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.