SilverDragonSoun Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I was reading the last Keyboard magazine. I generally read each issue cover to cover. I skipped an article this month. I loved the concept of the article just not its current topic. The article was 10 hot tips for the Alesis Fusion. Why the Alesis Fusion? There's hardly any discussion on here regarding the Fusion. I think most of the people on here don't care about it and with all the bugs it had/has it seems like something more appropriate could have been chosen. Tips for the S90ES, Nord Stage, Fantom X, Yamaha Motif ES, Triton Extreme, ect. I think you get my point that just about anything else would have been better IMO. Again just my 2 cents. Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive - Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 SDS, hold tight. Keyboard might be working their way from the bottom up. OK, I will admit it here. Yesterday, I actually went through the sounds on the Alesis Fusion. My salesman even asked "why are you playing that thing?" I'm an equal opportunity keyboard player. I'll put any board through its paces. Most of them have a few good sounds with the exception of the Generalmusic Equinox. The Alesis Fusion does not sound awful. I'm not sure of where they are in terms of quality control. However, the board would suffice in a pinch and/or as a secondary on a gig. Is it worthy of 10 hot tips recognition, probably not. But, for someone who owns a Fusion, wants to learn how to use it and still reads the magazine, let's go ahead and get it out of the way. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildbill Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Keyboard mag: Thanks for the '10 Hot Fusion Tips' article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthasizer Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I haven't posted much on here, but I have been a lurker for quite a while. I also visit other forums and it seems like most people don't care for the Fusion. I agree with the original post that a better keyboard should have been chosen. Going solely on the conversations on this forum, there are many, many more keyboards that would have been more useful and helpful to the participants in this forum. I also believe you would find other forums mirror this forums position on the Fusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 It's sad that the Fusion has gotten a bad rap. It really has pulled Alesis down.....that, and the fact the Ion's still aren't shipping. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildbill Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Keyboard mag: Maybe next time you could go a little in depth on some of the features Alesis boards provide that aren't available on offerings from the big 3? For one thing, the multitude of ways that release velocity can be used is not generally understood by most people. There's some real unique ways to use tracking generators. Sample/hold tricks are always special to behold. And there's probably some unexplored areas of the 'modulating a sample with another sample' that could benefit from having some light shed on them. I get the impression that the envelopes and triggering options could also be better understood by some people if they were included in one of your articles. Enough of the mag is given over to simple/beginner concepts. A little space for keyboards that provide for advanced performance and programming options isn't too much to ask, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcompany Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Why the Alesis Fusion? Surely there had to be another more worthy keyboard? As a fairly recent former owner of a Fusion, this keyboard gave me nothing but headaches, things not working properly and ultimately a lack of reliability for either studio or live use. The worse thing of all is Alesis has been aware of these issues for over a year and did nothing to fix them. I guess you can only fix so many things when you have that many bugs. Prof D stated: "SDS, hold tight. Keyboard might be working their way from the bottom up." As far as I'm concerned, they must have started at the very bottom of the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I haven't posted much on here, but I have been a lurker for quite a while. I also visit other forums and it seems like most people don't care for the Fusion. I agree with the original post that a better keyboard should have been chosen. Going solely on the conversations on this forum, there are many, many more keyboards that would have been more useful and helpful to the participants in this forum. I also believe you would find other forums mirror this forums position on the Fusion. Is this your opinion as a Keyboard Magazine subscriber? Like it or not, the magazine isn't there to cater (exclusively) to the desires of the online forum community. I would suggest that the Keyboard subscriber base is a fair bit larger than the forum community (I would hope so, otherwise it might be a poor indicator of the future of the magazine). Also, there was an awful lot of time and energy put into evaluating the Fusion while it was being developed (see March '05 issue), and this was probably something that was an off-shoot of that effort. So, the editors have a pool of content to choose from, come deadline time. "Do we run the reasonably well-written, in-depth article on the Fusion that will satisfy a small portion of the user community, or rush the not-quite-done in-depth article on how to coax the perfect saxophone sound from the Yamaha S90ES?" Considering the (albeit polite) bitching that coincided with the 'leaner' Keyboard mag after the redesign, I think the editors made a fine choice in including this article. How about yet another point of view? Perhaps there are folks out there dismissing the Fusion because of the opinion of their local salesperson (see ProfD's post above). Perhaps, after reading the Top 10 Tips article, they give it another look/listen, and realize that it might be perfect for their situation? Win/win, as far as I can see. If you're really that upset about it, I guess you could ask for a refund for the 3 pages that it takes up in the magazine.