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|  | |  | | | Alesis MICRON Analog Modeling Synthesizer | | | | | SKU:
MICRONSYNTH | | Availability:
Out of stock | | | | | | The Alesis Micron, a new compact synth with the ION analog-modeling sound engine! The Alesis Micron is a powerful 8-voice Analog Modeling synthesizer based on the award-winning sound engine of the larger Alesis Ion in a compact 3. Buy Alesis Micron Analog Modeling Synth Keyboard now! Buy Alesis Micron Analog Modeling Synth Keyboard now! | | | | | |
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| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 24.0 inches | | Product Width: | 2.75 inches | | Product Height: | 8.0 inches | | Product Weight: | 14.3 pounds | | Package Length: | 30.0 inches | | Package Width: | 12.5 inches | | Package Height: | 7.5 inches | | Package Weight: | 13.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 13 reviews |
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| | Features | Industry-leading Ion analog-modeling sound engine in a compact package8 voices, each with 3 oscillators, 2 multimode filters, 3 envelope generators, 2 LFOs, sample and hold, and tracking generator4 multi-timbral partsProgrammable step sequencer and arpeggiatorDynamic real-time phrase sequencer
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 13 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 Killer Virtual Analog Synth Apr 19, 2007
By SRFireside
"ZOOM!"
I have been looking at analog modelling synthesizers since the illustrious Nord Lead blew the synth industry away. There have been many to follow, but I can honestly say the Alesis Micron gives you the most bang for the buck. There are more features on this little keyboard than I have seen on any other VA synth coming anywhere near the price.
500 patches of sounds (with room for 400 more to program) running the gamut of analog textures (don't believe some reviewers not finding soft and warm patches.. they are definitely there right out of the box) including sub-bass tones, warm strings, punchy basses, sweet analog drums and much more in between. The patches are separated by category (lead, bass, drums, pads, etc) and each category can be punched in on the fly.
You have three oscillators per voice (including variable waveshapes and FM) which gives the synth a really fat sound as well as two low frequency ocsillators for warmth. Doing quick modulation and filtering changes can be done with two programmable slider controls. There is also a pitch bend wheel that lights up when you use it. Programming can be pretty intuitive if you learn the shortcut method that makes the keys buttons to select parameters (essentially 37 extra buttons for editing).
I have compared the Micron with other VA synths like Korg's VA synths (MS2000, MicroKorg, Electribe), the Roland 303, the Novation Bass Station and can honestly tell you the Alesis Micron can go toe to toe against all of them and many times come out ahead in both sound and functionality.
The synth also includes a master dual effects processer and a single drive effects processor per patch (something most VA synths don't even include). Not the greatest effects processing in the world, but far from inferior. Essentially the effects help give your sounds some nice ambience. You also get a 40 band vocoder for vocal effects (more robust then the Korg VA synth vocoders) You are limited to 8-voice polyphony, but the synth is 32-part multitimbral.
The Micron also has a built in step and phrase sequencer that includes over 400 patterns preset with drum parts, synth parts and combinations of both along with room for hundreds of your own. The phrase sequencer is really easy to use with one button record and looping. A third type of sequencer you have is a pretty versatile arpeggiator.
Bottom line is if you are looking for synth that is affordable yet has an expansive set of analog sounds (and by that I mean a digital synth that utilizes analog modelling) this is it. If you are doing electronic dance music this synth is perfect for you. You won't find a better value for the money. Sure there are better products out there (Nord is still the tops in my book), but when it comes down to it the Micron will give you professional sounding analog synth sounds and the ability to make some killer patches.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Micron- Solid analog sound.. dirt cheap. Feb 21, 2006
By G. McKinney
The Micron is a fantastic synth, more capable than its big brother Ion while sharing the same fantastic sound that the Ion is known for. Like all good VAs, the power of the Micron is in its hardware, not its presets. Romplers have good presets, but that's as far as you get-- No, the micron has weak presets but a strong core.
The UI, which takes a lot of flak from many reviewers, actually is very usable. It's shortcut based, so if you put a bit of time into learning it you find it's actually very quick and easy to use. Naturally having everything on the front panel, as does the Ion, would make editing operations significantly faster- but it's not at all bad.
If you're looking for honest analogue sound, the Micron is probably at the top of the list of VAs made right now. It's VERY analogue, and has an extremely impressive variety of filters.
