Alesis A6 Andromeda - sound gallery

[@gjc82071]

The Andromeda is the result of the work, of a team of visionaries (incrediby talented and committed) which were given (almost) total control over its design specs by Alesis. Nobody at Alesis knew what they were getting into. Many claim that the Andromeda was the straw that broke Alesis back. If that's true, then Alesis went out as a "supernova" & its remnants are the A6. The simple reason why no companies ever attempted to produce an analog polysynth like, it is because it would cost too much.

[@dreadstock]

kfreidin, this is best review of the andromeda i have read. i have built a similiar dream studio but have yet to purchase the andromeda. i am gonna buy a smith prophet 08 just because my old prophet 600 is phat ... i am also kinda sprung on roland jupiter 8 but i am hoping the andromeda can do funky blip type sounds like old school electro records i grew up on, vibe back bro, peace, JD

[@mvoproject]

What a modulated psy/acid and bass sounds! Still love it very much !

[@andyjey3126]

I had a blue one, which is years ago... tomorrow i will pick up another blue one... and never ever give it away...this guy is a real analog monster

[@the80386]

Is there any feature or sound difference between the blue, red and full black ones?

[@1vootman]

It really baffles me as to why some synth lovers hate on the A6...I just don't get it...It is a subjective matter, sound, I'll never sell mine.

[@punypoppy9147]

1vootman My worst musical mistake was to sell my unit... I miss it so damn much.

[@smackyjack]

Puny Poppy I had to sell mine, as well as my EMU SP1200 to save my house. Life sucks sometimes, but I feel your pain.

[@wishusknight3009]

@@punypoppy9147 Every so often I would realize I had not used mine for some time, and want to replace it with something else more modern. Then I get it out to make sure it works, and I keep it for another year.

[@wishusknight3009]

This synth is a bear to program, and is not overly intuitive. And without knowing how to wring the life out of it, it will come across as mediocre at best to some.

[@shaft9000]

The screen and the EGs don't engender instant gratification. It took me 5-10 hours to begin to feel like I could build several kinds of patches from scratch and have them do exactly what I expect them to. I've been on mine well over 200 hours, I've got 30+ synths including a wall of modular in 3 formats.... and still I don't have the foggiest notion nor interest in what to do with the A6's Tracking Generators.

[@monoglobe]

Sounds good to me and I was mesmerized by all the comments too which fitted the music...

[@DaveBessell]

The A6 has a digital tuning function which keeps the oscillators in tune over time. If it is turned off then the oscillators will drift as the temperature changes. A little drift can sound nice. The A6 has a very particular sound which is quite unique. It takes a while to get the best from it. And yes I do own one and will be keeping it.

[@synth4ever]

Great demo! The Andromeda is 16 voices of pure analog heaven. I also recently picked one up myself and am amazed at its capabilities, sonic palette and sound quality. Can be a bit difficult to program but once you understand the architecture, it's not too difficult. This is definitely not a beginner's synth or for those who lack patience, it takes time to work with and understand. I find it great for ambient music, check my channel for demos when you get a chance. And keep up the great work!

[@TheZombieHolocaust]

simply the best , so glad I own one

[@hardcorehouse]

I've lots of experience with vintage analog, have to say this sounds great. Nice and warm, powerful. I'll be buying one.

[@gizka6816]

did you buyed?

[@midiman16]

What a beautiful sound spectrum. I don't have it and therefore I CRY................

[@YpsilonVector]

No compression. This is the sound of a Andromeda re-programmed, after 10 minutes warm up with all digital tuning functions turned off (autotune, background tuning, etc.). 95% a6 owners use this machine like a coventional digital keyboard. Wake up people, this is a analog synth like Oberheim OBXa (do you remember?).

[@m4rc3lc0r3]

Great sounds!!!! My god i love this piece of metal and plastic! :D Congratulations, i can't afford one of those yet but... someday i will

[@savvides]

lol thanks dude. yeah started playing it recently and that sound just reminded me of it badly. i want the andromeda sooooo bad, hopefully in the new year lol

[@Sulaco516]

Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran has the Alesis Andromeda A6 in his synthesizer arsenal (which can be seen on the band's 2004 Wembley Arena concert on DVD).

