Alesis Andromeda A6 Explained : best of Digital and Analog

[fender1000100]

The A6 is a great synth, but the best? I dont think so. A Yamaha DX7 II D can do more has more charactor. And I doubt the A6 can emulate a TR808 drum machine. The DX7 II D can.. These overpriced analogue synths are good but they can never touch a DX7 MK2. Not in a million years.

[lamouche123]

frenchie !

[1111aitken]

I can write 365 songs a year with that kind of sounds, thanks Vangelis for the inspiration !

[laalex98]

Thumbs Up If David Guetta is the best producer! He uses this LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[crabber338]

I purchased my A6 in the early 2000's. It has a lot of flexibility.

Great synth overall. Takes a little while to learn how to bring the best sounds out of it, the VCO mixer can saturate easily and make the mids pop out. This is a feature if you want to make your A6 standout as a lead but messes up bass. Once you know this you can make huge basses!

[MrKnnknn]

Sounds like what Depeche Mode was using in their "Playing the Angel" Album.

[lukuntri]

its full analog.how mych did you pay for it?

[lukuntri]

its full analog



[theHackerOfMayhem]

Perfect filters & effects..... thanx Nik!!

[kolakube123]

6:02 What fx are you using to make it sound that superb?

You playing skills are top notch! How long have you being playing?

Great video, thank you.

[103959770979]

Same fat only possible with a Jurassic modular Moog, great professional instrument the A6.

[FrenchClub1]

tu peux faire quelle music avec ces sons ??? a part du space bizzaroid....c'est marrant dans toutes les demo ,en dehors j'ai jamais entendu ce son dans le commerce a part jmj peut etre ..de nos jours autant avoir un virus , ou meme des vst vanguard ,nexus et compagnie

[TheDLovas]

at 5:30 what paramaters are the ribbon controller tweaking?

[TheDLovas]

i'm interested in purchasing one of these, and just have a quick question. Are the keys weighted or no? and would you rate them at high quality keys?

[103959770979]

@TheDLovas All the instrument is constructed with fine quality components and parts, very solid and strong. actually is a 56 pounds instrument packed with the original factory double box.

[TheDLovas]

it really is a beautiful machine. Viruses are great and all but really, theres just no comparison to the good old days, no?

[vileguile4]

I have never wanted anything more in my life. Many years ago, i remember touching one for a few minutes at a messe.

[studiodreadful]

Très bonne Demo du A6, merci Nikko ...

[smarthandsomeguy]

Great demo. I am a proud owner of an A6 myself - it's a monster! Mine has some troubles starting up though (I always need to start it twice - it hangs on the first start in the "loading screen"). Maybe I should look for the latest firmware. Anyway, great machine, wouldn't want to miss it, and again: great demo.

[crabber338]

@smarthandsomeguy Kinda late, but I think this happens if the patch memory is corrupt. You can hold in #1 button when turning it on to load the default program. Try to copy the patch elsewhere and copy it back to try and repair this problem. I save my patches to a card and via sysex dump, so I'm not afraid of wiping the whole bank if needed.

[dnabiologic]

Very interesting clip !!!

I learned alot.

Thank you very much Nikko.

[FrenchClub1]

francais ca m'etonnerai pas lol...l'accent est terrible!!!

[gareebee]

If this is a true, all-analog synth, why do I hear oscillator tuning done in steps, rather than continuous tonality (2:45)?

[Subtronik]

Good stuff Nikko.

[Crustybrown]

Awesome, love the way you say "moog style bass"

[maikschott]

Very good insight - Niko. what modulation did you put on the ribbon at the end of the Video? It sounds beautiful! I own a A6 myself, but til now I could not manage to get good results of warm padalike sounds!

Good Work - Maik

[bios1983]

for 3 years now I'm constantly dreaming about this beauty here. I had other plans as well like a Sherman Filterbank II tabletop and were thinking of a Voyager rackmount too but this synth... now I think it will worth those sacrifices (wish I had the money for all...). don't care about the perfect moog ladder filter bass sounds, don't care about the exciting versatility of the Sherman anymore. I tweaked one for a few hours I'm watching this video and I'm more&more sure that I gotta have an A6!!!

[Keybern]

The layout of this synth looks very intuitive !

But if it wasn't for the effects, it wouldn't sound that interesting as some older vintage (cheaper) gear imho.

Thanks for the video, it was very clear and understandable !

[JohnF30Music]

they go for about $3000 new? ouch

[slokaka]

danja used this for some of timbalands hits

[Deprincer]

nikkoid you are awesome!! super demonstration and accent!

i've been searching one for days, i hope i can find one!

[FrenchClub1]

i want a virus Ti keyboard meeeee!!

[gipetuberine]

what's the patch name (is it presets or user?) at 4:53?