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDragonSoun Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 SDS, hold tight. Keyboard might be working their way from the bottom up. OK, I will admit it here. Yesterday, I actually went through the sounds on the Alesis Fusion. My salesman even asked "why are you playing that thing?" I'm an equal opportunity keyboard player. I'll put any board through its paces. Most of them have a few good sojavascript: void(0); javascript: void(0);unds with the exception of the Generalmusic Equinox. The Alesis Fusion does not sound awful. I'm not sure of where they are in terms of quality control. However, the board would suffice in a pinch and/or as a secondary on a gig. Is it worthy of 10 hot tips recognition, probably not. But, for someone who owns a Fusion, wants to learn how to use it and still reads the magazine, let's go ahead and get it out of the way. I went and played a Fusion about 4 or 5 months ago in a store. I had to go to Sam Ash since guitar center no longer carried them. I was playing and thinking the sounds are average to below average, piano being awful. As I was switching to a new sound, I got an error message which I later found out was sound bank error that happens with the Fusion. I had to restart the keyboard to get it working again. After it rebooted, I played a demo song and got into the sequencer mode. I layed a track on the sequencer and as I was going to play it, it locked up. I had to reboot it again. Tried to do the same thing again and guess what it locked up again. There's 25 minutes of my life I'll never get back again. I've had 4 clients who have also used Fusions and none of them have kind things to say about them. Two of them have horror stories of death as their keyboards locked up for good and they were never able to get them to work again. The sad thing is there are so many of these stories out there with the Fusion and this is the keyboard they offer tips on??? Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive - Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Fusion owner here. The latest OS addresses enough bugs that you can use at least the synthesizer engine of the instrument, which is stunning in its versatility, clean sound, and modulation depth. Occasionally you get missing sample errors when a bank is transferred from the hard drive and the verify/reindexing procedure is not carried out correctly. And there is still supposedly a sequencer bug, although I use my DAW so I don't care. I would be ticked off if I paid $1000 or so and expected a fully functional workstation. Fact is I got in on the GC blowout and have hardly any money in mine. Anyway, I am a fan of the concept, the design, even the hardware execution. They could absolutely slay the big 3 with a bug free OS and better preset sound set. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 SDS, surely I noticed some of the anomalies you mentioned above as well. I expected as much in a workstation with audio recording capabilities and a $1.5k price tag. Yet, some kid on a budget is going to buy one. Using the hot 10 tips in Keyboard magazine, they will learn how to use the board and make a hit record using a lone Fusion and a mic (providing the songs are recorded to CD before it locks up). Some of you may remember a small company out of Malvern, PA responsible for manufacturing a line of samplers during the 80s/90s. Those boards saw more bugs than an exterminator. Still, they are used to produce hit records today. It could happen. Watch how fast Fusions fly off the shelves. Hang in there Alesis. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 The biggest problem with the Fusion is that it locks you in to playing just one kind of jazz. A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burningbusch Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Keyboard mag has made such a marvelous transformation as of late, I can't bring myself to criticize it. Busch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Some of you may remember a small company out of Malvern, PA responsible for manufacturing a line of samplers during the 80s/90s. Those boards saw more bugs than an exterminator. Still, they are used to produce hit records today. Yes.....Ensoniq. Other than the Mirage, they made quite a few great synths and workstations and had a loyal following. Then they were bought out by EMU. EMU kept them on board for awhile and then dropped them, only to later drop its own line of hardware synths and samplers. Another "success" story. Eeeeesh. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre Lower Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Keyboard Magazine choices are...Keyboard magazine staff business. As for the Fusion market story, there's a niche to everyone (so goes the saying). Based on my personal experience as a Micron owner (and initial interest in the Fusion), I believe Alesis once again missed a precious opportunity, turning a potentially huge commercial success into a lame duck on account of their own, poor business choices. But you know what? They do as they damn please. Let's move on. "I'm ready to sing to the world. If you back me up". (Lennon to his bandmates, in an inspired definition of what it's all about). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I just happened to be scanning my back issues from 1986-1992. That was a low point as a lot of untalented questionable artists proliferated the pages, especially those making the cover. Twenty years later, most of them have disappeared without a trace. These days the magazine is much MUCH better. I'd re-subscribe but right now music is not the emphasis in my life that it used to be. That became evident when I found how rusty my playing was when my old band reunited for a wedding reception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Great thread. Why? Because it gets you guys talking. And it pulls the lurkers out of the shadows. You know, there are two important things that we all want to know when making a keyboard purchase decision: 1. What to buy. 2. What NOT to buy. The editors and staff at Keyboard Magazine support this forum for many reasons. One of those is because the immediate feedback from readers, lurkers, and old-guys like Sven is extremely important. Both the good AND the bad comments are necessary for the editors to understand what their readers want so they can sell more magazines. And selling more subscriptions and newsstand copies of Keyboard Magazine is the name of the game. (What, you thought that hosting this forum was free?) Hey, I'm an old guy. Not as old as MikeT1856, but I'm getting there. I'm in the market for another keyboard, as you know if you've read my thread entitled "Should I buy an Electro?" As far as I'm concerned, these topics that deal with music are much better than those of late showing pictures of men's butts. On the other hand, a few off-topic threads give everyone insight into a modern musician's mind. (Kinda frightening if I say so myself.) I was digging the discussion about the John Deere riding mowers. Plus, every once in a while, the thought of Eva and a cold draft beer on a Friday afternoon while rolling down the Avenue in your drop-top with a RED keyboard strapped in the shotgun seat and listening to jazz inspired by the likes of Claude Boling... can be a good thing. Rock on. Is There Gas in the Car? "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildbill Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Another 'semi-old guy on a tractor' here. I've got a cheap Craftsman tractor that really isn't too bad after I put back on a couple parts that fell off. Just the other day, when reading the Tractor Daily mag, I came across an article on the Craftsman tractor and thought to myself, 'Why are they doing an article on those crappy Craftsman tractors, when they could be doing an article on John Deere like everyone else does'? Interesting reading though. Time for a nap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 No. Creative bought Ensoniq, their main competitor in the computer soundcard market, and later purchased EMU, wich they still own. Some of you may remember a small company out of Malvern, PA responsible for manufacturing a line of samplers during the 80s/90s. Those boards saw more bugs than an exterminator. Still, they are used to produce hit records today. Yes.....Ensoniq. Other than the Mirage, they made quite a few great synths and workstations and had a loyal following. Then they were bought out by EMU. EMU kept them on board for awhile and then dropped them, only to later drop its own line of hardware synths and samplers. Another "success" story. Eeeeesh. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Are people here really suggesting that Keyboard tips articles should be limited to the most widely owned boards made by the Big 3? "Tips for your Yamaha PSR" here we come. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDragonSoun Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Are people here really suggesting that Keyboard tips articles should be limited to the most widely owned boards made by the Big 3? "Tips for your Yamaha PSR" here we come. I started this whole mess, from my perspective I just thought they could have chosen to cover a different keyboard that wasn't so buggy, didn't have issues of reliability and was a keyboard that people cared about. I understand there are people who own the fusion but even many owners acknowledge the issues. One of my clients may have summed it up best to me when he said something to the effect of why would I want to spend money for a keyboard that won't/doesn't work properly and is something I can't rely on in studio or live. In my eyes he makes a good point because there are plenty of other options out there and this is one keyboard that has a history and current problems around working properly. My point wasn't against cheap, expensive, good or bad keyboards, just this particular model in part for the reasons I've listed on this thread. Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive - Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Fair enough, though Fusion owners (I'm not one, and in fact own nothing made by Alesis) will point out that 99% of the bugs have been fixed in the latest OS. Many folks dissed EMU's P2K line much like they dissed the Alesis, though for reasons of rompler sounds and poor fx compared to the Big 3 rather than software bugs or unreliability. I would have loved a Keyboard article exploring some of the more advanced semi-modular possibilities available in the architecture. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I subscribe to keyboard and read the article. I thought the tips were excellent myself, even though I dont own a Fusion. I tried one at the store and thought it sounded like suck. However, the Fusion at least in theory is capable of a lot of stuff, I thought the article did a pretty good job at trying to salvage through tips this buggy synth. The tips were actually tangible and specific instead of " Make the most of your music and practice" nonsense. I know that Guitar Center had the big blowout sale on them, so SOMEONE out there bought them. Now they have some tips, maybe they will come in handy since so much else seems to be messed up with the Fusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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