[@58N6]

tuning is done manually- it drifts organically & you get a different flavour if you don't tune it. Filter speed is also customisable- it can sound really tight or very swampy, depending on how you set it up. If you use the aux outputs, the FZ and converters are bypassed, and it's a much more open sound. so... a deep synth

[@civ1]

finally someone makes a good demo!! - learn from this other prople! awesome I am going to buy one now!

[@DonJuanDeMarco2]

Ok, a more impressive demo of the analog capabilities. Sounds better than what i've been criticising it for. Im still not entirely persuaded though !

[@Keysforge]

Amazing instrument, you can "craft" unique patches totally different today than u did yesterday and is no like other synthesizers push #10 and everybody have same sound like you, is extreme customizable, powerful, have the fat and the clear crystal quality sound, 50 pounds of pure analog music gear. It is a classic synth.

[@604psysutra604]

@vinylrockerz You can't imagine how happy I would be ;) my buddy from Belgium has the A6. Unfortunately I won't visit him in a heartbeat... :(

[@nickrock23]

looks like a very fun machine.

[@brrbababrrbaba]

I'm looking for that synth, but it seems that's almost impossible to find one for me never understand why alesis stopped the production of that gorgeus piece of art.

[@veiss8801]

this synth is nuts

[@furqat_maestro]

I LOVE YOU ANDROMEDA...!

[@maccagrabme]

It sounds very powerful but I want to hear warmer sounds, really deep fat basses and lovely warm pads like a Juno or Jupiter. Can it do those? It could be the presets but these sound more like the presets in a lot of vsti's like Massive, Absynth etc, very industrial.

[@sdafsar]

Alright well you can't deny that vengeance sound kicks the crap out of any American company making soundsets and sample packs. and access virus comes outta there too, and that is generally considered to be a pretty high end synthesizer too.

[@DIGITALSCREAMS]

In terms of sound, the only thing that seperates the Andromeda with synths like the Prophet, Jupiter and OB is that the A6 sounds ever so slightly more precise. The Andromeda is harder and abit more agressive sounding than the above mentioned synths......but it sounds 100% analog....and thats all that matters. If only Alesis had of been around a good couple of years after its development and tweaked it slightly....it would have been the perfect analog polysynth. Its very musical and fresh.

[@YpsilonVector]

Thanks Awake1077. Finally someone has understood...

[@Rhythmicons]

Isn't the Osc drift what makes analogue so fun?

[@shaft9000]

nonlinearity is the basic difference vs digital, osc drift can contribute to some of that

[@Rhythmicons]

@@shaft9000 The smoothness of the waveform also.

[@dnabiologic]

Andromeda and a Nordlead 3 ,,,,,,,,,: ) A fantastic combination !

[@RisingPheonix89]

Jeez that things a beast!

[@shayeasy]

i was close to buying one for $2000 right before they went out of production and the prices skyrocketed. instead of paying $3500+ for one, i decided to get a virus ti snow ($1000) and a sequential prophet 600 ($800), and couldn't be happier with them.. i think i'm able to cover some of the same sonic territory. would still love an andromeda, though..

[@myleftnutts]

well i must say,i may have to agree with u. it does sound very Thin.i think i may look into some vintage stuff,and modify it "put midi in it".i can"t say i like any of todays junk and i can honestly say I wouldn't spend my money on them. problem is yesterdays synths was "discrete electronics" and todays are 'I.C" chips. thanx for your input.

[@DepressiveMindsband]

it sounds good!!! for future pop, electro and electropop!!! ;)

[@they403]

I'm deciding which analog synth to go with. The thing I don't like about the current ones is that they sound to clean and smooth. The adromeda sounds more raw and dirty which I love but I keep hearing people talk about having alot of problems with them and now that they've been discontinued and you have to get them off ebay it makes me a bit nervous to spend that kind of money with no warranty. Am I worrying about something that is a very small percentage of Andromedas?

[@matthewcoy45]

that opening pad sounds a lot like a Nord Lead, although a tad warmer.

[@DonJuanDeMarco2]

I would maybe consider trading in my TI for this as a replacment workhorse. But i never underestimate the TI. Oviously its not analogue, but its sooo dam versatile and easy to program. With its own unique character. Hypersaw is just crazy ! hmmm !

[@YpsilonVector]

Click to right on "More from this user" for other my Andromeda videos.

[@DIGITALSCREAMS]

Thx Vector....keep the videos coming :D

[@smackyjack]

Very good, I think I'm going to have to go with the DSI prophet 8 though. I may buy one of these in the future, but the prophet is more my sound.

