why?? Mystery)

weaknesses
- Poor quality keyboard
- Instabillité the OS
- Difficulties arpégiator synchronization with an external sequencer groovebox type
- LFO hard to control in real time

strengths
- 3 + Oscilolateurs a noise generator (white and pink) very good
- A display of curves on screen
- The number of filters (only keyboard of this range to offer a choice of over a dozen filters that allow a game very expressive)
- The design of the device
- The rotary knobs to infinity as the Nord Lead 3

SOUNDS

Versatile keyboard: a very good bass, lead and strings
We must spend time on the beast to be satisfied but it's worth

OVERALL OPINION

I was looking for a keyboard to replace my 8000 and jp mainly to synthetic groundwater. This machine is perfect for that if he adds the reverb and delay in the ass.
- Very good value for money
Unfortunately I think this keyboard has not been a big success in France and is no longer manufactured ...

See previous opinions
Note: - the synth is very nice, much more than the pictures on the net.
- The presence of a powerful modulation matrix!

UTILIZATION

The Ion was my first synthé.Pour be honest I have not had any trouble getting out some nice sounds from the start! Use is facilitated by the fact that a function represents a knob.L editing sounds in that is best: easy, pleasant. The manual is pretty well done for as long as proficient in English. So that's good in this game!

SOUNDS

I am in the planant.Les synth sounds are excellent for ça.En effect with the work they are soft, captivating and especially close to anologique! You will therefore understand not realistic sounds (normal is why not!). I also wanted to add that the presets are very varied and changing what makes the Ion a very versatile synth.

OVERALL OPINION

It is now seven months I use it very hard. The Ion has a lot of skills (editing, sound, look, price). The quality / price ratio is excellent, it is a professional synth (See Klaus Schulze ). Do not rely on the price, this synth is worth much more! I think the competition is not weight côté.J 've tested the Virus, Nord Lead, but there has not been the Thunderbolt I had with the Ion ...

With experience, you do again this choice? .. What a question!

See manufacturer website, but good CHARACTERISTICS trs!

UTILIZATION

Intuitive! to everything except the matrix! which is one of blackheads. (See conclusion)

SOUNDS

The sounds:
trs versatile of lead in water looooooooooooooooongue pchu. (Must know how to play with unison, distortion, etc ... detune <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" /> )
we can get out of the sentences fetched (especially with the sample & hold)

OVERALL OPINION

Rcente use.
I like the most? possibility, Aesthetics, compared qualitprix
I like the least? no knob for direct ACCS prodondeur of LFOs! a modulation matrix, but not complte forcment practice.

VERY GOOD SYNTHE, both the characteristics of sounds!
With a budget of 500, yes I do it again this choice.
Well in retrospect I do not ever do it again this election! <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" />

edit 19/04:
Low-level output. (-1)

edit 19/01/10:
-Saturation output when pushed (not normal)
Numrique-sound <span style="text-decoration: underline;">(no</span> comparison with analogue) but hey it's a normal synth numrique!
There are plenty of knobs, but you still even go to the sub-menus! (Matrix)
I've sold, it is beautiful, but for the big sound electro More investment is needed.

Characteristics superior to those of a Nordlead2X
(See other reviews for a detailed description)

Very nice finish

Very good ergonomics of the synthesizer,
which simplifies the control of the synthesis.

Synthesis type "fm" is located simplified three oscillators, but not necessarily obvious to understand.

49 keys, that's enough for many styles of play
The keyboard is light, it is a choice, but although different it is not worth finishing it with a DX7
The after touch is customizable, so do not worry about it!

Large creative possibilities in perspective ... enough to have fun a good time!

UTILIZATION

The manual is clear if you get it in French ...

It is very well done to understand the overall structure of the synthesizer,
but it does not fit enough in the important details: The modulation matrix and the vocoder (though two strengths of the synthesizer), the FM also.

The many included filters distinguishes it from other synths of this type (his third strong point), and again these filters are very interesting to press on the FM (they become even more expressive!).

