Alesis Micron

This thing is extremely easy to use(i just picked it up and figured it out), however it can be a little slow (programming basically can be all done through one knob) The presets are great, i use mine for ebm/industrial/rock, it does a great job...anything that you cannot figure out can be easily cleared up by the manual

i think it has 8 voice polyphony?...the keyboard action i good, however im kinda accustomed to my dx7s light action...the effects are great, nice delays and some good choices of flanger, phaser, and a 40 band vocoder (which is pretty good, not the greatest but it is sufficient)...

it cant be expanded, however i dont think there is any need for expansion in this type of synth...

it has pressure sensitive keys, accepts the aftertouch of my dx, has 6 realtime controls at the top...

and it has a really easy to use drum and synth sequencer in it

i have no idea how they packed so much into a synth like that...its amazing

this synth is fat, warm, analog sounding, equal to the sounds of synths way more expensive then itself, id say its good for techno, trance, ebm, if you program it right it can do industrial...the fx kick ass...you can edit the velocity curve too, however the keys dont have aftertouch

ok my one and only complaint about the synth is the main control know...thats it...the rest is built nice and strong, and i really dont see a problem with the control knob unless your like really knocking it around

never dealt with them

this thing kicks the microkorgs ass...im sorry but this synths fat sounds are much better then the microkorgs cold cellphone-ish noises...if it got lost i would definately gen another(when i get the money)...i love the sounds of it probably the most, without even trying, patches come out fat as hell...this thing kicks ass

Pretty easy to use one you learn how to map parameters onto the knobs.
2 points off for not having very many real-time knobs on the front panel.

Great features on this thing. The variety of features are probably it's strongest point.

You can tweak the presets to an acceptible level but it still doesn't sound as fat as some other synths do right out of the box...

It may work well for rock or pop music but as far as using the Micron for Hip Hop, the sounds aren't high enough quality.

Seems pretty solid. I didn't have any problems.

Didn't try dealing with customer support.

"If it were lost or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else?"

After testing it side by side with a Microkorg I ended up trading in the Micron even though the features on the Micron are much more in depth the basic sound isn't as high quality as the Microkorg.

As you should know, this is the Alesis Micron. I didn't do any upgrades, so its stock. The presets, for the most part, sound pretty good. Editing is pretty easy, although it takes some getting used too. If you've seen the micron, you're probably well aware that most of the editing is done within the menus and whatnot. The manual is great. Like i said, pretty easy to use once you get used to it. I do prefer MicroKorg's layout much better since its much easier and quicker to manipulate sounds.

The action is very good. The effects are good. As I said, pretty easy to work this thing once you've done a fair share of reading the manual and/or tinkering around on it. Pressure sensitive keys are nice. If memory serves me correctly, it has 8 poly. For $400, this has a ton of great features. Can't beat it for the price. This is one of the few reasons I chose it over the MicroKorg.

I give it a 10, not because it has the most features in the world, but just because it has a LOT of features and its so inexpensive, comparatively speaking.

Sounds are great. I'm sure its great for techno and the like, but I actually use it for bass and drums a lot. I also put synth lines into rock songs too. sounds aren't realistic, but its a synth, so they really shouldn't be. very quality sounds, to my ears.

If it were lost or stolen, i'd probably by another sooner or later. I actually traded in an amp and paid $150, and it was definitely worth what i "paid." I love the sounds, and all the features. its even really fun to just mess around with in my room. As I stated before, i compared it to the microkorg. both are really nice. i like the onboard layout of the microkorg MUCH more, but the micron has A LOT more features and i didnt care for the mini-keys on the microkorg. both sound amazing though.

it should be known that I am a guitarist and really am not that experienced with synths. but i can say that this thing sounds great, has great features and is relatively easy to get used to. I may not know all that much about synths, but I know what I like and I really like this.

its a great synth and its cheap. i give it a ten. if it were more expensive, i'd probably knock a few points off. for the price, and even some things a little more expensive, you simply can't beat it.

Version 1.02 This machine is incredibly powerful and musical. Very well thought out design. A lot has to be adjusted through one knob, but it works well.

The polyphony and effects are excellent for a $399. machine (even for a $699. machine). Nice keyboard feel, good MIDI send unit. Great ability to save favorites and recent sounds. But you can't relaod factory presets from within the machine.

