program mode, mix mode, and effects
patch librarians and sysex editors
Questions:
1. Mar 06 2002
From: Cyril
Blanc <blanc.cyril@wanadoo.fr>
But there
is a problem somewhere else because I do not get the "thick"
Padamongous sound in MIX mode, same for "Old man winter" :-[ , what
is the trick ?
2.
Dec 29 14:47:56 2003
From:
deliverator at the-deliverator.net (The Deliverator)
Thanks for
the help the other day. I now have
a mix setup so that I have 4 midi channels that accept program changes on midi
channels 1-4. The programs do change accordingly on the Andromeda.
I'm
noticing something weird though.
When I play a patch in program mode, say for example 'warm strings' , it
sounds very different in program mode than it does in mix mode. This is the only patch I am playing,
and it seems to happen even if I am only playing one note, so I don't think
this is a voice issue.
3.
> so if you have five programs, only
one of those can have an effect, (Or can you have the same affect applied to
more then one program?)
4.
Jan 29 10:06:00 2004
From: sgt_stadenko at hotmail.com (Kurt Robertson)
I've got 'Kick and snare' on mix channel 1, 'Kick and
Snare2' on mix channel 2 and 'Kick and Snare3' on mix channel 3. They all sound
the same!! Why are my fx not working in mix mode?
Answers:
1.
Dec 11 2003
From: dfevans
at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca (David Evans)
Effects work
differently in Mix mode to how they work in Program mode.
Details about
this are in the manual.
2.
3.
Mar 06
21:10:17 2002
From:
"Michael E. Caloroso" <analogdiehard@att.net>
You might
need the FX; when you add an instrument to build a MIX, the programs don't
have the FX included.
Although the A6 is multitimbral, you can only have one FX in a
MIX. We tried to design
most factory programs so that they didn't rely too heavily on
FX
for their sound.
You have to do a STORE, COPY (Soft Button 3), then set SP1 (Soft Pot 1)
to PGM
DFX, SP6 to MIX EDIT
BUFFER, select the program you want FX copied from with
SP3 (SP2 selects bank), and press STORE twice. Then you press CONFIG under
DIGITAL EFFECTS, select the mix instrument, and set the send level for
each
instrument (OUT is master for all instruments). Oh, and turn FX ON!
4.
You
get one effect setup per mix, and you get a separate send level foreach program
within the mix.
5.
Jan 29 10:38:22 2004
From:
dfevans at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca (David Evans)
There is only one FX setup for the entire mix, since the A6 has only one
effects
processor. You'll need to
set up the mix with the effects thatyou want; there's a facility
to copy them from a program, IIRC.
6.
Jan 29 10:42:47 2004
From:
susanbaird at nc.rr.com (Susan Baird)
It seems
like there are 2 questions here. The first question is why program sounds don't
sound the same once you bring them into a mix. The second question is why you
can't get your effects to work in mix mode.
The first
question...when you have a preset mix and you are bring a program into it, you
are not bringing the effects along with the sound. The mixes have their own set
of effects. So when you bring a program into the mix it takes on the effects
that were assigned to the mix. Every program and every mix has their own
effects that were programmed into it. You can change any of these and you can
copy effects from one to the other. Page 246 explains this. "Note that
while each individual Program has its own Effects parameters in Program Mode,
those aren't brought into the Mix since there aren't 16 separate Digital
Effects and Analog Distortion sections."
The second
question...Did you (1) follow the instructions on page 246? And (2) did you
make sure you were sending effects to the proper channel(s)? As it states, any
effect other than send or pan applies to the entire mix, not the specific
channel. If this doesn't help you, tell us exactly the steps you took so
someone can troubleshoot where it went wrong.
Questions:
1. Jan 7 2002
Anybody
have any recommendations for a good SKB type hard case for the A6?
The SKB
won't work because it's not deep enough.
I'd be looking for one
without the
rivets in the side that damage the endcaps as Mike P.
mentioned -
mine are already damaged enough ;)
Also would prefer one that
doesn't
weigh a ton like those black-felt-over-particle-board ones I've seen.
2. Oct 20 2003
From:
markxxvii at yahoo.com (mark27)
Subject:
[A6] road case for A6?
hey
everybody,
I need to
get a road case asap for my A6.
Are there
any hard shell road cases out there made specifically for the A6. Has anyone had a good experience with a generic
off-the-shelf road case with their A6?
3. Jan 22 20:38:03 2004
From: EQ at
goatrance.net (K Coulter)
Can anyone
recommend a specific case for the a6? I know it would have to be something that
does a good job of protecting the top panel. Remember seeing this on the list
awhile back but i don't feel like poking through the archives all over again!
anyone
know where a good ATA flight case can be had? I am thinking of taking the A6 on the road as my main
controller, and it doesn't fit the standard SKB cases.
