Alesis Synthesizers/Racks/Modules

This is the ultimate analog synthesizer. It has five octaves (61 keys), 16 note polyphony and has two oscillators. Every patch can be modified to the nth degree with knobs for almost every single possible option. It has the features that are standard on most keyboards - transposition, pitch and modulation wheels, a ribbon, an input for a sustain pedal, arpeggiator, sequencer, aftertouch, MIDI in and out, and effects. Essentially, every single possible option you could want in an analog synth is on this keyboard. I will admit that it would have been nice to have more effects, but truth be told it's probably best for this kind of snythesizer to have a simple digital effects section. UTILIZATION Patches are modified on the keyboard, through a combination of the menus and knobs. Patches can also be imported and exported via MIDI. There are a lot of great sounding patches available for purchase through eBay. Creating and editing patches on this unit is difficult, and not very intuitive. One of the reasons for this is the sheer amount of creating and editing that can be accomplished with this machine, but it requires a pretty vast knowledge of synthesis. The comprehensive manual does a good job of explaining everything, but there is a lot of material to cover. For a beginner, this can be quite daunting; this is not a keyboard that easily creates new patches simply by turning some knobs. SOUNDS The sounds that come preset with the unit are decent. I have heard amazing patches produced on this synthesizer, but it does take quite a bit of time to fine-tune the patch settings to accomplish this. With a lot of patience, you can make the tones sound as realistic as you wish. You can change the amount of touch sensitivity, and the effects are limited, but decent. The focus of this synth is on the tones of the patches, anyway. I give it a great, only because of the time involved in making the tones sound perfect can be daunting. OVERALL OPINION This is a wonderful synth, if you have a background knowledge or the patience to learn. I purchased it because in my research I found it to be the best -- which it is -- but it just wasn't the best synth for me as it's too complicated. I only have a minimal understanding of synthesis and had never used an analog synth before. I give it an average rating because, although it can be the best, it definitely won't be the best machine for everybody. What convinced me that this synth was too complicated was lending it to my friends band, the Protomen, to use for a show. The Protomen, who use Korg analog synths, couldn't figure it out without going step by step through the manual. Not having the patience (or time) to pour through the manual, I decided the most prudent course of action was to sell it, particularly considering the cost of the synth. If I ever make another foray into the world of analog synthesis, I'll probably settle for a Mini Moog or something easier to use.

Good synth and vocoder, but the drums is what I am blown away by ... UTILIZATION At first the lack of knobs may frighten you, but once you have the shortcuts down pat you will find it ok. Pattern creation is perhaps a bit weird at first but myself coming from many years of gear that is worse I found it fine ! SOUNDS I have found that the real strength in this little keyboard is the percussion. Really. I am running Logic studio and apart from this little beastie I have now offloaded all other drum and percussion oriented gear. Simply put, between Logic and the Micron as two complementary pieces there is nothing lacking on the electronic music front when it comes to percussion. Try it out as a drum machine and I am sure you will agree ... OVERALL OPINION Sound doesn't "break down" as easily as Ion etc., fat kicks, tight snares and hihats, does noise as well. Great sound quality ... sorted !

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.

A 76-note keyboard with 4 assignable sliders, Very good effects with great routing possibilities. 4 samples per patch. Good lfo's and envelops. Very poor filters with no resonance!! Two expansion slots. 64 notes poly. No arrp or sequencer. Price paid: £600 New UTILIZATION Very small LCD screen. It takes awhile to learn how to navigate, but fairly easy once mastered. SOUNDS Excellent sound quality, sounds fit very well into a mix with very little EQ need. Very good patches across the board. Pads are especially good. Not many good lead sounds though. OVERALL OPINION Fairly poor keyboard, it feels very "plastic". Very sturdy build quality, I have had mine for years with no problems. No idea what the customer support is like. I really love the sounds of this Rompler synth. It's factory patches are very good. A great workhorse synth. Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: Unknown ( 5-, 2002)