Sysex Platforms and Utilities
For transferring the OS as well as sound Banks, PC users have had success with
MIDIOX and Mac users with SYSEX 4.5.2. You must set the recommended
minimum memory on them to over 1Meg due to the size of the A6 OS. You
should also check their Preferences to set the transfer rate to 80% (a reduction in
speed of 20%). Cakewalk PC users and MIDI files on a Mac seem to be okay,
but the Radius Mac clones exhibit issues with MIDI. You must turn off Appletalk
and all filesharing in the Chooser for MIDI to function at its optimum.
Most Recent OS:
At this writing, the most recent, but “beta” software revision is 1.40.13, and is
available for download at:
http://alesis.com/beta/a6/
The most recent official release software is 1.40.12, and can be found at:
http://www.alesis.com/downloads/software/A6/index.html
The difference between the two are listed in the accompanying texts. Most
interesting in the .13 version is the new fastest setting in the Engine Optimizer,
which allows for faster envelope response times than previous versions, but at
the cost of a bit of zipper noise in the parameters (VCAs, and with large pitch
modulations). On the Filt/VCA chip, this allows for faster amplitude snaps with
minimum attack times. (Note that the Minimoog filter and VCA envelopes aren’t
quite this fast; a Minimoog mimic Program I created with a friend sounded best at
the setting below the newest fast setting.)
To Load a new OS:
Power-cycle the unit while holding down soft button seven and follow the
prompts. You may have to press Store twice to reach the receive screen. Note
that it will take several minutes to complete the entire procedure due to the size
of the OS as well as the time it takes to burn the OS into FLASH and to then
calibrate the instrument afterward. Follow the prompts as it goes; you will be
asked to initiate functions at two points in the procedure.
You may also send the OS from one A6 to another; power cycle the source A6
holding soft button 6 during the entire power-up. Follow the prompts.
Free Soundbanks:
Free banks of Programs are available at the Alesis site:
http://www.alesis.com/downloads/software/A6/index.html
and at a pair of user’s groups as follows.
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