4. (Dustcover)
Q: Jan 23 10:28:50 2004
From: goughx at
socal.rr.com (R & J Gough)
Subject: [A6] Dust
cover?
Anyone know of a dust
cover that fits the Andromeda well?
Keywear don't recommend
a size for it, although I wonder if a medium would fit. The Yamaha KDC4250
looks about the right size, but slightly large. Any other suggestions?
A: Jul 27
19:10:52 2003
From: gwaltzer at
optonline.net (Greg Waltzer)
The keywear medium fits
perfectly. $20 at MF.
Answers:
1.
Aug 30
2003
From: chris.pickett at mail.mcgill.ca (Chris Pickett)
I have the Gator GK-261R ... it's about half as expensive as
the Anvil cases. Admittedly it has only survived the trip from Boston to
Montreal as carried by UPS, but there's plenty of room for bubble wrap to
protect the knobs and endcheeks ... I don't see mine getting damaged in this
case. Anybody who has this case
and has suffered, please comment.
2.
Jan 29 12:14:03 2004
From:
analoguediehard at att.net (Michael E. Caloroso)
Definitely
Anvil for gigging. My Anvil case
has extra dense foam on the
endpieces
to secure it in place when closed, and there is air space
between the
panel and the lid so it is amply protected. Mine cost me
$360, well
worth it. I have used Anvil cases
for over twenty years with
my vintage
gear. For a while I tried other
brands (Hot Rod, Jan-al) but
in the end
I went back to Anvil.
Just call
Anvil and ask for a distributor, then place the order for an
"ATA
case with recessed handles and latches for Alesis Andromeda" and
you'll get
the case I have. And you get free
stenciling from Anvil!
I just
bought a Gator polymer case for my new 6-string bass and I think
it is a
much better case than SKB. They
can be fitted with recessed
latches. If they make a case for the Andromeda
it'd be cheaper than Anvil,
but I have
no idea how protected the front panel would be.
3.
Jan 29 13:19:13 2004
From: xray2
at nc.rr.com (Ray Phelps)
When I
bought my Andromeda (has it been a year already) I also picked up a Road Ready
case. I don't know the model
number as I used it to get the synth home and for future carting around (I
don't gig so don't know how it stands up to that). It seems fairly well constructed, has handles all over the
place and castor wheels for easy dragging (which I needed cuz that thing was
HEAVY with the Andy inside ;) ).
Not
shilling them but here is there web address:
http://roadreadycases.com
4.
May 12
2003
From:
jonathan at subterfuse.net (Jonathan Baker)
The Gator
GK-261R. I've even flown with it, it's
fantastic.
Fun part is the baggers will put it on the
rollers and
it will get stuck at the door to the
baggage
area and hold everyone's luggage up for 30
minutes.
That was fun :-p. But it remains (barely)
within
flight weight and size limitations so you can
avoid extra
charges.
If you call
up www.8thstreet.com they'll get it for ya
for a good
price. ($200 range if I remember right)
5.
Mar 25 17:26:56 2004
From:
gwaltzer at optonline.net (Greg Waltzer)
Subject:
[A6] Hard case for A6
Just wanted
to let you all know - I got a custom hard case for the A6 from Case Technology
http://www.keyboardcases.com/
It fits
perfectly and best of all, the knobs are well protected.
The price
was $206.
6.
Jan 29 16:25:10 2004
From:
cgould11 at tampabay.rr.com (Chad Gould)
My main
complaint about the Gator case is the placement of the handles (prefer a
single, stronger center handle to two side ones) and the lack of a crossbar on
the wheel side flush with the wheels (meaning that you can't stand it up straight
on its wheels very well, because it ends up at an angle and can tip over if you
aren't careful!)
It's certainly a good case elsewise, though, especially for
the price. Very rugid and fits the Andromeda easily.
7.
Case: Gator GK-261. Gator is
the only one I found that lists the Andro in thier size chart, and lists this
as a fitting case. It's ATA, has wheels, and recessed clasps. It lists for
$249, but I found it at music123.com for $189.
8. soft case: SKB-KB61 (ed.)
Questions:
1.
> where can I find the best
price on a RAM card that works with the a6?
2.
Jul 11 2002
From:
arrakian at mac.com (arrakian)
Subject:
[A6] Ram card for Andromeda
What's the
difference between the SRAM with and without Attribute Memory?
3.
Apr 5 08:40:29 2004
From:
miguel.mendoza at terra.es (Miguel Mendoza)
Subject:
[A6] PCMCIA Ram cards
Hello, can
anybody tell me where I can buy on-line a PCMCIA card for the A6 in Europe,
which is the biggest one I can work with?
Answers:
1.
http://www.timasci.com/sram.htm
2 MB SRAM
Card SN5002-P $69.49
(the one
without attribute memory)
ie about
_60_ bucks cheaper and they ship worldwide AT ACTUAL COST!!!
other
companies tried to charge me 40 -50 bucks for sending just one card to
Europe. The
staff at tima went to great length to help me out and were very
friendly to
boot.
they tried
to warn me that Alesis synths needed 512 Kb cards but i explained to them that
the Andromeda could handle it :)
2.
