customer reviews
60 People rated this product :
7 out of 10
9 People wrote reviews
8 out of 10
"beatmakers review"
Feature:
It took awhile to learn where I'm at, and I'm still learning. The synthesis part especially.
Quality:
I had a burnt diode, I had to send for repairs of course my warranty was covered. The data wheel doen't spin on a straight horizontal plane, it kind of wabbles like a ufo. It can sound like one too.
Value:
For it's price and what it's been doing, I'd say it's worthy of mention.
Desirability:
Appearance wise, it's one of the better looking synths out there.
Sound:
Every sound is tweakable to practially anyway you want to hear it.
Ease of Use:
It took a bit a tweaking. I find it nowadays tracks are becoming easier to put together and the fusion has been there day in day out doing its job.
Support:
Great. I've called them up numerous times, before I had my OS upgraded and they've been nothing but great.
Submitted: 1/26/2008
10 out of 10
"Great sounds and proven reliability."
Feature:
With sample playback, user sampling, virtual analog, FM synthesis, and physical modeling, it's like having 5 synths in one keyboard. The built in effects are easy to use and sparkling, but the leslie/rotary effect needs some tweaking. Expansion capabilities include the on-board 40 gig hard drive, a compact flash card slot, and optional install of additional RAM. The sequencer is fine for my use, but obviously won't meet everyones needs (that's what Cubase and Logic are for). The built in 8 track audio recorder is an unexpected gem.
Quality:
The unit is very sturdy, and has survived numerous trips in the trunk of my Ford to and from gigs. Knobs and buttons feel very solid. The Alesis SR16 drum machine I purchased in 1991 has worked flawlessly for over 15 years. I owned an Alesis Quadrasynth for 12 years without any problems, as well as a QSR rackmount. Alesis makes reliable equipment and backs it up with upgrades and repairs if needed. I would use it at a gig without a backup, but prefer to use two keyboards, as I work a duo with my wife on guitar, play left hand bass, and like having one keyboard set up for lead sounds, and the other with bass/rhythm sounds.
Value:
There is no other keyboard that is close to the Fusion at its price. And when I compare it to some of the first keyboards I purchased during the 1960's, the technological progress is unbelievable.
Desirability:
It is a sleek, ultra modern looking machine. The flashing blue lights look good too. If you want to be different, and not have the same rig as the next guy, you've got to have the Fusion.
Sound:
This is one of the most expressive synths I've ever played, and velocity & aftertouch react to your playing and animate the sounds. The instruments are very realistic - great pianos, horns, synth pads, choirs, and what not. And with the Fusion Converter, you can import the huge Akai library.
I use it for rock, jazz, blues, and standards. And it seems as though the more I play the Fusion, the more I find that my other keyboards are being stored in the shed. When I gig, I usually use only one other synth, my E-mu PK6. The Kurzweil, Korg, and Kawai stay home.
Ease of Use:
Patches are easy to edit, and quickly stored in your "Favorite" banks for snappy access. The free "Fusion Converter" software converts various sample format libraries into Fusion format, including WAV, AIFF, Akai s1000/S3000/S5000, and soundfonts. The manual is very readable, and Alesis has been making supplements and tutorials available online for free download. The lcd screen is very clear and bright - easy to read in a dark room.
Support:
Only had one problem, which was partly my fault. The USB worked great until I moved my computer to a different room, and plugged the computer into one wall socket, and the Fusion into another socket across the room. When I plugged in the USB from the Fusion to the Computer, there was a huge spark, and the computer couldn't see the Fusion anymore. The problem was that one wall socket had a reversed ground. Alesis repaired it under warranty, and it was gone about 14 days for repair in Los Angeles.
The Fusion is a dream to upgrade. Alesis puts the software on their website, you download it to your computer, save it to a compact flash card, put the card in the Fusion, and upgrade the OS or load in new samples. Hollow Sun has been commissioned by Alesis to convert their huge library of vintage samples to the Fusion format, and you can download them for free. Two excellent user groups have formed that support Fusion players - Fusion Club http://fusioneer.proboards102.com/index.cgi and Fusion Zone www.promusicproducts.com/forum/phpBB2/index.php
Overall:
Like all keyboard players, I suffer from gear lust. But in the past year, with the Fusion and the excellent Hollow Sun sample set, and the KPR synth sets, the lust hasn't been overwhelming. I keep finding new sounds in the Fusion. And I haven't even begun to explore the sequencer and 8 track digital recorder. If it was lost or stolen, I would replace it with the 88 key Fusion 8HD.
Submitted: 6/20/2007
Style of Music: contemporary adult music
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