Alesis Andromeda A6

Hi,
I want to know if this beast is right for me.  So far, this is all I 
know about it:  
1.  It looks SICK! 

2.  I hear samples of this thing but never songs, samples/clips      
of it sound great but nothing sounds like it if I don't hear it 
live.  Guitar center doesn't have on demo, nor does any other music 
store around here.

I have some questions, please help:
1.  How is alesis support for this product?  for example:  customer 
service, OS updates, videos?

2.  Does it have arp patterns?  How many?  

3.  Can you map knobs and buttons to midi?  Are notes midi-editable?

4.  How does this sync up to Sonar 3.0?  anyone notice drifting?  
How does it behave when sending data via midi to Sonar?

5.  What's the learning curve to creating warm phat anaolog sounds 
for someone who's never owned a keyboard and has keyboard/synth 
experience only through Reason's software?



I'm looking at 2 keyboards,  yamaha motif es6 & andromeda.   I'm not 
sure which one is for me, I like the ES but the andromeda looks 
tight.  I like analog sound, but i'm not at the point where I can 
distinguish between analogue and VA. 

My music influences are: The Crystal Method, Chemical Bros, Tool, 
NIN, Marilyn, Depeche Mode (violator album), DJ Hyper.

This is going to be a serious buy for me and so i don't want to make 
a wrong choice.  thanks for any advice/answers.

Seems like you're looking for a synth for trance production, and also need
instant gratification :)

Frankly, the A6 would not be my primary choice for that.
I would suggest looking at the Nords, Access Virus or Novations.

Now, if you want nice strings, some analog growls and non-cliched sounds, go
for it.
The A6 is pretty advanced technologically, and has extensive MIDI support,
etc. and should work with all sequencing software.
It does not come with any software for patches, banks, etc.
You won't find a lot of arp patterns, but your sequencer software might.

You will need to spend some time to come with your own sounds, but that's
true for most synths.

Alesis is not evolving the product at all. You might get some customer
support but that's it.

Also, if you want to play live in the club circuit, this synth is not very
easy to haul around.

Btw, I have no idea about the ES6...the gurus on this list will respond to
that.

Good luck.

Take care,
RA
 
http://www.sanyama.com - Music for the Mind.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tommy_trance [mailto:tommy_trance@...]
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 12:01 AM
> To: Andromeda_A6-ION@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Andromeda_A6-ION] Want to buy one... seeking answers....
> 
> Hi,
> I want to know if this beast is right for me.  So far, this is all I
> know about it:
> 1.  It looks SICK!
> 
> 2.  I hear samples of this thing but never songs, samples/clips
> of it sound great but nothing sounds like it if I don't hear it
> live.  Guitar center doesn't have on demo, nor does any other music
> store around here.
> 
> I have some questions, please help:
> 1.  How is alesis support for this product?  for example:  customer
> service, OS updates, videos?
> 
> 2.  Does it have arp patterns?  How many?
> 
> 3.  Can you map knobs and buttons to midi?  Are notes midi-editable?
> 
> 4.  How does this sync up to Sonar 3.0?  anyone notice drifting?
> How does it behave when sending data via midi to Sonar?
> 
> 5.  What's the learning curve to creating warm phat anaolog sounds
> for someone who's never owned a keyboard and has keyboard/synth
> experience only through Reason's software?

Hi,

as far as know, if you buy the yamaha you 'll have certain advantages
( for example you'll have piano sounds and more percussive sounds)if 
you'll buy the a6 you 'll have better synth sounds.
of course you can always go for VA, or make percussive sounds on your 
A6(this is really hard if you're a beginner).
I'm sure the motif has some great synthsounds as well, but what 
sounds do you expect your synth to make?


Greetings

Jonathan

Hi,

I have a Yamaha Motif 6 (not the ES though) and an Andy A6. They are 
both excellent in their own right. The Yammy Motif is a great all 
rounder, with an underhyped modulation control and sound. You can 
actually create some excellent sounds and it has great filters. The 
ES brings added expansion and sampling power / efficiency. It is a 
great keyboard and I use mine alot (Protools setup)

The A6 will take a lot of time to get comfortable with. It is well 
worth the effort though. The sound this beast makes will make you 
silly smile. It was daunting for me at first - I contemplated selling 
it once or twice when it became overpowering to comprehend, but 
disciplined reading of the manual.

