Geoff Grace Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Originally posted by Dave Bryce: Okay, how often do you play the five notes above the highest G? How about the seven notes below the lowest E? C'mon - tell the truth.... I have three answers to that question: On a synth: the answer would be "never," or at least close enough to never that even a 76-note controller would probably be overkill. On a piano: I very rarely use those keys; but when I do, I feel they can really add drama or comedy to a piece. Let me put it this way: I wouldn't miss those extra notes in a keyboard I used in clubs for cover music, but I wouldn't want to go without an 88-note controller for sampled piano tracking in my studio for those rare occasions in which I do use those keys. For drum programming: I've created a number of drum sample banks that use all 88 notes in order to give me the broadest possible pallet when I start arranging a song. This is the situation in which having those extra notes at my disposal makes the biggest difference. However, although I know a few other people who've done this as well, I imagine that we are a pretty small minority. The bottom line for me is that I only need to own one 88-note controller. As long as my additional keyboards have at least three or more octaves, then 76 or fewer keys is no deal breaker for me. In those cases, it's the quality of the sounds that counts, not the quantity of keys. That makes the Alesis booth a "must see" for me at NAMM this year! Best, Geoff My Blue Someday appears on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruv Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Between the PolyEvolver Keyboard ( ) and this, I'm pretty curious and excited. Barring any significant financial setbacks, this could be the year I'm going to get a center piece/main workhorse for my humble mini studio. Other than the workstation, will there be other Alesis products in the synth/controller vein? Perhaps another member of the sub atomic particle family? (Ion, Photon, etc). What's the word, Mr. Alesis Guy? Pretty please, with LFOs and mod matrix galore on top? V. ******************************* Waldorf MicroQ Keyboard Roland JX-8P M-Audio Firewire 410 BBE MaxCom Propellerheads Reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthguy Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Well, what I'm interested in is something with a delicious selection of acoustic instruments and synth waves, if not some VA capability itself. Something like an Alesis Proteus 3000 with perhaps a helping of Ion wedgied in somehow? If it's more like a MoPhat, no thanks. I'd really like a Fantom X and Karma, unless something better comes along. I do have a feeling that there's going to be a lot of "something better" this NAMM. Well, time for Big O. This keyboard solo has obviously been tampered with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Moved to S76 thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DallasPA Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Well, After talking to some folks closer to this thing, every indication I'm getting is that this workstation is going to do it all from pattern base sequencing to streaming of samples and audio from an internal harddrive. And it doubles as a harddisk recorder, yes, a keyboard workstation that actually records audio to harddisk! And it ain't going to be cheap!!!!!! I'm hearing in excess of 3K!!!! And thats for the bargain model. Cheers Dallas http://TrilogySound.com Reading, PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrancedelicBlues Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Originally posted by Anoplura: Just to bring this back on topic: I was all set to post a couple of teaser pictures, but the powers that be changed their minds at the last minute. All I can say is that Jack O'Donnell's quote (in Weasel's second post) is as accurate as it is vague, and also that I don't think that zeronyne will be disappointed. ...actually, after re-reading his wish-list, I think he might pee himself. ...with delight. I don't know him well enough to suggest otherwise. I've been practically begging the marketing guys to release pictures and detailed info now - when pre-NAMM gear lust is high, but there aren't a dozen new toys competing for their attention. No dice so far, but there will probably be a web-launch a day or two before the show starts. ...I got nothing more to say except that I've never been more exited about an Alesis product (especially one that I didn't design) since the Andromeda. Anybody who's coming to the show should come by the booth, and I'll give you a tour. ...I'll also show you a few of the products that I did design. Ben, Alesis guyWell, I certainly hope the $895 list price is one of the things he got right! A 76 6 note semi-weighted board that feels just like the old QS7 would be my preference, FWIW. Add all the QS sounds plus all the Q card sounds (plus some ethnic sounds), a couple of built-in microns, and a sequencer, and I, for one, will be pulling out my wallet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Originally posted by DallasPA: And it doubles as a harddisk recorder, yes, a keyboard workstation that actually records audio to harddisk!The Triton does/did that. I will again state, as I did in another thread, that for these all-in-ones (synth/seq/sampler/DAW) to REALLY work, it has to do it MUCH BETTER than a component rig while maintaining open-endedness, or it has to do it MUCH cheaper. And thanks to Ben for giving up what little info he could. I will definitely check it out at NAMM. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted January 11, 2005 Author Share Posted January 11, 2005 Thanks for piping up, Mister Bling. Sounds like a neat product. I'll swing by and check it out next week at the show. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliengroover Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Thanks for the info, but... How 'bout just one teeny weeny pic? Puh-leees?! NAMM is like a year away! Darn it! Peace If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking 'til you do suck seed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clusterchord Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Huh, with DSI, MOOG on analogue front, and Alesis and KORG coming out with big guns, this just might be the best NAMM show in recent years. intimately - i just want a 76 key yamaha with a very nice multivelocity pno and rhodes. http://www.babic.com - music for film/theatre, audio-post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Johnson Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 If the price is 3K and more, that kills it--sorry, we already have most everything this keyboard would do with a basic controller and a home computer: about $1K of equipment. All they would be doing is combining existing technology. The only thing combining all of it into one unit means is that it's portable. Fine--people will pay more for a notebook computer than a handheld (for