Jan 23 10:27:21 2004
From:
peabreu at sapo.pt (Paulo Abreu)
You can
order it from TEC.SYS in Germany (www.tecsys.de) I got mine from them, and I
believe other members did it too. The reference is SJA-002M5C (pcmcia sram, 2Mb
memorycard, 68-polig) but if you ask, they know exactly what is needed for the
Andromeda.
3.
Thu
Jul 11 2002
From mark.strijbos at hccnet.nl
Subject: [A6] Ram card for Andromeda
> It needs to be an SRAM card, NOT a Flash card. Unfortunately, SRAM> cards are
considerably more expensive.after a long hard search i have found a good source
for Pretec SRAM cards at www.timasci.com http://www.timasci.com/sram.htm
4.
Apr 5 16:51:46 2004
From:
clusterchord at hotmail.com (tomislav babic)
hola
I'm in
Croatia, and i ordered form Tyma (Canada) . I got them in less than a
week.
Shipping was quick and cheap.
i payed
$133 total for two 2MB SRAMs
They work!
(i get 8 preset banks, or 6 preset plus 4 mix banks, on a single
2MB card)
http://www.timasci.com/sram.htm
model you
want is: SN5002-P $58.89
Can
I Load Programs and Mixes from the SRAM card?
Oct 3 2002
From:
fernstudio at telus.net (Fernstudio)
Subject:
[A6] Selecting Programs from RAM Card
Hi
Let's try
this again. My first mail did not
get through. I am hopefully soon
buying an Andromeda. I've been
reading the manual to get familiar with it and I have one question which the
manual does not explain clearly.
Can I select programs from a RAM card without loading them into User
memory first? Ie, does the card
operate like a memory expansion as well as storage or can I only store banks on
the card and must load them if the sound is not in the User bank? I could not find an answer in the
archives.
Fernstudio
Oct 4 2002
From: arnd
at reinklang.de (Arnd Kaiser)
Hi,
Yes, you
can load programs directly from a RAM card and you can save to the card both
single programs/mixes or whole banks. You can even select card programs
directly via MIDI program change commands, using bank select messages.
Arnd
Aug 20 2003
Quoting
Dave Scrimenti <dscrimenti@adelphia.net>:
As far as I
know, you can save patches with any software that can save midi sysex data, I
started using midiox but then found jsynthlib which I personally like better.
Both are freely available on the internet. The only problem is that recalling
saved patches from one of those programs involves a sysex dump back into the A6
and even though I haven't had any problems yet, I've heard that occasionally it
can fail and you have to muck around with settings and if you get a corrupt
patch you may have to re-initialise and so on. Needless to say it takes some
time and all your PC and stuff has to be set up and running, with a memory card,
on the other hand, you just change banks and off you go, it's as easy as
recalling patches from the preset banks, that's worth the $70 in my oppinion.
-&e.
May
23 17:51:05 2004
From:
analoguediehard at att.net (Michael E. Caloroso)
Subject: [A6] Removing Sram card while A6 is on?
>
Will this fry the Sram card or A6? :)
No,
but removing the card while data is being written to it can corrupt the data on
the card and render it unreadable.
These
are PCMCIA compliant devices which are designed to be removed safely with the
power on. Think laptops.
MC
Oct 2002
From: "Karl West"
<karl.west1@btopenworld.com>
Fire up the A6 put the card in and
the A6 should detect the card. Then
press store, followed by card (soft
button 6).Turn soft knob 1 all the
way round until "hit store to
initiate card" shows. Press store to
initiate and you will be given
options to how you want the card
structured. For saving just program
banks on the card press soft button1, for just mix banks soft button 2 and for
mixes and programs soft button 3. I used soft button 3 so I can have 6 program
banks and 3 mix banks. Then downloaded the five program banks (by Rob Papen,
Klaus Peter etc) from alesis's site
(http://www.alesis.com/downloads/software/A6/index.html)
for card banks 1-5. This means you'll have an added 635 preset sounds and you
can use card bank 6 for your own patches. Plus you'll be able to save 3 banks
of your own mixes.
Questions:
1.
Mar 27 07:46:08 2004
From: CBVGUITAR at aol.com
(CBVGUITAR@aol.com)
Subject: [A6] A6 won't
stay tuned
I'm a newbie to analog synthesizers
so I'm not sure as to the severity
of my problem. My A6 is behaving strangely
on all of its presets. The unit will not go in tune. Sometimes it's about a
semitone out and other times in dips out of tune while be played. I've tried
hard and a soft reset, autotune....nothing has helped.
Does my A6 need servicing and what
that might entail?
Answers:
1.
Analog synths with
real analog oscillators require a warmup period of
about 15-20 minutes before the
electronics and tuning have stabilized.