You will certainly be able to create / modify presets to achieve 
sounds in the vein of your listed music peers.

Good luck,

Simon.

--- In Andromeda_A6-ION@yahoogroups.com, "tommy_trance" 
<tommy_trance@y...> wrote:
> Hi,
> I want to know if this beast is right for me.  So far, this is all 
I 
> know about it:  
> 1.  It looks SICK! 
> 
> 2.  I hear samples of this thing but never songs, 
samples/clips      
> of it sound great but nothing sounds like it if I don't hear it 
> live.  Guitar center doesn't have on demo, nor does any other music 
> store around here.
> 
> I have some questions, please help:
> 1.  How is alesis support for this product?  for example:  customer 
> service, OS updates, videos?
> 
> 2.  Does it have arp patterns?  How many?  
> 
> 3.  Can you map knobs and buttons to midi?  Are notes midi-editable?
> 
> 4.  How does this sync up to Sonar 3.0?  anyone notice drifting?  
> How does it behave when sending data via midi to Sonar?
> 
> 5.  What's the learning curve to creating warm phat anaolog sounds 
> for someone who's never owned a keyboard and has keyboard/synth 
> experience only through Reason's software?
> 
> 
> 
> I'm looking at 2 keyboards,  yamaha motif es6 & andromeda.   I'm 
not 
> sure which one is for me, I like the ES but the andromeda looks 
> tight.  I like analog sound, but i'm not at the point where I can 
> distinguish between analogue and VA. 
> 
> My music influences are: The Crystal Method, Chemical Bros, Tool, 
> NIN, Marilyn, Depeche Mode (violator album), DJ Hyper.
> 
> This is going to be a serious buy for me and so i don't want to 
make 
> a wrong choice.  thanks for any advice/answers.

--- In Andromeda_A6-ION@yahoogroups.com, "tommy_trance" 
<tommy_trance@y...> wrote:
> 1.  How is alesis support for this product?  for example:  customer 
> service, OS updates, videos?
Support is there, but I highly recommend joining the code404.com A6 
list if you need more guidance.  They have updated the Tips & Tricks 
document and are in contact with Alesis support (now Numark).
 
> 2.  Does it have arp patterns?
The arpeggiator is programmable and has 16 independent arps.  One arp 
per voice.  It also does the ol' forward, reverse, rock-n-roll 
inclusive, and rock-n-roll circle patterns, CHORD, etc.  

> 3.  Can you map knobs and buttons to midi?
Sure.

> 4.  How does this sync up to Sonar 3.0?
I dunno.  Should be fine.

anyone notice drifting?
Depends on how you set the A6 tuning.  There is an auto-tune feature 
that is recommended for right after boot up, then do auto-tune again, 
15 minutes later, once the thing warms up.  Then if you enable 
background tuning, it will tune itself every so often while the unit 
is on, or you may disable it to get the natural OSC drift that we 
love so much, for that "humanistic" feel.  OSC and FILTERS may be 
tuned separately, together, or not at all.
  
> How does it behave when sending data via midi to Sonar?
I dunno.  Should be fine.

> 5.  What's the learning curve to creating warm phat analog sounds 
> for someone who's never owned a keyboard and has keyboard/synth 
> experience only through Reason's software?
None, if you use the zillion presets, or a day or two, depending on 
your subtractive analog synthesis experience.  Select a preset and 
twiddle those knobs!  Intuition will help you figure much of the 
parameters, then hit the manual--AS HARD AS YOU CAN!

> I'm looking at 2 keyboards,  yamaha motif es6 & andromeda.   I'm 
not 
> sure which one is for me, I like the ES but the andromeda looks 
> tight.
Sound is the important feature--function before fashion.  I am 
through with digital and turning more into an analog purist, 
presently designing a huge modular system, built from kits.

I like analog sound, but i'm not at the point where I can 
> distinguish between analogue and VA.
The A6 will get you there. 

