Isla Electronics, the company founded by sound designer and developer Brad Holland, has released ASYX, a software recreation of the Alesis Andromeda A6. The A6 was a 16-voice analog polysynth introduced in 2000, and working units have become scarce and expensive on the used market. ASYX models the instrument's behavior rather than sampling it, and runs as a plugin or a standalone app on macOS and Windows.
Modeled oscillators and the A6's two filters
Each voice has two oscillators modeled on the A6's custom oscillator chips, whose design drew on the Moog 921B module. You get simultaneous waveforms, pulse-width control, sub-oscillators, hard and soft sync, and FM, with noise and ring modulation in the pre-filter mixer.
The sound then hits the A6's signature dual filters: a 12 dB/octave multimode filter derived from the Oberheim SEM (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch) and a 24 dB/octave low-pass derived from the Moog 904A. They can run in series or parallel, with separate pre- and post-filter mixing.
Deep modulation, sequencer, and effects
- Three LFOs with six waveforms, delay, trigger, and clock sync
- Three seven-stage envelopes (delay, attack, two decays, sustain, two releases) with nine selectable curves and looping
- A modulation matrix with sample and hold and a tracking generator
- A 16-step sequencer and an arpeggiator, saved with each program
- 29 digital effect algorithms, including chorus, delay, and reverb
- "Analogue character" controls for oscillator drift and voice-to-voice variation
- 16-part multitimbral operation per instance, for splits and layers
ASYX ships with more than 1,200 programs, including the original factory sounds and artist banks from Rob Papen, G-Storm, xu.sounddesign, Brad Holland, and others.
A link to the real hardware
If you own an A6, ASYX doubles as an editor. With MIDI connected both ways, the hardware's knobs can control the plugin and edits in the plugin can be sent back to the synth. You can import original A6 SysEx programs and banks, and send programs or a whole 128-program bank back to the hardware. Polyphonic aftertouch is a software-only extra.
Formats, price, and availability
- macOS Big Sur or later (Intel and Apple silicon): AU, VST3, and standalone
- Windows 10 or later (64-bit): VST3 and standalone
- A Linux version is planned for later
ASYX is £99 until November 5, 2026, then £149. The perpetual license covers up to three computers and includes future versions. Isla Electronics notes that ASYX is an independent product and is not endorsed by Alesis or inMusic. Full details are on the official Isla Electronics ASYX page.
Why it matters
The Andromeda has been a famous name with no real software counterpart for years. A modeled version with the A6's dual-filter architecture, 16-part multitimbrality, and patch compatibility with the original gives producers a way to get that sound in the DAW, and gives A6 owners a modern editor and librarian for their hardware.
Images in this article are from Isla Electronics.