When any analog oscillator is
powered on cold, there is a tuning error
which goes away as the circuit warms
up to ambient temperature. This is
because the linear voltage to exponential current converter in each analog
oscillator circuit (32 total in the A6) has a temperature factor in its
transfer function. That is an
unavoidable fact of life with analog oscillators.
2.
Jul 22 12:33:32 2003
From: protokol13 at hotmail.com
(Tony J)
I usually turn on my A6, leave it on
with background tuning OFF, and Temp
tuning ON. I leave it on for around 10 minutes and then I play some
pieces
to see if it's in tune. If it's still out of tune I use
auto-tune. I
rarely use background tuning because
I actually hear weirder tuning problems
when it's on, and I only turn it on
if I need the A6 to be in tune quickly.
Just keep this in mind "auto
tune" AFTER the A6 warms up, I find it sounds a
lot better.
3.
Myself, I find that the best sound
out of the A6, as a whole, comes with
turning Autotune off and leaving
Temptune on. In this mode, the A6 seems to
have a nice 80s polysynth sound,
with quite a bit more stability and quite a
bit longer of a tuning time compared
to some. :) Turning off temptune
actually doesn't add too much to my
ears, and severely impacts tuning stability.
4.
Jan 28 04:25:21 2004
From: demokid at home.se (Demokid)
Hi
I think this is a good thing... It
is an analogue synthesizer and they need
time to warm up. I rather have a
synthesizer that I have to tune ones in a while but sound alive then a boring
digital synthesizer.
I think the A6 is very stable if I
compare to e.g. a Memorymoog or OB-Xa. I always wait ca 15-20 minutes before I
tune my A6, Prophet-5, JP6/8 and Minimoog.
I don't use any temp or background
tuning on the A6 since I think it kills
the analogue feeling. I think it is
cool if every tone sounds a little
different from each other.
5.
Mar 1 15:43:49 2004
From: dfevans at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca (David Evans)
I don't know whether you'll get a definitive answer on
this.
Try the various combinations and pick the one that sounds
best to you.
6.
Mar 31 07:06:43 2004
From: gmoehrke at execpc.com (Geoff
Moehrke)
FWIW - I gig with my A6 several
times a month (for the last 2 years or so). A little care and a solid flight
case is all it takes. No tuning
issues here. I do recall my P5
(many years ago), often required a self-tune during breaks, etc. It usually didn't take as long as the
A6 to tune, but it had 9 fewer voices to worry about. From my experience, once
the A6 has stabilized (usually less than 10 minutes for me), it seldom requires
another tuning for the remainder of the night.
Answers:
1.
1.40.12 ? Press the Global button.
Then press SB 6&7 simultaneously. Then press SB 7&8 simultaneously. You
should see the version.
2.
May 6 13:59:47 2004
From: chris.pickett at
mail.mcgill.ca (Chris Pickett)
I typed "1.40.13 a6" into
google and found:
http://roland.code404.com/pipermail/a6/2002-June/000014.html
which pointed me to:
http://alesis.com/beta/a6/
Apparently it only benefits saving
global parameters, and dates back to 2002.
3.
May 7 04:30:52 2004
From: spd2156 at sympatico.ca
(NeonLights)
Hi, Joshua If I'm
correct the latest official A6 OS is 1.40.12 .
4.
Sep 26 2002
From: spd2156 at sympatico.ca
(M.G.S.)
Subject: [A6] Updating A6 OS for Mac
Users
Hi you all:
I just got my A6 and even though
they toll me that
the new units were being sold with
the latest OS , v01.40.02 is
what I got on my A6.
As I understand v01.40.12 is the
latest official OS update.
Questions:
1. Sep 12 2003
From:
RSchwim295 at aol.com (RSchwim295@aol.com)
Subject:
[A6] A6 OS help needed
Help--
I
downloaded the latest OS for the A6, got a stuffit folder which went to an old
version (classic) to unstuff, which doesn't seem right. I unstuff it in OSX and
get six versions of a Quicktime Player thing that sez "A6 OS", but
doesn't specify much more than that. In addition to the 6 OS versions in
Quicktime, I get 6 gibberish text versions of some thing. I'm not sure if these
OS things are valid, and I certainly don't want to dump them into the A6
without knowing what they are. That's about it.
Rob
Schwimmer
2.
Sep 26 2002
From:
spd2156 at sympatico.ca (M.G.S.)
Subject:
[A6] Updating A6 OS for Mac Users
Hi you all:
I just got
my A6 and even though they toll me that
the new
units were being sold with the latest OS , v01.40.02 is
what I got
on my A6.
As I
understand v01.40.12 is the latest official OS update.
Now , I'm a
Mac user , how do I do it? I'm a bit afraid.
If I use
cubase, do I open each midi file and send each one
in
intervals? Will the A6 wait each
time?
