KVR Audio

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:33 am

My roommate needed guitar strings, and there wasn't anything else open this late, so I ended up going to a Guitar Center with him (my first time in one). I gotta say, it was an interesting experience, since I've never seen so much music software sitting in actual boxes before.

Anyway, I eventually wandered over to the keyboard/synth portion of the store, and to my delight there was not only an Ion, but also a Micron sitting there. The Micron was even smaller than I imagined, and the Ion looked just as sexy as I pictured it. Unfortunately, they were both hooked up to tiny M-Audio speakers, so I couldn't really judge the sounds all that well. Another thing that made it tough was that I couldn't find an init patch on the thing!

Maybe it's just me, but I always like to start with a sound from scratch, if only to see how easy/hard it is to program. I spent about 10 minutes standing there, trying to get a straight saw wave out of it, and nothing worked. I thought I'd ask an employee for help, and obviously that didn't go so well (although he did bring out the manual, which was somewhat useful).

Considering all the trouble I had with the Ion, attempting to make an init patch on the Micron was out of the question. I played around with it a little, and it definitely sounded nice.

So after all this, I've decided that if I'm going to get a hardware synth this summer, like I've been planning to do, it'll be the Ion and not the Micron. I still haven't decided if it's worth it, but if I do, I know what I'm getting.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:35 am

Warmonger wrote:My roommate needed guitar strings, and there wasn't anything else open this late, so I ended up going to a Guitar Center with him (my first time in one). I gotta say, it was an interesting experience, since I've never seen so much music software sitting in actual boxes before.

Anyway, I eventually wandered over to the keyboard/synth portion of the store, and to my delight there was not only an Ion, but also a Micron sitting there. The Micron was even smaller than I imagined, and the Ion looked just as sexy as I pictured it. Unfortunately, they were both hooked up to tiny M-Audio speakers, so I couldn't really judge the sounds all that well. Another thing that made it tough was that I couldn't find an init patch on the thing!

Maybe it's just me, but I always like to start with a sound from scratch, if only to see how easy/hard it is to program. I spent about 10 minutes standing there, trying to get a straight saw wave out of it, and nothing worked. I thought I'd ask an employee for help, and obviously that didn't go so well (although he did bring out the manual, which was somewhat useful).

Considering all the trouble I had with the Ion, attempting to make an init patch on the Micron was out of the question. I played around with it a little, and it definitely sounded nice.

So after all this, I've decided that if I'm going to get a hardware synth this summer, like I've been planning to do, it'll be the Ion and not the Micron. I still haven't decided if it's worth it, but if I do, I know what I'm getting.

I wish Mars music was still open. That store had EVERYTHING. There selection of everything was simply amazing.

Soniccat · Post by **Soniccat** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:16 am

I own an Ion and there is an init patch. Go to bank 4 (yellow) and it is patch #127, it is called default. Also I think there are some Blank Banks at the Ion Yahoo users group.

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:44 am

I could have sworn I checked 127 on all the banks! Heh, oh well. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be sure to check it out if I go there again.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:49 am

I bought my Ion used, and User#127 (Yellow) had been written over. I did make my own init patch though... one trick you can do is that double-clicking a button will restore its parameter to the default setting.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 am

I am very happy with my Micron, it sounds great and is ridiculously compact. The only thing that annoys me is the red plastic around the sliders - makes it look like a toy. But I can't see any reason to pay 50% more to get a few extra knobs and lots of extra kilos. Its easy enough to program using the piano key shortcuts and actually has more features.

soulkraka · Post by **soulkraka** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:30 am

BONES wrote: Its easy enough to program using the piano key shortcuts and actually has more features.

so how does that work? Do you use a shortcut to access a parameter then a knob to adjust it?

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:34 am

Is the micron better than for instance godkiller III?
It's a serious question. I know atleast I like hardware _controllers_, but I gave up on hardware synths a few years ago. Because they just aren't as good as the software ones, imo, even less when looking at the back-for-the-buck.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:26 am

You can use the piano keys to go to a group of parameters [osc, filter, LFO, etc], so that you only need to navigate a few parameters to get to exactly the thing you want to edit. Its pretty quick and easy, although I don't think I'd like to have to work like this all the time.
As for being better than GODkILLER III, it most certainly is. It has 20 different filter modes, emulating all the hardware classic plus a handful of its own. The envelopes have decay curves on each segment, it has more on-board effects and is generally really good. Plus it has some excellent features for live performance, like the pattern sequencer and set-ups in general, the main reason I bought it. Where GODkILLER III shits all over it is general ease of programming but that could change if the guy who is making the PC Editor ever finishes it. It is also very good value for money. Its only 1/3 more than z3ta+, for example, and can be had much cheaper if you shop around.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:27 pm

Warmonger wrote:My roommate needed guitar strings, and there wasn't anything else open this late, so I ended up going to a Guitar Center with him (my first time in one). I gotta say, it was an interesting experience, since I've never seen so much music software sitting in actual boxes before.

