alesis andromeda opinions

The Moog Forum Minimoog Forum
21

Who knows what’s happens in the future, maybe a bunch of guys decides to get the source code and do a hack. It has happened before with the Yamaha TX16 sampler and the Typhoon OS or the Jupiter-6 with its Europa MIDI, Memorymoog with the LAMM update. The JP6 had a rudimentary MIDI implementation but the team at Synthcom managed to beef up the spec with SysEx dumps, sending MIDI CC, Arpeggio syncable to MIDI and a lot more. Now my JP6 really rocks being able to send/receive CC, more keyboard modes.

Regards
Demokid

22

Hi,

I still insist that the A6 is an amazing instrument. It has some bugs to its operating system but so what? If you can’t get a sound that you like you either can’t program it properly or it’s the sound per se that you don’t like. You don’t have to blame the instrument, its filters or whatever. Why don’t you blame yourself for not programming some individuality to the sounds?

Whether or not the A6 is a discontinued product: Has anyone tried to contact Sequential Circuits lately? :open_mouth:

:sunglasses:

23

Just wanted to chime in and say I have a PolyEvolver (rack of course) and I love it! I’ve only played an Andromeda and while it was nice, it just seemed cheaply made and not overwhelming sonically. If you have a computer for editing (or maybe you could later add the keyboard for 8 voices), I highly recommend the PolyEvolver.

24

got the andromeda today (iordered it b-stock from music 123). I opened the box which was already destroyed to find the worst packing job I have ever seen. The keyboard was just floating with about a foot of free space in the box with no packing materials to speak of except for two foam endcaps on the keyboard. Needless to say one whole side was busted to pieces and there were no manuals or power supply anywhere in the box. I sent it back this afternoon and talked them into sending me a new one with $500 off the price (i am sure they still amke a killing off of markup anyways) so hopefully i will get a new one in a week or two after my return gets processed. Looks cool though and the knobs and keys feel nice (even though it was all busted up).

25

Strange!! Was it a demo unit Music 123 sent to you? My A6 was brand new packed in two boxed. First a brown heavy duty cardboard box. Inside it was a white Andromeda box, all packed neatly.

Regards
Demokid

26

I tried an andromeda out for a few days in my studio and i thought it was weak sounding.it sat very small and hollow sounding in tracks.it didn’t feel or sound analogue to me. other poly’s kick its arse sound wise ie the memorymoog,jp8,pro5 etc. not feeling it.

27

Hi thebedroom!

I wouldn’t buy a B-Stock Andromeda even if you get full warranty. Not only might it be scratches and stuff but it might be problems with the electronics inside. Some one returned the Andromeda because it was something wrong with it. They did a service but the problem might still exist. It might be a lemon…
Save some more money and buy a new one instead with no scratches and other faults.

Kind regards
Demokid

28

I am getting a new one now I am just paying $500 less for it.

29

I tried an andromeda out for a few days in my studio and i thought it was weak sounding

Weak? I think it’s easily one of the best sounding analogs.

it sat very small and hollow sounding in tracks

I had someone listening to a mix and he noticed that something analog was there straight away.

it didn’t feel or sound analogue to me

The Andromeda’s mixers distort easily. This is good and bad, depends on what you want to do. With high levels there’s seems to be a little extra sheen especially in the high registers, and thus analog becomes more VA. (of course you can make cold soundscapes and other digital sounds more easily). So keep the levels low and the A6 will sound at its best (more dark). Also switch off the background tuning or/and temperature.

Viva analog
:sunglasses:

30

Just received my A6 today. I downloaded every patch that I can find on the internet for the A6. Now that I have them, how can I get these patches into the A6?

31

Use a utility that can send and receive syx files. (You can also use a sequencer but I wouldn’t recommend that - it is rather incovenient). I use the A6 banker, which is a very simple program.

Make sure you have properly configured the MIDI ports and all relative parameters in the A6.

Enjoy your A6!

Yannis

32

Yannis, thanks. I purchased the A6 Banker for a reaonably priced $5 from the programmer. It works great.

However, I downloaded the A6 factory banks from Alesis’s website. When I use the A6 Banker to import these factory banks over to the A6, A6 Banker says File Access Denied. Do you have any idea why this is happening?

Also, is their additional sources online where I can download or purchase A6 patches. I am not much of a synth programmer but I intend to learn. But in the meantime, I am looking to get additional patches for the A6.