some reason), but I don't think they'd pay three or four times as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestHarp Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 http://www.alesis.de/alesis-fusion/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiospace Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 neato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildbill Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 a name's not a lot to go on, but i'm anxious to find out what this one's going to be all about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergievsky Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 It's gonna be all about the piano for me if its 88 or 76 weighted keys. If it's a top-tier then then hopefully not just a rompler. Real analog hopefully, or a ... fusion of synth types. Raul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 The Alesis FusIon looks kinda cool from the limited view shown. Perhaps it will be a cool rompler with the Ion built into it or some kind of hybrid. I'm most interested to investigate the UI. I'm guessing it should have a decent selection of knobs and such. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Here's some more info on the Alesis Fusion: Alesis Fusion Synth http://www.fusionsynth.com/images/gallery/Resize%20of%20Fusion6_top.jpg Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 I dunno. We already have a handful of major-brand rompler workstations slugging it out. I can't imagine a new one will drastically upstage the available soundsets or work tools, though throwing in a VA might or might not be a fun feature. Then again, the Ion did have an impact in what was an already crowded market. Nothing succeeds like success to excess, I guess. Originally posted by eric: The Alesis FusIon looks kinda cool from the limited view shown. Perhaps it will be a cool rompler with the Ion built into it or some kind of hybrid. I'm most interested to investigate the UI. I'm guessing it should have a decent selection of knobs and such. Regards, Eric I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiel Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 It looks great. VEry curious if the samples are good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Could be a contender! Fusion has 4 synthesis types, with 180 voices!: sample playback, VA, FM, and physical modelling. 8 channel 24-bit recording (not 16-bit, like on the Oasys!), 24-bit sampling, CD-R burning. "The Fusions synthesis engine is whatever you configure it to be. Maybe you just want regular sample playback synthesis for all of your instruments in one song. The next song has sampled drums and an analog synth lead. The song after that is more esoteric and combines physical modeling and FM synthesis along with analog and sample-based synthesis. It all can happen on the Fusion because of our Dynamic DSP Synthesis engine." Nice! Too bad they botched the design... it sure looks terrible, but it sounds promising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clusterchord Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 http://www.fusionsynth.com/images/gallery/Resize%20of%20Fusion6_back.jpg dunno, i like the idea a lot. it has VA with lot of poly, it has FM with six osc that have other waveforms beside sine, it has woodwind physical modeling, plus standard smaple playeback.. wow! also, they say its VA engine is more updated and flexible than IONs - it can re-route modulations freely, like on a modular.. ? i didnt quite understand how big a sample can you actually load - whats the size of RAM? http://www.babic.com - music for film/theatre, audio-post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burningbusch Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Interesting. My how quickly the landscape changes. A few weeks ago the Motif ES was the end-all-be-all. I like the physical layout and think aesthetically it's attractive and a nice break from the all too familiar synth layout-as long as it doesn't feel too plasticy. Disappointing is the LCD display which looks like a 1990s Kurzweil and no breath control input. With wind and reed modeling you really should have BC. The compact size of the 88-key is impressive. It's only 2" longer than a Motif 7 and smaller than the S90, though a bit heavier: S90: 53 3 /8" (W) x 15 1 /8" (D) x 6 3 /8" (H), 51 lbs. Alesis: 51.5" (W) x 14" (D) x 5 in" (H), 58.4 lb Anyone know the price point? Busch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burningbusch Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Originally posted by clusterchord: dunno, i like the idea a lot. it has VA with lot of poly, ...I didn't see any VA polyphony specs, only the sample playback (180). Busch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Originally posted by Dave Bryce: Okay, how often do you play the five notes above the highest G? How about the seven notes below the lowest E? C'mon - tell the truth.... dBEvery time I play "Great Balls Of Fire" or "Whole Lotta Shakin'"...hundreds of times a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarkus Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Indeed, it looks like having multiple types of synthesis in a workstation is becoming a requirement rather than a feature. I'll reserve judgement on the design until I've seen it. It seems to have been designed in an ode to 1930's aluminium/chrome streamlining. Whether it works or not is the question. Props to Alesis for investing in the synth/keyboard market space. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 I want it - gotta have it. (The synth too) Pity the Analog ins and outs are not balanced. Other than that it looks way cool. Given how much they have packed into this asking for 24 bit samples would be churlish. Looks like max memory expansion is a bit limited - appears to be 192M so loading giga-pianos will be out (unless it will work directly from a flash card of unusual size). A fire-wire connection would have been nice, but if the USB is actually USB2 its fine. Hopw the case is metal and not plastic on the 8. OK, I'm being picky. Can't wait to actually try one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildbill Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 from the pics here, the left side looks like a radio out of an old car, and the right side looks like a portable computer. i didn't care for the first pics i saw of the ion, either, but it didn't look too bad in the flesh. lots of positives to this board, and it should be more affordable than the korg. still missing lots of info, but it's very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Whos going to check it out at Namm? A full report is eagerly anticipated. The big questions of course are when and how much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Doesn't it remind me of ... yes an EX-5. Hope the DSP power is up to handling all the synthesis options. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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