Alesis Andromeda A6

Tony,

>>The 'FM problem' on the A6 is a real bummer, but I was able to
work around it.<<

I would like to eventually get an A6 and I couldn't help but to see 
your observation regarding the FM functioning of the instrument.
What is the issue where this is concerned?
Is this something that is rooted in the A6's hardware implementation,
or can it be addressed in an OS update?

regards,


Lawrence

--- In Andromeda_A6-ION@yahoogroups.com, "marmaduke1012004"
<marmaduke1012004@y...> wrote:

> I would like to eventually get an A6 and I couldn't help but to see 
> your observation regarding the FM functioning of the instrument.
> What is the issue where this is concerned?
> Is this something that is rooted in the A6's hardware
implementation,
> or can it be addressed in an OS update?

Apparently the problem has something to do with the amplitudes not
matching up in each voice (the loudness relationship between
oscillators in each voice is different).  Basically if you are using
Voice 1, comprised of two oscillators, there is no calibration with
voice 2 or so on.  So when you use FM, you will hear a distinct
difference between your first keypress an immediate keypress
afterward, given that the A6 is forced to use another voice.  

It's not really the end of the world though.  The A6 has very bright
oscillators that can sound more rich then some digital FM that I've
heard.  If you are still intent on using FM, you can always make the
sound monophonic and force it to use one voice only.  You can also use
Soft Sync to lock the oscillators if you are just looking to increase
harmonics, and then you can drive the FM all the way without changes
between voices.  I was still able to do some pretty nice EPs with the
A6 using different methods.

I think it's a hardware issue, probably not going to be solved by an
OS update.  I would think that having a polyphonic ANALOG synth with
every voice matching at extreme settings would be difficult.  

-cos