[A6] Bugs & Feature Requests list
Don Gothard
gothard at swbell.net
Wed Aug 18 13:59:46 PDT 2004
I would love to see all of these tthey sound perfect, especially the
Sequencer hold/arp hold one.
Additionally nice although I don't know if the hardware is there to support
it, but when a value is modulated say by an LFO or an envelope it would be
great to see the value numbers changing on that page that that has the mod
destination, so you could see what was being modulayed in realtime.
Don
> -----Original Message-----
> From: a6-bounces at roland.code404.com
> [mailto:a6-bounces at roland.code404.com] On Behalf Of Susan Baird
> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 3:19 PM
> To: A6 list
> Subject: [A6] Bugs & Feature Requests list
>
> Ruud and all,
>
> Here is the list of bugs and feature requests. I've edited
> and organized it the best I could. Someone who knows more
> than me should edit it further and prioritize items. I've
> bolded the items but if you have HTML off you may not see
> that. That will make it harder to read.
> Ruud, maybe you want to post this to the yahoo group also for
> feedback.
>
> If someone wants to email me the final version I can make a
> nice looking, fomatted pdf for Ruud to send to Alesis. Also,
> if someone would email me the final revision to put in the
> T&T document that would be great.
>
> Thanks,
> Susan
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> __________
> ______
>
>
> .....BUGS.....
>
>
> . THE SQUARE BUG
> If you want a perfect square, there is a bug on the Andromeda that
> prevents 50 (the default 'midpoint') from being that value.
> 52 instead
> is the perfect square number.
>
>
> . Pulse Setting Bug
> A "repair" of the pulsewide setting (50 gives a pulsewide of 50%)
>
>
> . THE UNISON X BUG
> Older Andromedas may have a problem with the Unison X button
> occasionally not triggering onward. The problem has (probably) been
> fixed on newer Andromedas. To get around this, simply turn
> the Unison
> detune knob.
>
>
> . PORTAMENTO BUG
> I noticed that when using portamento (normal mode) on a mono
> patch with
> unison (2)turned on, it seems that only 1 voice is affected -
> the other
> seems to jump right up/down to the destination pitch. If I
> switch the
> port mode to 'chord', it works as I expected normal to (i.e. both
> voices slide to the appropriate pitch in unison).Is this by design?
>
> That is an unresolved function. Chord is the setting to use
> when using
> Unison X.
>
>
> . Mix Mode
> Mix mode is fixed so you can use it from a sequencer and you
> have the
> same sound in program mode and in mix mode.
>
>
> . UNINTENDED MODULATION BUG
> I've discovered a bug where patches in multimode will randomly get
> unintended modulation (as if from the mod wheel), but I
> haven't quite
> figured out how this happens.
>
>
> . NORM2 ENVELOPE MODE
> I don't suppose there's any chance that this new OS will
> implement the
> long-awaited (by me, anyway) NORM2 envelope mode that's
> referred to in
> the manual but has never functioned differently from NORM1?
>
> Comments on NORM2 Envelope Mode:
> No, sorry. This is an incremental release (currently 1.4009)
> specifically meant to deal with jitter. Deeper,
> engine-related issues will have a wait a bit longer.
>
> Consequently, we tried opening the LFOs 10 more Hz but it is readily
> apparent that they are digital due to the grit in the waveforms,
> especially at the ranges of modulation that the A6 is capable
> of. I'm
> sorry to have to recommend a work-around: use Envelope 1 as an LFO,
> looping from Attack to Release 1, and simultaneously modulate Attack
> and Release times from the same controller.
>
>
> . VCO PITCH SLIDE
> One thing that always bugged me about the A6 is the fact that
> when you
> hit a note the VCO pitch slides up from somewhere to the note you
> press. And you can hear this at the start of each note - which gives
> the effect of a soggy attack, even though the A6 envelopes
> are fairly
> fast.
>
> Comments on VCO Pitch Slide:
> The ultra fast pitch setting in the Engine optmiser does
> reduce this.
> But I still feel there needs to be more done. No other synth
> does this,
> so why does the A6 do it? If you recall I posted a comparison before
> between it and my Mks80 which exposed this odd flaw.
>
> Kinda puzzles me - but why isn't the pitch to the VCOs
> triggered first
> before the the envelopes open up? Which is the way I assume
> is how it's
> done on all other analog synths.I know on the Minimoog I
> have, that is
> how it works, the CV is applied to the pitch of the VCOs a fraction
> before the VCA and envelopes trigger.
>
> > about the vco pitch : i found that not only you need to
> set the osc
> pitch to fast ( under processor), but also switch >off the
> background
> tuning. then the oscillator tuning/tracking seems to be good...
>
> FYI, the pitch of each voice stays where it was last played. If you
> play a low note on one voice, then play a high note on the
> same voice,
> the oscillator will need to slew up to the new note before it plays.
