Andromeda A6 Tips and Tricks

There's been some discussion in the comments of this post regarding the Andromeda A6 and it's ability or inability to produce vintage sounds including snappy bass and leads. The comments made me think of how diverse the A6 is and it reminded me of the Andromeda A6 Tips and Tricks on the excellent Andromeda A6 Community Website. If you have an A6 take the time out to explore it a bit. The A6 actually has an "Engine Optimizer" section that allows you to adjust the settings below. This has often been said to result in what sounds like snappier envelops settings. If you have an Andromeda the following is worth a try. Set up an arpeggio with an attack of zero, short decay and sustain of zero then flip through the different settings. You will hear the difference. This is an example of how much detail in control the Andromeda offers. BTW, if anyone can create a sample of this, send it in and I'll post it.

"11.7 SETTING THE ENGINE OPTIMIZER:

The engine optimizer is a function hidden in the “Process” menu. The normal “compromise” timing of the Andromeda works well for bass and pad sounds, but it could be made better for either type of sound.

Hit “Process”, then turn soft knob one all the way to the right hand side to select the engine optimizer. Then hit soft knob one to select this function.

The engine optimizer has several settings for VCO:
*Normal – The default.
*Fast – Fast pitch changes, good for bass sounds.
*Smooth – Smooth pitch changes, better for pad sounds that aren’t too slow.
*Mushy – Good for deep drones and slower sounds.

The engine optimizer also has several settings for VCA:
*Normal – The default.
*Fast – Fast filter changes, good for bass sounds.
*Slow – Slow filter changes, better for long sweep sounds.
*Medium – Medium percussive, for slower bass sounds.

In general, you want “fast” VCO changes, and either “fast” or “medium” filter changes (depending on whether you are doing techno bass or more of a funky bass feeling). This is not a hard and fast rule; not every sound benefits from this."

Note: I disabled comments in this thread to keep them on the previous thread, so comment there.

KORG Prophecy and Lederhosen

Title link takes you to the story behind this one. Man, I'd pay good money to see that.

Note this beauty is up for auction. Shots saved here.

A6 Moogy Bass arpeggio

"A little demo showing some bass capabilities of the Andromeda... Just one mono voice (no unison) playing its internal arpeggiator. At around 00:50 resonance is increased and consequentially the volume drops. At 01:25 resonance goes back to 0. No EQ or FXs."

via JZ in the comments of this post.

Norberg Festival 2007

Title link takes you to the Norberg MySpace page.

You can find more shots of the festival here.

flickr by altemark.

A6 vs System 100M | System 100M vs A6

download here
Via Javier:

"Hi Matrix,
I did a comparison between the A6 and Roland System 100M after reading some people´s comments about the A6 not sounding "vintage". I posted it here [electro-music.com]. and the link is this [Twango embedded above]. To make it more fun, I´m not going to tell which is which, and I´ll let people decide. If you want you can post it in your site, with a poll or something. One synth´s on the left, the other on the right. One of the sides has a little beep at the beginning for avoid confusion between left and right channel. So, which synth´s on the click side??? (there´re some cues that may help, because I did it very fast and left some details unpolished)"

Vote for which yuo think sounds more vintage, aka the Roland.

Time Lapse Caterpillar Fiesta

YouTube via stretta.
"Vanguard, MachFive, Model 12, kazoo (recorded with a U87 (handheld,'cause I was too lazy to go downstairs and get a mic stand)) and some sample loops. 15 minutes of effort, tops. I made it for my 4-year old son, who watched it, like, 50 times. I hope you're a connoisseur of the absurd." Yep... : )

DIY M SPACE INVADERS CONTROL

YouTube via donaconfuse.
"DIY M SPACE INVADERS CONTROL by Anagram (Dona confuse)"
heck out their MySpace Page for some surprisingly mellow tunes.

Update: This appears to be the MIDISense controller (previously posted) according to ladyada where you'll find more info.

Navs' Modular Lab - Filters

Remember the VCO comparison tests? The next installment is up. Via Navs:
"As promised, it's filters this time: Doepfer + Plan B's Low Pass Gates, Plan B's Model 12 State Variable Vactrol Filter and the mighty Cwejman MMF-1. Doepfer's A-105 SSM makes a guest appearance as control from time to time. Download the zipped folders, have a listen, join the forum and tell us what you think!"

