The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

aL,

In this case, it's not a matter of understanding the VA as much as the 
Assignable Matrix and MIDI controllers.

Turn the matrix rotary to the bottom row and hit the up arrow on Ctrl 
Device.  You'll see parameters listed above the "devices" as you scroll 
through such as 1:Mod Depth and an arrow beneath with an abbreviation 
such as MW (for Mod Wheel).  The switch to the right, Ctrl No., changes 
the top row of the display which is the MIDI Continuous Controller 
number and assigns this parameter to the device.

So you've got a device that can control (or change something) having a 
number assigned to it.  The most common assignments on all synths are 
for the Mod Wheel to be assigned to CC:1 Modulation Depth and the Foot 
Switch assigned to CC:64 Sustain (often called Hold).  Makes sense -- 
you would probably want the Modulation Wheel to control Modulation, 
although how modulation is used in the individual synth engine can vary. 
  The foot switch is easier to understand because most keyboard players 
would like to have a hold pedal like on a piano for sustaining notes. 
In this case, there's no mystery what the hold pedal does in the synth 
engine -- it forces the ADSR envelope to remain at the fixed level of 
the S parameter until released.

Now if you'd like to use those knobbies, you'll need to have them 
assigned to something the AN1x engine can use -- in other words, they 
need to have an assignment in the control matrix.  The MIDI CC values 
are factory assigned to 41 through 48 and are useful for controlling 
external devices which have been set up to respond to CC changes.  As 
far as getting the knob to do something to the internal synth engine, 
you'll need to dial the matrix rotary to the top row and hit the up 
arrow on the Ctrl Matrix button.  Now you'll see a synth parameter on 
the top row and a Set number on the bottom row.  There are 16 "Sets", 
Pitch Bend Up and Pitch Bend Down and Common 1 & 2.  A Set is the 
mapping of a control to a parameter, such as Knob 1 to Resonance.  Use 
the Param, Source and Depth switches to assign the Source (a knob, 
ribbon x-y or z, etc.) to a parameter (resonance, AEG depth, etc.) with 
an amount or Depth.  (For now lets just deal with Sets and ignore the 
Common and Pitch Bend.)

*Damn, this is getting involved.*

What you need to do is to look at a factory preset that you know has had 
the knobs assigned to useful parameters.  Then learn from this 
observation which parameters do what when modified.  Am I making sense? 
  For example, the ribbon X-Y is often assigned to open up the filter 
cutoff with the Z (pressing on the ribbon) mapped to resonance.  This is 
good, yes?  Damn right it is because if you're soloing with your right 
hand, the left can be whooping and squawking the filter according to the 
left-right motion and pressure.

Be aware that many variable parameters in the synth engine may not sound 
like ANYTHING when modulated because they just don't have much effect on 
the overall output.  It all depends on each individual patch.

So, to conclude, learn by observation.

That said (and furiously typed while observing the AN1x), please deposit 
$10 in your DVD drive to reimburse me for my time.

Ed^2
http://www.untiedmusic.com/ezekiel