[A6] Possible A6/OS Update and FX

[Jeff Platt]

> Based on the people I spoke to at Alesis, an A6 update doesn't sound
> likely. Brian Shim was the software programmer for the A6, and he's now
> at Numark. They'll probably fix 'bugs', but don't expect any new
> features.

Just to keep the record straight..
Phil Crescenzo and I were the only software programmers for the A6 for the
whole term of the project, not Brian. Brian took over the software about
when
Alesis went under and worked on some of the most recent OS upgrades.
Phil and I haven't worked for Alesis since then.


> I did ask them specifically about FM tracking. It sounds like
> calibrating them closer just isn't possible with the hardware they
> have. They're aware that you can save a program and then recall it
> later and it will sound different because of drift. They recommended
> leaving background tuning off when using FM, because the oscillators
> might "correct" themselves and change the sound. I didn't ask about
> poly aftertouch or anything else, but see the above paragraph. As Peake
> used to say, "It's a miracle that this thing even exists."

IMHO, there is probably a way to calibrate the FM amps better than
they are now with the same hardware, we just didn't have time to do it
right.
New hardware would make it easier, but something could be done anyway..

Jeff