Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[jeremy]

If you don't find them on alesis.com I can send them to you via email... I can't find it anymore on their website, maybe I didn't look where I should.

[Jarp2600]

It isn't that strange that the factory presets are not in the internal memory. Nowadays most ppl connect their synth to their computers, so it's much easier for the manufacturers to put the sounds somewhere online.

[jeremy]

Yes but memory isn't too expensive, and for a few kilobites they could keep them in ROM memory with the OS

[GeeJee]

I prefer that too, being able to switch back the default settings.

[Jakob BC]

You can always wish them to be permanent, but then again they are only there to inspire the user instead of hundreds of basic patches with a clean saw wave or something

[jeremy]

They are mainly a good starting point, there's always one preset that is close to what you're looking for (or at least a bit similar).

[GeeJee]

I'm not necessarily talking about switching back the presets, just switching back to the default factory settings...

[jarrekid]

Fair play, nearly every month I find something new in this beast. To start off with it's got a brilliant "analogue" sound and will specialise in every sound you can think of. Then it can do extremely complex synthesis stuff (feedback LFOs, sync + FM combos to make "circuit bent" sounds).
Now I've found the joys of its patching system again:

Sustain pedal -> S&H (with MAXIMUM smoothing on) -> LFO Amplitude
LFO -> Osc Pitch

^This allows me to control vibrato with my feet and free up a mod wheel!
I can also use the sustain pedal to change the note of a bass arpeggio when I'm playing guitar, which can be VERY useful.

[jarrekid]

Alesis Ion doing some complex feedback synthesis using sync & FM

[jeremy]

I want the audio of what he does to listen in my car when I go working...

No, seriously, I was expecting something interesting. You can make weird noises with an Alesis Ion, OK. Must be fine for breakcore electronic music or things like that, just not my cup of tea.

I prefer old school analog sounds as used in progressive rock music.

[jarrekid]

I prefer old school analog sounds as used in progressive rock music.

Sure, that's fine! I don't use the sync + FM much, only really for hi hats (it does those pretty nicely once you've got a snappy envelope and the arp running).
I made this video cos I think a lot of people out there think that the Ion is plain and boring, there's not much in there that is new. However, it can do loads of interesting and unique stuff, including this feedback modulation stuff. Many people have made demos of the analogue sounds that it can do brilliantly, they haven't done many demos of this kind of stuff though.

[jeremy]

Indeed for percussive sounds it can be interesting, for example it could be sampled and sliced.

I didn't know it was your video cause there was no radiator behind the Ion (but maybe it's not the Ion on your picture... now that I look more closely...).

Some people think the Ion is boring? mmh... what those people would say about a classical guitar?

[jarrekid]

Indeed for percussive sounds it can be interesting, for example it could be sampled and sliced.

I didn't know it was your video cause there was no radiator behind the Ion (but maybe it's not the Ion on your picture... now that I look more closely...).

Some people think the Ion is boring? mmh... what those people would say about a classical guitar?

Hahah that's an microKorg in front of the radiator, and that pic is years old, I need to update! My Ion is on the stand on the other side of that corner of my room though

Well, I'm not saying people think it's boring, I'm just saying that Alesis and a lot of other people undersell it as a typical VA.

Quite funny because I went to an introduction seminar at Music Live just when the Ion was being released, and they compared the "lack" of polyphony to traditional instruments. ("Violins can play 4 notes if pushed, not 1!!!!!") 8 voices is more than enough for me.