Hi,
I'm curious if anyone has compared the Alesis A6 Andromeda ($3000) with the Dave Smith PolyEvolver ($2400). Both are analog and the mp3 demos for both sound great. The DSI PEK is 4 voices and the A6 is 16. I was so impressed with the PolyEvolver when I played it at Guitar Center that I placed an order for the mono Evolver desktop ($500). I have not played the A6 but the mp3 demos are impressive.
In terms of sound quality and features how do they compare?
Thank you,
-- Iain
Andromeda or Evolver?
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- KVRist
- 88 posts since 28 Jun, 2006
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- KVRAF
- 13140 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
They are both amazing. I gues it depends on what you are trying to do but after playing with both for a considerable amount of time I am definitely going with the A6. I find that I miss what the PEK lacks from the A6 more than I miss what the A6 lacks from the Evolver. I mean the with the A6 you don't get the digital oscilators but you can do so much more with 16 analog voices. Both have similar routing capabilities with modulation and such but the Evolver has feedback loops that the A6 doesn't. I have found that what I miss from Evolver I can accomplish with software, what the Evolver can do that software can't the A6 can... and then some. I personally like the Andromeda's Moog and OB filter models over the authentic Dave Smith filter which is the main complaint that some people have about the A6.
That being said, I don't own either but after having spent a considerable amount of time designing sounds on a friends I plan on buying an Andromeda over the PEK. I don't think that anyone looking for a powerful, flexible, poly-analog would be disappointed by either but for my money the A6 is where it's at.
3am
That being said, I don't own either but after having spent a considerable amount of time designing sounds on a friends I plan on buying an Andromeda over the PEK. I don't think that anyone looking for a powerful, flexible, poly-analog would be disappointed by either but for my money the A6 is where it's at.
3am
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- KVRAF
- 2208 posts since 13 May, 2005
To confuse you even further, do consider the Jomox Sunsyn as well!
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- KVRist
- 481 posts since 12 Nov, 2002 from Texas
neither are jaw-dropping, but the evolver sounds about 100% better. Your prices are a bit weird, over here the andromeda is much cheaper (UK)
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 88 posts since 28 Jun, 2006
I'm quoting US prices. Sorry if that was vague.VeXKoN wrote:Your prices are a bit weird, over here the andromeda is much cheaper (UK)
A6: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/?sku=705590
PEK: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/?sku=705382
It would be great to find an A6 for cheaper without going through ebay.
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- KVRist
- 487 posts since 23 Jan, 2004
Er, I thought the Evolver was a bit cheaper: £1099.99 against £1,559.99 for the Andromeda.VeXKoN wrote:neither are jaw-dropping, but the evolver sounds about 100% better. Your prices are a bit weird, over here the andromeda is much cheaper (UK)
I'd go for the evolver even if the andromeda was cheaper though. I've only flicked through the presets with headphones, but the evolver seemed to have a lot more character and was generally more fun and immediately tweakable.
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- KVRian
- 710 posts since 7 May, 2002 from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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- KVRian
- 804 posts since 16 Nov, 2004 from Kangzhou
I have a Poly Evolver Keyboard and I love the sound, but there are a few things about it that I don't really care for.
One is the infinitely turnable, non-graduated knobs. You can't just look at the knobs and determine what the settings will sound like; you have to rely on the little readout that only displays one setting at a time. The only way I've found to get around this is to use the Psicraft Vyzor editor, which displays the value of each control. It sure makes life easier. And with this editor, you can use the Evolver as a VSTi, so that's a plus.
Another thing about the controls is that they sometimes jump to 0 while you're turning them.
I like having both analog and digital oscillators, but you only get 2 of each.
It would also be nice to have more than 4 voices.
I haven't tried the A6, but it sure looks nice, and I've heard that they're solidly built.
Maybe the answer is one of each.
One is the infinitely turnable, non-graduated knobs. You can't just look at the knobs and determine what the settings will sound like; you have to rely on the little readout that only displays one setting at a time. The only way I've found to get around this is to use the Psicraft Vyzor editor, which displays the value of each control. It sure makes life easier. And with this editor, you can use the Evolver as a VSTi, so that's a plus.
Another thing about the controls is that they sometimes jump to 0 while you're turning them.
I like having both analog and digital oscillators, but you only get 2 of each.
It would also be nice to have more than 4 voices.
I haven't tried the A6, but it sure looks nice, and I've heard that they're solidly built.
Maybe the answer is one of each.
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- KVRist
- 481 posts since 12 Nov, 2002 from Texas
I was thinking the PEK £1,539.99 in comparison to the andromeda £1,559.99. I guess the polyevolver has recently come down! I can still tell ya which one has the better resale value though (hint: its blue!)
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 88 posts since 28 Jun, 2006
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- KVRian
- 804 posts since 16 Nov, 2004 from Kangzhou
Another nice thing about it is that the future upgrade from V1 to V2 is free.
BTW, here's a link to the manual: http://www.vyzor.com/Manuals/Evolver/Vy ... volver.pdf
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- KVRian
- 661 posts since 15 Jun, 2004 from blue america
a good performance rig is a:
a6
poly evolver kb
v-synth gt
mv-8800
a6
poly evolver kb
v-synth gt
mv-8800
overthrow KRAPITALISM ! you have nothing to lose but your claims.