> Turning background tuning off helps because that is
> constantly changing
> every oscillator's pitch and you won't know where it ends up. If you
> are playing in one general register, or pitch, the slewing
> effect will
> be minimized. Believe me, I tried to fix this anomoly, but
> was limited
> by the slewing time of the oscillators. I thought that
> setting the fast
> engine setting on the oscillators fixed it, but obviously not
> all the
> way.
>
>
> . AutoTune
> One problem i find a bit annoying is that pressing the
> autotune doesn't
> seem to tune all 32 oscillators perfectly ( at least half of
> them keep
> drifting ( a very little in most cases), i guess a software problem.
> Any form of manual tuning impemented would have solved this.
>
>
> . Hanging Notes in Step Sequencer
> Step sequencer hangs while using the pedal.
>
>
> . HARDWARE BUG
> The only really serious hardware "bug" of the A6 every voice on FM
> sounds different... VCA calibration lacking... only solution
> : very low
> FM settings.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> __________
> ______
>
> .....FEATURE REQUESTS.....
>
>
> . Mark Steps in Sequencer
> A small software update to mark the steps as they are
> playing. There is
> nothing in the display to tell you where the sequence is, so
> if you can
> hear something that needs changing - it can take many clicks
> to isolate
> the event in question.
>
>
> . LED Knobs as Sequencer
> Use the 8 multi led/knobs as a TR-style sequencer (the hardware is
> there!) 16-64 steps.
>
>
> . Random Arpeggio Setting
> Would LOVE to have a RANDOM arpeggio setting, like many old Roland
> synths. And maybe a randomizer like andromizer software "on the box."
>
>
> . Latch Sequencer and Arp together
> >is there a way to run a lacthed arp (no keys pressed) *plus* the
> sequencer? The sequencer seems to stop the moment I take my
> hands off
> the keyboard.
>
> The arp can be latched, but as far as the sequencer, that
> doesn't look
> like an option (unless someone knows something I don't).
> Although, you
> can still turn both on and use them at the same time, the
> sequence will
> turn off as the keyboard is let go.
>
>
> . Send Midi Notes From Sequencer and Arpeggiator
> I really like the sequencer. It allows for different sounding
> patterns
> compared to many synths. I just wish you can send the midi
> notes out.
> Now that would be something!
>
> > How do I get the A6's tempo to stay fixed at a tempo without the
> > decimal points? The only tempo I can get it locked perfectly is 120
> > but I generally work at other speeds.
>
> either slave the A6 to an external clock source or use the a6
> clock to
> control your sequencer.
>
> The on-board arpeggiator and sequencer do not transmit midi
> events, no
> matter what you try. a real bloody shame IMHO.
>
>
> . Step Sequencer
> Step sequencer: more than one pattern - real time "recording"
> into the
> sequencer? Xchangeable patterns as seen on the waldorf Q..
> Maybe more
> than 16 steps possible?
>
>
> . Random Patch Generator
> Random Patch Generator a la Prophet VS.
>
>
> . Sync Delay to Tempo
> Sync the delays with the tempo (internal or external) without
> getting
> the calculator out.
>
>
> . Auto-Sync to Midi Clock
> Having the internal clock automatically sync to MIDI without
> having to
> set it to sync or manual would be great, since sequencers
> rarely always
> transmit midi clock when stopped. This would function
> identical to the
> Virus.
>
>
> . KB Button
> A KB hold button (some sort of sustain). Maybe use hold ribbon and
> ribbon buttons or shift-hold to do so.
>
>
> . Ribbon Split Feature
> Why two Hold buttons? Besides the obvious benefit of always
> having one
> withing reach, there was at one time some talk about a
> possible Ribbon
> Split feature.
>
>
> . Zero Reference Point Option for Ribbon
> I would love to have a "zero reference point" option for the
> ribbon, so
> that wherever you first touch it is "zero" and you can
> modulate up or
> down from there. This is similar to the way the old Yamaha
> CS-80 ribbon
> worked.
>
>
> . Ribbon Controller as Trigger
> Ability for programs to use ribbon controller (any value > 0) as
> trigger, instead of keyboard.
>
> For performance purposes though, it sure would be great to be
> able to
> play it with one hand only. I wonder if there's a MIDI mapper that
> could "manufacture" a key-on message when it sees ribbon
> action? You
> could patch that into a MIDI loop with the Andro.
>
>
> . Chord Mode by Mix Channel
> Chord mode by mix channel (ala seq/arpeg), rather than a
> global setting
> (this may be a hardware impossibility)
>
>
> . MIDI Polyphonic AfterTouch
> I'd like to see reception of MIDI POLYPHONIC AFTERTOUCH
> implemented as
> a modulation source. The A6 currently implements only MONO
> aftertouch
> over MIDI.
>
> I know the issues over polyphonic aftertouch in the A6's
> keyboard and I
> am not asking for that. I have an external MIDI keyboard with
> polyphonic aftertouch (Kurzweil MIDIBoard) that I would use
> to generate
> polyphonic aftertouch MIDI data.
>
> Considering poly pressure is the ONLY mod source that can distinctly
> mod each voice in a polyphonic patch, I agree 100%. 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.