[@geoffreyefloyd]

ya your right, i used to play that game on my sega genesis when I was little...i think I'll have to get am emulator and play that again, or at least watch a few youtube vids. Nice observation man!

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Awesome synth. Some of these patches sound very John Carpenter/Alan Howarth like (that's a compliment). Very cool.

[@markarianman]

Fantastic. Excelent sound, master. Thisi is Digital o modular???

[@DIGITALSCREAMS]

At last! Nice video.

[@robnormann7040]

amazing you😉

[@103959770979]

Same fat only possible with a Jurassic modular Moog, great professional instrument the A6.

[@DIGITALSCREAMS]

I should also mention if your looking for a synth with teeth, then the A6 will suit you fine. If you want gums....then stick to softsynths and VA's....because in my experience the latter do not cut in a realistic way. The A6 spits at you.....VA's just foam at the mouth.

[@mmmrenkas]

I don't think they improved it much, It became slightly more bearable. I would replace pots, with something less plastic, and Id also replace those nasty dark blue bubbly graphics too. I think that with a little effort it can look like oberheims. They probably intended adromeda into the psytrannce / goa segment of the market.

[@jamiesea]

How would U KNOW TR0jAX!!! And who cares??? This synth ROCKS!!! WANT ONE BAD!!!

[@shaft9000]

that was good, thank you

[@eriqdyna]

1:17 what a fucking amazing sound !

[@Mannex17]

I wish I could afford one of these.

[@Venatt1]

Hi, can you do your own arpeggios on the Andromeda or modify the ones that come with it ?

[@myleftnutts]

Hey Tro,thanx for speaking out about this,i'm thinkin about getting one of these,and since u have had,and gotten rid of it,I DO WAN'T TO LISTEN TO WHAT U HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.since u got rid of it,what would u get in it's place?.that u would consider fatter sounding?

[@PimpMyFahrrad]

Yep... what you need, is pair of professional monitors. For recording: tape/vinyl - otherwise analog sound looses a lot of juice.

[@Cometa1000]

Drifting Oscillator? Normally A6's comes broken from factory???? Newers or olders?

[@PTechnicalOriginal]

Sounds epic...Missed out, regret not taking that plunge and buying one. Now second hand for near Jupiter8 money, have to let that one go. Don't get the Andromeda vs Moog thing. Two great synths, no argument here... The moog(any Moog produced today)is monophonic, different ball game so where's the comparison? If a F'king Casio VL Tone worked on a track, I'd use it. JUST PLAY'EM FOR F'K SAKE!!!

[@victoratanasov6390]

Any chance you could share these presets?

[@Pighood]

@warbatron2 Ha! When I first saw it, I remarked that it looked like a spider omelet. Now that I own it, it looks more like a spider fritata.

[@BurninVinyl]

I plan to buy one....but i think that i must buy also a virus c.

[@eriqdyna]

if you got an andromeda synth, you should try to use all the possible knobs, cause you only use a cut off in all your examples XD

[@santiagoluque2594]

Sorry, can you clarify what “All digital tuning functions are turned off” really means?, I suppose you disable the digital effects, but there is any other digital functions on the Andromeda you have disabled as well? Thanks for the clarification.

[@jonperry]

You know these audio words are tricky to define and I'm probably using "cold" incorrectly. But I don't mean "minor" because I know exactly what minor is. I mean literally the timbre of the sound "feels" cold to me. For example, I have an Akai AX60 which also has a VCO and that somehow feels warmer to me.

[@izicom69]

is this raw sound of andromeda or has it been "polished"? it's f**** awesome!

[@munichsound]

@ lavakava: Neither do know anything about Germans nor about analogue synths. You better should go and play in the sand-box :-))). BTW: I tested the Andromeda and I sold it within two days, but my alternative are my two LAMMs (Memorymoogs), and I agree considering the costs the Andromeda is compeditive (but don't forget the Polyevolver and the Prophet 08).

[@WorksopGimp]

Yeah sounds very analog,very Jarre.Looks like it has a lot of outputs

[@chillipp]

indeed, it is! :D

[@sawwaveanalog]

lol.. just because you couldnt figure out how to get these sounds out of it doesnt mean the rest of us cant. all of these sounds are just super basic bass patches.. he has it programmed like a monosynth, thats why it sounds like it does.

