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Alesis ION Analog-Modeling Synthesizer With the new ION from Alesis you can be guarenteed the ultimate in analog modeling at a great price. This high-resolution analog modelled synth offers real-time control because of the increased DSP processing power that alesis has developed. The ION was developed by same people who programmed the Alesis Andromeda. You can use this synth for a variety of genres, including Ambient, Techno, Rave, and the new exciting tonalities, as well as classic synth emulations. Using a 500MIPS (MIPS = million instructions per second) DSP chip that can execute anywhere from 1 to 3 instructions per clock cycle. This technology is what makes the ion such a great deal because if you don't already know making a digital synth sound analog is rather difficult. Especially when it comes to the smoothness of the filters and how they respond in real-time. If you've ever noticed that some of the other keyboards you get step-by-step changes rather than a smooth more analog sound change. The ION is an 8 voice synth where each voice uses upto 3 oscillatros per voice. You can have upto 4 different sounds being played back at the same time (4-part multi-timbrality). It also has a 40 Band Vocoder now that's really cool. The vocoder doesn't use up any of the 8 voices. It run independantly of the synth engine. With the 4 analog outputs you can connect the ION to 4 mono tracks or two stereo tracks or you play live and record at the same. The 2 stereo balanced analog inputs use 24-bit D/A converters. It also has 4 inesert effects and a stereo master effects processor all of this inside the Alesis ION. The interface uses 360 degree knobs (meaning the knob go round and round). It has two LFOs, Sample and Hold, and an Arpeggiator. This makes for a rich and powerful Modulation matrix that is easy to use and actually useful. Alesis has added a 160x160 graphics display that makes editing and changing parameters easy. If you change a parameter through MIDI the Graphics Display will show it happening. The ION's user interface is ergonomically designed with enough space around each knob to adjust them easily. There are 3 control wheels that are back-lit as well as 31 other control knobs. Each knob has a range of values from 0 to 4095 using the 12-bit A/D converters that are reading. That's right there are 31+3 12-bit A/D converters in this thing! Again this is why you don't get that Step-by-Step sound when opening up a filter for example. The Alesis ion also offers what is considered "Continuously Variable Wave Shapes" which are made digitally and then modified. The synth also used FM synthesis with 16 different filters. The LFO section is highly flexible as well are the sample and hold circuit an the cool arpeggiator. You can sync all the filters, sample and hold and arpeggiator to MIDI clock. Features: 512 user writable Presets 8 Voice Polyphony 4 Parts Multi-timbral 3 Oscillators per Voice Continuously Variable wave shapes Sync and FM 2 Multimode Filters per Voice 16 Filter types 2 LFOs - Syncable to MIDI Clock Sample and Hold - Syncable to MIDI Clock Arpeggiator - Syncable to MIDI Clock 4 Individual Mono outputs or 2 stereo outputs all balanced 24-bit Stereo Insert Effects Stereo Master Multi-FX Processor 40 Band Vocoder Ergonomic Interface with 31 knobs, 69 buttons 160x 160 Graphic LCD 49 Keys Internal Power Supply 1 pitch and 2 modulation wheels
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