Alesis Fusion 6HD

The first time I saw the Alesis Fusion I was struck by its futuristic look, compared to other Workstation, I immediately said that this bike was something different ... a kind of UFO in the world of Tritons, patterns or other Fantom ... well I did was not wrong.

At first glance, what is striking is its very compact but very particular lines a little retro design, it pleases and it pleases not sure but it does not leave you indifferent.
I will not dwell on the already very technical reviews provided by other data, but I would summarize by saying that this is a 61-note workstation with aftertouch, weighted and slightly smaller than other keyboards I had more than 600sons factory besides additional banks to immediately download and save to your fusion. Integrated hard drive, all imaginable outputs Maximum polyphony, 4 types of synthesis, built-in sequencer ... well seen as it is shielded in any sense ... enough bourin and American my faith.

UTILIZATION


Although this synth is a little gas plant, Regarding simple operations (edtions, sequencing, combis ...) the general configuration of the Fusion is not as tedious as I have read before the buy. Indeed, the grip is correct without being intuitive either ... but having started with a Yamaha Motif ES6 and textbook ... I did not lost with the Fusion. Against browsing by the OS we perceive that this workstation enormous editing capabilities and settings but the manual in English is too simplistic to be able to exploit all, notament in the sequencer which I think adds nothing machine if it is only to bugger the OS .. it's a shame because it gives vraimment want to study for ENTERING correctly ... but programmers OS would really bet on a more stable OS, as the shield in settings, which eventually complexiser machine ... it's a pity because there is a hard and indicates integrated vraimment can enjoy ... let's talk about hard disk, the most annoying thing is that the more one delves into the vastness of the fusion sounds more must turn the dial and wait for loading sounds ... will have to be patient I tell you!

Another black namely absolutely for future fusionautes point is that this workstation is falsely malgrès its robust metal housing ... in effect one month after receiving it, I have a resistance that is overheated at the map screen, nothing serious, just a resistance to change. This is in part due to lack of ventilation merger and inefficient fan, even a design error. I Enjoy to thank DEWEAK and audiofanzine forum saved me a heart attack ... and a vacuum!

SOUNDS

After a few disappointments go to main interest of buying this machine in my opinion, are the Sounds:

I'll start with the acoustic sounds basic because they are not terrible. Indeed, the strings are not great (I know little synth who apart Roland), acoustic and electric pianos are not catastrophic but exceeded over what is done today, especially when we see a Korg Kronos or SV1. Wind instruments on them are alot more successful. For additional downloadable and acoustic sonorities, they are just bluffing and one understands why these banks there were proposed following ... to rectify the situation! Kits for bateries there than in any workstation ... even if Kit Neo Soul or Soul missing.

Then comes the heavy heavy at all electros sounds (PADS, LEAD SYNTH ....) is the reason I am melting today. Sounds may beings as metallic, cold, cristalins but also profound, powerful, round, short grass ... I who had a very good Yamaha Motif, Korg Trinity, M50, R3, MOOG ... I have the seem to have it all together in one bike ... and it is not finished with 4 pots and its subcategories modeling is so easy a bit like a R3 ... What strikes recess is this different side in the sounds and beans sounds which gives inspiration and the desire to spend time tweaking Sample Types ... maybe more than other bikes Korg, Yamaha sound directly so that makes a bit lazy in publishing.

It is also possbile sampler. Finally connected to a PC it is possible to import sounds, convert them to the fusion and magic ... we can therefore personnalier at will. In any case when you have no budget for MOOG, PROPHET, JUPITER OR VIRUS ... or want to stack the bikes ... the merger proves to be a good compromise ...





OVERALL OPINION

Because in the end ... this bike is more of a synth or an unfinished Workstation, call fusion as you want, I've found its use in addition to a Korg Triton EXTREME 88.
What is certain is that it is not intended for beginners in the world of workstation. it makes me think a little about Linux versus PC or MAC ... it's off track guys! ... but malgrès all these defects (sequencer, OS, loading sounds, fragile ...) related to misjudgment specifications designers ... those who have a fusion guard and even if he did not do well commercially, it is very hard to find in Cygnus ... it may be that something special this little guy is not what we want or we are looking for in the end? ... anyway all those who have had or have a Fusion say the same thing ... "I feel different with this bike" and it goes to the sounds of the desing. Anyway for the price it costs today ... it is given as this machine is well known, underestimated, listed under ... and perhaps ultimately to the delight of those who has one.

- What type of keyboard (synth, piano ...)? How many octaves?
5 octave, touch, high-quality synthetic

- What controllers (pitch, modulation, sustain ...)?
The pitch bend and modulation are backlit in blue
Three pedals: Sustain, switch, controller

- What connection (Audio, MIDI, Pedal ...)?
Outputs: two symmetrical pairs jacks, an ADAT port, an S / PDIF coaxial
Input: a pair of jacks with adjustable gain symmetrical for sampling, plus 8 other jacks for multi-system (individually adjustable gain menu)

- How many sounds, effects? What styles? Are they edited?
Not bad effects of good quality, an unlimited number of sounds as it is stored on the hard disk. The edition is very comprehensive.

- Via a utility Mac / PC?
Free software (FusionConvertor) to retrieve samples in Akai format, Wave, AIFF, soundfont. But there is no editor software.

- What is polyphony? ...
Varies according to the synthesis engine used: 272 votes for an oscillator sampling (there may be 4 by sound), FM 240 votes, 140 votes in VA, 60 and 48 votes for the two physical models.