Love the sounds. Except the vocoder. I've used 5 different vocoders and the Micron's. The Micron's is awful -- if intelligibility is important. The Micron demo on the Alesis site has vocoder in it, and that demo is as good as the Micron vocoder seems to get. To say it's 40 bands implies something that's just not there. The MicroKorg 8-band vocoder blows the Micron's away. If sound mangling is what you're after, then the vocoder is OK. I'll give an 8 for everything except the vocoder.

Seems great, but watch the main control knob.

Nice, live people at Alesis.

Great, instant classic. Would be PERFECT with even a decent vocoder.

Version 1.02 software as shipped.
Presets are pretty "synth" standard, it would have been nice to have a list of the
original tones, rhythms,patterns and programs. I find that the many days of scrolling
through and listening and trying to dissect how the sounds are made is a lengthy
process, yes an editor would be nice, but a simple list would do.
The manual is brief but succinct. The quick view is very brief but the illustrations
are very useful.

8 voices/4 channels effects are basicly filters, delays, compression, overdrive.
You have to program them in. Your sounds can be changed and applied to same
effects you had on the previous sound. That's pretty neat.
No expansion except for other midi devices synched or as a controller.
I think the keys are a little cheesy, my other keyboard is an ancient DX7, so
that's my standard. I use this box however with a midi-guitar so i don't need
the keys so much.
The phrase/patterns sequencing is awesome.You can sequence a riff, or appegiate it
and switch these for the same pattern of notes.

I used a Prophet 600 for many years, and my other synths are a DX7, and two Octave Cat srmII's . I gave the Prophet back to my brother so i needed something to replace it.
After about 3 months of mulling it over, I ordered the Micron. THis is posssibly the best
suitable replacement for the Prophet that I could have obtained. I get close to same
sounds-some are dead on!! Obviously a Prophet does have more knobs, but
I need to say that this synth is amazing!..
Reaction to my playing is fine though I'm not a technical keyboard player.Through a midi
guitar it reacts just as expected -perfectly.

Will know more about this over time, lugging it to practice and back home.
It's pretty light compared to a Prophet or a DX7. and it's small.

Not needed, hopefully never needed, I did send a suggestion about the placement of the
M1 and M2 and the pitch wheel which are in a different direction(horizontal rathe than vertical) The former could have been replaed with knobs like the volume
knob which i find very usuable than I'm used to. The pitch wheel should be moved though.
A modest suggestion. Just a user preference, not a problem function wise.

As I said I play Guitar. My other "box" is an Adrenalinn which is possibly the best thing
since sliced tofu. So More drums, more filters and more patterns in my sound is
always welcome as long as I feel I can control the whole thing while tryng to
play a song. So I've gone from a masssive guitar sound to a massive guitar synth
sound with automatic rhythmic control and LOTS of ways to get complex assemblies
of drums ,pads,more drums, strings, filters , etc and killer noises on the fly.
The risk of too many layers is great not a bad problem to have. The Micron is a lot of fun, -i've never been much of a drummer and the control i have on triggering drums and patterns is a welcome addition (something I didn't expect either). It will likely take
about 6 months to really get a hold of all the features (I haven't even mentioned the
separate vocoder section) .
Consider this a glowing review .

When I first got the Micron, it came with version 1.01 but I've since updated it to version 1.02 and not had any crashes or bugs. The supplied presets are amazing and have been voiced to really show off that this synth maybe little on the outside, but when it comes to sound, it's massive! Editing isn't as difficult as you may imagine, as Alesis have a very smart system of bringing up different sections of the synth by holding down the main control dial and hitting a key. You could always by an external MIDI controller if you wanted more physical controls. I haven't really needed the manual as yet, but it seems okay if a little skimpy.

Features? This thing is stacked with them! 8 voices is good enough as far as polyphony goes and the keyboard has a nice feel to it. The built in effects score over the more expensive Ion and sound great. There are no expansion capabilities but then they are not really needed on a synth of this kind. Including the sequencer was a great idea, as are the rhythms - they make a big difference - and make it a very attractive product for the price.

