[A6] some results of windcontroller project

[Richard]

Hey all  -some of you will be aware that I've been trying for quite a long
time to get the A6 to respond properly to windcontroller data. Not exactly
easy but after quite a bit of confusion, pain and misery and some helpful
exchanges with Jordini I am convinced they are a good starting point if
maximum dynamic breath control and variation are desired. Its made me
realise that the A6 is really a sonofabitch to set some things up on, as it
actually is a digitally controlled modular synth disguised as a "normal"
analogue keyboard with friendly looking knobs. So this is how to setup a
basic wind patch  - starting from almost any pre-existing patch
you like the sound of...

GLOBAL MIDI CC MENU
-associate CC#2 (breath control) with a CC on the A6. CC#H is easiest to
access on the menu so I always use that. Some windcontrollers maybe able to
use other CCs in addition but ignore this for the time being.

KBD MODE
-normally the KB mode should be mono, though poly can be used to good effect
on some on more "keyboardy" sounds

OSCILLATORS
-associate CC#H as a mod to the levels of any ocsillators, sub-ocsillators,
Noise, pre-filter sine waves etc - use 100% for maximum dynamic control  -
make sure all the sound generators are associated

ENVELOPES
-the most important settings here are for ENV3 but similar or subtley
different settings may be need to be replicated for ENV2 and ENV1 depending
on what you are trying to do. The aim is basically just to trigger the VCA
and keep it open and not let it affect the sound too much.

- on ENV3 put attack to zero, put decay 1 and 2 to zero, put sustain to
100%, release 1 to zero (release2 should normally be low, at least for a
"realistic" response)

-enable the envelope trigger to positive or abs positive on Env3,2 and 1 to
be Modded by CC#H (at 100%? at 0%? dunno, it doesn't seem to make a lot of
difference what the trigger setting are - I don't understand why really...?)


   SAVE THE PATCH NOW! - I'll explain why in a minute


-in the envelope 3 Loop menu adjust Count to SUSTAIN, adjust the loop to
encompass SUS and R1 - make sure the loop light is on - other adjustments in
the loop menu like smoothing should make no difference unless you use
different envelope settings. On my A6 there is a bug which sometimes freezes
everything when the loop settings  are in a particular position
necessitating a restart (anybody else get this??) - hence the SAVE.

-adjust all the envelope trigger modes to SUSREL

-in all envelopes adjust the LVLTRK and VELMOD to 100%, adjust reset to
ANALOG or LEGATO - you can experiment with other settings here too

OPTIONAL:
associating CC#H with the envelope level on Env3 may have an additional
dynamic effect on some patches - on others it seems to spoil the sound, it
shouldn't be necessary anyway.

SEASON TO TASTE:
-after this basic setup is created you can try associating CC-2/CC#H with
filter frequencies and levels, with envelope 1 and 2 settings. PWM width,
etc.  If your windcontroller can transmit other CCs as well then these can
be routed to different filter mods etc, etc, etc... ANY mod on the A6 could
be worth a try! The A6 offers a new world of wind synthesis including plenty
of scope for madness.
I'm still not sure the A6 responds to midi breath data quite as quickly as
the DSI Evolver (the fastest midi synth ever?) or some of the Akai CV
horn/synth combos, but it works pretty well, and of course the sonic
possibilities are georgeous and limitless.

There's plenty to be added to this introduction, and possibly some errors
here, so if anyone has any corrections or comments please do share.


Richard