This is part of my exploration of the Andromeda synth.
It's
a wonderful synthesizer, which even after owning it for over 5 years
I'm still just scratching the surface of what it can do.
Some links to earlier posts:
+ Andromeda A6 - Alesis Part 4 - Filters, the post filter mixer
The
official manual is really long (as you'd expect) from such a complex
synth, so this is my attempt to break things down, into smaller parts
for myself. If this helps someone else, that great too.
Tempo Synchronization.
It is a
global function that
provides global
synchronization.
Any A6 function that relies on
tempo can get its
timing from the Clock.
Such functions include the Arp or sequencer.
You can
also slave modulation sources such as LFO rates and Envelope stages to the Clock
when their timing needs to coincide with a song’s tempo. (Normally however, LFOs and Envelopes have their own rates).
The timing can be
steady or variable . The clock ranges from 0.458 BPM to 500BPM.
Conversely, you can modulate the Clock’s tempo by an LFO or Envelope or any of
the A6’s 71 modulation sources. This is accomplished using SYNC/MOD as described
below.
The CLOCK module is symetrical.
The left is a mirror of the right.
It's divided into 3 parts:
a) CLOCK settings
b) ARP
c) SEQUENCER
CLOCK settings
Turning the centre tempo knob will display this page.
The display shows things like;
Tempo - 0.46 bpm to 500 bpm.
START - normal (Freerunning) vs KEYDN (starts with the first key down)
MODVOX - Tempo
Modulation by
Voice
MODCHN - In Mix Mode, this parameter determines
which Mix Channel will modulate the Clock.
SYNSRC - Selects the sync source- local or external midi
CLKOUT - Selects whether MIDI Clock is sent out the
MIDI port.
This is a Global Parameter, so it
keeps its setting even after changing Programs
or Mixes
ARPEGGIATOR
The left is the ARP section. Pressing its view button will display the page BELOW.
You can see TRIG, PROGRS, SYN and MOD parameter pages.
Similar to a sequence, an arpeggio is musical term that refers to the playing of notes of
a chord one after another instead of playing them simultaneously.
Arpeggiator settings are made per Program and stored in memory with each Program.
The A6 Arpeggiator is nearly identical to the Sequencer in its basic design. The main
difference lies in the display layout.
Also, unlike the Sequencer, the Arpeggiator is a per Voice function rather than a per
Program function. This means that each playing voice is linked to its own
arpeggiator. This results in 16 possible arpeggiators – one per Voice – each with their own
status, position, and voice variables.
START/STOP Button
Enables and disables the
Arpeggiator. This is a
programmable function for all
voices in Programs or Mixes.
SYNC/MOD
Button
Pressing this button displays the
Arpeggiator’s SYNC page on the
screen.
VIEW Button
Pressing this button recalls the
page of Arpeggiator parameters
that was last used (it defaults to
the CONFIG page).
SEQUENCER
The right is the sequencer section. Pressing its view button will display this page.
The Sequencer is a per Program function: each of the 128 user Programs can have its
own sequence that is saved in memory along with all of its other settings.
The sequencer has 16 steps (labelled A to H and I to P)
(You can only see 8 steps at a time)
Each step has 4 properties: Note, Velocity amt, Gate time, Rest on or off (called TYPE)
Press soft button 1 to move between NOTE,VEL,GATE,TYPE.
Press soft button 8 to move from one step to the next.
The soft knobs will change the note values (when you are in the note section).
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