quote:

Originally posted by Eric J The Andromeda has the ooey-gooey analog goodness, but the V-Synth keeps getting described as a "truly unique instrument". I have some time to decide, but that's why I'm starting to look now.

Once you buy an Andromeda, you're kinda stuck with it. Unless you want to sell local, that is. I hope to never deal with shipping mine. Even if UPS packs it for me, I still would be on edge about the whole thing. It would cost $100 just for packing, I'm sure.

With the V-Synth, if you get the rack module, you can easily resell/return if it's not your thing.

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Originally posted by alanzo Once you buy an Andromeda, you're kinda stuck with it. Unless you want to sell local, that is. I hope to never deal with shipping mine. Even if UPS packs it for me, I still would be on edge about the whole thing. It would cost $100 just for packing, I'm sure. With the V-Synth, if you get the rack module, you can easily resell/return if it's not your thing.

Yeah, but the idea is that whatever I'm getting won't be sold. This is why I'm making doubly sure that its something that I want to keep because it is something that I wont be able to sell.

I'm still doing research right now, but the tide is turning in favor of the Andromeda. I'm definitely wanting to get a poly, just which one and digital or analog. So far the priority list looks like this:

1. Alesis Andromeda A6
2. Roland V-Synth GT
3. DSI Prophet 08
4. Virus TI Polar.


Andromeda seems to cover all the bases. Analog, polyphonic, multitimbral (not real important, but nice). I still feel like that in the long run all that analog goodness is going to prove the most satisfying. The LP is certainly making me change my mind about a few things.
The GT is nice, but at the end of the day it is still a digital synth with analog modeling, and I think that will bother me after some time.
The Prophet is tempting, but the varying opinions makes me hesitate, and I haven't found one person who preferred the P08 over the A6. Also, that is one unit that I can pick up fairly cheap (1500 for Rack) sometime down the road.
The Virus is meh, but there is still a few people over on GS trying to convince me to give it another shot. Plus is VA, so that's potentially a problem. That is at least one unit I can probably find a way to test out locally.

The only thing I cant find about the Andromeda is: does it have VCO's or DCO's?

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Originally posted by Eric J Yeah, but the idea is that whatever I'm getting won't be sold. This is why I'm making doubly sure that its something that I want to keep because it is something that I wont be able to sell.

Definitely the opposite of my philosophy. eBay FTW.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Andromeda seems to cover all the bases. Analog, polyphonic, multitimbral (not real important, but nice). I still feel like that in the long run all that analog goodness is going to prove the most satisfying. The LP is certainly making me change my mind about a few things.

Mmm.. yes. Andromeda. Very very nice for any analog sound you can imagine.

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Originally posted by Eric J The GT is nice, but at the end of the day it is still a digital synth with analog modeling, and I think that will bother me after some time.

If all you're going to use it for is the analog modeling, then yes, it would be disappointing over time. But I think it's trying to be more than just analog modeling...

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Originally posted by Eric J The Prophet is tempting, but the varying opinions makes me hesitate, and I haven't found one person who preferred the P08 over the A6. That is one unit that I can pick up fairly cheap (1500 for Rack)

I doubt you'll find anyone who has extensively used both who says they would rather have the Prophet than an Andromeda. If they're only considering capabilities and sound, that is. Prophet has ease of use and small footprint/price to its advantage.

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Originally posted by Eric J The Virus is meh, but there is still a few people over on GS trying to convince me to give it another shot. Plus is VA, so that's potentially a problem. That is at least one unit I can probably find a way to test out locally.

The Virus is nice but "meh" kinda sums it up for me. There's nothing it can do that my other instruments can't do better. NL3 is better for analog modeling/digital analog-ish sounds, Andromeda is better for straight-up analog sounds, and XT is better for Wavetables.

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Originally posted by Eric J The only thing I cant find about the Andromeda is: does it have VCO's or DCO's?

The Andromeda is 100% voltage controlled.. envelopes, OSCs, and filters. Even the most commonly used modulations are hard-wired into the board. But most of the more obscure modulations are done in software.

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Originally posted by alanzo Definitely the opposite of my philosophy. eBay FTW.

Used almost never works out for me. There is always a problem, so i quit buying things used that I could still buy new. Obviously there are some things that I'll have to buy used if I want them (out of production), but I'll always opt for new if I can.

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Originally posted by alanzo The Andromeda is 100% voltage controlled.. envelopes, OSCs, and filters. Even the most commonly used modulations are hard-wired into the board. But most of the more obscure modulations are done in software.

That is a HUGE plus for me right there. One of the biggest complaints I hear about the P08 is the fact that it has DCO's, and that's partly to blame for people thinking it sounds "cold" for an analog.

Random Phatty sound:

http://jbj.raceriv.com/sounds/lilriff.mp3 (narrow pulses)

You should post up some samples Eric.

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Originally posted by Eric J That is a HUGE plus for me right there. One of the biggest complaints I hear about the P08 is the fact that it has DCO's, and that's partly to blame for people thinking it sounds "cold" for an analog.

I'm not sure about that. It gives it a more precise sound, if anything. I may just be attributing the digital control to the character of the instrument, though.

Some interesting tech specs on the chips and everything in the below link. Turns out the envelopes are software controlled. Makes sense since you can change the slopes. They still sound great, though. You can change the slopes and how fast they are in the software. Very nice and snappy.

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/...da-20768/review

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Random Phatty sound: http://jbj.raceriv.com/sounds/lilriff.mp3 (narrow pulses) You should post up some samples Eric.

Yeah, I probably should.

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Originally posted by alanzo I'm not sure about that. It gives it a more precise sound, if anything. I may just be attributing the digital control to the character of the instrument, though. Some interesting tech specs on the chips and everything in the below link. Turns out the envelopes are software controlled. Makes sense since you can change the slopes. They still sound great, though. You can change the slopes and how fast they are in the software. Very nice and snappy. http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/...da-20768/review

Yeah, I was just paraphrasing what I have heard others talk about. I certainly don't speak from experience.

The best I can say about the Andy is if you do get one, just be patient. I was talking to a guy who bought one and then resold it in a couple weeks because the interface was too daunting. He just didn't have the patience for it. Maybe the Virus with its 1000s of presets is better for people like that.

I will take you a few months before you understand everything that's going on. It's more intuitive than you think and the huge LCD and knobs/buttons right under the LCD help a lot. Modulation is the most confusing thing, but once you understand it, everything falls into place.

I know my way around the board quite well now, so I can help with any questions. I've also got a sound bank coming that is 71/128 towards v1.0

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How is the Andromeda's manual? Whenever I have to deal with a synth that's more complex than usual, I just dive into the manual and if it's a decent one I'm up and running pretty quickly...

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles How is the Andromeda's manual? Whenever I have to deal with a synth that's more complex than usual, I just dive into the manual and if it's a decent one I'm up and running pretty quickly...

Thick and informative. It's written very well.

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quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles How is the Andromeda's manual? Whenever I have to deal with a synth that's more complex than usual, I just dive into the manual and if it's a decent one I'm up and running pretty quickly...

Here is the PDF version, along with several other documents for the A6.

http://www.alesis.com/contentmgr/sh...hp/id/1148/tt/5