how good is the Andromeda ?

[synthmad]

Hi all,

I'm considering buying an Andromeda and found this forum.
I know the Andy sounds great from sound clips and demos on YouTube.

But how good / easy is it to work with ?
how difficult is it to create nice new sounds ?
previously I've had a Roland JP8000 and Quasimidi Sirius so I know the basics but I'm not an expert.

I've heard about issues where people can't recreate the same sound on a patch they have created, something to do with the tuning, is this a common issue?

How good is the MIDI implementation if I want to use it to control my Fantom XR rack module?

Any replies much appreciated
thanks!

[sunny pedaal]

it's good

the story of the patches never sounding the same is exagerated and thus not true.

if you can find your way a bit on let's say a software synth like reaktor or a clavia modular ( try the free g2 demo) than the a6 is a piece of cake too.
the main diffentence with the jp8000 is the need of always setting offsets . once you'll get a hold of that it's oke. just in the beginning it will take more time to get used too.

and you CAN get much, much deeper in programming than on a jp8000. but you can also stick to a more simple default patch and restrict yourself in that way.

it can easily be used for controlling external modules, however not as flexible as a dedicated controllerbox afcours. but for standart butter and bread controllers he does a proper job. i use the a6 as control/master keyboard in my studio but mostly work on sounds on the modules themselfs.
on the whole i'm very satisfied with my a6.
just wonder if it's still easy to find new( with guarantee) andromeda's ?

[synthmad]

hi, thanks for the reply.

There are places in the UK that have them in stock but tbh the price puts me off a bit and they seem to lose a lot of value when they appear on eBay.

I'm tempted by an Alesis Ion if I can find a new one, anyone have any comments about that ?

thanks.

[hogberto]

[elektro80]

[elektro80]

I see Turnkey is selling the A6 for 1700 pounds. That´s not bad at all. You get it new with warranty!

[synthmad]

dv247 sell the A6 for £1500, but the price of an Ion is very tempting. I know the Ion is all digital but I can live with that if it sounds good

where can you get Ions at 50% off ?

[hogberto]

[elektro80]

[elektro80]

But I saw the Micron is selling for approx 235 pounds. That´s rather cheap considering that the cheap little rascal in some ways is more advanced than the Ion.

[synthmad]

dolphinmusic site says they have some Ions on order. ive just been watching some youtube videos of the Ion and it sounds very FM style.

does the Andromeda have any issues or is it a safe buy ? i love the A6 demos. how about the tuning and possible faulty oscillators ?

[elektro80]

[elektro80]

Anyways, you asked about the A6. I don´t own it but I have had the chance to play around with one. I really like it. Do I want it? Oh yes.. I want it! Who has the most gear when he dies wins!
However, I don´t really need it at the moment. Basically I got the Ion in order to get more colour that would complement the other gear I have. I had and still have a lot of analogue Roland stuff. Most of it I really hated from the day I brought it home brand new.
Back to the A6. It´s a classic. It´s truly wild. It´s pretty deep and it has an attitude. If you need a polyphonic analogue synth then the A6 should be first on your list.

Then a confession:
Right now I have all the gear I need in order to make the stuff I want. But there is one synth that might fit my profile and that is the Dave Smith PEK.
A PEK is however not an A6. It is another kind of creature. Nothing is quite like an A6.

[synthmad]

I'm really liking the demos of the A6 on youtube, I could get one if i sold my fully expanded Fantom XR.

i seem to change gear every few months lol.

the Poly Evolver looks interesting.

anyone have any comments about the Access Virus TI or the Nord Lead 2x ?

[elektro80]

What stuff do you have already? I mean, what is the A6 going to fit in with?

[elektro80]

Shit!

Now I want this one:

[synthmad]

haha is that a theremin ?

actually I only have my Fantom XR at the moment and a broken Quasimidi Raven. I've borrowed an Alesis QS6 to use as a midi controller for the Fantom XR. I like the Fantom but i don't have the time for too much gear. I'm not recording anything at the moment, just playing and having fun.

[elektro80]

You might want to consider finding stuff you want to keep. There is not one fantastic synth out there which will do everything for you. Well, of course then there is the Acxel II. That one is a myth reborn. We even have a forum for it here.

[Jyoti]

[synthmad]

thanks for the replies, i guess i should try them out before buying.

cheers.

[elektro80]

I recommend that you do not use headphones when you audition synths, at least not the Ion. Use a PA and preferably a fairly decent one. It is always smart to have a good compressor around too.

[elektro80]

What I´m saying here is that the "stereo" signal through the headphones very often sounds incredibly lethargic. You will have no idea about what the synth really can do. The Ion sounds mild mannered and weak through the headphones and the factory presets doesn´t help much. Connect the Ion to a PA and start tweaking. Within seconds you will have something that shaves your balls and tears off the roof.




The Ion will have your balls!

[synthmad]

nice

I think im going to go for an Andromeda, I know i want one

does the Andromeda play beats and drums and stuff ? ive heard demos but im not sure if the beats are from the Andy or from something else.

[soundwave106]

For the record, I've had a Micron and I have an Andromeda. My ears said that the Andromeda covered pretty much everything the Micron did, with a lot more balls and depth. The Micron / Ion is good on a budget, but the Andromeda to me is preferable.

Other than analog drum sounds, the Andromeda really can't do beats... not a big deal though.

[elektro80]

Agreed, the A6 is more ballsy.