This synth can sound like just about any real analogue you care to mention (and I'm speaking from experience of some of the vintage synths I've owned since 1987). To me, it's greatest moments are when it sounds like a SCI Pro-One. It has a killer sound, the closest thing I've heard to a real analogue. Thanks to the great presets (and the editing power to make your own), it's not limited to just one style of music. It's not just a dance synth, as it can sound very retro, for doing electro 80's stuff as well. All in all, an excellent sounding synth, one of the best I've ever used!

I can see what some people mean by the "wonky" main control dail. I'm hoping mine holds up! The rest of the machine seems very solid, but time will tell...

This is an amazing synth and I don't know what I'd do without it. Alongside my Roland SH-32 and Korg MicroKORG, it has become one of my most loved synths, ever. It's ability to process external sounds through it's vocoder and effects has made an amazing difference to the sound of my SH-32 and when you mix drum sounds from the 32 with the Micron, they are speaker-blowingly big! Mixing sounds from the microKORG with the Micron (being controlled by the Microns Sequencer) si fantastic. I am so happy with this synth! I never dreamed that my most loved synth would have been made by Alesis, who's QS-range of keyborads held no interest for me at all!

It's really helped me in my songwriting too, providing idea after idea after idea...if you haven't heard it yet, get to your local music store and have a play with it...the MP3 demos on the Alesis website really don't show it off fully. The best synth I've ever bought, no question.

i gave it an 8 because ive only had it for like a day but its pretty easy to use. its my first real synth so i like it and it seems easier to edit and use than most other synths

the sequencer is ok the arrpegiator is good and its has midi(thru out in) the effects are ok delay and reverb good reverb.

its great in this depratment. i persoonally dont like velocity sensitive keys so this is actually a draw back for me but for velocity sensitivty its not that great

im pretty sure you could gig with it it seems very dependable. but i gave it a nine casue you never know

never dealt with alesis

This is a "first impression" review -- I just spent 45 minutes testing out the keyboard I got for my son for christmas to make sure it survived shipping (not to worry it was packed very well).

I thought I'd report a few impressions based on this short hands-on, regarding things which I had been concerned about. I didn't open the owner's manual (though the pdf I looked at online looked pretty detailed and also good for an introduction to synthesis). I also didn't dig into the programmability, which is the reason I picked out this analog modelling synth for my son.

First of all, WOW! I'm an amateur guitar player and took a few piano lessons as a teenager, but this instrument sucked me in and I was playing stuff which begged to be recorded (I listen to 8 hours of eclectic music a day from the BBC, and what I was playing was not crap). This is a cool, compact performance instrument, with the ability to record phrases, arpeggios, rhythms, and layer these with bass and pads via keyboard splits.

The keyboard itself is responsive, with full-size keys. The unit is very compact, barely larger than the 3-octave keyboard itself. It seems to be solid and engineered to last, but of course I can't be sure. It definitely is built like a professional instrument, not a toy.

I compared this to the MicroKorg, and the only thing the MicroKorg had going for it was the option for battery operation. But this is said to last only 3-4 hours so I don't know how useful it would be in practice. Also the MicroKorg comes with a built-in mic.

The Micron bested the MicroKorg features in many ways: better polyphony, (8 voice vs 4 voice), balanced audio I/O, sequencer, full-size keys, huge assortment of filters including vocal formant ones, 40-band (vs 8-band) vocoder.

I'd like to know whether the sequencer is powerful enough to use this instrument for composition as well as performance.

Based on going through some of the presets, there is a huge variety of pads, basses, leads, and drum sounds available, suitable for all kinds of music. Of course this is an analog modelling synth so you won't get sampled simulations of acoustic instruments.

Many of the sounds were lovely and the fidelity was very good (using good quality headphones). I can't comment on the expressiveness, not being much of a keyboard player. I think you can vary the velocity curves to taste.

The preset electronica rhythms are a great way to draw you and get the creative juices flowing, much better than the canned latin/rock/rhumba beats you get in cheap keyboards and drum machines. I didn't get into programming any myself yet.

Like I said, based on first impressions it is solid. The front panel is minimalistic with few protrusions to break. Can't speak on absolute reliability yet.

At this early stage, I'm certainly glad I chose this product.

