[A6] Back to sine waves...
Mike Schultz
mschultz at xogenus.com
Mon Mar 14 13:33:35 PST 2005
So, rewinding back to the source of this brouhaha, I've been twiddling
away with knobs on a few patches and noticed that I'm sometimes getting
very un-sine-like sounds coming off of the post filter mix knob for OSC
1 and OSC 2.
Pull down (way down) all the pre and post mix levels, check. Kill all
the filter inputs to the post filter mix, check. Kill all ring mod,
sub, etc to the pre-filter mix, check. Bring up the post-filter osc 2 a
bit and... ZZZZZ, not Ooooo. It really sounds like Filter 1 HPF is up,
but lo, it is not.
If nothing but crickets respond to this, then I'll have to assume I
missed something.
Mike
Chris Pickett wrote:
> I agree with Kurt, and I think bitching about problems in the A6 is
> useless -- just sell it to someone who wants it if you don't. If you
> take the time to download the additional patches, you'll see that a wide
> variety of great sounds can be made with the A6.
>
> However, I do think it's worth describing the problems in neutral terms
> so that everyone can fully understand the limitations of their
> instrument. More importantly, it's good to describe workarounds and
> potential solutions -- these are things people do care about. I
> actually thought the sine wave stuff was pretty interesting until it
> turned into the inevitable "the A6 is a piece of crap" discussion.
>
> Basically my hope is that we'll be able to document all these things in
> the wiki so that they don't have to keep getting rehashed over and over
> and over, and it will provide a good resource for those that are
> interested.
>
> Cheers,
> Chris
>
> Kurt Stengel wrote:
>
>> Fall of accountability? Umm that shit has been going on for the last 10
>> years even with software....especially with digital hardware.
>> Anywhere you
>> look. Digital, Analog, softsynths. But for an analog to have all of
>> this
>> right out of the gate w/ no fixes is pretty amazing. But you know what
>> Alesis went under and things that could have been fixed are not going
>> to get
>> fixed but even still bang for the buck it is great. I am a picky bastard
>> when it comes to synths and gear in gen....I am not just some complacent
>> idiot that sings the praise of any synth I own. I have been thru quite a
>> few digital and analog synths. Way too many actually :) Thanks for the
>> enlightenment but no thanks :) Go the modular route if you want
>> perfection
>> and see how much you would spend to get the same functionality w/ the A6.
>> Prob close to 10K. No joke. I have been there too. And that is just
>> for
>> one voice...hehe :)
>>
>> Kurt Stengel
>> e.m. control
>> http://www.em-control.com
>> 407-405-5112 (cell)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> From: Christopher W Deppe <cwd10 at psu.edu>
>>> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 15:28:43 -0500
>>> To: Kurt Stengel <kstengel at cfl.rr.com>, <a6 at code404.com>
>>> Subject: RE: [A6] A6 sine osc
>>>
>>> Somewhere there is a town missing its point. And this is that town :(
>>>
>>> Oh well. I tried to enlighten you but you insist on letting companies
>>> like
>>> this get away with this S*&t just because you think It's great. Your
>>> reward
>>> for this noble effort will be a new generation of products that
>>> suffer from
>>> even worse quality control because you were willing to overlook it
>>> without
>>> holding them responsible. Well, I'm glad for you. Have fun, for you have
>>> contributed to the fall of manufacturing accountability and the rise of
>>> cheapness. Grip firmly gotten. :)
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: a6-bounces at code404.com [mailto:a6-bounces at code404.com] On
>>> Behalf Of Kurt
>>> Stengel
>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 3:09 PM
>>> To: a6 at code404.com
>>> Subject: Re: [A6] A6 sine osc
>>>
>>> Still amazes me that people gripe so much about a synth that does so
>>> friggin
>>> much, is analog, has 16 voices, 16 part multi, 2 configurable
>>> filters....one
>>> of them SEM multimode, the other a moog styled w/ self feedback
>>> resonance,
>>> mod matrix that kills anything out there analog and stands up to if not
>>> beats out most digital synths, analog distortion unit that can be
>>> modulated.
>>> Decent FX ...not pro but sometimes useable, arp and programmable seq
>>> that
>>> can be used and sync'd simultaneously, 3 amazingly configurable
>>> envelopes
>>> per stage, 3 lfo¹s and sample and hold w/ tons of mod options and
>>> syncable.
>>> Should I go on. So what if the friggin sine wave is not perfect?
>>> How does
>>> it sound? Great. Especially if you want to put the work in. Has a
>>> great
>>> keyboard...awesome controller. Nice chunky knobs for a ton of the most
>>> immediate functions. A kickass ribbon controller. Get a grip dood.