One more question, is it possible to install these sys files directly onto an SRAM card via my PC to be used in the A6?

Yannis, thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

33

Hi Jahrome,

I am glad to have been of help.

I would not recommend sending a whole bank of patches to the A6. It will certainly choke from MIDI data. I did this to mine some time ago and it didn’t get all the patches. If you insist however, I need to check my documents to see a hidden parameter that enables to increase the delay between buffers. Write down the default value before changing this one.

For additional patches and more info visit www.wohmart.com/a6. Maybe you would also like to join the A6 community.

I don’t think you can send syx file directly to your SRAM card. I am not sure however - maybe you need to email Mark Strijbos for this. What I do is devote a single location from the user area to send the syx file there and then decide whether to send this to card or not.

If you want to learn more about synthesizer programming you need to read the A6 manual very well. There are also various sites and books with lots of information. Above all you need to practice. The secret in making good sounds is to be obssesive about it.

Have a nice time

Yannis

34

Yannis, thanks again. I checked out the site and this link was posted under patches: http://www.wohmart.com/a6/synthinfo/

There are file extensions with .lib. What type of files are these and how to you get them into the A6?

35

Lib files? Never used them. I suppose they are some sort of banks. Maybe you can check www.wohmart.com/a6 in the messages for some additional info.

:sunglasses:

36

I would say that the A6 is a great machine under a mediocre company. I have one, amongst a ton of other synths.

I don’t think it is as snappy as the Moogs I have. Perhaps it is the filters or the envelopes.

However, it stands out on its own when you learn to work the box. Modulation routing is about as comprehensive as I have ever found.

People complain about using software to route things around. Look at the Oberheim Xpander or Matrix 12. There is a ton of similarity in the philosophy of the A6 and the Xpander/M12.

One plus is an ok effects processor (though you can do a ton more externally). I usually find that I use some effects on my other synths to spice them up a bit.

My analog equipment - Prophet 5, 10 and VS (not entirely analog), Super Jupiter MKS 80 with programmer, ARP 2600 with duophonic keyboard and moog ladder filter, A6, Xpander, Oberheim 4 voice, Elka Synthex, Voyager Signature, LAMM Memorymoog, …

37

The snappiest envelopes on the planet are said to be the ones of the Technosaurus Selector D Modular. I suppose you can do some lab tests to measure how fast each synth is but numbers not necesserily tell you much, do they? The A6 sounds very snappy to me.

And of course there is an engine optimizer!

:sunglasses:

38

I think the problem with the A6 is (beyond the weak presets) that everyone seems to want to compare it to some other synth. It is not a Mini or a Memory Moog. It is not an Oberheim (though it comes closer to sounding like a Matrix 12 or Xpander).

But, how many of the classic vintage synths do people talk about in comparison to what else they sound like. The Moog sound is pretty unique. So is a good Arp, but it is not a Moog. Oberheim and Roland have distinct sounds and capabilities. SCI products have unique sounds as well.

I think that in the right hands (which might exclude mine), the A6 is a very powerful sonic arsenal. Two seperate filters, Two VCOs with sub oscillators, sync, multiple waveforms and tremendous modulation capabilities. It is a monster in its on right.

My collection includes Voyager signature, LAMM Memorymoog, ARP 2600 with duophonic keyboard amd Moog Ladder filter, Prophet 10, 5 and VS, Roland SH 101, Super Jupiter MKS 80 + Programmer, JD800, JP 8080, Alesis A6, Waldorf Wave (the big one), Oberheim 4 voice and Xpander, Elka Synthex, Nord Modular, Novation Super Nova II and some EMU boxes.

I tend to think of each of them (except the EMU boxes) as being unique instruments. To me, only the Super Nova II and Roland JP 8080 are boxes that try to sound like something else. However, they really don’t sound like anything unique on their own.

One other thing, when you look at digital modelling synths, turn off the effects (same for the A6) and listen to the sounds on their own. It is easy to add some chorus, reverb or echo and make a weak synth sound good. However, a strong synth rarely needs those things and when effects are combined properly, watch out.

39

OOps - I forgot I wrote something the other day., Sorry for redundantly repoeating myself over and over again and again.

40

I think it’s somehow inevitale to compare sythesizers. I have stopped doig that some time ago. However some users like to compare although nothing ever comes out from this comparison. Everybody will tell “apples and oranges” yet everybody does that.

:sunglasses: