[A6] modern analogs

[Arnd Kaiser]

Although the original question was: "how fat does it sound compared to 
xxxx", I would like to throw in my 2 cents:

 From a manufacturer's standpoint, there are other questions to be taken 
into account when defining and designing a new synth, such as:

- how much will it cost?
- how will that price stand against other current synths?
- how reliable/stable will it be?
- how can we design something that gives us enough options for spin-off 
products?

I think everybody here knows that a discrete analog 16-voice polyphonic 
synth with two discrete filters per voice would have been several times 
more expensive. And imagine the sheer size of the circuitry. Then think 
about reliability and stability, not to mention MIDI Control, memory, 
panel refresh-rate, ...

I think the defining moment when Alesis was sold on the idea to make a 
real analog synth was when the synth engineers were able to convince 
Keith Barr to design these ASICs. After all, Alesis is an ASIC company 
and when Keith realized he could use is standard developing tools for 
his digital ASIC to design ANALOG ASICs for the Andromeda. I still 
believe that Alesis was the only company at that time, which had the 
technology, the  vision
and the expert people (like Mike Peake, Erik Norlander, Rob Rampley, 
and a few others known to this list) to make something like this happen.

If Alesis wouldn't have crashed so badly in 2001, you would probably 
look at a full line of Alesis analog synthesizers at different price 
points today. Alesis would have NEVER designed the ASICs for just one 
product.

So going back to the original subject "modern analogs": I think you 
should look at this product from different angles. Sound alone is maybe 
what counts for some of you but that doesn't make a complete synth. 
Without the A6, what "modern analogs" would be have - and at what 
price-point (per voice)? (I can think of Moog Voyager, SE-1, Omega-8, 
Sunsyn, etc. - you can do the math, if you like).

An interesting comparison: Waldorf Q and Q Plus (with analog filters). 
Just the filters alone add more than $1.000 to the bill and make the 
Plus more expensive than the Andromeda. Would be interesting to know 
how many they sold so far.

Still, anyone would have to show me a better value for money than the 
Andromeda. Sound quality included.

Arnd


On Donnerstag, Februar 13, 2003, at 10:49  Uhr, MoogulatoR.com wrote:

>>
>>> Isn't that generally accepted knowledge already? I've always
>>> understood that synths (or indeed any audio cicuitry) with discrete
>>> components will always sound "fatter" and "warmer" than stuff
>>> made with integrated circuits - at least in this universe.
>>
>>    I'm pretty sure everyone would agree with that. Discrete vs IC 
>> sound
>> is noticeable.
>>
> Yesss!
>
>> 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.
>>
>
> It is still something to discuss..
> Ever listened to a minimoog compared to the andromedas software envs?
> I really like the process knob and the optimizer..
>
> But still there is a difference to the fast envs of the moog modular or
> minimoog - it seems the curve itself may need optimization and the 
> andro
> went into the right direction.. Still it is not as fast as analogue 
> ENVs..
>
> Imo env slopes will become more interesting in VA and emulation..
>
> So the "next post jupiter 8/post andro" synth may need higher speed
> processors for envs (and lfos!!) ,too..
> Beside mod and stuff..
>
> The hardware and chip things:
> Well you can still hear discrete and IC-sounds..
>
> But there are some IC-based synths using the same chips (!!) that 
> sound much
> better then others..
>
> See my list (if you got more, let me know!!):
> Www.sequencer.de/synthesizer_chip.html
>
> I assume most of you do own more than one analogue synth, so you may 
> know
> whats my point..
>
> So: maybe it is "optimizing/adjusting ASICS AND discrete electronics"
> It is also up to the way,those chips are made and how..
>
> So it will keep very interesting & fascination in the future..
>
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