Plotting a course for Andromeda

[dansouth]

Hi folks,

 

I'm thinking about picking up an Andromeda, but I would like to get some impressions from those of you who have used one before plunking down a big wad of cash. I have a few specific questions, and if you can think of any general impressions that might be valuable, please feel free to share them. When it comes to information, more is better. Thanks in advance!!

 

1. Is the OS stable, or would it be better to wait for a few months? Does it crash, or is it stable?

 

2. Is the sound everything it's rumored to be, or is this a big hype?

 

3. Does the machine have any annoying quirks or poorly engineered features?

 

4. Are competitive products likely in to appear in the next year or so?

 

5. What's a reasonable street price?

[steadyb]

Let me start by saying I am the keyboard product specialist for Alesis. That having been said, here is my reply...

 

1. Is the OS stable, or would it be better to wait for a few months? Does it crash, or is it stable?

The OS that is currently on the Alesis web site is very stable, as will future OS versions that will bring even more features and functions.

 

2. Is the sound everything it's rumored to be, or is this a big hype?

Of course, everything is subjective, but I'd still have to say that the Andromeda is one of the most amazing sounding synths ever. But don't take my word (or anyone else's) for it. Hear it for yourself, spend a few hours with it listening through some great speakers or headphones. The incredible range of this instrument will be obvious.

 

3. Does the machine have any annoying quirks or poorly engineered features?

The LFO maxes out at 25hz (not quite into audio range).

Considering that a single program has as many as 700 parameters in it, as it was explained to me, a higher LFO rate would have meant making a different compromise somewhere else. Since the A6 has CV inputs that can be used as mod sources, an external VCO could be used/routed in the same manner as the internal LFO. On the whole, I'd say there is nothing poorly engineered about it.

 

4. Are competitive products likely in to appear in the next year or so?

Not from Alesis, and it's unlikely that another manufacturer will be coming out with a real analog synth with the same $$$ per voice price.

 

5. What's a reasonable street price?

I'll leave that one to the sales guys.

 

As I said, I work for Alesis, but let me also say, I was motivated to pursue the gig because of Andromeda. Dave Bryce (our moderator), was involved on this project from the beginning and it was him and guys like him that took the approach of including many of the coolest features from our favorite analog synths in Andromeda. Hope that helps.

steadyb - Byron Gaither - Alesis

[Tusker]

Originally posted by dansouth@yahoo.com:

Hi folks,

2. Is the sound everything it's rumored to be, or is this a big hype?

 

Dan:

 

This is the only question I am equipped to answer. I don't work for Alesis. I've played it for awhile in a store and most of what I did was tweak the factory patches a little bit to try out bits of the architecture.

 

It is a really lush sound, big and fat and impressive without straining, squeaking, stepping or aliasing. It is also wider (in tonal range) than most poly analogs.

 

Unfortunately, it has spoilt virtual analogs for me.

 

I think I can live without one (for awhile). The differences are more visceral and emotional and you can get by using VA's especially when going to tape. But anybody who is considering that type of monetary investment in instruments should try this synth out.

 

I hope this helps you,

 

Jerry

 

------------------

www.tuskerfort.com

 

This message has been edited by Tusker on 03-12-2001 at 07:28 PM

[Guest]

Really, the sound and responsiveness and smoothness (the filters in particular) are unbelievable.

 

Yes, the OS is not quite complete, but it isn't buggy. You can bring it to a gig and it won't crash. But, there is the potential for hassle when downloading and installing OS updates from the Alesis website. Some of the implementation of some of the features, and the architecture, take some getting used to. And there are definitely some frustrating issues specific to my situation (playing live with DJ/grooveboxes) that may or may not be addressed in the future.

 

But man, it does sound great. Spoiled the virtual analogs for me too. I just can't stand the sound of my Korg ms2000's filters or that awful "distortion" anymore! I got my Andro mid-record and I've spent countless hours going back to replace my already-recorded VA synth parts with the Andro.

 

I've never had the pleasure of really getting into a real analog synth. I had a minimoog for a couple of years in high school, but I wasn't able to appreciate it and (ow) sold it. Ever since it's ben ROMplers, samplers, and VA.

 

I'm never going back! I'm in serious danger of actually starting a vintage analog synth collection... don't tell my wife...

 

- Chris Beck

[Dave Bryce]

Is the sound everything it's rumored to be, or is this a big hype?