Its waveforms are not static, they can be "inclined" to sound otherwise.
It is quite unusual!

It is a powerful MIDI controller, only through the editing software ION / MICRON, unofficial and paying unfortunately! but here, it far exceeds some control pad!

The sequencer is needed quickly, sufficiently comprehensive and yet simple (very inspiring for a bass line)

Synthesizer extremely accurate, very responsive!

SOUNDS

The sounds! ! ! well it's still the main

This synthesizer driven easily, according to his wishes ...
It adapts to large musical horizons by mixing ably additive (or subtractive? To check) and FM synthesis (simplified).

This is an analog modeling synthesizer, some very thick filter (moog filter emulation and Oberheim among others ...) and a unison mode "full" (all channels simultaneously, up to 8) complete its characteristics, the Ion can sound More FM or analog depending on the programming that we approach

Benefit it provides: the use of hand, creating complex sounds, but limits the polyphony

OVERALL OPINION

Recommended for those (and those) who wants to learn the additive and the basics of FM synthesis,
Ideal for testing and programming, the studio where the scene (endless knobs very pleasant play of light on three wheels "huge!")
immediately accessible (a good range of patches (sounds) pre-programmed)

Solid and stylish, however it sounds differently from analog.

Attention, it is only available currently used (information on).
But the investment is worth it!

Polyphony 8-channel, multi timbral 4 shares
full of knobs
arpgio, LFOs, three oscilloscope, full of filters, a modulation matrix
Connectors supplied without such a virus is more spares outputs and effects. Ion on the widely criticized the lack of a rverb.

UTILIZATION

It was my first real synth does. I tt as the Electribe ESX before him.
The handling is quick and I had bought for this reason. Indeed ds fiddles that we landed a knob at the right menu. Each menu n'excde than 5 pages with 3 tabs. Used to it quickly and it's great practice.
ON called easily and it is not difficult to save. I appercu APRS him every synth works the same Manir and so he does trs educational for me without opening the manual. All this has good and trs Manir logic.
I never used the editor even if I think there is one for micron / ion.
I chose this ion rather than about one micron for its ease of programming.

SOUNDS

Sounds are typs. Ca me or made me think Vitalic Mirwais. It sounds modern, aggressive but can be softer.
Percussion kits s'intgrent well in the mix but I do prfrait the drum station, drum machine and drm mk2.
He was used primarily for leads in full voice.
The arpgio is nice but not enough so I have not programmable or pig. Any fawn I squenait (not the Ion arpgio)
I had probme drift: it supports diverse four times on the same button and it does not come out 4 times the same sound.
The keyboard introduced me some buttons a little noise in the sound.
The output level is not lev masters except of course as in full voice.
The grimey bass taient and without dynamic and treble too aggressive.
9 for the original sound, and because nothing is perfect but I am forgiving because if I took into account the output level, the drift, lack of dynamic and difficult aspect of the sound Dfine is a 7. So I stop the average of two: either 8

OVERALL OPINION

I kept 2 or 3 years. I'm 500 and I spar against adding 100 in my pocket for a 2 and a rack north juno 106. Northern rack me out of similar, better Defines, faster and takes up little space and juno is that bonus.

+++++
well for the electro
sounds modern and fit in
easy to use a knob activun menu that appears automatically
it is beautiful and powerful
programmable knobs and arpgio
modulation matrix

-----
crappy keyboard that introduces noise in the sound
drift
mals bass and treble Dfine aggressive
lack of effects
arpgio enough programmable
took up too much space the light of what he brought against one who has succd home: the north rack.

Despite sometimes I miss him because I liked the grind (bought new in Mixexprience 820 (c'tait the cheapest) and resold 500)
800 c'tait a bit expensive and it is 500.

Since I had a virus A: for me and what I do is the worst, then comes the Ion and then north at the top rack. I dtest Trance sound of access that everything is relative since it is to turn the knobs to customize its sounds: even when I dtest.
I have a Juno, a sunsyn a Monomachine, a DX200, a v-synth. The Ion is DIFFERENT from all a.
If I remember correctly the Ion sounded a bit like an x-station with more personality or as a rack in the north more dirty.