>>> Value
>>> for value the A6 rocks. I have owned 3 of them and they all have
>>> been very
>>> solid w/ the exception of one that had a minor issue on the
>>> mainboard. But
>>> these are analog boards and some probs and inconsistencies betw units
>>> are
>>> bound to happen. For $2400 new it is still a bargain. Even at $3K
>>> but who
>>> pays that for it now anyways. Used they go for $1800. What a
>>> steal. If
>>> the sound is not for you than so be it but don't tell me that feature
>>> for
>>> feature this thing does not have bang for the buck appeal. No analog
>>> has
>>> ever been 16 multi ever that works the way it should. Try Jomox
>>> Sunsyn and
>>> the Omega 8 for all the multi probs they have had and still have.
>>> Makes no
>>> sense to me. No synth is perfect and no synth will do everything
>>> incl the
>>> A6 but it is one amazing piece of hardware with great bang for the
>>> buck and
>>> I think most people agree except the ones that are apt to complain about
>>> everything anyways. Sorry to sound so harsh but it just gets boring
>>> to hear
>>> all the little complaints about the A6. If the sound is not cool to you
>>> then it is not for you but you dig the sound so why bitch about all the
>>> other little stuff? It is what it is. It aint gonna change so get
>>> over it
>>> already or sell it.
>>>
>>> Kurt Stengel
>>> e.m. control
>>> http://www.em-control.com
>>> 407-405-5112 (cell)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: Christopher W Deppe <cwd10 at psu.edu>
>>>> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:37:29 -0500
>>>> To: <a6 at code404.com>
>>>> Subject: FW: [A6] A6 sine osc
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Christopher W Deppe
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 2:36 PM
>>>> To: 'jammer'
>>>> Subject: RE: [A6] A6 sine osc
>>>>
>>>> I agree that it's power and unpredictability are what makes it
>>>> attractive for creativity, but what surprises me is that so many people
>>>> jump to defend a piece of equipment that has some serious reliability
>>>> issues and noticeable flaws. It provides lots of bang, but the buck
>>>> part
>>>> is a bit steep for the quality. Would you feel the same if you bought
>>>> any other piece of equipment for almost three thousand bucks that
>>>> has so
>>>> many issues? For instance, if I bought a prosumer video camera for the
>>>> same as what the A6 cost me, and it had noise issues, idiosyncratic
>>>> tendencies and reliability problems, I would send it back in a
>>>> heartbeat. You seem to not be able to separate power and quality with
>>>> regards to value. When paying that kind of money for ANYTHING, I expect
>>>> better quality. If this was any other product it would have been
>>>> recalled due to these issues. Don't get me wrong, I still love it.
>>>> It is
>>>> the most powerful synth I have ever owned. I will be playing with it
>>>> for
>>>> a very long time, but I have bought many items with a higher usability
>>>> to cost ratio in the past, hence the term value. If you are offended by
>>>> my practicality, I am truly sorry but I refuse to give a pass to
>>>> products that are this "troubled" just to justify a luxurious
>>>> expenditure.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: jammer [mailto:jammer at jammer.biz]
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 2:13 PM
>>>> To: Christopher W Deppe
>>>> Subject: Re: [A6] A6 sine osc
>>>>
>>>> Christopher W Deppe wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Yea sure, it's nice to be able to get that harder edge but my problems
>>>>> is that, when I want to color the signal just a bit with sub osc or
>>>>> other subtle effect, I get that unwanted raspiness too. It makes it
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> very
>>>>
>>>>> difficult and time consuming to tweak out the right sound. Sometimes I
>>>>> just give up because I can't get what I want from it. It would have
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> been
>>>>
>>>>> nice if they had given just a bit more headroom before the distortion
>>>>> kills the effect. I see this as a flaw no matter how you try to shine
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> it
>>>>
>>>>> up. Can I live with it? Yes, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
>>>>> There sure are a lot of problems with the A6 design for what they are
>>>>> charging for it. In terms of value for the money, it does not rank up
>>>>> there with most of my other purchases. I will still keep it, but it
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> sure
>>>>
>>>>> won't displace any of my other gear.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> i'm so surprised to be hearing users saying things like this.
>>>>
>>>> when i first got my a6 i was a little troubled by a few things. i'm
>>>> also not ashamed to admit i was also a little daunted by the beast.
>>>> but now, i'm finding it one hell of a useful piece of equipment.
>>>>
>>>> i'm currently sketching out ideas for my next album, i've sketched out
>>>> about 6 ideas in the last two weeks and the A6 has already firmly
>>>> inserted itself into that workflow. as far as i'm concerned almost
>>>> everything that falls out of it is useable. it is a bit of a fecker at
>>>> times to get things out of it and really feel like your at the heart of
>>>> the thing, but then who said making music was easy?
>>>>
>>>> i feel the same way about my juno 60 and waldorf pulse. they are great
>>>> sounding and very playable, they just take time. i still don't feel
>>>> totally in control of the A6 but then i'm also unsure if i ever want to
>>>> be, surprise is a great thing in the studio ... who wants things to be
>>>> 100% predictable?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> jammer
>>>> www.jammer.biz
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