Oberheim OB-X8 vs Alesis Andromeda A6

A short shootout to demonstrate the SEM Filter section of the A6 vs the SEM Filter of the new OB-X8 plus tutorial how to tweak it. I made this video to justify myself that I don't need the OB-X8 because I allready have the A6 (unfortunately it didn’t gave the wished result). I can come quite close but it is obvious that the OB-X8 SEM Filter sounds much airer and nicer. Only the HP Filter sounds quite weak on the OB-X8 compared to the A6. What are your opinions? Please comment it.
I set the stereo in the OB-X8 to quarter and Pingpong. The A6 had slightly stereo. Of course effects in A6 was muted.
Thanks for watching again my videos.

[@JimAlfredson]

Well done! The Andromeda definitely holds its own.

[@vintagesynths]

I improved the A6 patch and modulated the voice randomness with sample and hold. Now I have a great stereo field. Plus I decreased the post filter mix a bit and increased the envelope amount. The envelope shape I set to exponential 3, like the ob-x envelope. The VCO are like from Moog, so not like the SEM VCO in the OB-X8. So the A6 is still a bit grittier. But after those tweaking the A6 string patch sounds much more aired and silky now and is very close to the OB-X8. I will share this asap. Thanks for your Tipps and comments.

[@krinzologicstudio]

Can you be so kind to save the patches in sysex? I own the a6 and ordered the ob-x8 ..would really like to check it. Thnx.

[@tactilius]

Try routing your patches to the aux outputs on the A6, bypassing the A/D conversion…

[@juno6]

Great! the other day I was comparing various X8 videos to my A6 and was able to make identical sounds. No surprise, since the OB filter in the A6 sounds identical to a vintage SEM. I had one and compared them.

[@timkoon163]

The Andy filter doesn’t sound in any way identical to the OB, nor does the second filter sound identical to a Moog filter. The Filters on the Andromeda are definitely of a similar flavor but have their own character.

[@DaveBessell]

Interesting comparison - they sound quite different but I'm not sure I would say one is really better than the other. Sounds like the A6 filter resonance is distorting when you open it up fully. Probably could have mitigated that by keeping the overall filter level down as well as the oscillators.

[@1vootman]

I think they both sounded great, with me liking the notch filter on the OB-C8 better, but asside from that, i liked the A6. Plus the A6 gives you near infinite modulatiin routings and a 16 voices.

[@NicolasMelis]

Two legendary synths 🎹❤️

[@krinzologicstudio]

Own and Andromeda and ordered the ob-x8! They are not the same… what you can do with the a6 is amazing versatility…the ob is the cream of the analog musical instrument organic warm sound. :)

[@TheMonkBeatsOne]

On notch filter the OB-X8 wins, but on band pass and HP Andromeda is just unique in my opinion. Ok, maybe I have a bias for my Andy? :) Really cant say. But these are two amazing instrumnets and you made a great comparision, thanks.

[@christopherpederson1021]

obx8 sounds better than most polys, i would say it’s one of the top 3 all time

[@xparis001]

for the first sound, you might get closer with the A6 if you set the post filter level to 50%. also, was the tri wave engaged? it is on a default preset. also pan the voices stereo would widen it to match the OB

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks I will try both tricks

[@vintagesynths]

Sine wave like in OB

[@strixgl503vdxavier9]

FOR ME A6 s more usefull and gives more characters than the second!!

[@daboosreviews8819]

I had an A6 years ago and now have an OB-X8 and feel like the OB is in another league. The A6 sounded pretty good and the layout was great but it was always on the fritz. The OB-X8 may be the best sounding and most solid synth I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot.

[@vintagesynths]

Absolutely. I also think so

[@entropybentwhistle]

That’s the thing. Everyone that owns an Andromeda love it but know they have a ticking time bomb because of a few subpar components Alesis used. I could have pulled the trigger on getting one a few times but I have the worst luck with vintage gear breakdown and didn’t want to tempt the synth gods to laugh at me once again. At least I know my OB has warranty and currently available replacement components. I wish Alesis was still “Alesis” of old, then there’d be a chance of a reissue with improved components. But as a subsidiary of an opportunist parasite company there’s virtually zero chance of it now.

[@jawoody9745]

The Andomeda won't drift like the filters in the Oberheim - and that's not a good thing.

[@desroi6967]

it will if you disable the background tuning and temperature compensation

[@1vootman]

​@desroi6967 the Andy is so nuanced that people who've never owned on for a length of time have no idea how flexible it is.

[@torbenanschau6641]

Pretty close. At least closer than 2nd and 3rd wave.

[@user-Alexey.w9t]

Why does a6 play mono?

[@vintagesynths]

It is difficult to get stereo on the A6. I managed it now to make a S/H modulation in the voices

[@toonvandenplas]

@@vintagesynths Can't you create 8 patches on the A6 who are the same but have different panning. Then in A6 mix mode you put these on the same midi channel.

[@oziaso9655]

I think for the money the best poly out there now is the Yamaha An1x . Its nowhere as deep as these but the sound is very good for the price. The A6 is upwards of 7 grand now and the OBXA is over 10 grand. Only a grand or so to buy the AN1X

[@christopherpederson1021]

the obie is 5k for keyboard and 3500 for the module, so, no

[@oziaso9655]

@@christopherpederson1021 the obxa is 11000$ canadian on reverb right now so yes

[@christopherpederson1021]

the OB-X8 was released over a year ago by Oberheim Electronics @@oziaso9655

[@ombo000]

Das Andromedar Design is sooo behringer

[@vintagesynths]

What? The A6 was designed by Axel Hartmann. The design is not everyone’s taste though.

[@muteoscillator]

The look is actually great but it felt like a cheap piece of plastic when I finally managed to put my hands on it. It was very disappointing. But sound wise it’s awesome, no doubt.

[@entropybentwhistle]

@@muteoscillator Yup, if Alesis had sourced some higher quality components the A6 would be as sought after as any vintage synth, but so few have survived no one wants to spend big money on that kind of crapshoot. Alesis would do well to run a reissue and use components with some longevity to them this time. They were so close to having a genuine classic, then someone in-house went on the cheap.

[@joshuaholley3520]

Confused by your comment. Quite the opposite, a few have bit the dust...but a very small percentage. Certainly not "most". Never had a problem with either if mine.

[@gasparole]

@@entropybentwhistle Do you own any other electronic device as complex as the A6 that has lasted for 20 yrs?