--- In
AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Peter Korsten <peter@...> wrote:
>
> Bob S. schreef:
>
> > So if I wanted a next path of Yamaha synths with some good
digital, some sampling, some VA and programmable arps, which way might
I go ?
>
> Well, you could try an EX5(R), although probably not for sampling. It's
> excellent as a synth, but not as a workstation.
>
> Alternatively, you could get a Motif (ES) with a PLG board or two.
>
> - Peter
>
Yeah, it's a shame Yamaha never made the next generation EX5. Yes, a
Motif ES with a AN and a VL card would be close if not surpass the
capabilities of an EX5 (no FDSP), but I'm not much of a fan of the PLG
cards. The segregation of sound and control, that is, you cannot
program the PLG cards in the host itself, makes it a pale comparison
to an EX5. Seriously, I loved the AN cards' sound, but controlling
them was tedious. For instance, and this is my biggest gripe, if I
liked a sound but it incorporated an arp or step sequence, I COULD
ONLY TURN IT OFF THROUGH SOFTWARE! Annoying. I also didn't like having
to store user sounds to Smart Media...my CS6X wouldn't consistantly
load an AUTOLD file and it often ended up corrupted. At least the EX5
allows you to edit and store sounds internally.
I haven't tried sampling with the EX5R, mainly because I don't have a
SCSI card with mine. But, the integration of sampling in the Motif ES
is simply excellent - far beyond the EX5. But now that I think about
it, I guess the ES doesn't have FDSP...wonder what I could do with
samples and FDSP? Hmmm....
One last plug for the ES, the sequencer is excellent. It has been some
15 years since I've been absorbed by an external sequencer (MMT8,
Ensoniq EPS). I find myself "playing" with the sequencer and sounds,
and it does not impede creativity with technical roadblocks.
Ed