NAMM 2005: Alesis debuts Fusion Synth keyboard workstation. The Fusion has a newly developed synthesizer engine that employs a Coldfire processor surrounded by seven high-performance DSPs. This powerful processing core provides four synthesis types: Sample Playback, Analog Modeling, FM and Physical Modeling.

Specifications:

Tone Generator – Fusion Engine Synthesis – Sample Playback, Virtual Analog, FM, Physical Modeling

• Polyphony – Dynamic processor allocation. Up to 180 voices of sampleplayback.
• Multitimbral Capacity – Mix: 8 internal/16 external, Song: 16 internal/16 external
• Waveforms- tones – 120 MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format)
• Sounds – Preset Instruments: 800 Programs; Preset Drumkits : 64 Drumkits; GM: 128 Programs, plus 8 Drum Kits; User: 40GB of whatever you want
• Mixes – 200 Mixes
• Filters – 13 types
• Effects – 20 Reverbs, 10 Chorus, 50 Insert Effects, 4 Band EQ (low shelf, low, mid, high mid, Hi shelve

Sampler

• Multi-samples (waveform capacity) – 128 samples per Multisample
• Sampling sources – Analog Input L/R, Stereo Output (resampling)
• A/D Conversion – 24 -bit, 64 X oversampling
• D/A Conversion – 24 -bit, 128 X oversampling
• Sampling Frequencies – 44.1 kHz
• Memory – 64MB installed, optional expansion to 192MB
• Sampling Time – 11 Min, 53 Sec (with onboard memory), 37 Min, 15 Sec (with full expansion memory)
• Sample Formats – Alesis format, wav

Sequencer

• Note Capacity – Unlimited / based on HD limitations
• Note Resolution – 480 ppq
• Tracks – 32 Tracks
• Songs – 40GB of whatever you want
• Arpeggio – Preset: 1000; User: Unlimited
• Sequence Format – SMF

Controllers

• Pitch Bend Wheel, Modulation Wheel, Aftertouch, Assignable Control Knobs (4), Assignable Trigger Buttons (4), Assignable Switches (2)

Display

• 240 x 128 backlit LCD

External Storage

• Compact Flash Type I and Type II (Flash and Microdrives), SATA HD and (by Fall 2005) CD-RW

Connectors

• Stereo Input L-Mono/R (Standard 1/4 Jack)
• Stereo Headphone Output (Standard 1/4 Jack)
• Stereo Main Output L/R (Standard 1/4 Jack)
• Stereo Aux Output L/R (Standard 1/4 Jack)
• S/PDIF Output (Coax/Optical), ADAT Output (Optical)
• MIDI In/Out/Thru
• Sustain Pedal
• Footswitch
• Expression Pedal
• USB (to Host)
• HD Recording Inputs 1-8 (Standard 1/4 Jack)
• External Drive (SATA)
• AC Inlet

Power Consumption

• 50 W

Dimensions

• Fusion 8HD: 51.5x14x5 in, 130.8×35.6×12.7cm
• Fusion 6HD: 35.5x14x4 in, 90.2×35.6×10.2 cm

Weight

• Fusion 8HD: 58.4 lb, 25.6 kg
• Fusion 6HD: 30.4 lb, 13.8 kg

More information is available at the Fusion Synth site.