ALESIS ION SYNTH VIRTUAL ANALOG DEMOSTRATION by S4K

[djomercohen]

cost 3 times as much than what they really worth (same for VS synths)

a virtual analogue synth only advantage is that it dont kill your pc's CPU like a VSTI.

the only thing that make you think that a virtual analogue synth sounds better than a VST is that it comes with a high level soundcard (which you can buy seperately and use with your VSTI's) that gives it its "unique" sound.

dont waste your cash on this cheap made overpriced bullshit.

VA = VSTI

[glenstegner]

@djomercohen Sometimes it's not just about sound, it's about having an all-in-one synth with keys and knobs for performance control. All the knobs and buttons properly labeled and spaced apart on the panel in the order of the signal path (like a normal synth should), not a controller with generic unlabeled knobs connected to a laptop. For the 2nd hand prices they go for now, the ION is worth it just as a controller, but you get an excellent synth engine to boot. It's well built too.

[djomercohen]

@glenstegner yes but if you are a serious producer that aim to the highest, it will always be better for you to work with a couple of synths which are true analogue or digital (not computer made sound like virtual analogue), same for mixers, effects, monitors, condensers and so.

[cornpopsandacid]

so im kinda getting this synth is pretty damn goos for dance music but what about ambient music?

[cjsinister6]

I'd like to see what S4K can do with a Mopho keyboard DSI

[AKITM]

I have the Virus and the Ion. I won't deny that the Virus is a fine synth, with the best feeling keyboard; but I will never like it as much as my Ion. Personally, I think it's fine if people ridicule the Ion. They might actually convince others that the Ion isn't any good and that keeps the prices low for those of us who know it's one of the best VA's ever made. This demo, and the presets on the Ion REALLY don't it justice.

[xesionprince]

I'm thinking of getting this. (Anyone know how much I could get for a Yamaha Motif XS 6 workstation in immaculate condition?)

[realguy640]

I'd love to buy one of these, anyone know the deal with all the OS complaints, and buggy problems? I read these all over review sites.

[BubblegumShallow]

Anyone who'd slag the Ion or Micron needs to put down the crack pipe,step away from the presets and actually learn to program.

as for who plays the Ion/Micron (same synth engine), -Bertrand Burgalat, Miley Cyrus, Nine Inch Nails, System of a Down, Ashley Simpson and The Veronicas (for starters). if the Ion has one flaw its the lackluster fx,so go buy a decent fx unit for under 100 dollars and now you have the most versatile and convincing analog modeled synth in the under 1000 dollar market.

[djfakt]

Anyone who knows ANYTHING about synths know that the Ion is the warmest VA around...It's only punk kids who are more into brand-names who claim that their Nords or Viruses are the greatest things on earth.

Ask a professional sound designer (hey, that would be me, fuckers) which VA stands alone in the SOUND dept (and FILTERS) and they'll tell you it's the Ion EVERY TIME.

[HyperSonic707]

@djfakt hahahahaha, no. i prefer the roland sh-201 to this anyday. the ion sounds like a VST but the 201 sounds like a monster... thats probably why so many more producers (like myself) use it and no one uses the ion

[djfakt]

@HyperSonic707 Read just about any review of the Ion (Sound On Sound is about as fine a synth publication as can be found) and you'll see PROFESSIONALS gush about the Ion.

What have you put out, big producer? Some jive digital-only release? I've had PROFESSIONAL records put out, son. You know, where I get paid for my work by a record label...I've been using synths for two decades, you ignoramus...I shouldn't have even wasted these minutes on a clown such as yourself.

[VisceralVoids]

People who talk down on the Alesis Ion usually do so because:

1) the Ion has no reverb or delay like every other VA synth

2) don't understand how to program their synths

3) don't know that they can have more than one "part" on, or are stuck in some crappy setup someone misprogrammed (a setup initialize fixes this)

You can get an Ion and a good multi-effects unit off of eBay for under the price of a Virus or Nord Lead. Not for preset hounds. BTW the Ion is DSP powered just like the Virus.