Don't be scared off by the minimalist UI or some of the boring presets- The Micron is the Real Thing(tm) and can shake the walls.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
great sounding synth Aug 03, 2006
By M. gregory
"MDG"
This synth is loaded with a lot of great sounds - and it is very programmable. You can program your own beats, phrases, arpeggios and sounds. Layers, splits, assignable sliders. It can do a lot. In fact, for me personally, that's the only problem - it can do more than I can absorb. I know I'm not using it anywhere near it's capabilities. In researching this keyboard I found that most keyboard magazine and equipment reviews gave it high marks on sounds and programing, so I'm figuring that the difficulty lies with me and not the Micron. There will definitely be a learning curve if you're new to programming. The sounds and beats are very useable and inspiring, so overall I'm quite satisfied and happy with the keyboard.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Decent Bang for Buck, but Best? Jan 30, 2010
By wadrad
Well, I am reviewing this synth a few years after it was released, but that ought to give potential buyers a perspective about the synth from 2010 instead of 2006. The price hasn't changed much since I bought mine almost 5 years ago, so given inflation, you'd have to say it's a better value, but the real question is whether it can compete with all the stuff (soft synths included) that have come along since.
The sounds? Very nice, straight ahead synth sounds you can sonically sculpt extensively with a great assortment of filters and patch parameter settings. It has the same sound engine as the Alesis Ion which won raves for the analog sounding quality of it. And naturally the "virtual analog"-ish-ness of this keyboard also sounds really good. Not exactly analog, but close enough and professional enough to easily fill-in for recording and gigging.
This keyboard does a VERY decent job representing the "vintage" category. I'm not sure what decade the reviewer "Soggy Poodle" was referring to, but plenty of folks would consider synth sounds from late 70s and early 80's Rush and Styx "vintage". From that period, synths were still mostly analog, Yamaha's FM piano tones hadn't flooded the recording studios yet, and good ol' filter sweeps were still fashionable (ala "Tom Sawyer"). Could they have been a little more creative with the programming on this keyboard? Sure, but they did a decently representative job with what they did provide. The big selling point for me in programming the thing is the wide variety of filters available. You can really get some cool sounds (I really like the comb filters) but you have to be brave and creative enough to try something other than the LP filters to learn that.
The synth engine only has 8-note polyphony, which unfortunately leaves it a bit limited for playability, but hey...given the smaller keyboard, it was already obviously limited. Any idiot could have looked at the picture and realized you couldn't play both the octave bass and chordal part of "Jump". Despite the limited 8-note polyphony, it also provides at least 8 multitimbral parts. If I remember correctly, you can actually have more parts than 8, but you're still limited by the max 8 notes being played at any one time.
The weird thing about this keyboard is a lot of the programmed sounds seem to lean towards 70's rock and even progressive rock, and though it would easily work for that, given the rhythm sounds and built-in sequencing, it's probably best suited for more modern loop-based techno.
And how does the Micron stand up now after almost 5 years on the market? Hmmm...I'm also a big user of Propellerhead Reason. And currently for about $200 more than the price of the Micron I can buy a new, el-cheapo laptop, Reason 4.0 and make MUCH more music than I could with just the Micron, and much more easily (something I COULDN'T do for so little money almost 5 years ago). So is the Micron still relevant? Because I already have a laptop and Reason, I'm on the verge of saying "no". But for the gigging or recording musician on a budget and looking to fill out the band's sound pallet a bit (and not wanting to worry about a crashing laptop), this would definitely be one to consider.
As for programming the thing, though I hate to admit it, "Soggy Poodle" was right...this thing is a pain to program. It IS very programmable (lots of tweakable parameters and such), but getting to the parameters, despite being able to also use the keyboard for inputting data, isn't so agreeable. If only Alesis had provided programming software with it, and easy linking to a computer, this would be a 5-star product for sound, programmability, and price. But without a less-difficult programming option (like software even), it really drops the overall rating to a 4.
So to summarize: great value of a product with fine quality sounds and extensive programmability that unfortunately isn't so easy to program. Solid for recording and gigging, but less capable than some only-slightly-more-expensive options. Lastly, I think a decent used one would really be the way to go...more competitive cost-wise, but still delivering the goods.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great first synth Feb 23, 2011
By S. Cram
Though I was initially concerned by the reviews that said that programming the synth was difficult, I have had nothing but great times with the Alesis. It is my first synth, and has been great. The presets include great bass and cool leads, which can be relatively easily modified. As for more in depth programming, though it takes patience and wading through some menus, the actual sound formation is intuitive, provided you read the manual. In general, I feel that much of the programming frustration can be allayed by simply marking relevant pages of the manual and using it as an in depth guide to the process of programming. I will probably download a software editor and may buy a midi controller to provide more controls, but thusfar, I have fantastic experiences with the Micron.
See all 13 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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