[A6] Future of A6

[Doug Pearson]

Brian raises some excellent points re the feasability of A6 updates, but I 
would hope that some software updates would be not-too-difficult, 
especially the ones in the manual not yet implemented, like ...

At 03:37 AM 1/8/03 -0500, Leary, John wrote:
> > I'd like to see reception of MIDI POLYPHONIC AFTERTOUCH
> > implemented as a modulation source.
>
>Considering poly pressure is the ONLY mod source that can distinctly mod
>each voice in a polyphonic patch, I agree 100%...

Absolutely, YES.  I would hope that this, and the few remaining features 
described in the manual not yet implemented, would be addressed in a future 
update.  The only other one I can think of is the implementation of 
envelope re-triggering in mod-t/g mode (it works in mod-trig mode), which I 
only discovered recently (has anyone else tested this yet?).  Any others?

>This feature couldn't be
>substituted with any other for performance purposes, and it would make the
>A6, already an incredibly expressive instrument, the most expressive analog
>I've seen.

Well put.  That's why this is the most important feature on the "wish list".

Some other possibilities I've come up with that I believe would be great 
benefits to the A6 as a *performance* ionstrument are ...

* note priority (hi/lo, in addition to the current "latest" implementation) 
modes for mono programs

* sostenuto pedal (pedal does not affect notes turned on *after* sustain 
pedal is pressed, only ones being held when pedal is pressed) option per 
program. (subsequent keys still get note off from key/MIDI, not pedal)

* two "real keyboard" voice stealing modes (if the key/MIDI note-number of 
a currently-sustaining voice is played, that A6 voice is re-used, either 
re-triggering or continuing the same envelope)

* chord mode by mix channel (ala seq/arpeg), rather than a global setting 
(this may be a hardware impossibility)

* ability for programs to use ribbon controller (any value > 0) as trigger, 
instead of keyboard

But I realize that's a lot to ask ...

>The zero-center ribbon idea is great too.

Yep.  That's another good one.  We can hope ...

         -Doug
          jasret at mindspring.com