[A6] Andromeda vs. Voyager and........luxury problem ?

[Chad Gould]

> I want to buy a Andromeda. My impression is that (A6) analog sounds =
> superior compared with analog modeling synth's. Is it true that the =

I wouldn't say superior. Modelling synths really resemble a high-class DCO
synth in some ways, and have a harder edge in some respect - so its a slight
different sound. True analog synths like this one get a lot of hype because
of the passion owners have for these type of synths. But not everyone wants
or needs one. I certainly wouldn't for some genres.

> On internet discussion sites =
> there are people that are ranking the A6 with a 10 and there are how =
> rank it a 2. Big difference who is that possible ? Is it the high price =
> that make magazines and users so full of criticism. When i read a a =

Most magazines have been quite positive of the synthesizer, though aware of
the limitations. It didn't win the 2001 Musikmesse award for nothing, now.

Part of the problem with the Internet sites, was that this synths was
tremendously overhyped in 2001. I think that raised some people's
expectations beyond reason. No one synth can replace everything. It doesn't
help that a few sites are loaded with immature folks - types that I never
see write a tune, and just bad-mouth everything.

One other thing: this synth is that it is *so* powerful. This is not a Juno
106 - you can't just twist knobs and make it sound good no matter what. Akin
to the most powerful digitals and modulars, programming takes time and
finese. The lack of adequate presets doesn't help (the patches at code404
and the extra banks on Alesis's site help in this regard). So some might get
frustrated with the demands required of them.

There are some legitimate issues - such as the FM tuning and LFO speed not
suitable for certain sounds. These are minor for many genres. When the synth
was first released, there was plenty more issues (a lot of MIDI issues for
instance) that are pretty much solved, as far as I know.

> It is a old discussion, i now. But is it the real analog sound that =
> makes the A6 only comparable with moogs and a view other analog synth's. =
> Finaly it's the sound that you hear.

>From my point of view - yes. The A6 is my analog gig and I really see
nothing out there that would change my mind from that. There are few sounds
the A6 can't program well from a "classic analog" viewpoint. The A6's strong
points really are its complex programming capability in an analog domain
(which leads to some excellent sounds modelling synths can't emulate). If
you are just looking for beeps and bloops there are better, quicker-to-use
synths but the A6's analog workstation concept can't be beat for many tasks.
__________
CHAD GOULD