>
>
> . Polyphonic AfterTouch
> Fix response to Poly Aftertouch (from an external keyboard,
> of course I
> can't even begin to think how much I would love the A6's
> keyboard to
> transmit PolyAT, but know that it isn't practical).
>
>
> . LFO Speed Up
> LFO speed up, the silly mode for fast lfo mods and halving the voice
> numbers for speed issues (could be in the process menu).
>
>
> . FM More Accurate
> FM could be more accurate, maybe this is not an OS-issue.
>
>
> . FM
> Doing FM as was mentioned is pretty much impossible to do for
> pitched
> sounds, unless you use the voice in mono. I believe it is
> truly a VCA
> problem which causes a difference between every voice. I would like
> the the A6 for FM sounds, but it's okay since I have plenty
> of digital
> FM synths, which tuning isn't a problem. Although it sure would've
> been nice to do analog FM with the A6. That's probably my
> biggest gripe
> with the A6, but I don't see how they can fix it unless they
> can tune
> all 16 VCAs to the same level.
>
>
> . Filter FM to Filter 1
> Filter fm to filter 1 separately adjustable so no need to fm
> filter 2
> also to mod filter 1 with osc speed.. (atm one has to set a
> minimum fm
> to filter1 to get fm on filter 2..)
>
>
> . Scaling of Resonance on Filter 1
> Scaling of resonance on filter 1 and tuning it down with resonance
> could be scaled and optimized for bigger range of resonating to
> colouring by the filter - in short: more like the moogs do
> it.. ;) IMO
> this is a calibration thing..?
>
>
> . Mods
> Maybe make it possible to make an lfo a simple env. (AD or so..) To
> have room for more mods. So one could have them as simple
> AD/AR to mod
> the filters independently.
>
>
> . Mod Page
> One page where you could see all modulations at work in one
> patch - a
> dream.
>
>
> . Display Update
> Maybe: check the display update: sometimes when the seq. Is
> running the
> value will not be updated on the display. Or it takes very
> long.. So:
> better it takes long rather then it doesn't update..It should update
> with pressing the view button at least
>
>
> . Alternate Tuning
> I would love to see the possibility to do alternate tuning.
>
> >From the AH thread on synth temperament:
>
> "The Korg MS2000 VA has a very user-friendly capability to play in
> different scales. Choices are equal, pure major, pure minor, arabic,
> pythagorean, werckmeister, kirnberger, slendro, pelog, and a
> user-defined scale."
>
> Even if limited to 12-tone scales this would be a great feature.
>
>
> . Knobs Range
> Knobs range can be shifted or when you select a button you
> can use the
> ribbon for fine adjustment.
>
>
> . Change Default Presets
> The ability to change the default preset right away instead
> of copiing
> it about 127 times.
>
>
> . Toggling Between Pages
> A straight toggling between two or more pages (like b.e. tracking
> generator and ribbon/modulation page) or even more convenient, to be
> able to immediately reach the source when pressing softbutton
> one when
> editing a modulation. Much further would be the possibilty to
> completely interact the software parts with all there values
> as source
> and /or destination and even maybe a possibility to calibrate the
> available values myself (like with the softsynth reactor).
>
>
> . Pot Values
> Also helpful for live would be a function where I could set
> the value
> when the pots react. Now it's just when you go through the original
> value or otherwise when you "breathe" at the pot.
>
>
> . FineTune Mode
> A fine tune mode while changing values with whatever knob (like
> shift-turn a knob will give smaller steps).
>
>
> . Envelope Re-triggering
> Implementation of envelope re-triggering in mod-t/g mode (it
> works in
> mod-trig mode), which I only discovered recently.
>
>
> . Note Priority
> Note priority (hi/lo, in addition to the current "latest"
> implementation) modes for mono programs.
>
>
> . Sostenuto Pedal
> 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
> 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).
>
> That's a REALLY good idea, and (like poly pressure) something that
> could never be done except by doing it this way within the keyboard
> itself. I'd put that up there near number one. No question
> that this
> would make an audible difference in patch behavior.
>
>
> . Facility to Create Patch Bank Offline
> Facility to create patch bank offline (not part of OS, but
> still pretty
> useful)
>
>
> . Feature to (re)-Name Patches Offline
> A feature to (re)name patches offline is also sorely needed IMHO
> because that is too much of a drag on the A6 itself.
>
> I once owned a Kawai SX240 (also sold under the Teisco brand
> IIRC) and
> this synth - quite a decent Jupiter 8 clone btw - had one brilliant
> feature: the keyboard "doubled up" as a character input device where
> each key pressed would enter a letter or number. It has
> always amazed
> why this feature hasn't been adopted by other manufacturers;
> it cant be
> that difficult to add to any software driven engine. Perhaps its
> patented?
>
>
> . Hardware
> There are hardware things, that may not be considerable like
> rack a6,
> modular a6 (the asics freely routable like nordmodular),
> ringmod behind
> filters & routable to oscs / feedback..
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