Moog Music Forum

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

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.

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

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?

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.

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, ...

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!

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.

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

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.

Andromeda is rather weak , I do not recommend it at all . It's ratings are at most 3 out of 10. Although it has neat twists to it , it does not come close to Omega 8 , 6 or even 4, or Cwejman Sound S1 MkII. There is nothing for the price that can beat these machines. Moog is nice , but one voice is just one voice. I like it alot , and even own one , but Voyager is VERY limited . I am interested in Goa trance , and it does not do much for me in that sense . Bass lines ?-- sure, but that is almost where it ends. People praise moog for it's , as they say " Phaaaat Bass" , but honestly , I say shame on Moog for jacking up a price that high , the product is not worth 3 and a half grand. I am thinking about returning my Moog within 30 days.


Oh , and shame on "Moog music" for selling Voyager Editor Librarian instead of just giving it with the synth !" Money greedy slobs"-- Have I not paid you enough money by purchasing your 3 and a half thousand dollar synth ?

--SHAME ON YOU BOB--SHAME ON YOUR COMPANY'S GREED--GIVE FROM YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GREED--GOD IS WATCHING- WE GIVE AS MUCH AS WE LOVE-- AND IF WE TAKE MORE THAN WE GIVE - WE FAIL FROM THE START TO LIVE IN TRUTH.

I've had the voyager for almost a year now, and I do agree with you Analogue, that it has its limitations. However so are a lot of other insruments that make phenomenal music like the sp1200, mpc3000, 2000, fender rhodes, piano, saxophone, the drum...buying the voyager is like buying a $2-3000 violin, or flute or whatever! If you can't percieve the value in it, you must need something else.

I personally like an instrument that is bold, simple, lets me express music in a tactile, cathartic way...I owned an Access Virus KB, which I think, sound wise, is much more suited to Goa PsyTrance, and it took me 2 years to see what it was about that synth that urked me in sucha subtlely profound way! It was the INTERFACE. I was not able to express music as I needed to though that tool. I could never get tones out of that synth to complement my beats. The voyager becomes a friggin interdimensional comet-blade wailing the songs of eternity, lovingly slicing through my silly concepts whence it meets the defying drums of my mpc2000! She then becomes a sweet crooner of romantic vision in duets with the fender rhodes...

With the voyager, you have to DIG a litte. expand it...its like buying a vintage Les Paul or something...its your baby now, dress it up, make it do all it can!
Or just return it, realize its just not for you, get somethin else to suit your desires.

Simon Posford (Hallucinogen, Shpongle) uses an ARP2600... maybe you might want something like that? Lots of tranceHeads use Viruses, Novations, um...Tritons, waldorfs...

Anyways, enough of my rag...good luck in your process

~MU~

Musashidan wrote:...
With the voyager, you have to DIG a litte. expand it...its like buying a vintage Les Paul or something...its your baby now, dress it up, make it do all it can!
...

Well said !
I second you 100% !

The Voyager is a real instrument.
A synthesizer-Strativari just like the original minimoog and other all time classics like the CS80, T8, ...

It features something most synth miss today:
expression through the interface (touch-panel, atleast two pedals and the left-hand wheels). Its not about fancy sounds and superb build in reverbs and bells and whistles only that makes up an real intsrument.

Musashidan wrote:



Simon Posford (Hallucinogen, Shpongle) uses an ARP2600... maybe you might want something like that? Lots of tranceHeads use Viruses, Novations, um...Tritons, waldorfs...

Anyways, enough of my rag...good luck in your process

~MU~

Thank you much ! Yes, I am looking into buying an ARP2600 and a Virus TI . I think I will be getting it this month. I wonder if I can get one under 7K in good shape ? And I appreciate your kind response twoards the Moog , and agree that indeed to each their own. I still don't agree with them trying to sell every inch of the way though . The program to edit moog is being sold too ? How greedy can they get ? I guess there is still space left , since they have the nerve to buy a couple boards from Home Depot for 30 something bucks , stick it into their peoduction line ,make a case and add another 1500$ to the price fo the synth, and call it some super edition crap . --- SICKOS !

PS: Thank you for all the suggestions:)