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-octave keyboard offering breakthrough analog realism, high-resolution control, and tremendous value. The Micron is compatible with Ion programs and holds over 1,000 programs and multitimbral setups.
The Micron’s front-panel interface is streamlined to give you full access to its Analog Modeling power while meeting the demanding requirements of real-time performance. Not only synth patches but melodic patterns and drum beats also are available to you in most cases simply by pressing a button and turning a knob. You can create sophisticated rhythms combining up to ten different sounds. You can create really rich setups combining as many as 26 different programs with anywhere from 0 to 26 different rhythms, all simultaneously active.
The Micron offers continuously variable wave shapes, plus sync and FM synthesis. 16 filter types are included, along with 2 LFOs with multiple wave shapes and sample & hold. The Micron has 8-voice polyphony with 3 oscillators per voice, and is 4-part multitimbral. The Micron offers a programmable step sequencer, arpeggiator, rhythm sequencer for drum kits, and dynamic realtime phrase sequencer—all of which sync to MIDI clock. A powerful and intuitive modulation matrix is built in. Effects include a 40 band vocoder that does not use up any polyphony, 4 drive effects, and stereo bus effects, including reverb.
Developed by the same sound design team that programmed the flagship Andromeda synthesizer, the Micron’s presets cover a variety of genres, including many exciting new tonalities, as well as classic synth emulations. Ion programs can be transferred to and from the Micron via MIDI, and more new sounds will also be available from the Alesis website.
This is an exciting time for analog-style synthesizers. After a period of relative neglect brought on by the appearance of sample playback digital synths (which excel at realistic mimicry of various sound sources), the unique sounds of analog-style synths have been rediscovered. Analog Modeled basses dominate certain styles of music, and other analog-type elements – from drums to leads to pads – are frequently heard in contemporary popular music.
Alesis has been at the center of this resurgence. Their first product in this line was the A6 Andromeda, a true analog synth considered by many to be the most powerful non-modular analog synthesizer ever made. Next came the Alesis Ion, praised as one of the most powerful and best sounding Analog Modeling synthesizers ever.
Now, the Micron furthers this legacy, taking the Analog Modeled synthesizer in yet another new direction.