User Reviews at zZounds

"ION iED04 looks identical to the new Alesis Performance Pad. Also looks like it is designed around an Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine." submitted September 17, 2008

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Classic Rock

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Sound: This unit appears to be built from a modified Alesis SR-16 drum machine. On the back of the ION it states "powered by Alesis". I have an SR-16, and the buttons, display, and sounds are identical to the ION. So the sounds are very good! Very realistic sampled drums. Feature: I like that it has footswitch inputs to control the kick-drum and hi-hat. I use two VFP-1 piano pedals, which work great with the ION. One thing I don't like is the footswitch triggers are activating two of the top 8 pads, rather than activating two entirely separate pads. So you can either strike the pad on top or press the footswitch and you will get the exact same sound. If you change the pad's sound, you also change the footswitch sound. I wish the display were angled so I could see it better, and wish it had a backlight. Also wish it had a MIDI in/thru and USB connection. Ease of Use: Using the ION is fairly simple. As I stated, it's basically an Alesis SR-16 drum machine with larger drum pads. Quality: Seems like a well built unit so far. The case is made of a hard plastic, and the drum pads seem like they will last. Only time will tell. Value: I bought mine used for $50. Considering it's basically an Alesis SR-16, it should be worth at least as much as the Alesis. Manufacturer Support: No opinion. Never needed service. The Wow Factor: It's a pretty nice looking unit. Overall: Overall I would say I'm very happy with it so far. If it were to break, I might try to find another used one. One other thing to mention is the ION iED04 appears to be absolutely identical to a new product by Alesis called Performance Pad. The main difference being the Alesis is black and the ION is white. If you go to the Alesis website you can download the Performance Pad user manual, and it will likely be fine for learning to use the ION.

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"The ION desktop drums are a wonderful bargain, fun to work with and a way to learn about percussion." submitted December 9, 2007

By a customer from hotmail.com

Overall

Musical Background: professional musician

Music Style: all styles.

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: This unit if used responsibly will be a useful learning tool and performance vehicle. The unit I worked with before turning it over to the person receiving it as a surprise gift was fine. The pad feel was a little britte but certainly no worse than the more expensive yamaha desktop drum units. I experienced no cross triggering. The brain is a somewhat dumbed down SR-16. Remember that drum machine did not have a foot closing hi hat sound! Feature: No USB but that was not the purpose of this unit since it is for fun and the hobbyist market even though there are some professional features. One can set up the pads for congas and hand percussion and the triggers seem fine with finger tip tapping. Ease of Use: I think programming it would be quite daunting to hobbyists who are reluctant to study owner/operator manuals but those familiar with the Alesis SR-16 will be fine. Quality: One disappointment was that the kick pedal socket takes only a foot switch not an actual trigger pedal. ION should not use the word foot pedal or triger but only foot switch. One would expect the hihat socket to take a foot switch but by ION using the term pedal one can be mislead. Still just using a foot switch for a kick sound seems OK after awhile. For most pop and rock stuff a consistent level is what is desireable so being limited to one fixed level shouldn't be a problem. If one wants subtle kick inserts choose a soft kick sample as a tradeoff. Having an input to mix a MP3 or CD feed works nicely. There are actually two audio outs in pairs. Another somewhat disappointing discovery was when hooking up a pedal switch for a kick sound the pad assigned for a kick sound is not "freed up". You don't gain a pad for other samples to be assigned to it. the samples are most likely the same for the SR16. Midi documentation is very sparse so don't expect this unit to be an answer to inputting a complex interface with your computer even if you buy a separate USB interface. It is a very attractively priced percussion station for fun and education. Value: Worth every cent of the $130!! The package is complete and should be a wonderful introduction to pad drumming. Fun at parties particularly if one puts it on a high stand and plays the pads with fingers. I believe one can assign trigger modes to the samples so when you cup slap a conga it should cut off the ring if setup that way. Manufacturer Support: It is highly unlikely that the company ION would dedicate any staff to mollify the customer base who picks this up for $130. Those who stated the pads failed are most likely decibel junkies and expected too much from the build integrity. Play it lightly and it should last. For the price I wouldn't be afraid to open it up and cut out the pads and mount them separately. I assume there are standing piezo transducers glued and wires leading to the CPU. If so it could be repaired. The Wow Factor: I highly recommend this for responsible curious hobbyists. Overall: Excellent bargain.