[giulianovideo]

@VisceralVoids I totally agree! I bought one 3 weeks ago and I think it's a wonderful machine! I also agree to the fact that at least a delay should have been inserted, but with 50 euro you can buy the FEX800 by Behringer and complete the instrument with reverb and delay

[cheshirevan]

I've been looking at this or the Micron. And the only question I have about it whether or not it's easy to change patches, or do you have to get all the knobs precisely right to get a sound that you had before?

[punchfuckterror]

@cheshirevan it's all digital and the knobs are all endless (they have no minimum or maximum, they rotate endlessly both ways), so no - you just load up a patch and there it is.

[kingofkeyboards]

if your on a budget and looking for a good VA synth the Ion should fit the bill, if your on an even tighter budget go for the Micron also by Alesis. exact same sound engine as the ION, just less hands on control i.e knobs, wheels etc

[BillyBatsonMarvel]

I found the sound light (thin) and plastic-ity with no bite. I had one paired with Kstation and MPC1000. I wanted to go all software so I sold it after 3 years.

Beside I'm not much of a synthesis like you guys =(

I'm more of a preset dude (lol) I tweaked about with it somewhat but I'm lacking the scientific knowledge to truly make up my own noise.

[firehandszarb]

green with envy, wish i'd bought one of these instead of the blofeld (which is not bad in itself). This is Juxus' favorite synth btw, he likes it so much he bought two and the akai micron (forgot what its called

[slumpnessmonster]

i want one now to go with micron an emx

[Synthdude13]

If you cant afford an expensive synth, go for the Ion - best VA and very versatile!

I own it too, its a sensation! I play it and it never gets boring! I discover so much and with soft and hard sync you can make very funny sounds. same with FM!

[Synthdude13]

I'll post a video when I have time.. I've made a synthbeat, bit like kraftwerk (I think) noisy. Not overdone, but it definately is fun!

[maccagrabme]

Out of interest what do these sell for s/h?

[GanEdenAustralia]

$300

[ReneeNme]

I don't know where GanEdenAustralia got $300 from maccagrabme, but you would be hard pressed to find an Ion for a mere 300 bucks. lol. There is an eBay auction for one that is getting ready to end in about 3 hours. It's used and already at $365. There is another that is brand new in the box for $999.99

[MARANTZamp]

man, I just love this damn synth! It's so versatile, warm, and phat--It actually replaced my Jupiter-6!!!

[asturiapatriaquerida]

fa veramente schifo come sintetizzatore i peggiori soldi spesi della mia vita.

è roba da bambini

[Estremofilos]

addirittura schifo ? e per quale motivo.non ti sembra un po' eccessivo ?

[MARANTZamp]

i've yet to hear a NORD sound as warm as an ION

[MARANTZamp]

hands down the most versitile and analog sounding VA ever made.

[Knightsmenu]

Love the video! I would truly appreciate a demo of the ion with pads. I'm looking into this synth, but i mainly need good pads. Thanks!

[lasseluktarsvavel]

Do you know how you Reset/Init a program on the Alesis IOn?

[airmiami]

help ! I've a Micron.. would it be honestly worth me upgrading to an Ion? Am I missing out on a lot?

[Cambaudio]

Not at all. They are identical except for a bigger keyboard, and more hands on control with all the knobs, etc... Capable sound wise of the same thing however.

[MARANTZamp]

um...."just" hands on control?

That's a huge plus. Those knobs make life MUCH easier..plus those TWO mod wheels.

The micron is very tough to use in comparison.  Not user friendly

[Cambaudio]

Hands on control is certainly nice, but there is a price difference for it. I had an Ion, didn't like it. I don't like either to be honest, so it doesn't matter to me.

If this person is wondering however if he/she is missing out on actual AUDIBLE capabilities (which i suspect), then no, not a thing. It can be had with the Micron.

[MARANTZamp]

if you didn't like it, you probably don't like well designed, user friendly, great sounding synths.

MR. FUNK

[Cambaudio]

It was it's sound I didn't like. It sounded to my ears like a bargain synth. It has killer knobs though I must say.

