The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "Bjørn Standal" <standal2000@h...> wrote:
> Hi gang
> 
> I know we've been through this topic before, but I just need 
confirmation. I 
> see my AN1X standing there with incredible possibillities, 
beautiful sounds 
> and its great keyboard, and then all I can think off is its damn 
monotimbral 
> (bi-timbral at most) shortcomings.
> Is there a reason for VA's to have less polyphony and timbrality 
than 
> sampled-based synths?

Yes, there are very significant reasons. Sample based synthesizers, 
i.e., ROMplers, use ROM based storage, i.e., cheap & fast, to store 
their waveform data. V/A's generate their waveforms in real time. The 
CPU requirements are on a completely different level for ROMplers 
than Virtual Analog synthesizers, or Physical Modeling if you will. 
V/As require an exceptional amount of processor power to calculate 
the resulting waveforms. As the saying goes - you're comparing apples 
to oranges.

> Even the new Supernova 2 only got eight part 
> multitimbrality.

Yes, and you PAY for those 8 parts too! The difference between the 
MSRP of the AN1x ('97) and the SuperNova ('00) is considerable. I'd 
also hazard a guess that the processor's are unsimilar - probably 
custom ASICS designs - which also affect the MSRP.

> It's just enough for basic songs, but I think 16 part 
> multitimbrality is a minimum. Even my trusty DJX got that.

Yes, but does anybody REALLY want to hear sixteen parts from a DJX 
(just kidding ;-) More is not necessarily better. Say you have an 
AN1x that's 16-part multitimbral. How much polyphony should it have? 
10 voices? 16 voices? 32 voices? 128 voices? What are you willing to 
PAY for those additional voices and the necessary CPU power to 
generate that many simultaneous notes (with no noticeable latency)? 
Oh, and what about the FX processors? Are the three enough? I imagine 
you want to be able to chose from simultaneous variations effects as 
opposed to having the Delay and Reverb? Well, that too takes more 
CPU. What about better, smoother Reverbs? Same argument.

I'm not trying to belittle you - I'm just trying to make a point. 
Forgive me if it comes across as anything other than that :-)

> 
> I extensively use MIDI (without being a guru, far from it), and in 
that 
> sense the AN1X is near to useless in complete songmaking as I can 
only use 
> one sound in every song.

Another issues with the great, multitimbral behomeths - the more 
sounds you generate from the one box the more alike your arrangements 
will become. After a while it will all SOUND like it's coming from 
the one box because it is! *yawn*

Sure there must be a way to at least use different 
> sounds in a track, albeit not at the same time? Is there something 
like a 
> patch-change command I can send to my AN1X? I use Cakewalk 8.0.


Sure that would work. But the AN1x responds relatively slowly to 
program change messages. Make certain to leave a measure for the AN1x 
to have adequate time to respond.

As an alternative, you could invest in which ever version of Cakewalk 
provides Audio recording, in addition to MIDI, along with a decent 
sound card and simply lay down multiple audio takes from your AN1x. 
This would require more manual effort on your part but would 
alleviate your concern over the AN1x bitimbral design (which, BTW, I 
never use!)

> 
> Was wondering if I should invest in a sampler so I could sample my 
AN1X and 
> use it as a multitimbral AN1X-emulator. Don't know which sampler's 
got the 
> best filters and effects, though... But that's a whole 'nother 
story.

Great idea! IMO, a sampler and V/A go along way to covering your 
bases. As already mentioned in this thread the Yamaha A4000 is a good 
value for the money and I'm certain people are making great music 
with it. Personally, I prefer my ASR-X Pro over the A4K. Primarily 
due to the sound quality and the internal effects which are more 
appealing to me. Also, there are some design limitations in the A4K 
which I did NOT want to deal with, i.e., poor disk routines, 
sloooooooooooooooooooooow SCSI, and a User Interface that felt 
"unfinished". I could go on if you like but we might have to take 
that conversation offline :-)


Hope this helps,

Jon