 

Well, obviously, you have to go listen to Andy for yourself, and decide if you like the way it sounds. However, please be assured that almost nothing about it is hype. Spec-wise, it is certainly the most powerful polyphonic analog synth ever built by anyone. It should be - it incorporates an amazing amount of the best functions and coolest features of many of the nastiest analog synths of all time, and has things never before seen in any other synth. The list is definitely too long to go into here...

 

Are competitive products likely in to appear in the next year or so?

 

Not likely. It would take quite a long time and many $$$ for another manufacturer to develop something like Andy, and I believe that it would go against the marketing philosophy of companies with VA synths to do something like that. Also, it has to be shown that the market exists for them to do so.

 

Besides, even if someone else does make another real actual analog polysynth, it won't sound anything like Andy. Just like a Prophet-5 sounds nothing like a Jupiter-8.

 

You guys knew I couldn't leave this one alone, right? http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net8/shiny.gif

 

dB

 

BTW, Future Music (UK) has a review currently published on Andromeda - they gave it a perfect 10 (which I have never seen them give) and a platinum award as well. The Keyboard mag review is also underway even as we speak.

[Steve44]

Regarding the question, will anyone make something comparable, the only thing I would say is that the upcoming Big Briar Mono-synth may possibly be better. Of course it's a much higher dollar per voice range, but it's something that will probably make just as much of a market splash as Andromeda, despite its mononess.

 

What amazes me about Andromeda, from the demo patches I've heard, is that it sounds impeccably like Roland MKS series synths and yet also like My matrix-6. That has nothing to do with the fatness or aggressiveness of the tones or the squelching quality of filters, it just has a very organic feeling to it. The problem is, nearly all the demos I've heard seem to be played by horrible keyboardists who have no sense of voicings or harmonies. The worst ones are those on Sonicstate.

 

 

To me the best feature on Andromeda, the one that really makes it stand apart from the VA's is its envelopes. Man are those things flexible. It's 7 stages and 3 levels, each stage can have its own curve (!) and it can be looped in many different ways. Plus it can run at insanely fast and insanely slow speeds. I'm also amazed at the inclusion of special functions and Boolean operations. There's a lot of free patchability in it that sounds really useful.

 

I can't wait to play one. I'm probably not going to buy it, but I think it's basically Heaven for polysynths.

[Dave Bryce]

To me the best feature on Andromeda, the one that really makes it stand apart from the VA's is its envelopes. Man are those things flexible. It's 7 stages and 3 levels, each stage can have its own curve (!) and it can be looped in many different ways

 

The envelopes are also one of my favorite features, especially the curves. For each of the seven stages of each of Andy's three envelopes, you can choose between nine different curves/slopes: 3 logarithmic, 3 exponential, a vertical S curve, a horizontal S curve, and of course good ol' linear. You can also create looping within the envelope between two stages, once again having the list of curves available to you. The flexibility is unbelievable.

 

Additionally, the curves can be applied to porta time, as well as pitch bend up and/or down. They're probably in a few other places that I'm forgetting, too.

 

Like I've said - she's a pretty deep synth.

 

dB

[Platt]

>To me the best feature on Andromeda, the one that really makes it stand apart from the VA's is its envelopes.

 

Have envelopes like this been available on any synths before? If not, why not? I would guess it's a question of processor bandwidth, though they really don't take up too much of it if done right.

 

jeff

[Jim Aikin]

Originally posted by dansouth@yahoo.com:

Does the machine have any annoying quirks or poorly engineered features?

 

I wouldn't call this either an annoying quirk or a poorly engineered feature, but I'd say it's a major limitation. In the present OS, the knobs don't send or receive MIDI.

 

How soon a new OS will be released that deals with this problem remains to be seen; it might be weeks away, or months. I have no inside information from Alesis on this.

 

--Jim Aikin

[Marzzz]

Not to add anything to the hype, but the Andromeda is simply the most amazing synth I have ever played since the Yamaha CS-80. I heard it at NAMM, was very impressed by it and purchased one. Since then, I have only been more thrilled with it each day I play it.....I would buy it again in an instant! Moog, OB, Yamaha CS-80 (YES!!!!) are all in there, and i am just scratching the surface. Truly the answer to this old prog-rocker's prayers.....I have sold off all my VA gear (that Virus b is on eBay even as we speak, if anyone cares!).

