Alesis ION mods?

[Spectral Climax]

Hello everybody!

Has anyone made a mod to his ION? I like mods (especially when they improve the usability of the instrument) and i'm thinking of making its panel to tilt (like a minimoog). The most annoying thing on this synth, is that you have to stand right over it to see the screen and program it..

I have the service manual and i see that it has the typical separated controller and sound boards, so it will be just a work on the chassis..If i do this mod, i will probably replace the plastic "ears" with cherry wood...

[sempervirent]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

If i do this mod, i will probably replace the plastic "ears" with cherry wood...

That might affect the signal path at the DAC, I'd be careful...

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by sempervirent

That might affect the signal path at the DAC, I'd be careful...

Εhmm...they are just the side panels..they have nothing to do with the soundboard..Everyone can get them out quite easily...i have checked the service manual...

[sempervirent]

Are you sure about that? I seem to recall something from the schematics...

(I was just making a friendly joke about your desire to turn a plastic digital synthesizer into something evoking the Sherwood Forest typography and wooden end panels of the Prophet-5...)

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by sempervirent

Are you sure about that? I seem to recall something from the schematics...

(I was just making a friendly joke about your desire to turn a plastic digital synthesizer into something evoking the Sherwood Forest typography and wooden end panels of the Prophet-5...)

For a moment i thought you were talking seriously!!

Well, i don't want to turn it into a prophet 5! There is too much wood on it! I talked about the sidepanels only...it could be better than the plastic red...and...only the "ears" are plastic! The chassis is metallic!

[grantlandau]

take one ream of paper and place in workspace area. Unplug ion and place on top of pile of paper. boooom bow - paperweight mod.

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by grantlandau

take one ream of paper and place in workspace area. Unplug ion and place on top of pile of paper. boooom bow - paperweight mod.

I would only do this with a Moog Voyager...its the best paperweight with that design!

[AlexK]

I've cut a length of wood just the right size to hold mine at about 10º on it's stand - works perfectly. I quite like the appearance of the Ion as it is...

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by AlexK

I've cut a length of wood just the right size to hold mine at about 10º on it's stand - works perfectly. I quite like the appearance of the Ion as it is...

I did almost the same but i'm not quite happy with the result..

[asynchro_nous]

I've got my Ion tilted at about a 40 degree angle or so -- a tiltable display would be nice, but having the whole shebang at an angle is a nice (essential, really) solution all around.

I'm using an inexpensive alloy laptop stand on top of an X stand to tilt it -- works just fine since the Ion is compact and light.

[Franz Schiller]

Hey Spectral Climax, did you ever do this mod?

I know this thread is old; I don't even know if you have an Ion any more.

Anybody do any Ion mods?

[bunchofwankers]

The only mod I did to my Ion was to move it to a place where I could use it flat and see the display clearly

[Spectral Climax]

Yes, I still have the ION (It's very difficult for me to sell this magnificent instrument), but unfortunately, I didn't find the time and the mood to make such a heavy mod to my mint condition ION... Instead of that, I made a movable wooden stand and I placed it under my main desk, so it's much easier to see the screen amd operate it now...sometimes I also use it as a main keyboard controller...

[Franz Schiller]

Yeah, I stopped using my Ion after I got an OB8, and then have fallen back in love with it, and actually surprised how accurately I can emulate the OB8 with the Ion. Thats how magnificent it can be.

But that idea of yours is definitely a good one.

Also, I wonder how possible it would be to replace the keybed, with something like the Blofeld or a Kurzweil Fatar type action.

[asynchro_nous]

Yes, I agree that the Ion can be magnificent, but its keybed is decidedly UN-magnificent.

Easily one of the worst keybeds in terms of feel, which is a shame.

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by asynchro_nous

Yes, I agree that the Ion can be magnificent, but its keybed is decidedly UN-magnificent.

Easily one of the worst keybeds in terms of feel, which is a shame.

I agree with you..the keyboard feels very cheap, but as I can remember, it's relatively easy to change it...I don't know where to find compatible alternatives though...

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by Franz Schiller

Also, I wonder how possible it would be to replace the keybed, with something like the Blofeld or a Kurzweil Fatar type action.

YouTube - Alesis Ion Key Replacement

[minime123]

we got an ion in recently and put it up for sale, but just yesterday i played it for around an hour and fell in love with it for its different filter types, distortion and modulation possibilities. the one thing i dont like about it though is the overall digital sound - its got a tonal quality similar to most of the "newer" virtual analog and other synths like the prophecy, waldorf q, z1, k5000, etc.
used on its own, these sound great, but used with vintage stuff, they sound thin and out of place in the mix. compare the sound quality to something like a roland juno-60 or jupiter-8, prophet-5, xpander or other vintage synth and you'll probably hear what im hearing. that said, if all youve got is modern stuff, it should fit in well.
mini