OS 1.02
a little fiddly to get around on at first, but fairly quick when you get the hang of it. this thing could use an editing program.
take stoo many turns of the main knob when using the mod matrix.
manual is pretty skimpy and some things such as the vocoder aren't covered at all.

lots of features for the price - excellent bang for the buck.
nice touches, such as release velocity (no aftertouch), tracking generator, real sample and hold, very nice mod matrix and great sounding oscillators and many good sounding filter types. pre and post filter mix and nice panning options.

this is a synth - don't come looking for realistic samples and such.
keys feel pretty good for such an inexpensive instrument. fx are decent. capable of a wide range of sounds.

no real trouble so far, but the main knob feels pretty wobbly and it gets a lot of use. i'm a little nervous of how well it will hold up in the long run - i hope they make an editor for it.

i had to contact customer support once for a previous ion i had and they responded pretty quickly - no real complaints.

for the price, i don't think anything else comes close to it.

It's quite easy to get around in spite of the fact that it only has a few knobs. Great thing that you can hold down the program-knob and push a key to get to a specific parametre, very smart thinkin' Alesis!

I'm gonna give you the full list of features here, they are as follows: 8 voices, 18 diff. filtertypes (both 2 & 4-pole w/ 2 filter envelopes!)that each has a special characteristic sound - some replicating specific ol' analogs like arp 2600 minimoog jupiter etc.
Furthermore it has a step/phrase sequencer, a rhythm seq, 40 band vocoder, great fx incl reverb- delay + diff distortionfx (it's Alesis, alright!), Great arp-section, lots of routing capabilities, great MIDI features where you can set up a chosen send/recieve number for preferred parameters. This is the best VA made to this day, no question. It is even better than the Ion, because of the additional reverb, step- and rhythm seq.

What can you not do with this instrument? Ok, real instruments, obviously, but any synth sound you can imagine is attainable with this synth. The digital osc sound very good (this would be an awesome synth even without the FX section), and the converters are outstanding - Superb sound quality and no audible aliasing!
To all you analogue freaks (I'm one of them): this actually does sound convincingly analogue. Nuff said.

Haven't had it long enough to make a statement, but it's solidly built, especially compared to the Microkorg and the like. The keys are surprisinly good for such a little machine.

Haven't had the need to contact 'em yet.

The best sounding machine available on the market today, alongside the Yamaha Motif synths. No, I am not kidding: the best VA is available brand new at $399.

I'm "Anonymous at 10/10/2004 22:33"
OS 1.02 (Mac G4 sys-ex download)
I'd like to let you know that the headphone issue was resolved via exchange for a new in the box model. All things work well.
I like this great little synth a lot. Now I'm programming not just programs but "Setups" ie. combi mode= patches (x many) + drum sounds and it blows my mind what it is that I'm capable doing with it. It sounds GREAT! fat comlex and rich tones.

Very good value for so many features. Great filter emulations, analog drums and effects incl. reverb. Phrase sequencer= high resolution real time or quantized. No aftertouch through the built in keyboard. When I tried it through MIDI it worked but it is difficult to control so far it is too sensitive to the touch. I'm sure there is a work around and it's just another source for modulation anyway I can use wheels or controllers.
Pitch/assignable wheel is in a different angle (somewhat Nord like feel) but I like it because of it and it has a variable glow too, fun! The other knobs are rubber and I like the fact that it is usable at the same time while I'm playing the keyboard. Controllable and responds well like you expect it.

GREAT SOUNDING, YES!
"Pads" blend "solo/bass" stands alone. Swallow other synths-and blends and retaining it's own character if needed cameleon like. It's a real synth!
The analog drum sounds are 1st rate.

Seems fine.

I have to keep this new synth for the sound and fun factor. I'm working it into my setup with Yamaha S-90, S-30, Motif Rack, FS1R, Roland A-37, JV 1010, MBD-1, PK-5, Korg Wavstation and 05WR.

OS version 1.02 updated from Alesis .com with help from SysEx Librarian which is a utility for Mac OS X.
http://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/
The presets sound great. Editing is easy using shortcuts multifunction clicking/rotating knob and buttons. Very cleverly designed.
The manual is good.