I own the a6 since 8 months and i dont remember this patch (LOL)

BTW this is the best analog synth in the market!

[DJTriplestar]

How much money did you spend on this synth? I would like to get one, it has amazing sound. You have any clue if you're able to rig it on FL studio?

[sacredgeometry]

@DJTriplestar midi out to synth and audio into soundcard/mixer :P

[unkellsam]

I wish it had weighted keys - this thing is the only synth anyone would ever need.

[mysticradio]

is this better than a Dave Smith polyevolver

[acidjack303]

wow ...this machine sounds like a cs80 or vangelis him self. nice patches have you done... i must have a a6 ..thanks for this cool video !

[anoteoftruth]

the A6 sounds so amazing.. just a shame it looks so ugly.

[kolakube123]

Excellent video.

What effects do you use to get that excellent digital sound as you describe it.

5 stars!!

[TheRealCritique]

yeah, I retract my comment. I was drunk. Air and Daft Punk are good bands, at least as far as sampling bands go. Still, considering how advanced a country they are, they should have had a lot more impact in music, but the language barrier is a large one. Jean Michel Jarre was a big deal. I dont care. THe French live well, and their transportation system and land use make the USA look stupid. Their food kicks ass, too.

[LonDonsen]

Bonjour Nikkoid! Do you know an ALESIS effects processor that has similar reverb, delay and modulation effects than the Andromeda? They sound awesome. Are you from france or canada?

Au revoir mon ami!

[TheRealCritique]

I'd like to return the french favor of having massive attitude. First off, the french can make food and hot women, and pretty castles, but they sure can't make popular music, except edith piaf and ca plein pour moi. Kind of lame. So all hot french women should get ready to give me head and show me their tan breasts, because I'm moving to Paris and I sing english.

[e6400ultra]

Ever listened to Air or Daft Punk? :P

[mingdienasty]

5 stars for accent

[nikkoid]

Lol thank you

[Scrubsobsession]

moog pronounced with a moo and and bass pronounced like the fish. I like this guy

[Krimynal0Intent]

you got alot of shit

[divyx]

my biggest mistake of life, selling this beautiful piece away....

[timtico]

well... you can still buy it right?

[divyx]

it was years that you couldn't get new one from anywhere as alesis stopped manufacturing it because this synth basically bankrub the whole company. Now atleast analoguehaven has some in stock, i think theres been some new patches of this baby.

[timtico]

They do sell it on pay first basis right?

I was planning to spent my Xmas bonus on buying an Andromeda (already own a Virus Ti2), but I heard some very mixed reviews, reliability and costumer support are very poor. I even heard people claiming this machine doesnt sound like the real analogues because they used cheap components...

Well... what are you waiting for? buy it! might be your last change to get it for a reasonable price. If they really get out of stock you will be paying alot.

[divyx]

There are little support, whole dev team got fired years back so no new os either. Really intuitive synth, you can modulate almost anything with anything, good onboard effects. Reliability is good but it's hard in gigs, it takes many minutes to warmup... Btw they used so costly components that it bankrupted the alesis company until it was bought by another company. All i can say is, after my korgs rolands clavias and kurzweils, this is still most intuitive and best synth ever made by humans.

[timtico]

@divyx

guess what... tomorrow there will be someone on my doorstep with a 20+ kg machine under his arms... just bought a second hand 2008 Andromeda :S

[divyx]

Gratulations timtico! It's pretty heavy indeed it's around 24kg if i recall right! =) It's only synth that i've had that made sound engineers to drop their jaws when ever i was gigging with it ( only did 3-4 gigs with it ever ). Though factory presets are so far from what the synth can do.

@LonDonsen: Indeed it's awesome that andromeda comes with VERY great effects. One would think they can't be too good you know 'cause they're implemented in synth etc, but they are...

[timtico]

Just got it here.. it's 21 kg afterall :) And it's kinda huge... it's more than two times larger than my Virus Polar. I'm quite a beginner in synth program, and i feel kinda ashamed I own such powerful machines who less fortunate people with more talent would die for :S

Now... the 300+ page manual.... :)

[simon12332]

yeah

[twjmusicgroup]

TrunotesMusic: YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN! 4:50 onward was incredible.

[TruenotesMusic]

WOW at 4:51

[timtico]

WOW indeed :S

[DonJuanDeMarco2]

And because it is the Triton Rack you can add a sample into the synthesis. It gets ridiculous in a good way. The filter is very smooth and silky, nothing aggressive but it can still get raw.

From what i've heard having this A6 would be like combining the Virus TI and the MOSS board, but never quite being as good as having each individually.

Oh, i've just seen the touchstrip above the keys, very nice !

But if you get a chance, try the MOSS out and push it. You will love it.

[DonJuanDeMarco2]

Hmm, im still not swayed on this machine.

Im swayed on the modular programming, which is what turns alot of people off, but not by the sound. I will asbolutely have to hear it in person.

I've had a few analogs, i worship the CS-80, i have a Virus TI, but do you know what ? My Triton MOSS board just sounds so stupendous to me. It really does. Its not analog but its sounds so sexy. If you ever get tweaking with this thing you will see what i mean.

[chadinterrupted]

a6 = amazing. best of the best. wish i could afford one.

[nuen8]

@chadinterrupted *starts crying* what the fuck man, Alesis made a HELL OF A MISTAKE discontinuing these babies. Unless they're planning to unleash something 10x better than that, they better bring them back to life!

[chadinterrupted]

@nuen8 what did i say? oh well. even if they have plans to make a new one. i think they should make a mini REAL analog version of this. even if it was 800 dollars, i think that would be reasonable. it pains me to know i can't afford one and probably will never own something as amazing. roland still has vsynth so if you have the money those are just as good in my opinion has more than just synth options. but i hear you and see where you're coming from. i'm sad to here they discontinued andromeda.

[nuen8]

@chadinterrupted you didn't say anything bad, IT'S JUST THAT THE GUY SAID "LAST OF THE PURE" KEYWORD: PURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOST SYNTHESIZERS ARE "COPIED". Speaking of others, how good is the Vsynth?

[chadinterrupted]

@nuen8 only as good as what i've seen on youtube. i've never played one before although i own a roland sh201 and know how to work it's infinite possibilities and couldn't be more impressed with roland. so a 600 dollar keyboard like mine vs a 3000 synth from an already impressive company has got to be good. it's a synth work station, not like the g6, i believe it is mostly all synth. look more into it if you can afford it.

[chadinterrupted]

@nuen8 look more into it anyway. lol.

[nuen8]

@chadinterrupted hmmm.......

[XYtoTheDoubleG]

Never a last!

[yanivsh16]

Thanx!!! A very usefull demonstration

[chinastax10]

vay amk ya müdüre bak

[SoyEzra]

these things r expensive.. :(

[ReneeNme]

Yah. For sure.

[Piramidedecuarzo]

Fantastic demostration! the sound is not perfect but the clarity of the show is very good. Thanks.

[shaft9000]

you know, you can activate EG1 or an LFO to modulate the Sync'ed oscillator's pitch, so you can free up your hands :)

[nikkoid]

haha yes you are right!

[guitarharpsichord]

greetings nikkoid ..you look familiar? do you play guitar as well?

well the last time I was thinking about a synthesizer was a Memorymoog..& this seems at least as complex...hey I would trade my Taylor 714c for the Andromeda..lol

[lujoebonjo]

the Oberheim Matrix-12 was made in 1986 and is still ahead of its time. The A6 does amazing things but there is still much the Oberheim Matrix-12 can do that the A6 will never be able to achieve and vice-versa. I love the A6 as I'm sure all the viewers do, so that's why I'm letting them know (as if you didn't already) about the best analog synth ever made!

[nikkoid]

I've sampled a Matrix-12 two month ago for Sonic Reality... nice machine but with no soul. Lot of possibility of modulation but a filter that does not saturate, making a nice flat large 80's sound...

In my opinion the Matrix is overpriced.

[lujoebonjo]

don't know who would disagree with you there. Definitely overpriced, but definitely decades ahead of its time.

[nikkoid]

I agree, these people were genious... but it seems that every time someone does a monster it kills the company : Memorymoog drawn Moog Music into debt and bankruptcy, Matrix 12 was so expensive to build that Oberheim had to sell, and the Andromeda was the last synth from Alesis before their have to be sold to Jack ODonnell to avoid bankruptcy...

[wumpibatz]

The A6 stole my heart 2 weeks ago when testing it in Cologne. I wanted to look around the whole shop (music-store) but THIS thing catched my time and attention totally. And I tell You, it's hard not starting to weep if You REALLY sit before it and play - it will guide Your fantasy and inspiration - no joke !

[wumpibatz]

Thanks for the perfect demonstration - there is problably no way around the A6 - very good work !

[stumpythumper]

I've got a second edition one.

Aside from some Tempo-Bpm issues. I have no complaints-this thing screams and it's fun to fiddle with:)

And the Tune-ing is fine

It's a must own if you want to do a good Lucasfilm-THX movie intro!

Having grown up around a mini-moog...

Personally I think this is about the coolest synth for programability and almost workstation flexability(But not a whole lot of realistic stuff) but if you want synthpop or ebm- electro sounds...even vintage floyd...it's got it

[McHale72]

Thanks for this video. I've been on the fence on the A6 and this demo alone just sold me. Great job!

[nikkoid]

Thanks!

[103959770979]

I just get brand new one built in 2002, amazing, masterpiece.