Or just by
sending one midi file will do the update?
which midi
file is the single one?
Or is it
better to use the single Syx file?
Somehow I
feel more confident with Cubase.
Can you
help me?
3.
Oct 3
2002
From:
spd2156 at sympatico.ca (M.G.S.)
Hi you all Mac Users:
I spent
many hours (Days?) trying to update my A6 from 1.40.02 to 1.40.12 Up to this
hour I'm still getting checksum error : Try again!
I'm
following the manual to the letter!
Here's what
I'm trying:
Cubase :
The 6 midi files , loading them individually.
Cubase :
The 6 midi files in a single track.
Motif
sequencer : loading each midi file individually , as Song or Pattern.
SysEx v.4.5.2
: Single sysex file : Single and
individual sysex files.
OMS SysEx
Sender : Single and individual sysex files.
Freeloader
doesn't work at all ????????
Downloaded
fresh OS copies from the Alesis site.
Is there a
hidden page I'm bypassing? or a parameter I can't see?
NOTE: Testing to see if (SysEx and OMS SysEx)
will work , I sent a patch to the A6 and . . . I almost had a heart attack as
my beloved A6
FROZE!! I was forced to do a hard re-set. (The
A6 was OK. after that)
This is
what forced me to stop trying as I don't know what else can
happen!?
Answers:
1.
Sep 29 2002
From:
spd2156 at sympatico.ca (M.G.S.)
A simple
solution is to download Sysex Librarian OS X from the Apple website, and you
can use this program to directly load the single .syx file that comes with the
OS update. It is a little slow, but works well.
-Marshall
2.
Oct 3 2002
From: peake
at pacificnet.net (Mike Peake)
Your MOTU
MIDI interface might present
better
results ;-)
It's been a
while since I've updated one,
but Sysex
4.5.2 always worked like a charm
for dumping
the large, single OS sysex file.
You have to
slow down the send rate to 80
or it won't
work.
3.
Oct 4 2002
From:
peabreu at sapo.pt (Paulo Abreu)
I have
always used the latest version of SysEx 4.5.2 without any kind of problems. But
I still use only OS8.6 on a B&W G3...not fast but solid as a rock. To find
SysEx 4.5.2 just get to any Tucows mirror, its everywhere as a shareware...its
really a great app.
4.
Sep 13 2003
You should
also get one large ".syx" file (about 740k) which has all of the data
in sysex format. I've successfully used SysEx Librarian to update my A6 OS. Go
to
http://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/
Just run
the tool, drop the large .syx file on the librarian window, choose to send it
to your A6, and press "run". You might want to increase the pause
between played messages, if it doesn't work first time around. (See Prefs)
The
"a6_os.update.pdf" doc (recommended reading, btw) says you can also
use the 6 smaller files and send them one at a time.
Answers:
1.
From MelloT at aol.com Tue Feb 3 13:14:08 2004
From: MelloT at aol.com
(MelloT@aol.com)
Date: Tue Feb 3 13:15:03 2004
Subject: [A6] First Post: fx sync / voice
stealing
Message-ID:
<7a.50074834.2d516920@aol.com>
This is a very old story... but you
are new here, so here is the short version: Alesis is not going to give out the
code, and they will probably never change the OS. The synthesizer you have is
not perfect but it does a lot, so we should be happy with what it does. No old
keyboards are perfect, but this one does so much more already. The A6 was not a
success for Alesis, and the company almost died because of this and other
things. Someone else has bought Alesis now and they choose to spend their time
and money on things that will make them more profit, but not the A6. This is
the way it is...
2.
Unlikely.
3.
Mar 19 2002
From:
Justin Maxwell soc@code404.com
I've asked
this numerous times. As far as I
know, they don't understand how beneficial open source can be to the
development of an OS, and are keeping it internal. There are a lot of die-hard a6 users on this list. If one of them wants to develop the OS
while alesis sits on it, they should be able to...But it's copyrighted
technology, and not something most companies will easily make public.
Questions:
1.
> Isn't there a program that
lets you save A6 patches on your computer so you don't have to deal with these
expensive memory cards?
Answers:
1. May 13, 2004
Simon Fine wrote:
I use the JSynthLib from
http://www.jsynthlib.org/. I used it with my Matrix 1000 and presently use it with
my A6. I find it great and easy to use.
2. May 13, 2004
Chris
Pickett wrote:
Emagic's SoundDiver 3.0.5.2 for PC and Mac works OK. The only thing I could find on their
site was:
http://www.emagic.de/support/download/sounddiverX.php?lang=EN
which is a Mac-only public beta. I've also seen copies of the PC version floating around on
some p2p networks. Cyril Blanc
wrote the A6 module for it, but the last we heard things were not progressing
very well on that front ...