37 velocity and release velocity non-weighted synth action keyboard that feels good. 8 Voice polyphony. Built in analog drum machine for hip-hop techno or electronic modern music /programmable pattern sequencer /effects: decent reverb chorus, flanger, delay for echo, overdrive/distortion. Very cool filters Moog like ARP Roland Oberheim and other types. Very musical sounding. Fat oscillator sound even without those filters same as the Alesis Ion. Mono/Stereo audio input for external processing of voice/mic (XLR to 1/4" plug + dynamic mic is working well and line level from any audio source too. Vocoder works great and it is easy to use. MIDI I/O/T. The dynamic lighted Pitch Wheel, programmable Sliders (2) and Knobs (3) plus double-clicking multifunction Progam/Edit knob and many buttons. I found everything is working just as you'd expect in this price range. No problems for me.

I've had the original Mini-Moog model D ,Sequential C. and Oberheim/Roland/Korg Yamaha analog synths in the past 30 years and I found all those sounds in this little synth again. I think it is fatter than the Nord Modular Novation etc. I compared them side by side. I just can't seem to able to stop playing it is so much fun! With some personal programming it comes very close to Moog basses, Roland pads, Oberheim "keysynths"
I've played it through a Fatar SL-161 A Yamaha S30 and S90 and Roland A-37 keyboards and it plays yet better than the already nice built-in keyboard. Aftertouch is possible only through these other keyboards but the sensitivity has to be adjusted.

It seems dependable I took it to 2 gigs and I'll keep on taking it after I'll find a case for it.

I called tech support once and the person was friendly but not too well informed. I pulled the correct answer out of him by pointing him in the "right direction".

Incredible value. Sounds GREAT and affordable. FUN is back for me. I'd like to tell the designers how great of a job they did.
I love this keyboard.

I just want to address the previous reviewers comments about Alesis. I realize that Alesis has had their share of QC problems. I've read all the horror stories. They've gone belly up, bought out, and lost a lot of good people. The main thing I'd be concerned about is the service organization that does their work now. However, just because you've had some problems, doesn't mean everyone has. I haven't had any trouble with my ION at all. I called Alesis before buying it, and once after with a question about the setup. They called me back with specific answers to my questions and recommended what I should do. It worked fine. They have always been very courteous and knowledgeable. Sure I'm a bit concerned about them being bought out, there's no guarantee what will happen. But their stuff is selling. As long as they stand behind their gear, I'm a customer. Give them a chance.

It would be a lot easier to use if the main control knob didn't break off on my first Micron within a few hours of using it. I returned it and got another, but it too has a flaky knob. I guess there is another bad batch, like with the Ions.

When it does work, it has a nice interface considering it's size.

It added some additional functionality that the Ion didn't have: reverb, patterns, drums, etc.

It sounds good, the same as the Ion. My left output is quieter than the right, but this is a quality control issue, not a sound problem.

After going through several defective Ions and now two defective Microns, I'm giving up on Alesis. They make a great sounding product, but their quality is a gamble. I've often considered buying the Andromeda, but considering the problems I've had with their other products, I think I'll steer clear.

Some of the tech support reps have been helpful, but as a whole Alesis has had a very uncooperative and arrogant attitude. They've already gone bankrupt once. If they don't start treating their customers well and improving their quality control, they're gonna go bankrupt again.

If I heard Alesis improved their quality and treated their customers with respect, I'd buy another.

1.01
easy to use and somehow feels right. Patch editor would be helpful. Manual is good.

8 voice polyphony. good fx. Velocity & release velocity(!) No after touch but there are 3 knobs and 2 sliders expression pedal and sustaim pedal input. L/R Audio In(!) Phrase sequencer plus drum patern generator. This is loaded espcially for the price.

GREAT SOUNDS!

Too early to tell but I hope it will be a work horse. It gets warm on the right-back side when I use it in my lap. It has a soft very high pitched sound in the background between Volume knob @ around 11AM-5PM settings on cheaper headphones.

OS Version 1.01.The presets on the micron on great considering the price, they easily compare to that of the Novation K Station except much smoother sounding. Editing patches is pretty easy belive it or not, at first it can be a little daunting but you get used to it...pretty fast. The manual is really helpful, they put diagrams inside the cover for all keyboard shortcuts,which mind you,are very helpfull.

