Isla Electronics ASYX recreates the Alesis Andromeda A6 as a plugin
Each instance of the software synth runs up to 16 parts, for keyboard splits and layered sounds.
A software Andromeda A6 can now import the hardware’s original SysEx banks and talk to the synth in both directions over MIDI. Isla Electronics’ ASYX runs on Windows and macOS and ships with more than 1,200 programs.
Owners of the original synth can load A6 SysEx programs and banks into ASYX, and send edited programs back to selected hardware slots. Over bidirectional MIDI, the A6’s physical controls operate the software, and supported parameter changes made in the software can be sent back to the hardware.
The engine models the original’s oscillator and filter circuitry. Each voice has two oscillators and two filters: a 12 dB-per-octave multimode design and a 24 dB-per-octave low-pass, which can run in series or parallel. Three LFOs, three seven-stage envelopes and a configurable modulation system handle movement. A 16-step sequencer and an arpeggiator are built in, along with 29 digital effects covering chorus, delay, reverb and combined configurations. Effect settings are saved with each program.
The program library mixes original factory sounds with artist banks and can be searched by name, author or bank. Adjustable variation controls cover oscillator tuning, filter cutoff and resonance, envelope timing and oscillator drift.
ASYX is available now for about $136.
