Alesis Andromeda A6

just some suggestions:
> 
> 
> 1)  Is this a good place to start?  Is it too complex for a beginner.
> I think that the graphical view of the waves will help as well as all
> of the dedicated knobs.  

I think the Ion is ideal to start with.

> 
> 2)  I love the old synths and the sounds of the classic emulations in
> the ION presets sounded great to me.  I have read at length discussion
> here among purists and amatuers arguing the merits of the "Tom Sawyer
> Sound" but all I can really go with is how it sounds to me. And it
> sounded great! (Guess I'm not a purist! Or perhaps just not very
> discerning!)  Can a beginner start from scratch (simple Sine Wave with
> no filters) and start creating sounds SIMILAR to these in short order?
I think so
> 
> 3)  I have read all about these Matrix's and don't really understand
> it.  I've read that the Waldorf's are a breeze to create with.  I'm
> hoping the ION will be as well.  Will I need a deep understanding of
> MIDI to fully utilize the ION (I have a Technics Digital Piano that I
> love and will connect the ION via MIDI - that's easy - all of this
> CC/NNPRN/EIEIO stuff I'll have to learn - or will I?)
You mean the modulation matrix? Its a sort of patch panel like modular 
synths (but bit less flexible) where you can put a modulator like a 
modulation wheel or envelope to a destination like the pitch or filter 
cutoff, giving you more flexibility as a fixed-routed system. Of course 
there is no patchpanel on the ION, its a Matrix with the sources on one 
side and the destinations above and you decide which goes where. I 
personally don't own a ION but it works usually that way, without the 
need to learn about CC/NNPRN in the first place.

> 
> 4)  Can anyone recommend a better synth to learn on?  I was
> considering softsynths and then read some great threads here about
> software vs. hardware and it changed my mind.  I DO want actual knobs
> to turn and I DO want the ability to sell it should I want something
> different.  And I DON'T want to be tied to a computer.  I'd take the
> ION on the sofa and plug in some headphones and probably learn a lot
> (I know - not exactly portable but I think I could do it.)

I think not for that price. You get a good polyphone synth with a good 
sound. The real analogues of Fricke are cheaper but doesn't have a real 
keyboard and are monophone (except a new model but this doesn't have the 
knobs).
> 
> 5)  Would the Andromeda just be a way-too complex first synth?  I do
> realize that it's all-analog but the reviews I've read of the ION
> state that the sounds are DAMN close to the Andromeda (which means a
> cretin like myself couldn't tell the difference) and I could still
> learn analog programming from the ION.  I don't mind the cost of the
> Andromeda because I think it has tremendous resell potential.
> 
Andromeda is great and one of the last real analogue polysynths 
available. But it could give some disappointment first time because 
getting a good sound out of can be a bit tricky despite the amount of 
knobs. Thats why lot of people blaming it, which is unfair. But it is a 
deep machine, so if you are patient than I would recommend, but it wont 
fit on your lap, or ?


Cheers,

Malte


-- 
Malte Steiner
media art + development
-www.block4.com-

new release:
Notstandskomitee Souveniers aus der Zukunft 7"
concert:
Konform Astrastube Hamburg 18.june 2005
more at blog 4, also available as rss feed:
http://java.block4.com/blog4/

I think the Ion is a good synth to start with, but I started with 
the Korg MS2000. It was a great synth to start with as it wasn't too 
expensive, and you can start programming with a simple sin wave and 
begin to add complexity to the patch to see what each new addition 
does. I will always have a place in my heart for this machine.

If you can afford it, the Nord Modular G2 is also a good machine to 
start learning with. You can actually choose the modules to add to 
the patch, see the results on both the synth and your computer, and 
hear the results through the synth. I have fallen in love with mine. 
Probably the most versatile synth I own, next to my real analogue 
modular.

Going cheaply, you might try the Arturia MoogV software. It's a 
software emulator of a Moog, and so you can play with patching the 
modules together as if you had a real modular in your livingroom. 
Great for learning about patching any kind of modular synth, and a 
cheap way to learn compared to a hardware synth. The sound is close 
to the real thing, but nothing compares to hearing a real analogue 
modular.

Joe