The Micron is an 8 Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer same as Novation K Station. The keyboard action on the Micron is really good ... better than that shit that KORG is pulling on the MicroKORG & the MS-20 Midi Controller. "ughhh what the hell is with that,makes it feel like a cheap toy" but anyways love the keyboard action. There are no expansion capabilities :-( that may seem like a downer but you really dont need any expansion capabilities. The Micron comes loaded with patches/Rythems/Setups...and 233 arpigiated phrases & sequences.The Micron has pressure sensitive keys and velocity aftertouch. It come with a Step sequencer which in my opinion is mildly easy to use.

Okay if your looking for realistic sounds your looking at the wrong type of synthesizer..."go look at the Roland Fantom Line for realistic sounds. The Micron is an analog Synthesizer.Micron will work well with Techno/Dance, Rock and Industrial Music. Alesis has been nice enough to add Reverb on the Micron unlike the Ion this is a big plus. The velocity and aftertouch responds great on the Micron.

So far the Micron has not given me any problems, unlike the Novation K Station where if you go to high in octave the system will crash causing you to reboot. THIS DOESNT HAPPEN WITH THE MICRON! infact the Micron has never crashed on me yet ...but only time will tell.I would use this board on a gig with out a backup if the AC Plug would lock into place this is its only downfall. other than that this board is reliable. :-D

Never had A Problem with Alesis.

If it were lost or stolen id be pretty fuckin pist off my ass. as anybody else would be. Oh and HELL YEA ID BUY IT AGAIN!
I've been playing for 4 years now and plan on for many years to come.
I also Own a Novation K Station ...buuuut its sort of in pecies now ...yea the motherboard craped out :-( ....but its ok cause I also have Novations V Station on my computer which has exactly the same presets as the K Station.
I Love this board versitility it can do so much for a little board!
So far i only hate the fact that you cant lock the AC Plug in the back. but hey if im really that worried about it DUCKTAPE FIXES EVERYTHING!
The Micron is very helpfull in makeing music. FOR THOSE OTHER ALESIS MICRON & ION USERS OUT THERE ...FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME ...TO SHARE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MICRON ... AND PATCHES
I LOVE MY MICRON ... If only i had somebody to love it with "HeHe"

OS Version 1.01. This synth is deep in its programming and configuration. At first look, it seems that patches will be very difficult to edit, but there is a factor that really helps in this area (keyboard key functions). This is absolutely genius, each key of the keyboard opens up other functions when selecting programs or editing. This synth has too many editable parameters to allow "easy use", but at least the features more than justify the learning curve.

Features are similar to the Ion. 4 part multi and 8 voice poly. With the potential of this synth for complex setups, more polyphony would be much appreciated. The dedicated reverb DSP sounds very good to my ears. Where this beats out the Ion is the phrase sequencing and drums sections. You can record custom sequences or arpeggios in real or step time with on screen microscope editing. I have been looking for an all-in-one analog modeling synth that I can have on my lap and get my major ideas in there and play an abbreviated performance with the help of sequencing. This is it! I assume that this offering is meant to compete with the MicrKorg (price and size). Korg should be worried. The MicroKorg doesn't even come close to the sound or features of this machine. The stereo audio in (40 band vocoder) is a great bonus too and does not affect polyphony. Keyboard is a quality, synth action 3 octave with full size keys. Dedicated per part effects would have been a great bonus, but for this price, the features are incredible.

This thing sounds great. The oscillators are very high quality and the processing power of this synth really shows. The flexible filters, sync and FM are also excellent. I would say that the modeling accuracy of this keyboard is right up there with the more expensive units, Virus C and Nord 3. The expressiveness of this board is definitely enhanced by the 3 knobs and 2 sliders, all freely assignabe to tons of destinations. The mod matrix can make for some very dynamic sounds. This sounds unbelievable for the price.

I have owned it less than a month but no issues yet. Very sturdy construction and a good weight and feel.

Customer support was great when I had problems with my Ion, they paid for shipping both ways and fixed it for free. Time will tell if they will support this product with OS updates. I haven't found any bugs yet.

For the price, this synth is untouchable. The sound quality is IMO superior to my Nova and K station. They both have an edge in the effects department though. If this had more polyphony, per part effects, one more soft knob and had a battery option I would have been willing to pay at least $200 more for it. The play it on the couch factor really appeals to me. I converted my K station to battery power, but this still edges it out, in spite of the cord nuisance.