If you can get it to work, MIDI-Ox is fine for transmitting
patches and banks, but there is nothing A6-specific about it. Latest version is 7.0
http://www.midiox.com/
The last thing I played with was JSynthLib, which IIRC works
on OS X, Windows, and Linux. There
was an A6-specific driver for it written by Kenneth Martinez if I'm not
mistaken, and it is under the GPL.
Latest version is 0.18.
http://www.jsynthlib.org
3.
Sep 2 2002
From: prauz at lycos.com (Paul
Evenblij)
Subject: [A6] Mac patch randomizer
v1.2 available
Version 1.2 of my patch randomizer
is now available. New stuff in:
+ A 'Normalize' button to reset
selected modules to default parameter values.
+ It is actually possible to
instantly switch from randomizing to normalizing (and vice versa), just by
holding down the Normalize (or Randomize) button.
+ A 'Repeat' option to keep looping
through the modules.
+ (And now for the million-euro
functionality...) MIDI settings are now saved as preferences!
General info:
Andromizer is a patch randomizer for
the Alesis A6 Andromeda synthesizer, running on Macintosh computers. It can
randomize all relevant program mode parameters. You can choose which modules to
process, so you have a certain degree of control over the chaos you hopefully
create.
Currently Mac OS 8-9 only, and you
need OMS 2.0.
Mac OS X version is being
researched.
Please have a look or download:
http://www.knoware.nl/users/paulpaul/dm/andromizer
Thanks,
Paul
4.
A6 Banker Andromeda Sysex Utility
Jul 1 2002
From: mark.strijbos at hccnet.nl
(Mark Strijbos)
Pleased to announce a SysEx dump
utility for the Alesis Andromeda
(wintel platform). It sends and
receives individual programs &
mixes, banks and global data dumps
and reads & writes standard
SysEx files.
A free trial version can be
downloaded at this URL:
http://home.hccnet.nl/mark.strijbos/syn/a6/index.html
Mark Strijbos
5. Mar 2 2003 (Windows)
From: karl.west1 at btopenworld.com
(Karl West)
Getting the PCMCIA card is a big help when
saving patches but you cansave over the top of the user presets if you want.
Just press the store button and select where you want to save the patch to
(whether to the PCMCIA card slots or over the user patches). I usually back up
all my patches on my PC also just incase I accidentally reset my PCMCIA card or
I lose my patches. Just download midi OX from alesis's site and bulk dump your
patch via midi and record the bulk dumped information with midi OX. Just set
midi OX to record sysex, press store on the A6, then soft button 5 for
"sysex" page and store again to bulk dump. Then save the patch in
midi OX. I usually record all my bulk dumped sysex data from my other synths in
my sequencer, but for some reason cubase SX won't record bulk dumps from the A6
Questions:
1.
Mar 07 2002
From: Marzzz@aol.com
I wish there was a polyaftertouch keyboard on the Andromeda, that was so much a part of the CS-80, and would make the A6 that much better (btw Peake- when are we going to get that "zero touch point" option on the A6 ribbon?). I am also looking into an old Ensoniq controller for the polyAT.
2.
Poly AfterTouch
Hi! Has anyone got the A6 to respond to poly-AT? According
to the Users
Manual it should be able to receive both channel and
poly-AT. But using
my recently aquired GEM S3 (a synth with poly-AT) as MIDI
controller, I
get no response from my A6 using poly-AT. My A6 has OS
version 1.40.12.
3.
Sep 24 2002
From:
Marzzz at aol.com (Marzzz@aol.com)
Subject:
[A6] PolyAftertouch
Hello-
I recently
acquired a GeneralMusic S3 keyboard, which has the unique
capability
of transmitting PolyAftertouch. Unfortunately, I can not get the A6 to respond
to it. When the S3 is set to transmit channel AT, the A6 responds normally. I
have A6 OS 1.40.12, and I have tried setting both "Key" and MIDI
Aftertouch as a mod source to filter frequency, but there is no response. I
have the MIDI OUT of the S3 connected directly to the MIDI IN.
Polyaftertouch on the S3 works
locally, and messages are being transmitted polyphonically when it is connected
to my sequencer (Logic Audio Mac) in the MIDI
monitor window.
Answers:
1.
Mar 07 2002
From: Mike
Peake peake@pacificnet.net
Hi Jose,
that is why the A6 can receive polyphonic aftertouch via MIDI. Just assign it
to any destination you want :-)
2.
Sep 25 2002
From: peake
at pacificnet.net (Mike Peake)
I believe
that it must be assigned
per mod
destination, not globally.
"MIDI
Aftertouch".
3.
May 14 2003
From: dfevans at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca
(David Evans)
Sure, but isn't there also a mod
source for poly aftertouch? ;-)
Questions:
1.
