In Praise of the ION

Talk about non-Korg Synthesizers/Keyboards and the whole synthesizer world in general.

Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever

Post Reply
User avatar
Synthoid
Platinum Member
Posts: 3300
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:54 am
Location: PA, USA

In Praise of the ION

Post by Synthoid »

I've owned an Alesis ION for awhile, and up until now felt it was just an average VA synth.

However, I dusted it off this evening and started into some serious programming--lots of knob tweaking plus exploring its features in depth--including effects (I wasn't impressed with them at first), oscillator sync, and FM. Out of the box I always felt the ION sounded a bit thin, but I wish I had recorded some of the sounds that were coming from it tonight......some fat leads, warm pads, and various pops and bangs that rattled my speakers. Of course the perfect Mini Moog style lead from "And You and I" by Yes was also in there as well.

I hope this encourages any other ION owners here on the forum......have fun with all those glorious knobs and buttons. The ION has got some guts (and surprises) for sure!

:D
M3, Triton Classic, Radias, Motif XS, Alesis Ion
Top
User avatar
Synthoid
Platinum Member
Posts: 3300
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:54 am
Location: PA, USA

Post by Synthoid »

Anyone else have some ION tips?

Sure is quiet over here. :(
M3, Triton Classic, Radias, Motif XS, Alesis Ion
Top
User avatar
Lorenzo
Platinum Member
Posts: 3681
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2002 9:56 am
Location: Italy
Contact:
Contact Lorenzo

Post by Lorenzo »

I just tried it one time in the past... but hey! I remember I thought it was incredible... I can't belive you think that it sounds thin! eh eh eh maybe you use a wrong pa system...
Regards, Lorenzo
Top
User avatar
Synthoid
Platinum Member
Posts: 3300
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:54 am
Location: PA, USA

Post by Synthoid »

Many of the presets (pads especially) were a bit lame......required some editing for sure. And why Alesis left out reverb on the ION was a surprise.

:D
M3, Triton Classic, Radias, Motif XS, Alesis Ion
Top
User avatar
chinard
Platinum Member
Posts: 824
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 2:53 am
Location: Racoon City
Contact:
Contact chinard

Post by chinard »

i <3 my ion

they can have it when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers... :D

its pretty much the only VA ive ever used that actualy sounds like an analog synth. Not necesarily as fat as real analog, but definitely as quirky and expressive as real analog.

I can totaly understand why alot of people percieve the ion as sounding flatter than other VA synths.. reverb and chorus do wonders for thickening up a sound.. (of course considering the DSP resources reverb tends to take up, im glad they left it out)
Lately ive been using my ion for live shows in conjunction with my nord g2.
I find that the routing the sound through the g2 I can easily provide the effects missing in the Ion

Personally, i dont like the presets either, but then again i believe in a 'scorched earth' approach to programming synths where you blow away the presets and start from scratch.
now if only i could stop playing 'Guitar Hero' long enough to write some more paches for my ion, id be set :lol:
Top
User avatar
Synthoid
Platinum Member
Posts: 3300
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:54 am
Location: PA, USA

Post by Synthoid »

I'd love to see an ION 2.......with wooden end cheeks, tilting front panel, and more effects.
M3, Triton Classic, Radias, Motif XS, Alesis Ion
Top
User avatar
Synthoid
Platinum Member
Posts: 3300
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:54 am
Location: PA, USA

Post by Synthoid »

Any other ION "tips and tricks?"
M3, Triton Classic, Radias, Motif XS, Alesis Ion
Top
nemmo
Senior Member
Posts: 309
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:18 am

Post by nemmo »

I've recently got a Micron. I understand now why some people love it and why some others hate it.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “General Synthesizers/Keyboards”