Alesis Ion
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| Ion by Alesis | |||
| Synthesis type: | Virtual Analog | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyphony: | 8 | ||
| Oscillators: | 3 | ||
| Multitimbral: | 4 | ||
| VCF: | 2 | ||
| VCA: | 1 | ||
| LFO: | 2 | ||
| Keyboard: | 49-key | ||
| Left hand control: | 3x Wheel | ||
| Onboard effects: | 4 | ||
| Original price: | $1,295 | ||
[edit] Introduction
The Alesis Ion is an analog modeling synthesizer. It was presented to the public on the Summer NAMM of 2002 [1]. Unlike another Alesis synthesizer, the Andromeda, it is not a pure analog synthesizer but uses DSP chips to mimic the workings of analog circuitry and components.
[edit] Features
The Ion has several features that make it stand apart from other analog modeling synthesizers. Most importantly, it features a selection of emulations of existing "famous" filter models of synthesizers such as the Moog Minimoog, the Oberheim OB-8, the Roland TB-303, the ARP 2600 semi-modular synthesizer and the Roland Jupiter 8. Besides these emulations (which are not named in the manual due to copyright issues), it has a series of filter models that are not commonly found on other models, such as formant and comb filters. This vastly increases the sonic range; most virtual analogs have only a single multimode filter (usually featuring low-pass, high-pass and band-pass modes) which was either designed from scratch or "inspired by" an existing "famous" filter model. The fact that two of these filters can be used in a parallel or serial configuration adds to the sounddesign possibilities.
Besides the selection of filters, it has an extensive modulation matrix. This allows the user to route a source (such as an LFO to various targets with an adjustable intensity. On most classic analog synthesizers, modulation routings were fixed; to get the degree of freedom the Ion's modulation matrix offers requires a semi- or fully modular synthesizer. Another synthesizer that has a similar modulation matrix is the Waldorf Q.
While most virtual analog synthesizers are equipped with on-board effects, the Ion lacks two important ones; reverb and a long delay (the on-board delay only has 80ms of delay time). These are often used on synthesizers to add some atmosphere to what would otherwise be a "dry" sound. A phaser, flanger and a chorus, as well as a 40-band vocoder. The little brother of the Ion is the Alesis Micron, which is extremely compact and portable. It came out in 2004 with the same interface as the ion, but only 37 keys and fewer knobs.
The Ion is used by:
Pedro The Lion (exlusively for bass sounds on their Pedro The Lion's Achilles Heel LP)
[edit] External links
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