Jun 20 2002
From:
ohesch at web.de (oliver hesch)
Subject:
[A6] andromeda FM problem, do you have a solution?
hi i take
the freedom to contact you as alesis support doesn't answer and hopefully some
of you might be able to help with a problem i have encoutered on my new andro.
i have
noticed on my new andro, (manufactured september 2001, version 1.40.02) that as
soon as i switch on FM, the voices stop being in tune and in rotate mode, each
time you strike the same key, the sound will be very different 16 times (so for
all of teh voices). if you continue you start hearing the same different 16
sounds. so each voice responds differently to FM. this happens even though the
unit is perfectly in tune. i have tried everything (FM with noice OSC2 mod OSC1
mod starting from different sounds and a new patch etc.)
the only
way to use FM under such circumstances is to switch it to mono and static voice
allocation to get always the same sound. you can't do poly sounds this way.
that is a serious limitation.
the calibration
of the OSCs seems to be quite random for FM even though they are perfectly in
tune. is there a bug in the FM implementation?
2.
Jan 7 2003
From: jered at future-retro.com
(Future Retro Synthesizers)
Subject: FW: [A6] Future of the
A6... Comment
Hello all,
I recently started using the A6, and
am new to the list. I notice some
strange things when modulating
oscillator A with oscillator B's
waveform. I play a note and set the
FM to create a desired tone. I then play the same key repeatedly and the tone
varies for each new key press (I assume this is due to different voices being
used to play the tone). I should mention that the unit is on for more than 30
minutes before tuning, and more than often retuning again. I saw the note about
improper FM tracking below, so is this something others have found as well? In
my thinking, if the amplitude of the A6's waveforms vary slightly in amplitude
from voice to voice this could be the problem.
3.
Jan 07, 2003
From: dfevans at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca
(David Evans)
Yep. This is basically a FAQ. The VCA that controls the FM index is not
calibrated by the CPU, so there's no
way to ensure that it is the same for all voices. I don't know whether the hardware precludes such a
calibration or whether the software simply doesn't do it.
4.
I did ask them specifically
about FM tracking. It sounds like
calibrating them closer just isn't
possible with the hardware they
have. They're aware that you can
save a program and then recall it
later and it will sound different
because of drift. They recommended
leaving background tuning off when
using FM, because the oscillators might "correct" themselves and
change the sound.
Answers:
1.
Jun 20 2002
From:
dfevans at bbcr.uwaterloo.ca
This has
come up briefly before. IIRC, the
VCAs that are responsible for FM cannot be calibrated by the
microprocessor. If the FM amount
is at all high the VCAs' errors manifest themselves as differing FM indices on
each voice, leading to just what you describe.
2.
Nov 26 2002
From: kmartinez at bency.com
(Kenneth Martinez)
How about switching from rotating
voice assignment to lowest for your FM
programs, so voice 1 always plays first? That way it sounds consistent...at least, that's what I've
done.
3.
I don't think that the issue is
tracking but rather lack of precise control over FM index, caused by the
inability to calibrate the relevant VCA.
In a way this may be a harder problem to solve than tracking, since it's
pretty easy to adjust VCO frequency offsets under CPU control. My guess is that the ASIC designers
just ran out of space and had to stop somewhere.
4.
Nov 26 12:58:44 2002
From: peake at pacificnet.net (Mike
Peake)
The A6 allows an extremely deep
index of
exponential FM on the oscillators
and filters
as well, far greater than on the
MKS80 (I've
had a couple of those as well). The
VCAs
which control this amount, along
with the
VCAs which control the amount of
external
modulation of oscillator frequency,
filter
frequency etc. are not calibrated,
as you've
found; I don't remember the specific
reason
why, but there it is; you should be
able to
duplicate what can be done on the
MKS80
with the A6 if you use the FM
sparingly.
An issue way down the wish list
would be
to see if these parameters could be
hand
set in some sort of sub-menu; it is
unknown
if they would have to be tuned after
each
power-up (by hand, again).
Analog is, well, analog. Digital
offers
perfect tracking and pitch stability
(with
the resultant precise FM) for those
who
need it. It has yet to be
demonstrated
that virtual digital systems can
produce
the organic character of
musically-oriented
gear.
The VCAs, for some reason, were not
looped back
into the feedback path which allows
the computer
to calibrate things. I don't
remember if this
was due to an impossibility (chip
layout) or
not.
5.
Sep 2 2003
From: protokol13 at hotmail.com
(Proto)
Actually there are several things
you can do about the FM in the A6.
The problem as mentioned before is that the VCAs are at slightly
different amplitudes, but this is only an issue if you are making a polyphonic
patch with FM. The solution is to
set you FM patch to mono and limit it to a specific voice number, you will find
that your FM patches will be fairly stable as long as the same voice is being
used. Unfortunelty, with only two
oscillators there's not much you can do as far as FM... Yet the overtones will
still be quite harsh because the A6 has very rich overtones in waveforms that
have them present (saw, pulse, etc).
Questions:
1.
May 6 14:27:31 2004
From: demokid at home.se (Demokid)
I can't SysEx dump programs or banks
from the A6 to Cubase SX. Cubase does
not receive any data, I can however
record knob data... Du you think 1.40.13
might help me?