[whizkid515]

If you get a software patch editor like the Micronizer and a controller like the nanoKONTROL or the Behringer BCR2000 to control the software editor, there's almost no difference between the 2 in ease of use. Plus you get a built in step sequencer.

[flateric4you]

great demo. made me consider an alesis VA actually.

[Makkyveri]

I heard better music on commodore 64 games lol

[d3p3ch3mod3]

The ion engine really isn't all that bad, it's just that

#1: don't use the shitty presets

#2: process the fuck out of it, *especially* with acoustic guitar gain simulators (gets rid of some of the rough edges and brings out the bass)

#3: boost the hell out of the bass on your amp because its bass end is week as shit

generally spend hours trying to figure out how to make the damn thing sound one third as good as a nord lead. you'll never get there but you'll learn a lot of tricks

[MARANTZamp]

not true. It's far warmer and phatter than the nord.

and at 1/2 the price.

[salanami]

and that's not true also. Nord is 6-0 for bass sounds. Low end is much fatter in nord. Ion is excellent for pad, brass, lead etc.. But as bass-synth it just lacks that punchy low end that nord has.

[MARANTZamp]

NOT TRUE. The bass sounds i get out of the ION are almost as good as my moog source.

Phat, punchy and expressive.

You don't know what you are talking about.

[maccagrabme]

@MARANTZamp would it be possible for you to do a side by side comparison with the moog source or other analogues that you have please? Many thanks

[MARANTZamp]

you don't know what you are talking about.

The ION can do anything a nord can do...at 1/3 THE PRICE!!!

you need to wake up dude.

The ION is the best VA you can buy...it does EVERYTHING well.

[salanami]

Best? There is no such thing. It allways depends what you need. What if I need 76 keys? What then? What about polyphony? 8 is not much (virus ti= 20-90, nord lead 3= 20, Waldorf Blofeld= 24, Korg Radias = 24). I don't say ION is bad. Actually it is one of my favorites. Ease of use and the sound is awesome, but still. Not good for everything. People who say microkorg is piece of shit actually don't have any clue about there saying. It is one of my favorites also. Simple but powerful.

[MARANTZamp]

polyphony is not important when multi-tracing exists. (for over 50 years now)

microkorg is krap, just like most other korg synths.

[tionik06]

@MARANTZamp You've got to be kidding me. this demo's sounds that would never sit well in a mix.

[MARANTZamp]

You've never used an ION...the bass is the biggest i've heard in a VA.

The ION is possibly the best and most convincing synth on the market.

[d3p3ch3mod3]

Micron is the Ion engine. It's strength is in layering but individual patterns sound extremely flat and unemotive

[salanami]

Never used ION? I've got one. I also have microkorg & x-station and have played alot with nords. ION vs. Nord in bass is 6-0 for nord. ION vs. microkorg in bass is 6-0 for korg. Actually microkorg is one of the synths, that can break speakers. Enought subsub. <3

[MARANTZamp]

microkorg is a piece of shit...now I know you are clueless.

[Cambaudio]

MARANTZ, I used to be like you. When I owned a piece of gear, I thought it was the best in the world, no matter how clueless I was.

Salanami is right with everything he said. The ION isn't bad, and like he said, there is no such thing as best, it's what you need. And if you own a Moog Source, what the hell are you messing with an ION for anyway.

[MARANTZamp]

The ION isn't bad..it's GREAT.

The moog is monophonic, that's why I use the ION..to play chords.

I've tried all the VA's, and the ION beats them all in the warmth and punch deptartment.

[MARANTZamp]

bass end is weak?

Interesting.  I've gotten some of the best bass sounds out of it, without any eq.

[MARANTZamp]

not true...especially with respect to the bass sounds...they are phat as hell

[LofiFreq]

@ 2:53 sickness man! funky

[LeonardRockstein]

is that taking an external trigger or is it doing it's own rhytmn? sounds pretty good...some very 80's sounds in there.

[adzy31]

nice - what patch are you using at 3:35?

[persini]

Sick as always dude!!!! ur great, keep it up :)