Alesis ION Keyboard User Reviews at zZounds

"Could this be a real analog???" submitted October 18, 2007

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

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Sound: Very analog like sound - and i own many analog synths from Moog to Andromeda and VA's including the Virus and Novation. The sound of the ION is very thick and warm, it has the fat sound that many love about analogs. Alesis really did go out large on those DSP chips. The range of classic Arp, Moog, JP8, TB303 and OB filters really puts this synth in a different league over all VA's. Feature: Everything a synth requires. Very well thought out design, with all the important features on the panel. 8 fat sounds voices, with over 16 filters, smooth rubber knobs, 3 wheels, big screen with feedback, etc. Ease of Use: I spent about two hours with this beast and i was right into it. No need for the manual and dived straight in. hard to get bad sound from this monster synth. Quality: One of the first things i noticed once i took the ION out the box was the build quality. The ION is built like a tank, the buttons are very well place imo, and are flush with the chassis. The knobs are super solid and smooth to rotate - far better than synths costing 3/4 times the price (DSI, SE, Moog???). The chassis is made of steel and very solid and keyboard feel on my unit is very good. Overall, i was very impressed with the build quality. Value: Superb value for money. you could easily spend 3 or 4 times the price of the ION and still not get this amount of synthesizer bliss. It sounds just like a real analog and i feel that it has some comparable sounds to my A6, talk about impressive. Manufacturer Support: Never needed this. The Wow Factor: Looks very retro, i also like the red panels on the sides. the light show is amazing in the dark - very vintage. Overall: If stolen, i would buy another ION...no questions.

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"Boot attacks cat for profit." submitted February 14, 2004

Overall

Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

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Sound: Presets are never what you should by any keyboard for. Keyboards are for creating original sounds, especially one like the Ion, Virus, Nord, etc. These presets are nice, some aren't. The potential of this keyboard is way beyond the presets. Feature: All of them and more. No built in delay though. Very, very thorough Mod matrix and arp, 3 osc per voice, prefilter mix, you name it, Ion has it. Quality: Built very, very well. Absolutely gorgeous to look at. Value: Almost hard to believe it is so cheap. As someone said earlier, the low price might make some think it is not good quality. Not true at all. I don't know how Alesis did it but good on them. Manufacturer Support: Alesis is known for their incredible support. They truly have one the best in the industry. The Wow Factor: "I Want It" so much I went and got one. Overall: To me it is JUST as valuable as a Nord, as far as sound potential, it is better than a Nord and right there with a Waldorf or Virus. Again the low price is going to make some think that there is no way it can compete.

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Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted March 25, 2004

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Quality

Value

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The Wow Factor

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Sound: 10 - accurate of analog but still has it's own personality Feature: 10 - so many features, one of the best is "Analog Drift" features which emulates the gradual detuning of oscillators in real analog sythns. just one of many impressive and unique features. Quality: 10 - i can only say mine is rock solid, built of steel and very solid. Value: 10 - I would give it a 20 if I could. just is not clear to me how or why Alesis priced keyboard so low, but hey, who cares! Manufacturer Support: 10 - aleis support is great. The Wow Factor: got one. Overall: Ion is a very solid peice of gear with amazing sound and power.

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Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted February 7, 2004

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Sound: Unbelievable. That is all I can say. You just have to hear it to understand the accuracy. Quality: Very sturdy and heavy. Value: This keyboard is really underpriced. The Wow Factor: It is gorgeous to look at. Overall: The best VA to date. Sorry Access, I love you to death but this little monster is on top of the VA wars now.

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Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted January 1, 2004

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Sound: For the money, I think the ion is comparable if not better than the clavia nord leads, the jp8000, and the ms2000. All the sounds are brand spankin new with lots of character and complete controlability.

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Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted April 16, 2004

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Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

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Sound: best analogue emulation yet! fat and dirty just the way you like it. Feature: gorgeous design and intuitive. in fact what is so cool about the layout is that the knobs and such are laid out in the order of the signal path. Quality: great! i have a flawless ion. functions perfectly, knobs glide and track as smooth as silk. my knobs are so smooth that i lierally do not have to use the clear encoder for fine tuning! Value: i would pay so much more for this synth. the initial price turned me off from it at first (i guess i'm a snob) but my intention was to buy a completely different synth the night i bought the ion. surprise on me! Manufacturer Support: i know all about alesis support. top notch, no problem with the ion but have dealt with alesis in the past. a real joy. people, actual people usually answer the phone instead of the incredible 90s invention of automation. The Wow Factor: i bought one the first night i heard it. my whole purpose was to get the best va ever (decide for yourself what this is) but the ion stole that slot so i bought it instead. Overall: overall- couldn't be happier. such a gorgeous synth with such precision accuracy, loads of filters, TWO mod wheels, mod matrix unlie any other, uber controll over LFO, etc, on and on.

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Alesis ION 49-Key 8-Voice Analog Modeling Synth

User Ratings

"Could this be a real analog???" submitted October 18, 2007

"Boot attacks cat for profit." submitted February 14, 2004

Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted March 25, 2004

Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted February 7, 2004

Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted January 1, 2004

Alesis ION Keyboard Customer Review submitted April 16, 2004