Title link takes you there.

ROGUE Controllers.JPG

flickr via mockstar.

click here for the full size shot.

"Alex The Great Recording Studios, where Brad Jones mixed the forthcoming record by David Poe entitled JOY. Nashville, TN, 2007."

Roland Jupiter-8

via this auction.

Synthesizer Praise - Christian Sheet Music for the Synthesizer

via this auction.

"This auction is for one vintage sheet music book titled "Synthesizer Praise". Contents: Eight selections, ranging from traditional hymns to contemporary worship songs for use with an electronic keyboard along with the piano in the worship services at your church. Titles...I Sing The Mighty Power Of God, Worship Medley, Hosanna, Just As I Am, Praise Suite, Was It A Morning Like This?, Dry Bones, and O Come, Little Children. The copyright date is 1988."

Note it's also available on Amazon.

Yamaha DX1 and DX7 (?) on the cover.

Alesis Andromeda A6

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

"Real Analog Powerhouse
The Andromedas fully analog signal path is controlled by a high-speed Motorola Coldfire microprocessor, offering 16-voice polyphony with 16-part multitimbral capability. Andromeda features two analog oscillators per voice, with standard waveforms (available simultaneously), suboscillators, hard and soft sync, and more. It provides two analog filters per voice: these 2-pole (multimode) and 4-pole (lowpass) resonating filters are classically-derived designs, and offer you an astounding range of sonic variability.

Andromeda also provides external audio inputs that allow you to route any signal through its filters. Andromeda has three LFOs, each with six waveforms and many powerful features. It also has three 7-stage, 3-level envelopes capable of functions never before found in any analog synthesizer. An extensive mod matrix offers you an enormous freedom in configuring Andromedas sonic firepower, adding to its monstrous capabilities.

In-Depth Control of Your Sound
Andromedas 61-note synth-weighted keypad features velocity and aftertouch sensitivity, and its ribbon controlled offers multiple, assignable functions. A distinctive, futuristic front panel features 72 knobs and 114 buttons (the majority are single function), optimally arranged for rapid-fire tweaking and in-depth experimentation. Andromedas large, backlit LCD display provides real-world values of parameters (time, frequency, BPM, etc.) and high-resolution graphics. No other synth has ever offered such a sophisticated, informative control panel for creating analog pyrotechnics.

Extensive features
In addition to its real analog synth engine and hands-on interface, Andromeda provides a wide range of performance features, including multiple keyboard modes, portamento with nine slopes, and legato functions. For added grins, Andromeda provides a built-in arpeggiator and analog-style sequencer with MIDI sync, high quality digital effects Z(reverb, chorus, echo and more), and a nasty little analog distortion circuit. Internal program memory features 256 preset and 128 user-defined programs. Andromeda also offers a PCMCIA-format memory card slot for additional programs and mixes.

Polyphony: 16-voice, 16-channel multitimbral * Synthesis Method: Real analog subtractive * Oscillators: 2 oscillators (with subs) per voice, 5 waveforms available (sine, triangle, square, up saw, down saw) * Filters: 32 total - 2-pole multimode resonating filter per voice, 4-pole lowpass resonating filter per voice * Program Memory: 256 preset and 128 user-defined * Mix Memory: 128 user-defined * Audio Outputs: 16 mono outputs, one for each of 16 voices (eight 1/4" TRS jacks * Stereo main outputs (two 1/4" jacks) * 2 mono aux outputs (two 1/4" jacks) * Stereo headphone output (1/4" TRS jack) * Audio Inputs: Two 1/4" jacks * External Audio Filter Inputs: Three 1/4" jacks - one each for Voices 1-16, Voice 15, and Voice 16 * Pedal Jacks: Pedal/CV, Switch and Sustain - each with dedicated 1/4" jack * MIDI Connections: MIDI In, Out, Thru * Memory Card Slot: PCMCIA-format * Power: 100-230 VAC, 50/60 Hz 30W * Dimensions (WxHxD): 40.1" x 4.8" x 16.1" (1019mm x 122mm x 409mm) * Weight: 47lbs. (21 kg)"