Why the alesis micron gets no respect ??

[KBD_TRACKER]

it is really a unique and still novel machine, due to its huge packed power, size, design, user interface, and price.
yet, rarely is it discussed.
as if it lacks of knobs was some sort of nasty plague.... gee, even the radias gets more respect !!!!

[Ry-Fi]

I disagree, I think the Micron gets a ton of respect. h**l, I love my Ion and yet I'm surprised by how much love the Micron gets. I personally wouldn't enjoy the limited interface, but there are a lot of people out there that make do with what they have and triumph in the face of such challenges, so a huge kudos to them!

[Murderhausen]

I used to own a Micron and have now had an Ion for a couple years. I think the Micron does a nice job of combining so many features into one small package, but instead of a great synth, they aimed for an all-in-one sound machine. I never liked the "sequencer" and far prefer the simpler layering of 4 sounds on the Ion. The knobs on the Ion are also nice to have. I do miss that stereo delay with separate delay times for left and right channels, and I liked the feel of the sliders. I prefer having wheels for modulation, but if the Ion had four of those Micron sliders in its envelope section I would be so pleased.

Anyway, despite having the same engine and a few more features (delay) than the Ion, the Micron just seems a little more "toyish" because of its sequencer and lack of true multitimbrality.

[braincandy]

it is really a unique and still novel machine, due to its huge packed power, size, design, user interface, and price.
yet, rarely is it discussed.
as if it lacks of knobs was some sort of nasty plague.... gee, even the radias gets more respect !!!!

No respect? Rarely discussed?
There are 557 mentions of it on VSE using the search function.
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/searc ... mit=Search

Also, if you like it, who cares what anyone else thinks about it?

[bradkë]

Yeah, I thought the Ion/Micron were generally highly praised. My Ion is still one of my favs I've yet owned.

I just pulled my stuff out of storage last week and first thing I did was update the Ion to v1.0.6. Lol, been in storage for a while. Forgot how good some of the preset pads were.

[blitzdj86]

as if it lacks of knobs was some sort of nasty plague....

that's because it is!

[griffin avid]

I think the ION was overlooked and so the 'mini version' was placed in the same boat. I also think it was over-shadowed by the Korg MicroKorg. And before we get off into the tangent of specs and who likes what better, I think it's safe to say the MicroKorg is more popular than the Micron no matter how you slice it.

And thus it's left as another option after...
I would even say the Bloefeld is moving into the space it used to occupy even for a few dollars more.

Plus, I thought it looked corny...

[shaft9000]

two words = end cheeks

the public is unfailingly fickle, and the mKorg has "sexier" faux-veneer end cheeks and 'Moog knobs'.
So there's your answer, and it really is as simple as that.

[Zamise]

I noticed its rarely discussed among antartic penguins.

[masstronaut]

Anyway, despite having the same engine and a few more features (delay) than the Ion, the Micron just seems a little more "toyish" because of its sequencer and lack of true multitimbrality.

But the sequencer is pretty good - it's a key transposable step-type sequencer that supports non step recording. As with everything Micron you are painting through the letterbox but other than that what's not to like? And it is multitimbral, in fact I think you can actually have eight parts, possibly more, including a full drum map, split over MIDI channels and key zones more or less as you like. Is there a difficulty doing layers on the same channel or something, I can't remember.

What I do like about the ION / Micron architecture is the way they use a small DSP chip for each voice. There's just something appealing about that, it's almost reassuring in a weird way to think that each voice has a dedicated processor.

[BoxPhenom]

if this was really a vintage synth forum I guess It wouldn't be mentioned at all

unless you gig with it or don't use a computer i don't understand why you'd want a knobless VA.

[esqoner]

I noticed its rarely discussed among antartic penguins.

though it does have a cult following.


the red makes them feel warmer.

[Stab Frenzy]

if this was really a vintage synth forum I guess It wouldn't be mentioned at all

unless you gig with it or don't use a computer i don't understand why you'd want a knobless VA.

1. It's the best sounding VA you could afford
2. You're not interested in programming sounds, just playing them
3. What does not using a computer have to do with not wanting knobs?
4. You want something small to play with in your bedroom, not a big thing covered with knobs
etc.

[redchapterjubilee]

I've had both a Micron and an Ion. The problem with the Ion was at least mine had issues with the outputs and being really, really noisy. The programming interface was awesome though. As for the Micron...well, you have plenty of real time control too but you've got to set it up. What would be great is if you could afford to program with an Ion and send it over to the Micron for live performance.

As for the sound engine...well, if you after analog emulation I think it's pretty much as good as it gets. I think it nails DCO synths to the wall and is pretty close to the VCO analogs I've owned (though still lacking a certain oomph that I cannot explain empiracally).

It's the physical design of the synth that I think enforces its redheaded stepchild status. It looks like a stick of gum to me. At least the Akai version of the Micron will have real wheels. It took me awhile to get use to horizontal sliders. I know it's suppose to look futuristic but had Alesis gone the more "vintage" route I think it would've sold more. Anyways, I love that synth engine and will probably always (knock on wood) have either a Micron or Ion in the lineup. I wish someone would put that engine in a real first class knobby box that isn't so problematic (or flat) and I think it would do gangbusters. Or if somehow Akai reduced the Micron/Ion engine into a Blofeld style box for cheap.

[blitzdj86]

Or if somehow Akai reduced the Micron/Ion engine into a Blofeld style box for cheap.

now. . that is a serious idea!

I was actually at one point considering buying a micron and mutilating it. . removing the circuitry from the keyboard shell and fitting it into a box. . I never did get to look inside one though and see how much space circuit boards took up.