Isla Electronics – ASYX v1.30.1 for WiN

Andromeda A6, recreated as a plugin. The architecture and sound of the original instrument, recreated in software.

Inside ASYX

A detailed signal flow with controls for exploring. Start simple, then drill down as your sound demands.

01 /

ASYX Oscillators simulates the operation of specialized A6 ASIC oscillators, whose analog design was developed based on the Moog 921B. Two oscillators per voice provide simultaneous signal generation, pulse width control, sub-oscillator operation, hard and soft sync, and frequency modulation. Noise and ring modulation are fed to a mixer with a pre-filter.

02 / Dual Filters

ASYX uses A6 ASIC filters: a 12 dB/octave multi-mode filter based on the Oberheim SEM, and a 24 dB/octave low-pass filter based on the Moog 904A. Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch filters are available in series or parallel routing, with separate pre- and post-filter mixing.

03 / Envelope Generator

Three envelope generators with six waveforms and individual controls for frequency, amplitude, offset, initial phase, duty cycle, and polarity. Delay, trigger, and clock sync settings are available for each envelope generator.

04 / Multi-Stage Envelopes

Three seven-stage envelopes: delay, attack, two decays, sustain, and two releases. Nine customizable curves for each attack, decay, and release stage, with adjustable mid-levels. Additional controls include loop, trigger and repeat trigger, velocity sensitivity, key tracking, and smoothing.

05 / Deep Modulation

Modulation routing with independent controls for source, destination, amount, offset, and on. Sources include envelopes, LFOs, sample-and-hold, tracking generator, MIDI, and performance controllers; destinations include envelope time, oscillator, filter, and effects parameters.

06 / Sequencer / Arpeggiator

A 16-step sequencer with per-note controls, velocity, gate, and rest, as well as an arpeggiator with its own grid and tuning controls. Sequencer and arpeggiator settings are saved for each program.

07 / Effects

29 digital effects algorithms, including chorus, delay, reverb, and combined configurations. Algorithm parameters and effect settings are saved for each program.

08 / Analog Character

Independent depth adjustments for oscillator settings, tracking and pulse width, filter cutoff frequency and resonance, envelope sync, voice levels, overall drift, and oscillator drift. The main analog knob scales the combined variation.

09 / Mixer Mode

Up to 16 parts per plugin instance for multitimbral operation, keyboard splitting, and layering. Each part has its own program, MIDI channel, key range, level, and output route.

Comprehensive patch management

Over 1,200 built-in programs with original factory sounds and artist banks. Search by title, author, or bank, filter by category, and save your favorites at your fingertips.

Your sounds for both instruments

Thanks to bidirectional MIDI connectivity, the A6’s knobs and buttons can control ASYX. Enable real-time parameter sending so that changes made in ASYX are transmitted to the hardware. This works with compatible software parameters, so you can make changes in any interface.

Import original A6 SysEx programs and banks into the library or send the current program, including unsaved changes, to the selected hardware slot. You can also transfer a bank. Transferring patches and banks is not related to real-time editing and requires confirmation before overwriting hardware programs.

Store large banks in ASYX format and prepare a bank in 128 A6 program format when you need to transfer it to a hardware device. Features available only in ASYX, such as polyphonic aftertouch, remain software-only.

The Epic Inspiration

Alesis Andromeda A6 combined sixteen analog tones, dual filters, and extensive modulation capabilities. Working examples are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and rising used prices are putting them out of reach for many musicians.

Furthermore, their maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult. Andromeda uses specialized chips for generators and filters—ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits)—and many devices are no longer operational because spare parts are unavailable.

ASYX was developed to make this instrument accessible as software. Working directly with the original A6 synthesizer, we measured, compared, and refined its performance while maintaining compatibility with the original patches. For those who already own a synthesizer, this is another way to use their sounds. For everyone else, it’s an opportunity to access the synthesizer without the expense of outdated hardware and maintenance.