1 6 - V O I C E R E A L AN A L O G S Y N T H E S I Z E R REFERENCE MANUAL For Software Version 1.40 Your shipping carton should contain the following items: 1. 2. 3. 4. Andromeda A6 synthesizer AC power cable Sustain Pedal Reference Manual If anything is missing, please contact your dealer or Alesis immediately. Alesis contact information: Alesis Studio Electronics, Inc. Los Angeles USA E-Mail: Website: support@alesis.com http://www.alesis.com Alesis Andromeda A6TM Reference Manual Revision 1.0 by Dave Bertovic Revision 1.1 by Brian R. Shim © Copyright 2001, Alesis Studio Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. "A6", "QCard" and "FreeLoader" are trademarks of Alesis Studio Electronics, Inc. ANDROMEDA A6 REFERENCE MANUAL 1 2 ANDROMEDA A6 REFERENCE MANUAL Contents CONTENTS Important Safety Instructions ....................................................................................7 Instructions to the User (FCC Notice) ............................................................................................11 CE Declaration of Conformity .........................................................................................................13 Introduction ................................................................................................................15 How to Use this Manual....................................................................................................................16 Typographic Conventions..................................................................................................17 Key Terminology ................................................................................................................................18 Chapter 1: Getting Started ........................................................................................21 What You'll Need, Unpacking, Set Up, Power .............................................................................21 Audio Connections and Pedals........................................................................................................22 MIDI Connections...............................................................................................................................23 Quick Start............................................................................................................................................26 Chapter 2: Playing the A6 .........................................................................................29 A Brief Tour of the Front Panel ........................................................................................................30 How Functions are Grouped .............................................................................................30 Interacting with the Display .............................................................................................................32 Selecting Programs and Mixes .........................................................................................................38 PROGRAM Mode Parameters...........................................................................................39 MIX Mode Parameters ........................................................................................................39 Storing Edited Programs and Mixes ...............................................................................................43 Setting Up Splits and Layers ............................................................................................................47 Using Global Mode.............................................................................................................................49 GLOBAL Mode Parameters...............................................................................................49 Master Controls...................................................................................................................................52 Volume...................................................................................................................................52 Tune........................................................................................................................................52 The Keyboard and Keyboard Modes ..............................................................................................54 Performance Features (KBD MODE, UNISON X, DETUNE) .....................................55 Portamento............................................................................................................................59 The Performance Wheels and Ribbon Controller.........................................................................65 Programming the Wheels and Ribbon.............................................................................66 Pedals and Footswitches ....................................................................................................68 The CLOCK Section............................................................................................................................69 Clock Parameters .................................................................................................................70 Sequencer ..............................................................................................................................71 Arpeggiator...........................................................................................................................79 Chapter 3: Basics of Analog Synthesis ...................................................................81 An Overview of Synthesis.................................................................................................................81 Analog and Digital Technologies .....................................................................................81 A Little History ....................................................................................................................81 A Little Theory ...................................................................................................................................82 Waveforms ............................................................................................................................82 Fundamentals and Harmonics ..........................................................................................83 Sound Dynamics .................................................................................................................................84 LFOs .......................................................................................................................................87 Components of an Analog Synthesizer ..........................................................................................88 ANDROMEDA A6 REFERENCE MANUAL 3 Contents Chapter 4: Overview of the Andromeda A6 ..........................................................93 A Few Basic Concepts ........................................................................................................................93 A6 Function List..................................................................................................................................95 A6 Functions At-a-Glance .................................................................................................................97 MIDI Overview .................................................................................................................................102 Chapter 5: Oscillators and Filters ...........................................................................103 Oscillators...........................................................................................................................................103 Oscillator Parameter Descriptions..................................................................................104 VCO Modulation ...............................................................................................................107 Filters...................................................................................................................................................116 What Filters Do ..................................................................................................................116 How Filters Are Designed................................................................................................117 How Filters Work ..............................................................................................................122 Filter Parameter Descriptions..........................................................................................127 Chapter 6: Modulation and Envelopes ................................................................. 131 Modulation.........................................................................................................................................131 Background.........................................................................................................................131 Modulation Principles ......................................................................................................131 Hardware and Software Modulation, Default Mod Paths ........................................133 Envelopes ...........................................................................................................................................134 Envelope Properties ..........................................................................................................134 Envelope Parameter Descriptions ..................................................................................135 TIME Page Parameters......................................................................................................137 SHAPE: Selecting the Stage Slope .................................................................................139 LEVEL Page Parameters ..................................................................................................141 TRIG Page Parameters .....................................................................................................142 Envelope Modes (Norm 1 & 2, Freerun, Susrel) ..........................................................144 Envelope Modulation Triggering (MODTRG).............................................................153 How Modulation Triggering Works .............................................................................155 DYN Page Parameters ......................................................................................................158 LOOP Page Parameters ....................................................................................................160 MOD Pages .........................................................................................................................164 Envelope Examples ...........................................................................................................165 Chapter 7: LFOs, Sample & Hold and Process..................................................... 171 Low Frequency Oscillators .............................................................................................................171 LFO Parameter Descriptions ...........................................................................................171 WAVE Page ........................................................................................................................172 TRIG Page ...........................................................................................................................175 SYNC Page ..........................................................................................................................176 MOD Page ...........................................................................................................................176 Using LFOs as a Trigger Source......................................................................................176 Sample and Hold ..............................................................................................................................177 PROCESS Module.............................................................................................................................179 Tracking Generator (TGEN) ............................................................................................179 Track Gen Level and Track Gen Step.............................................................................179 Tracking Generator Parameter Descriptions ................................................................180 Chapter 8: The A6 Mixing System ........................................................................183 Pre Filter Mix/Post Filter Mix ......................... ...