Now if I would take a waldorf c'tait again, but guess what I prfre dsormais the flavor of real analos.

What type of keyboard? - The touch keyboard synth, really cheap, light (good-ten-feet) will have to.
- What connection? - Midi in / out / thru, 2 in 4 out.
- What controllers? - Three Mollettes pitch / mod all assignable.
- How many sounds? - 500 editable presets all.
- What is polyphony? - 8 voice polyphony ca just more than I have ten fingers.

UTILIZATION

- The general configuration is it simple? - A function knob, there's no easier to see everything we have is wonderful edite
I'm used to the old Bouzin ca change

- The manual is clear and sufficient? - In french so it is very clear although the vocoder is good but not explicit in any case he not use the vocoder is a gadget.

- Publishing of sound effects or is it easy? - Everything is covered hands,
it's all on, no menu and sub menu.

SOUNDS

- The sounds they are suitable to your style of music? - So the pallet is very large have a good low fat minimoog style, good juicy leads way arp odyssey, 8 sheets of Jupiter, the pads of OB8, sweep, fx ... all this with a surprising modulation matrix .
on the other hand have no way supersaw trance techno-man friends so you turn to the innovation or something that kind

- Are they realistic? see is not a synthesizer, it There's some good organ sound nice but nothing.

- The effects are they effective and responsive? Digital sound effects, at the same time it's a digital synth and then have not asked him everything but a small dose can give a little more sound.

- What are the sounds you prefer, you hate? - So it's interesting that it can emulate are to some extent of course the Oberheim, Roland, Moog, ARP so beware of it is far from vintage analog but it will do just fine trust me

- The expression is good? (Response to velocity, aftertouch to)? - Yes, despite the crappy keyboard.



OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it? - Few days

- Have you tried many other models before buying it? - Yes a lot of analog synths, digital hybrid ...

- What is so special that you like most and least? - A veritable Swiss army knife may have everything to do with this synth

- How would you rate the quality / price? - The instrument is well made except for the keyboard.

- With experience, you do again this choice? ... - Yes because it allows for all types of sounds at hand without making everything set up and all this in 9kg.

A quick turn on the features of this synth just to be clear. It is created by a VA KRAFTWERK consisting roughly as follows:
- Three oscillators that can modulate one another (FM ...), Hard sync with forms wave that can easily edit and tweak (orientation of the teeth saws, hack the sin etc etc ...) and opportunities for three-operator FM (well not comparable with a DX 7).
- The output levels of the oscillator section to determine how you attack the filters. Routing output to the filters in some "custom" (eg we can say that osc 1 enters the filter 2 only, and in the filter 1 osc1 ...).
Opportunities to emulate a sort of drift (like vintage) moderately successful.
- A filter section "Custom". There is a variety of filters including filter emulations Jupiter 8, Minimoog, ARP 2600, TB 303 and Oberheim SEM and a filter made in abundance Alesis (forming, vocal, 18db etc etc ...). We decide what filter is assigned two slots. We find all the editing parameters classic filters (cutoff, resonance, envelope etc etc ...). Mixer at the output filters are divided on how the outputs of the machine and a multieffect correct (without exception).
- Two LFOs, S & H, two envelopes and a very good modulation matrix (rather than be without the complexity of that of Andromeda). - An 8-channel polyphony (enough), a connectivity standard that we will not detail, and keyboard quality is very poor. Today it is manufactured as such and replaced by miniak Akai is built on the same sound engine.

UTILIZATION

Operation is simple, once we pass over an hour. Very quickly you quickly understand the operation as long as you&#39;ve done a bit of analog synthesis.

At first they may sometimes be surprised by certain behaviors, but we understand and we quickly adapted his work (I think among other routing sometimes surprising and the offset of the filter 2 ...).