Anyway, I eventually wandered over to the keyboard/synth portion of the store, and to my delight there was not only an Ion, but also a Micron sitting there. The Micron was even smaller than I imagined, and the Ion looked just as sexy as I pictured it. Unfortunately, they were both hooked up to tiny M-Audio speakers, so I couldn't really judge the sounds all that well. Another thing that made it tough was that I couldn't find an init patch on the thing!

Maybe it's just me, but I always like to start with a sound from scratch, if only to see how easy/hard it is to program. I spent about 10 minutes standing there, trying to get a straight saw wave out of it, and nothing worked. I thought I'd ask an employee for help, and obviously that didn't go so well (although he did bring out the manual, which was somewhat useful).

Considering all the trouble I had with the Ion, attempting to make an init patch on the Micron was out of the question. I played around with it a little, and it definitely sounded nice.

So after all this, I've decided that if I'm going to get a hardware synth this summer, like I've been planning to do, it'll be the Ion and not the Micron. I still haven't decided if it's worth it, but if I do, I know what I'm getting.

First if that was your first time in a GC just imagine how much fun I had at four years of Mars (I worked pro-audio, recording and keys). However coming from retail one thein you should know warmonger. Alesis is Numark...absolutely the worst customer service in the music industry...the Ion is sweet but I wouldn't buy a guitar pick from any of Numark's holdings...they screwed me on warranty work on a QSR...basically it broke twice and it was the samething, except the second time was just passed the warranty time (however if the first repair didn't take so long to get approval it would of been fine)...so if the Ion makes it, it's a sweet synth...if it breaks you need to be aware that instead of solving the problem they will spend more time lookng for loopholes to get out of warranty work.
At Mars I hated selling anything by Numark, half of it (atleast) came back. Sadly last summer Numark aquired Akai too...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:35 pm

Chase wrote:
Warmonger wrote:My roommate needed guitar strings, and there wasn't anything else open this late, so I ended up going to a Guitar Center with him (my first time in one). I gotta say, it was an interesting experience, since I've never seen so much music software sitting in actual boxes before.

Anyway, I eventually wandered over to the keyboard/synth portion of the store, and to my delight there was not only an Ion, but also a Micron sitting there. The Micron was even smaller than I imagined, and the Ion looked just as sexy as I pictured it. Unfortunately, they were both hooked up to tiny M-Audio speakers, so I couldn't really judge the sounds all that well. Another thing that made it tough was that I couldn't find an init patch on the thing!

Maybe it's just me, but I always like to start with a sound from scratch, if only to see how easy/hard it is to program. I spent about 10 minutes standing there, trying to get a straight saw wave out of it, and nothing worked. I thought I'd ask an employee for help, and obviously that didn't go so well (although he did bring out the manual, which was somewhat useful).

Considering all the trouble I had with the Ion, attempting to make an init patch on the Micron was out of the question. I played around with it a little, and it definitely sounded nice.

So after all this, I've decided that if I'm going to get a hardware synth this summer, like I've been planning to do, it'll be the Ion and not the Micron. I still haven't decided if it's worth it, but if I do, I know what I'm getting.
I wish Mars music was still open. That store had EVERYTHING. There selection of everything was simply amazing.

yeah except they had crap management...but working there was the most fun I ever had on a job...Marc just spread himself too thin, he tried to open too many store too quickly...FWIW Marc B. the guy behind Mars is also the guy behind Office Depot...he had a great vision,he just didn't count on certain things happeneing and we never had product, he understocked stores then implemented a system of trading anoungst the stores which got costly. Also a 45 day return policy

or as we called it "free rentals"..

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:00 pm

That is one problem with music stores- people will buy a piece of hardware for a gig, and then return it when they are done... friggin musicians are shady

mayan · Post by **mayan** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:13 pm

What was even MORE shady was that Guitar Center - at least a few years ago - had the practice of selling used products (those returned under the 30 day return policy) as "new." The manager told that to me when I tried to return something without the plastic wrap. I raised a very loud stink - was able to return my item - and then brought in consumer regulations which demonstrated that it was an unfair and deceptive practice (at least in Massachusetts). Don't know if they've changed but I ALWAYS ask if the product is grey stock or returned on the very rare occasions that I purchase things from them. Sorry for the thread hijack.

waveriderarts · Post by **waveriderarts** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:32 pm

BONES wrote:Y Plus it has some excellent features for live performance, like the pattern sequencer and set-ups in general, the main reason I bought it.

yeah i am thinking about the Micron too. thanks for the comment....

DWb · Post by **DWb** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:41 pm

I've got an Ion and it's a pretty tasty little thing - the low polyphony and the lack of many effects sucks a bit, but it's funky in most other respects. It's actually pretty easy to program once you get into the interface, and the combination of the mod matrix and having multiple everythings makes it usefully flexible.

Tried out the Ion today