I think that the filter behavior and programmability is amazing but I think there is something lacking in the sound..maybe it's the oscillators or the d/a conversion?
that being said people can still make great sounds with this synth.
I own one, and there are 3 filter modes that will self-oscillate: the MG4 LP (Moog 4 poles low-pass), the OP 4-pole HP (creation of Aureliano Pisa, Ion DSP designer largely based on the Moog 4 poles but High Pass), and Comb Filter 4. Of course, all will track the keyboard accurately but you can always add some drift to emulate precisely real analog behaviour. Hope this helps.
I´ve tried to get the Combfilters to selfoscillate and track the Keys. But I can´t really get it to work. All I get is some kind of quasi Karplus sound.
As with any digital analog filter behaviour emulation, there has to be a little signal at the input to start the self-oscillation (feedback). I suggest opening the noise source level a little.
Also the Comb Filter 4 will give a chromatic scale with keyboard tracking of 100%. That's because of the nature of the comb filter type, which is in fact a multiple cutoff filter.
I know that I must have some sort of input to the filters to get some sound out of it. But My problem was that now matter how I set the paramaters of the CombFilter, I couldn´t get it to properly track the keyboard.
I agree, this synth is so awesome, of you try it in the store you suddenly realise you've been standing there for a couple of hours fiddling with the thing. almost happened to me once. it battles up against the likes of the Roland SH-201, but I think the SH pales in comparison when you think about the number of sounds and features in the Ion. awesome synth.
It is a classic now. Its kinda the cult thing, not as pronounced as the micro korg due to tthe marketing of this instrument and the fact that the people who know enough to choose these over microkorgs also know what real analogs are and they tend to try to aquire those.
I believe its smaller brother is a classic. same sound engine and so much for the money. its superior in terms of possibilities to the microkorg. though the korg got its unique sound character.
Nice - thanks for sharing that. I wish I had those formant filters on my Andromeda! I imagine a nice high Q and an LFO blatting the cutoff about would be quite interesting!
I think that the filter behavior and programmability is amazing but I think there is something lacking in the sound..maybe it's the oscillators or the d/a conversion?
that being said people can still make great sounds with this synth.
0e0 7 months ago
I had one of these and I fucking hated it. A glassy synth with no teeth or balls, just fucking nostrils.
djcondra 10 months ago
THIS SYNTH IS ABSOLUTELY ON MY TO-GET LIST... I hear absolutely NO scaling in those filters... BEAST!!!
brandonelliot 1 year ago
It's a great little synth. Too bad that Alesis seems to have abandoned any future development....of it or any new synth for that matter.
Microsloth 2 years ago 8
Can any of the filter modes in the alesis ion self oscillate?
djsmithy 3 years ago
I own one, and there are 3 filter modes that will self-oscillate: the MG4 LP (Moog 4 poles low-pass), the OP 4-pole HP (creation of Aureliano Pisa, Ion DSP designer largely based on the Moog 4 poles but High Pass), and Comb Filter 4. Of course, all will track the keyboard accurately but you can always add some drift to emulate precisely real analog behaviour. Hope this helps.
AlainHubert 3 years ago
I´ve tried to get the Combfilters to selfoscillate and track the Keys. But I can´t really get it to work. All I get is some kind of quasi Karplus sound.
AmbientUniverse 2 years ago
As with any digital analog filter behaviour emulation, there has to be a little signal at the input to start the self-oscillation (feedback). I suggest opening the noise source level a little.
Also the Comb Filter 4 will give a chromatic scale with keyboard tracking of 100%. That's because of the nature of the comb filter type, which is in fact a multiple cutoff filter.
AlainHubert 2 years ago
I know that I must have some sort of input to the filters to get some sound out of it. But My problem was that now matter how I set the paramaters of the CombFilter, I couldn´t get it to properly track the keyboard.
AmbientUniverse 2 years ago
They really need to make a workstation and rack version of the Ion engine.
d3p3ch3mod3 3 years ago 5
Absolutely Id kill for a rack version of the Ion.
aikighost 2 years ago
@d3p3ch3mod3 A rackmount/desktop version with all the knobs would be nice. Rather than a cutdown 'Micron' version.
Audesi 1 month ago
i've got an alesis ion. fun to play with. finished my last Goth/Industrial album with this synthesizer.
battechno 3 years ago
Underrated. I think this synth could become a minor classic.
pierstheoneandonly 4 years ago
I agree, this synth is so awesome, of you try it in the store you suddenly realise you've been standing there for a couple of hours fiddling with the thing. almost happened to me once. it battles up against the likes of the Roland SH-201, but I think the SH pales in comparison when you think about the number of sounds and features in the Ion. awesome synth.
VUZOOKA 4 years ago
It is a classic now. Its kinda the cult thing, not as pronounced as the micro korg due to tthe marketing of this instrument and the fact that the people who know enough to choose these over microkorgs also know what real analogs are and they tend to try to aquire those.
fuzzydeer 4 years ago
I believe its smaller brother is a classic. same sound engine and so much for the money. its superior in terms of possibilities to the microkorg. though the korg got its unique sound character.
peter47a 3 years ago
Smaller Brother = Micron
peter47a 3 years ago
damn.. whish I had so many filter types on my virus ti. love the vowel formant.
I'd love to get one if only it had at least 32 voices poliphony. hate bouncing :P
Rayth69 4 years ago
sound smoov, like analog
nativeops 4 years ago
Great demo, it clarifies a lot about the Ion/micron filters.
alienorbiter 4 years ago
good luck figuring out how to do this on a micron, though lol
grandmaos 4 years ago
I appreciate your effort, you contribute to all the guys that trying to understand how to modulate and control the sounds !
HaniZh 5 years ago
Nice - thanks for sharing that. I wish I had those formant filters on my Andromeda! I imagine a nice high Q and an LFO blatting the cutoff about would be quite interesting!
fizmo100 5 years ago
You have an andromeda and still talking? Shame on you :)
barisurum 4 years ago
you should never complain, simply because you have an andromedia
grandmaos 4 years ago
wait, you have an andromeda and you are on youtube? I didnt realize it was possible to do anything but play it if you had one.
kaz0rp 4 years ago
These days you can buy more than 8 Alesis ions (used average price ~$500) for the price of 1 Andromeda A6...
AlainHubert 2 years ago