Otherwise we are quickly scent the doc is very well done and very educational for a beginner in synthesis. The screen often criticized, more than enough.

SOUNDS

Just in the facts, without either extend too. Firstly one may wonder about the quality of emulations filters vintage. The patch is close to the original, even if "too clean", the Arturia Origin emulates much better on an almost identical (on the stamp) but it&#39;s not the same budget.

Alesis proprietary filters are great and can make sounds and hyper original typed. In general all the filters have a very special grain to the Ion, both very deep and sharp, even if ...

Digital but good. Say what would have been perceived as a defect on any other VA niquel passes on the Ion and is part of the soul of the machine. Finally the filters really new exiting.

Depending on the settings, it tears, it has a potato in hell, not that the machine have fast envelopes (they are rather molassones elsewhere but there are worse), but filters very well compensated because of their character super soaked and can be very aggressive.

The oscillator section is nice and can do lots of things, but they sound a bit "thin". The filters catch much sauce. FM is very original and very efficient, the Ion is one of the few VA synth (or analog) to help make real hard sync which contrasts very strong. So yes it is not a Prophet 5 but ...

Ditch emulations of vintage filter on elements of sound synthesis "modern" offered by the CSO and a sound world that only knows how to open the Ion. Generally it is a machine that has a grain to it, which happens to mimic very accurately filters vintage stamps to create amazing things.

Any records, it is quite comfortable "in his own way," very expressive. It is a very special machine with a grain of her own. Compared to a Nordlead: Nothing to see (see my review on the Nord Lead 3). The Ion is more juicy and pulls a lot more.

Nordlead has the strongest envelopes. Compared to the Virus (which I could listen): The Ion is more ... "Analog" and sounds much better for my taste. The virus has inevitably sounds pretty "cold and hard", where the ion has more range I think.
Compared to the V-Synth: No report, machines are incomparable because very very different. The effects of the V-Synth are excellent and well ahead of those of the Ion.

Compared to Roland Gaia (the youngest): The Ion bury the Gaia. There are no photo shadow of a second, the Ion is really tying or Gaia is not the slightest frown satisfaction and emotion.

Finally we may regret in the high octaves or a little extreme modulations the presence of aliasing: a pity. Nothing comparable with Gaia is a curse but ...

OVERALL OPINION

It is ultimately a great machine, really. It is important not to use it as an emulation of vintage machinery, that would be to miss the Ion and its excellent opportunities.
More manufactured, value for money on this opportunity is currently excellent. The choice is again without hesitation despite the keyboard really bad and even in the midst of a large set of analog prestige, it is very appropriate and relevant, he brings his personality that no other synth has.

The Alesis Ion is a digital, four octave synthesizer that models its sounds after analog synths. It has three wheels for pitch, and two for modulation, all of which are assignable. It has both 1/4 inch connections and MIDI ins and outs. It is fully polyphonic, but can also be set to be monophonic.

UTILIZATION

While I wouldn't say that the configuration of the Alesis Ion is complex, it does take some use and time to figure out what everything does. This is because the Alesis Ion is an extremely versatile synth with a ton of different parameters. While this is the Ion's best characteristic, it also means that it takes some time to understand this instrument to its full extent. The manual for this is definitely helpful to have around when trying to master the Alesis Ion.

SOUNDS

The Alesis Ion is great for all types of music, but I have used it mostly for pop, rock and electronic music. The analog modeling on this synth is very realistic, and the sounds you can get from this are far and wide in terms of getting different sounding tones. The feel of the keyboard is great, and it is quite easy to play, with an overall great feel. You truly have control over your tone, making the Alesis Ion versatile in terms of tone.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Alesis Ion for about a year and a half and I have found it to be one of the better digital synths out there in terms of modeling analog synths. It is great to have all different types of analog synths sounds within one instrument, with all the benefits of a digital keyboard. The price is very reasonable for a synth of this caliber, and is a great option for anybody interested in getting some analog synth sounds with the convenience of a digital synth.