alesis andromeda opinions

[Demokid]

Hmmm.... my problem is... I have an Andromeda which is fairly new and I have never really taken to it. There's something about the sound I don't like and I thought the filters sounded weak and the whole thing a bit on the flappy side. I agree most of the presets suck apart from a couple. From experience I'll probably never acclimatise to it but then I read posts like the above... I was seriously thinking of selling.

Given the choice again though - I would spend my dosh elsewhere than on an A6. Virus TI perhaps. I have a couple of Matrix 1000s and some old big polys.

How long have you had your A6 and how often do you play with it? As I sad earlier it took me around 6 month before I started to like the sizer since it is so complex. I have two tips.
1. Turn of Background tuning and Temp tuning. It will sound so much better, warm and analogue. It does not drift so much in tune and if it does just hit auto-tune and have a coffee break.

2. Check out the document Andromeda Tips&Tricks om this page http://www.wohmart.com/a6/ . You’ll get some really good tips and tricks how to program the A6.

Give this sizer another chance or borrow a VA sizer and compare the sounds…

Regards
Demokid

[thebedroom]

thanks again, i just bought the andromeda and should receive it soon. I appreciate the knowledgeable members that took their time to help me make this decision.

[mlanson]

I hated it. I never ever got anything I liked out of it. I was constantly disappointed. In fact I even gave up on making music for 2 years after it... And I paid full price when it just came out.

Compared to my minimoog, I like everything that comes out of it. I thought I just sucked as a sound designer but I just had the wrong machine.

I still get pissed every time I think of how much I spent on it, and how much I got back for it when I sold it.

In theory an a6 sounds great, but it doesn't sound great.

Everything I said is totally subjective to MY TASTE. So please don't take me too seriously.

[bbbodie]

Of note this year at NAMM, we asked at the booth about software updates to the Andromeda and none of the staff knew about any engineers on it. In fact one actually said it's not likely...with that in mind, I bought my Voyager in lieu of an Andromeda as it appears (based solely on the Alesis staff we spoke with) it's going to be a discontinued product line.

Fyi

Bodie

[thebedroom]

i got the sense it was to be discontinued as well, but that does not bother me. most users seem happy and the small problems seem to bother them little. Most old synths that have a digital os have problems of one sort or another and in the end it is all about what you can do with the tool. nothing is perfect anymore it seems and you must learn to work with what you have. Even the voyager has it's quirks, but we all love it. I am happy with my decision to get it and i feel that it will fit in well with my voyager, juno 106 and elektron MnM. I appreciate all of your opinions, even the negative ones.

cheers

[Demokid]

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

[ikazlar]

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?

[donato]

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.

[thebedroom]

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).

[Demokid]

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

[goldphinga]

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.

[Demokid]

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).

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

[thebedroom]

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

[ikazlar]

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

[Jahrome]

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?