 

-Marshall

[steadyb]

*originally posted by --Jim Aikin*

{I wouldn't call this either an annoying quirk or a poorly engineered feature, but I'd say it's a major limitation. In the present OS, the knobs don't send or receive MIDI. How soon a new OS will be released that deals with this problem remains to be seen; it might be weeks away, or months. I have no inside information from Alesis on this.}

 

Actually there a version of the OS that we are testing that does have all the knobs sending and receiving MIDI. But as you can imagine, it involves sending a ton of sysex data. We are seeing how we can thin the amount of data somewhat, so that we can achive the highest degree of smoothness in this function. It shouldn't be much longer, and like the rest of the Andromeda, worth the wait.

 

Byron Gaither - Alesis

[Allan Speers]

The Andromeda is pretty cool, but personally I don't have room for another keyboard. I bought the Studio-Electronics Omega because it's module, and IMO sound mcuh fatter and more aggressive than the Andromeda. -Of course, it costs a whole lot more as well.

 

I sure wouldn't mind owning both.

[guestuserguestuser.com]

Originally posted by steadyb:

Actually there a version of the OS that we are testing that does have all the knobs sending and receiving MIDI. But as you can imagine, it involves sending a ton of sysex data.

[/b]

 

Byron, why wouldn't you be doing this with continuous controllers rather than sysex? That seems to be a solution that several other manufacturers have used - is there some technical reason why you need to do it with sysex?

[steadyb]

("Byron, why wouldn't you be doing this with continuous controllers rather than sysex? That seems to be a solution that several other manufacturers have used - is there some technical reason why you need to do it with sysex?")

 

I asked about this and I was somewhat mistaken in that it's not sysex data, its NRPN data which apparently is fairly dense also. There are more parameters in the A6 than there are available continuous controller numbers. This is how it was explained to me.

Anyway, they're hammering it out as we speak...stay tuned.

Byron Gaither - Alesis

[Allan Speers]

Steadyb,

 

Any chance we will soon see a module-version of the Andromeda, with a remote controller box? (Like the Roland MKS-80 or the Kawai 5000.)

 

That would be a beautiful thang. I would buy one instantly, whereas I will NEVER buy the currrent model since I have no room for it.

[Peake]

The company line is that it is a bad idea to discuss products that are NOt in development or that are being considered for development.

[dansouth]

It would be a shame to divorce the analog synth engine from all of those luscious knobs, ribbons, switches, etc. We at long last have a synthesizer which really IS a synthesizer. Let's not muck it up by putting it into a tiny little box.

[soapbox]

Dan, my impressions come from attending this years Winter NAMM show, so I only played the Andromeda for five or ten minutes and moved on to other things. I was very impressed by the interface, but I didn't find any presets that inspired me. On the other hand, I was wowed with factory patches in the Novation Supernova II. Now I know why all of those Europeans have been flocking to its predecessor!

 

I also played the Supernova II for only five or ten minutes, so maybe I caught the best of the Supernova II and the worst of Andromeda. Maybe my opinions were colored by listening to the Supernova II through headphones and by listening to the Andromeda through Alesis monitors. Maybe my taste is all in my mouth. Or, maybe the Supernova II kicks butt!

 

I hate to be the lone dissenter, but I wouldn't buy either one of these two keyboards without checking out the other extensively first. Of course, I wouldnt mind owning them both... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

This message has been edited by soapbox on 03-21-2001 at 03:15 AM

[musicman1ovation.net]

Originally posted by Marzzz:

Not to add anything to the hype, but the Andromeda is simply the most amazing synth I have ever played since the Yamaha CS-80. I heard it at NAMM, was very impressed by it and purchased one. Since then, I have only been more thrilled with it each day I play it.....I would buy it again in an instant! Moog, OB, Yamaha CS-80 (YES!!!!) are all in there, and I am just scratching the surface. Truly the answer to this old prog-rocker's prayers.....I have sold off all my VA gear (that Virus b is on eBay even as we speak, if anyone cares!).

 

-Marshall

 

Did you just HAVE to go and say that the CS-80 was "in there"?!?! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif The CS-80 lived at my house for about five months in 1981, and I still have the sweetest of memories. I truly LOVED that sucker, and I've been trying to recreate the whole experience any way I can. So now, with funds spent and allocated other places, I am feeling compelled. SHOOT!! Anybody need their car waxed? "Will work for ANDROMEDA."