[A6] A6 vs. ION

[MelloT at aol.com]

>>>the other thing I suspect is that like the A6 the evolver sounds smoother 
and less VA (I know its not a VA but, like the A6, it can sound that way) with 
the overall voice levels a bit lower so that the clip light never comes on,<<<



I am interested how many people here have tried the ION, the next phase of 
Alesis stuff. It may outsell the A6, even because of the price difference. 

Initially, I was very reluctant, as I thought the  filters didn't sound so 
good, but that was an early version. Over time, it got MUCH better, and still is 
being improved. I think now that ANY synth that can put out unlimited high 
frequency info sounds "modern" and "Virtual" and didigtal to us! In comparing it 
to the Andromeda, it has very similar architecture, but is MUCH easier to 
navigate. Certainly, the envelopes aren't as eleborate, but they work well for 
most things. The Andromeda keyboard FAR exceeds it for touch, but you can always 
MIDI to it.

End result - I find that the Ion sounds MUCH better than most VA's, but many 
of the presets do not show this. There are a LOT of thin and buzzy presets, 
whereas the machine is capable of some huge bass (I blew speakers twice, which I 
have never done before in life!)  and thick sounds with lots of detail and 
animation. The modulation options are really well-done. It "number crunches" 
much faster than other VA's, and this has a noticeable effect on the high end AND 
the bass. 

I have not yet done any MIDI stacking with the A6, but they seem like they 
will have very complementary sounds to each other. I would not say the "analog" 
tone of it matchnes the A6 - certainly not. But it does have a lot of power, 
with an analog "language" we all know so well.

BrianK