[shaft9000]

i have an early one too - #147 the build is nice and sturdy, unlike some of the newer asian-built ones.

[lavakava]

shaft, many of the alesis engineers are asian...i saw them at a conference. so there is no point of putting down asian...asian synthesizers like korg/roland/yamaha have no equals yet.

if you say 'chinese' instead of 'asian', it would be less offensive and it is true...chinese (besides the studio electronics and cmf) don't have much experience in engineering (only manufacturing).

anyway behringer (german company) makes the worst products...imo

[shaft9000]

no offense intended. it's just well-known that the earlier USA-built A6's are sturdier in general compared to the later off-shore build. it's a matter of quality control, not prejudice.

[lavakava]

shaft, i don't want to sound prejudiced either, but since when did america have much quality. my first cars and electronic products were american, and they were pathetic. ever since i went with japanese products, i have had no problems...they last for years and years.

[shaft9000]

my arp2600 is 37+ yrs old, all original and was made in USA. i don't have anything else that's made anywhere else that is older and still works.

just sayin'. ymmv.

[lavakava]

lol...i had moog, arp, etc and they all failed after a few years. the roland jupiter and juno 106 despite having some failed chips after 15 years that were replaced, they still work perfectly.

[Blastogy]

Japanese products are high quality. Many American products are also very high quality. You cant judge the output of all American industries based on the American auto industry. Or a few electronic products. (generally speaking) The American Auto industry's product wasn't Bad either, thats a common misconception; everyone loves jumping on the "Its american built? It must suck!" bandwaggon.

[colorform2113]

WOW that last part you did demoing the digital effcts sounded amazing! very Vangelis/JMJ

[nikkoid]

Thanks!!! More Vangelis than JMJ, have you listened what JMJ is doing lately :( booo where is the Oxygen and Equinox inspiration?

[ndavaser]

WHAT A BEAST

[103959770979]

Very nice Nikko, you can upload some arp and patches video?

Thank you mate.

[TheFunkySoulStory]

horrible accent lol

[joshingledew]

this demo is amazing! how did you afford one though?

[ElasticMinds]

you can get them used from 1500-2000 dollars. But beware, some have tuning issues. its almost trial and error

[Petr0vich13]

kain38 - get off you looser

[viccao]

Fantastic!

[YuzoTibi]

You are the real expert. Get off MF!

[arfuswrinkledinks]

like what?

[slammah2012]

will it respond to Polyphonic Aftertouch?

I know the Kbd doesnt transmit it.

The Quadrasynths do receive it.....

[lavakava]

andromeda is the most powerful analog synth: 16 part multitimbrality: unheard of in an analog synth!; 16 voice polyphony - amazing!

[dynarec]

hi niccoid can you tell me what patch you used for the strings ? its a beautiful sound, is it a preset with a certain effect on it or self made? any info would be great

[mimoocho]

Very comprehensive explanation. You're making me want one!

[fizmo909]

prophet 08, studio electronics omega series etc. andromeda is not the last analogue polyphonic synth made, but it's definitely one of the sexiest.

[ElasticMinds]

its in its own leauge. The Pro 8 is fairly limited in comparison to the A6. The A6 is like the analog version of the Nord Modular, its soo complex and deep, did I mention DEEEEEP. The modulation abilities are just mind blowing. I have had one for a year, and I still havent scratched the surface!

[rokuez]

Great video !! can't wait till i get mine. More vids !! u rock nikkoid

[amorbrujo1970]

Maybe you can make a little fix in your description because the A6 is from Alesis and not from Novation ! Oh my god :(

My Andy is crying, tnx and bye

[danielchoukroun]

j'ai tout compris, very nice demo, super

[mdn303]

nice video f the a6

[nikkoid]

Thanks guys :) I got the Omega 8, it is a great beast, hard to master because of its weird Stereo pans for each OSC...

The thing with the Omega, is that it sounds more 'hard core vintage'. But in fact I haven't found it useful for Polyphonic sounds. Most poeple are using it like several mono ATC-X in one box.

The FX in the Andromeda add something out from the box that the OMEGA does not have. In the video, you can see an ATC-X blue in the background!

[CareyM77]

Just for the record, I don't find the Omega voice panning very hard to master, and I also use my Omega mainly for polyphonic stuff :)

Still, great video, nikkoid :) Great job!

[VectrexForEver]

The Andromeda is a great synthesizer, very flexible and it has a great range of different sounds.

It's very big and organic sounding and can have a lot of emotion in it's sound.

You demonstrated this nicely here, well done.

It wasn't made by Novation though ;^)

[Thalassa77]

Hello, I've posted this video on switchedonsythesizer.blogspot . com

[buchla300]

I'd say the Studio Electronics Omega 8 is the best current analogue polysynth sound wise, but that's just opinions!

Nice demo though..