Answers:
1.
Try using MIDI-Ox with 128 buffers
of size 2350 bytes (the size of one
patch) ... it also worked for me
with 2048 byte buffers.
2.
Sep 30 2003
From: chris.pickett at
mail.mcgill.ca (Chris Pickett)
3.
In
MidiOX:
select view, and then sysex. this opens the sysex window
go to sysex, and then configure in
the sysex window.
there should be settings for low
level input and ouput buffers (4
different numbers). they should be 2048, 128, 2048, 128.
delay (milliseconds between
buffers): 250
first checkbox: delay after f7: 250
5th checkbox also ticked.
these are the settings that worked
for me. you have to open and send
the banks using the controls in the
sysex window ... not sure if it
works in the rest of midiox, haven't
tried it.
i'm using version 6.5.1.346
Questions:
1.
Dec 23 2002
From: subby33 at yahoo.com (KC
Jackson)
Subject: [A6] starting from scratch
I just got my andromeda today. I cant find in the
manual to find a preset to start
from scratch. Can
anyone help me? Thanks
Answers:
1.
You ÔcanÕ press soft button 8,
then pressing STORE. This loads 'The Default Program'. But beware that this one
already has several modulation routings active, for some reason...
2. ...which you get by pressing SB8
(labeled NEWPRG) then STORE from the main Program screen (the one that shows
the patch name).
3. May 1 2003
From: tom at synthservices.com (Tom
Moravansky)
My initial experience was similar,
except the manual had not been written yet. :-)
It took a week of solid
experimentation and playing around to 'get' the A6. After a week or two of 4
hour sessions per day, the A6 made sense and it was easy to get around. It's one of those synths that makes
sense if you work with it every day and it takes a while to get spun back up if
you don't touch it for a couple months.
Kind of like setting up Zones in the Matrix 12 (or doing anything with a Voyetra 8...).
My advice: Take the default program, turn off all
the mod routes, save that as your personal default.
Now go in and focus on
one section at a time, almost as if you were a tester. Play with all the params
in the oscillator section (including FM) and then move on to the filter and
envelopes. After that, look at the
modulation section (LFOs, etc) and start creating simple mod routes.
One trick I found useful
during testing was to use the pitch wheel or mod wheel as the source for a mod
route. That way, I could control
the introduction of the modulation and hear how it affected the mod destination.
4.
Getting Started - Follows the manual
beginning on page 103 of the
manual.
Starting
with Basic Tones
First
set a tone for Osc. 1 and Osc. 2 so you can hear what you do to
them.
Hit
the Program button. Then press soft button 8 (NEWPRG). It will say,
ÒPress
ÔstoreÕ to get the default program.Ó
Turn
all buttons as far to the left as they will go to turn everything
off.
The only things that should be on are Osc. 1, set it to a Triangle
wave;
Osc. 2, set it to a Saw wave; and in the Envelope module on the
right
of the A6, turn up the Sustain on Envelop 3 (Amp). Everything
else
should be off.
In
the Pre-Filter Mix you can turn the Osc.1 knob and Osc. 2 knobs so
that
you can clearly hear both oscillators. (Mix them together)
Press
the View button for Osc. 1. This will show you the parameters for
Osc.
1. Press the soft buttons to view the parameter pages. Do the same
for
Osc. 2. Review pages 104 Ð 106 in the manual and become familiar
with
the oscillator parameters. Be sure to check out the Square
wave/Pulse
Width paragraph at the bottom of page 106. Try it.
Envelope
1 Modulating the Oscillators
Next,
(page 107-108 in the manual) hit the View button for Osc. 1.
Select
the ENV1 page. You will see the ÔenableÕ function for Osc. 1 and
Osc.2.
Enable the envelope for Osc. 1 and play with the levels. Then,
as
directed in the manual, play with the Envelope 1 knobs in the upper
right
hand corner of the A6.
Next,
enable the envelope for Osc. 2 and do the same. Then enable
envelope
1 for both Osc. and play with the levels and envelope 1 knobs.
If
you hit the Mod 1 button in the Env. 1 section you should be able to
easily
make helicopter type sounds.
Be sure to investigate the Live setting as described
in the manual.
Download the 'Andromeda Tips and Tricks' document:
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/a6/A6TipsAndTricks.html
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/a6/A6TipsAndTricks.doc
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/a6/A6TipsAndTricks.rtf
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/a6/A6TipsAndTricks.pdf
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/a6/A6TipsAndTricks.sxw
ÒMoogulatorÓ tricks and info site:
http://www.sequencer.de/moogulatorium/alesis_andromeda.html
A6 Andromeda Community Website:
Patches Ð Boele
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/andy/librarian-files.exe
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/andy/midi-files.exe
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/andy/sysex-files.exe
by: Dope Robot
contact: doperobot@yahoo.com