[A6] modern analogs

[Tom Moravansky]

> > But you are right of course: the A6 does not replace a 
> > MemoryMoog, Jupiter-8 or other legends of yesteryear.
> > IMHO it lacks the "right-in-your-faceness" of those monsters.
> 
>      This argument, however, holds no water in my opinion. I think the A6
> ASIC sound is every bit as animated as the old IC polys. I'd be willing to
> venture it in fact sounds bigger than most of them. Frankly, I think it
> practically creams anything poly made by Roland or SCI. The only matches in
> class for shear largeness in sound is the MemoryMoog or the OB-X/OB-XA. 
>      I will say however (especially giving credit to people like Tom
> Moravansky who knows his synths), that it would be easy to mistake the A6
> for sounding far smaller, as it does take alot of programming effort and
> knowledge to open it up to it's full potential as far as lushness goes. I

Thanks for the compliment.  It wasn't my original comparison to the JP-8/MM
above, but I agree with it.  Every synth made, like every person, is
different and has different strengths and weaknesses.  While I was beta
testing and creating factory patches, I would on occasion turn on other
gear and listen to the differences.  I agree that the A6 can get close to
the old stuff, but there's something different in it's sonic fingerprint.

I have to rely on fuzzy words to describe the differences, but
**in general**, I find the A6 flatter, less enveloping, and a bit harsher
and I guess, more modern than the old stuff.  Once again, my closest 
point of reference for a similar machine is the Matrix 12.

If you have the opportunity to be in the same room with an A6, CS-80, Synthex,
and MemoryMoog you'll see what I mean.  The A6 presents the sound to you
and the CS-80 wraps you up and fills you with the sound.


> for one at first thought it was only capable of say, a Jupiter 6 class of
> sound for the first few weeks, perhaps even months, that I owned it. The
> longer you own it and the more you dig, I think most people will discover
> it can sound alot larger than you at first would think from cursory
> listening/programming. It's not really a question of the UI, it's not
> really hard to get at the parameters, it just has SO MANY damned
> parameters. It's not like a Jupiter where all the tools you need are right
> on the panel in front of your face. With the A6, you have to dig for some
> of the stuff you need to make it as large and animated as it can be. A few
> major examples of that would be the need to take full advantage of the
> Engine Optimizer, to pay critical attention to pre and post filter mixer
> levels, and also to explore all the options for envelope slopes. These are
> all key details in unlocking it's full potential. Easier said than done
> (especially concerning the envelope slopes), but the efforts pay off in
> spades.
> 

Right - and I think this is a key point for all Andromeda owners. 
Spending more time tweaking and digging through the options really does
reward the effort.  It is worth the extra time to take a sound from
being 90% cool to 100% cool.  I rarely find myself saying 'hell with it'
and wiping the sound after I spent time playing with the envelopes and mod
amounts.  The extra tweaks do create a better end result.

You can be quick n' dirty programming the A6 and it sounds great like that,
but going in and working a little bit more really pays off.