Alesis Andromeda ?

minime123 · Post by **minime123** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:36 pm

should someone who has a jupiter-8, oberheim xpander, ob-8, prophet 5 and lots of other vintage synths "need" an alesis andromeda? why or why not? how does the alesis compare to the classics in sound quality?
my initial impression of it in the store was "eh" but i was also frustrated that the features i was looking for required navigating what seemed like a confusing interface. maybe it was the front panel graphics. or maybe it was the fact that when it first came out that pricetag could have bought a lot more vintage than it can today.
thanks
mini

Track2 · Post by **Track2** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:52 pm

Can't help on the comparison with the vintage analogs you mention, but I've just spent the last few days geting aquantied with the UI.

At first I found it quite anti-intuitive, but now its second nature.

What were the features that had you menu diving?

Post by **nadafarms** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:58 pm

Well, "need" first off you probably only need half the synths you just mentioned... right?

In this day and age I think a Little Phatty and an Andromeda is about all I will ever "need".

I'm about to buy my first Andromeda, have never even played one! But I have read every damn review, watched every demo and pestered the c**p of andromeda owners.

It seems that people are saying it has a much more modern sound and is brighter sounding so you need to really work it to get those vintage sounds. I would say those OB filters would cover all your OB "needs".

I worry it won't do bass lines like I want it to, but then I find some demos that turn my head.

I think the Andy does have a really distinct sound and everyone seems to be saying that after they thought they understood subtractive synthesis that they realized they didn't know s**t once they dove into the matrix of the Andy - which I fear will be my case since I have never even seen a modular...

I'm trying to decide between a P5 with a dead voice for $1200 and a mint 2001 Andy for $1800. I want both...

jonkull · Post by **jonkull** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:07 am

nadafarms wrote:I think the Andy does have a really distinct sound and everyone seems to be saying that after they thought they understood subtractive synthesis that they realized they didn't know s**t once they dove into the matrix of the Andy

When I first got my A6 it made me feel stupid.

@ the original poster:

The presets are known to be kind of lack-luster but there are some great user patches online. I hated it at first impression but bought it anyway. I can't really compare it to the synths you mentioned because I've never played them but it sounds great as far as I'm concerned. The interface seems confusing at first but it's pretty easy to get around once you get used to it and it has a ton of mod routings so it's very flexible from a sound design standpoint. Some people have said it's more like a modular in a keyboard than a 'standard' synth...if that means anything to you.

As far as whether you need it or not only you can really answer that. What do you hope to get out of it and what do you feel is missing from your current setup?

sequence · Post by **sequence** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:08 am

go for the Andy, why pay $600 less for a vintage board that's busted (yes one dead voice to me is busted

)

I had a chance a few yrs ago to buy a demo Andy from a GC for $1500 and am still kicking myself for not doing so.

Maybe it wont do bass well, but that's why god created Lil Phatty-- yeah an Andy, a LP, and an MEK would just about cover it all for me!

Post by **nadafarms** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:33 am

sequence wrote:go for the Andy, why pay $600 less for a vintage board that's busted (yes one dead voice to me is busted )

You're probably right, I've wanted a P5 forever though... not that I've ever even played one!

Hoping I can get a tech in the Bay Area to fix it for under $500 - hey mini! How much would it cost on average to get a rev3 with a dead voice fixed?

jko · Post by **jko** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:57 am

From reports on various fora , there may also be tuning issues with a smaller number of the latest ( post december 2006 ) batch, so people should also be careful to watch out for that.

Post by **nadafarms** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:02 am

I think minime123 is just scared... that he will fall in love with a NEW synthesizer.

Imagine all that extra space you would have?

Nah kidding, Andy does have some parameter zippering from what I hear and thats something I heavily frown upon, for that reason I will always love old synths... oh wait the LP doesn't have zippering!

sequence · Post by **sequence** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:24 am

jko wrote:From reports on various fora , there may also be tuning issues with a smaller number of the latest ( post december 2006 ) batch, so people should also be careful to watch out for that.

A 2001 should be OK tho, esp. if the OS's been updated

Post by **nadafarms** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:31 am

sequence wrote:
jko wrote:From reports on various fora , there may also be tuning issues with a smaller number of the latest ( post december 2006 ) batch, so people should also be careful to watch out for that.
A 2001 should be OK tho, esp. if the OS's been updated

Thanks sequence, thats what I'm hoping. Its been sitting in a studio getting little use since then.

Don't know about the OS though, I'm sure I can get it updated to the fresh 2002 version?

amni · Post by **amni** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:12 am

I have owned nearly all great synths over the last 25 years...I am quite happy with the Andy and a Moog Voyager, plus EMS synthi, Serge Modular and Eurorack modular, oh and Machinedrum and X0Xb0x.

Post by **mome rath** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:29 am

amni wrote:I have owned nearly all great synths over the last 25 years...I am quite happy with the Andy and a Moog Voyager, plus EMS synthi, Serge Modular and Eurorack modular, oh and Machinedrum and X0Xb0x.

why do you have a x0xb0x and not a 303?

amni · Post by **amni** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:22 am

I sold it about 3 years ago for $2000

x0xb0x can do more and sounds the same

minime123 · Post by **minime123** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:23 pm

thanks for the feedback, guys.

"What were the features that had you menu diving?"

it was too long ago, i dont recall.

"Well, "need" first off you probably only need half the synths you just mentioned... right?"

i dont feel that way.

as for the little phatty, i was really unimpressed when i tried it in the store, cause i felt the vintage moogs just felt better. nada, have you ever compared the LP to a vintage moog like a prodigy or minimoog?

i wouldnt want an andromeda to recreate the sounds of my ob or any other synth for that matter. i like synths that have a character of their own. when you have a bunch of synths, its ok for one not to do everything well.

if you decide to buy the andromeda just be careful - ive heard some of them can be really problematic.

jonkull, id like to get more midi-friendly synths in my setup, you know, something whose every parameter can be controlled via MIDI CCs? hows the andromeda work with dense data? i also like synths that have their own sound.

nada, fixing a dead voice on a p5 is often just a chip replacement. depends on the rev, chip, tech, etc. and then of course expect to pay to get the undisclosed problems fixed, unless youre getting it from someone who (REALLY) knows their s**t. i cant remember the last time i got something vintage that didnt have something that needed attention and that the seller didnt mention.

im not afraid of new or i should say relatively new synthesizers, ive got a few already.

derma_tek · Post by **derma_tek** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:32 pm

i think i'm ready to pull the trigger on an addy as well. i don't suppose anyone knows of any places online that still have them in stock? before i resort to ebay that is.