My music influences are: The Crystal Method, Chemical Bros, Tool, 
> NIN, Marilyn, Depeche Mode (violator album), DJ Hyper.
I would HIGHLY suggest you NOT get the A6, at least not until after 
trying the ACCESS VIRUS KC or ACCESS VIRUS INDIGO.  The only 
difference between these two models being the number of keys AFAIK...
Here are links to both, plus a comparison chart:
http://www.access-music.de/products.php4?product=viruskc
http://www.access-music.de/products.php4?product=indigo2
http://www.access-music.de/comparisonchart.php4
ACCESS customer support is possibly unrivaled to this day and 
certainly, though disappointingly, dwarfs Alesis support.

> This is going to be a serious buy for me and so i don't want to 
make 
> a wrong choice.
Try to get to a an instrument dealer to try out ALL of your 
interests, don't let them sway you, and sleep on it before making 
this educated decision.
Cheers,
-Dave

--- In Andromeda_A6-ION@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Randalls" 
<eclipsedave@d...> wrote:Then if you enable 
> background tuning, it will tune itself every so often while the 
unit 
> is on...
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
But, I believe it will only tune oscillators that are not in use.
"Temperature tuning" in the autotune feature should tune all 
oscillators as you play them...
-Dave
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...Thanks...

This is so hard for me.  I can only choose 1 of the following:
1. Andromeda
2. Motif ES6
3. Virus kc

I have more concerns about the Andromeda as time is running out

1. support- seems like all the other manufacturers has excellent 
dedicated up to date support forums on their official site.  What's 
wrong with Alesis/Numark?  I think support is key for a product.  I 
read a post that someone saw a "how to" video for andromeda?  Does 
alesis sell it? didn't see it on their site.

2. I see more than and few andromedas on ebay's list.  And some of 
them are being auctioned from service centers or certified alesis 
repair shops.  I wonder what is the percentage of Andromedas that 
gets serviced and resold as refurbished.

3. I'm not a programmer and I hate  submenus and multi-paged LCD 
screens.  It just means there are more hidden stuff to learn.  What 
I see interesting about the Andromeda is that all the tweakable 
knobs are out infront of you on the board itself.  Are the menus 
easy to understand?  Is "what you see is what you get" true for the 
andromeda?  

4.  From what i've read on the motif ES forum, not one soul has put 
a bad name to Andromeda.  They all say words like "beast", "true 
analog", but they also used Nord and Access in the same statement.  
Does anyone have Andromeda AND Access Virus and which are the 
favorites?

5.  How many models of Andromeda are out there?  I know there is a 
limited Red.  Which model is the latest?  

Sorry to all for the long posting.  I have 12 hours before I decide 
whether this is right for my hard breakbeats/rock edge/heavy 
distorted arp/ style of music.  

I'm about to purchase andromeda from a second owner.  Is slightly 
under $1500 a bargain?  No case, no stand, just includes original 
box and manual.

> 2. I see more than and few andromedas on ebay's list.  And 
some of 
> them are being auctioned from service centers or certified 
alesis 
> repair shops.  I wonder what is the percentage of Andromedas 
that 
> gets serviced and resold as refurbished.

Mine came that way.  No complaints.

> 3. I'm not a programmer and I hate  submenus and 
multi-paged LCD 
> screens.  It just means there are more hidden stuff to learn.  
What 
> I see interesting about the Andromeda is that all the tweakable 
> knobs are out infront of you on the board itself.  Are the menus 
> easy to understand?  Is "what you see is what you get" true for 
the 
> andromeda?  

No exactly, but only because the modulation matrix is ENDLESS.  
Every touch of a knob brings up a new menu that you  can either 
ignore or explore.  I explore, since the resulting sounds make 
me giggle like a little gürl.

> 5.  How many models of Andromeda are out there?  I know 
there is a 
> limited Red.  Which model is the latest?  

Red (limited edition) & blue (common).  No difference 
mechanically.

> I'm about to purchase andromeda from a second owner.  Is 
slightly 
> under $1500 a bargain?  No case, no stand, just includes 
original 
> box and manual.

A bargain indeed.  Go for it!

Dave