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"Summary, has a learning curve. some things should have been worded better. And it needs a little TLC to operate better with some" submitted August 3, 2008

By a customer from cox.net

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Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Experienced mucisian with show experience and underground clubs as a hobby. Played show with other people that formed side bands

Music Style: Industrial Metal

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Sound: I like it. I'm experienced with drums, and personally played shows. payed $60 for it. drums natually do get minor resonance from other drums due to shock, yet there's ways to help reduce impact and cross triggering. DUH! naturally cymbals (spelling) has pads to cushin metal impact, toms have gels or some other cushing. And YES, YOU HAVE TO BANG THE DAMN DRUM TO GET THE RIGHT TONE, PITCH, AND REDUCE INTERFERANCE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE DRUMS. What, expect it to work with a Q-Tip or something? I placed it on a soft surface underneath to help obsorb some shock. Got better tonage. Feature: Features are good. Has a learning curve on it. Can't argue about the price. with there was a midi in to preselect drum tables to start instead of toying with the right sets for a while. with the reset. All tables lost, no secondary storage. Wish the cymbal and the bass drum pads were equally available. Ease of Use: Had to read the manual a few times to get what they were trying to say. there is a learning curve to it. Quality: I like it. It's not exactly show worthy. However, with the CD output with a computer. Just pipe into a mixer, and pump out a CD with preset tracks, and press play. CD player with a few guitarsists and a vocalist. And ready to rock'n roll. People are just lazy and whine about everything that it's not perfect. Value: for $60. I can't argue. Manufacturer Support: parts for it are not as easily available. So I'll have to figure out how to get the cymbal and bass going somehow. Not hard. The Wow Factor: If you ain't talented enough to figure it out. Don't get one. Like cars are not meant for everyone. Overall: This model. I can't argue with. I tried out $2000 yamaha drum stations with full setups, and there's this. Lotsa people expect everything in a box. Out of all the products I've tried. Nothing is perfect. deal with it.

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"Triggering simply doesn't work" submitted October 19, 2007

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

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Sound: Sound is ok. No effects adjustments is a killer. Feature: Not bad for the price. Midi out. Pedal triggers for HH and Bass Drum. Ease of Use: Triggering simply does not work. Alesis tried to hide this in sheeps clothing. They won't even put their name on it. The triggers trigger every sound except the sound you are trying to play. No sensativity adjustment. Useless. I even tried lightly tapping it with my fingers. Same results. Quality: Triggering is a joke. You can only use this as a cheap drum machine but you can't because there is no midi in. Value: Garbage Manufacturer Support: Did need to use it The Wow Factor: Looks good. Other than that, it's even too light to be a boat anchor. Overall: Avoid this thing

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Ion Audio Digital Drums Customer Review submitted February 2, 2008

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Sound

Value

The Wow Factor

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Sound: Every time I hit the damn pads, I get cross triggering. The only way to pevent this is to pick it up and hold the bottom with one hand while striking the pads with the other.

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"no support after pad stoped working after 3 days...thanks" submitted October 18, 2007

By a customer from rogers.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

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Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Recording Engineer\Active musician

Music Style: Electro

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Sound: okay Quality: one pad stoped working 3 days after I bought it. regular use. Manufacturer Support: What Support?!? the emails I have been sending them have been never replied back

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Ion Audio Digital Drums Customer Review submitted January 24, 2008

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Sound

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Sound: bought 2 on sale for $50 ea. and Had to hit pad very hard to get the slightest sound and then only when I hit exactly in the center. No good. I returned them and advised Target not to re-sell. Salesman said his friend bought one and said the same thing I did.

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Ion Audio iED04 Desktop Digital Drum Station

User Ratings

"ION iED04 looks identical to the new Alesis Performance Pad. Also looks like it is designed around an Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine." submitted September 17, 2008

"The ION desktop drums are a wonderful bargain, fun to work with and a way to learn about percussion." submitted December 9, 2007

"Summary, has a learning curve. some things should have been worded better. And it needs a little TLC to operate better with some" submitted August 3, 2008

"Triggering simply doesn't work" submitted October 19, 2007

Ion Audio Digital Drums Customer Review submitted February 2, 2008

"no support after pad stoped working after 3 days...thanks" submitted October 18, 2007

Ion Audio Digital Drums Customer Review submitted January 24, 2008