I do not put that 9 because there is no digital input or microphone input, which would have really made the Fusion independently.

UTILIZATION

- The general configuration is it simple?
The PC hard disk is formatted, it is accessible from a computer when the USB cable is plugged Fusion.

Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
The feature tree is logical and sound. This machine is really designed as a PC, learning is quick.

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
It allows to side, nothing more. We are far from what Roland offers. Here no such practical functions are covered, but not really explained. Fortunately, tutorials are available on the Alesis site. on the other hand they could be included in the base package of the synth.

9 / 10 because of the general manual

SOUNDS

- The sounds they are suitable to your style of music?
Absolutely! 4 types of synthesis are not there for show: each has its own characteristics. The Fusion is a true chameleon of sound.

- Are they realistic?
May be less than the competition, but realistic or not, the bottom line is they sound!

- The effects are they effective and responsive?
There's something for everyone: amp simulators, slicer, tithe, leslie ... Good quality overall. The reverbs are excellent.

- The expression is good? (Response to velocity, aftertouch to)?
This is the best keyboard 61 keys that I have now. The velocity sensitivity is very good (and widely configurable). The aftertouch requires significant pressure, which makes it less accurate than on my Z1, for example. I have the impression of an "on / off" but usually I am doing that myself.

- What are the sounds you prefer, you hate ...?
Genesis fan, I was delighted to find in banks Hollow Sun sounds Emulator II, Mellotron and other vintage keyboards The "Holy Grail Piano" is nice, but I find that my Kurzweil sounds a bit better. I have not tested on stage or in a mix, maybe it will become clearer.

[edit] In a discussion with the creator of the Hollow Sun banks, it told me he was big fan of Genesis in the early (and he even made the backline to install keyboards Tony Banks on stage). This confirms my impressions

Overall the Fusion has excellent sound, not always realistic but decidedly pro. I did not find any rotten sound, everything seems exploitable. Banks Hollow Sun are really a plus, sound equipment available is super wide (there was even a collection of samples of dictation Magic ...).

And with the sampler and the import of bran is not limited by a fixed ROM or expansion cards at exorbitant price (is not it Mr R. ..)

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
48 hours of happiness I made several times around all the sounds and trying to explore all the menus and functions. I still work two days but I opened the manual once.

- What is so special that you like most and least?
At the very least, I would say the dial and knobs. They work well but seem fragile, especially in regard to the dial (which is always asked during editing).

For the most difficult to make a choice I like the format very compact (less than a meter long, 13kgs for a very complete machine). I love the concept of multi-synthesis synth / sampler / sequencer and audio recorder AFTERNOON. I like the feel of the keyboard, which reminds me of WSA1: flexible, precise. It allows a very fast paced and does not reveal tiring.

Above all, I like the sound of this synth! There are no metal side and no breath sounds may be hot or crystal, the dynamics are very good, the range covered is very broad.

- Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Voui I have at home several synths (Korg Wavestation EX and Z1, Roland JD-990, Juno-2, MC-505 and DJ-70, Kurzweil PC1x) and I owned in the past one-JD 800 and a Technics WSA-1.

- How would you rate the quality / price?
Unbeatable. For 1130 euros including shipping, this synth will allow me to leave the stage quietly, leaving three keyboards at home. Before I decided to take a workstation, my config was scenic, two keyboards, a VR-800 for my audio + 01v sequences for premix / keyboards. The Fusion can replace all these devices, while taking in the trunk of my car with a small amp!

- With experience, you do again this choice? ...
I wonder why I had not thought of before! 13kg and 90cm for a complete and compact config live, what more? I do not know if currently there is a machine that can compete with the Fusion.

-Dja ennonces repeatedly
-No editor pc
Full-polyphony, enough for all
-Sounds for all styles

UTILIZATION

-Edition sounds simple (for a synth without knobs) with menus and submenus but pnible times less than on some new machines.
-VA and the sampling are easily sufficient for the closure of the samples (that is always the hardest). It lacks a good editor pc, that would be the best!
-FM is a little more complicated from a SY77, terminology from Alesis' s nothing to do with a dx or sy is a bit shocking but hey there are so many possibilities.
The m-manual has not yet been used but it is the size of Botin, terrifying ... s will have to bring it to the part sequencer and mixer as there are mysterious zones or the arpegiatteur seems to trigger phrases .. .

SOUNDS

The sounds are great even without effects. It's going to the acoustic sounds romantic in East via the electro or rock. The presets are many trs (see over) and the beautiful banks of hollow sun bring more indniable. This synth can do anything, the FM will provide cold and metallic timbres, the VA will delight the lover of old school sounds and sampling that will sound an infinite possibilities ... The pads are superb (and much more playable than just the newts to be sunny), pianos and EP trs are good, the bass, but even small BMOL for brass few and unconvincing APRS ... you have the sampler To overcome this and also it is a hard Dique! Ended the era and we had to charge the bank for the floppy drive or hard drive scsi, everything loads at startup, we can do without laptop live!

OVERALL OPINION

I have recently but it is almost already tamed and loved it! I like the small tps not loading for some sounds but ca s' stop there. Amazing that such a machine is not very popular, yet it is as much that a Korg Oasys and costs 7x cheaper! Previously I tried the Roland Fantom, Yamaha Motif and Oasys but that is expensive for what that is. It is better and it is amricain that ask for?!