[@shayeasy]

looks like they're up to $4-5k for mint, and one with a dead key went for $3300 recently. sad. :'(

[@lukaszpro1993]

heavy shit man :E

[@xnonsuchx]

Probably 'cuz it's real analog(ue) and not emulated. Modelling synths get darn close, but not quite. Like HDTV cameras can't look quite like film and DVD can't look quite like LaserDisc did...and CGI still doesn't look quite real.

[@sharpazn]

It's a fucking monster...I would sell my car to get one! Too bad I don't have one... :(

[@ArtFluids]

I'm too lazy too look it up, but which is cheaper these days? A6 or TI? And don't give me any of that four part TI snow garbage. I'm talking the keyboards.

[@Globalassinator]

Powerful shite man!

[@mrkariolis]

this is true analog synth no shit!!! when it came out they should announce... SIMULATE THAT!!! i love digital technology for what it has to offer but i have a little problem with it..... sounds like that ...000110010001100100001001000100010000001001111101010010000010001010001000011110000110100010100010101000101000111100011101010101100101001101000101000100111110010001001100101110011110111110111101

[@SRDhain]

really rich and fat sounding...delicious! nev ermind the jupiter 8, i think this will be the oberheim xpander of the future...its an incredible machine with MODULAR sound scultping power. its a shame that cause its by alesis, theyre worth next to nothing.

[@limeyamos]

@brrbababrrbaba because Numark bought Alesis and changed the company's focus...is one reason.

[@itsacorporatething]

i cant help but thinking of blade runner for half of these.

[@DonJuanDeMarco2]

Is that your Roland Space Echo !!?

[@ncheriyan]

I listen to this then the access virus, then this then the dave smith tempest...i think i will go with the andromeda and tempest :)

[@604psysutra604]

Show something with high Resonance!

[@synthbe]

3:10 is that a factory patch? if so remember which one?

[@ArtFluids]

oh of course! but i'd give up analog for flexibility any day.

[@AburameFifox]

How much did u the keyboard cost?

[@DonJuanDeMarco2]

Hmm i still prefer the old classics. This is nice but its just lacking in something.. charater maybe ? It is dark but in a cold way. I suppose you just can't build a synth that does it all. Maybe thats what they tried here, and it missed having its own sound. I'd even take a Roland JX-8P over this !

[@savvides]

lol is it me or does the sound starting at 1:08 sound like the boss fights from streets of rage hahaha

[@103959770979]

I believe is the more expensive syntheziser on the market, even moog, virus, nord and rolands are cheaper, I dont understand why because Alesis all the products are cheap. Maybe someone can explain it.

[@604psysutra604]

When I buy or get Andromeda I can die... :P

[@str3123]

@lavakava same for the music they do xD

[@insanemacbeth]

apparently, JUST BLAZE uses this!

[@oc101289]

this great synth with such s***** patches

[@604psysutra604]

@frncx Yes, yes, I meant that same... :P

[@jackTHEEtab]

@maccagrabme Yeah, go find a shop and play with one. This machine has an amazing low end. Once you tinker on one you will be sold. I'm biting the bullet and dropping some cash on one this summer. They wont get any cheaper!

[@gizka6816]

how right you were

[@brrbababrrbaba]

:-( it's price on the used market is increasing day by day. I love it but it's getting far from my hands at the speed of light.

[@StefanoCipo87]

I really shouldn't have sold it :(

[@ShooShingShoy]

4:24 Gnarly

[@InsertName125]

Absynth came out around the same time as the Andromeda.

[@M3urs]

FFFFFAAAAATTTTT

[@tankj8458]

Alesis has stopped production because the assembly of this car costs so much ... 21 kg of pure analog cost and how !! Then he thought of plastic, lightweight and economical. Available to everyone. This is the real reason.

[@EfrainMcshell]

it is not ugly, it is a fucking FAT synth, BUT NOT VERY WELL EXPLOITED, I HAVE AN IDEA HOW THAT CAN FLY... I WISH I HAVE ONE....... THE WALDORF, THE ROLAND, DUNORD,KURZWEILL KORG, ENSONIQ,OBERHEIM, YOU NAME THEMONE OF FOUR VOICES IT IS ENOUGH TO HAVE 6 HOURS AT LEAST OF FUN , I'M TELLING YOU, I NEED AT LEAST A JP-8080 PLEASE GIVE ME ONEEEE....!!!!IAM LONELY AND POOR