The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

e_d,

>i also think it would be a good idea if yamaha started creating new
>versions of existing synths like the cs6x with a digital out option.
>this could be a good selling point for them because it gets rid of the
>need for an expensive mixer that has low noise. just think, no sound
>quality loss from your synth to your sound card!! all digital!! what's
>the point of sending  digital to analog to digital. ok some mixers add
>warmth but most of us just get stattic!! can this be a possibility in
>the future? a digital out retrofit for the cs6x or cs2x?

Sounds like a great idea, as long as they include digital gain controls 
with wide adjustments.  I have an Alesis S4 and a Quadraverb 2 which I use 
as a pair for "natural" sounds like piano, sax, horns, etc.  When I saw 
that both had an S/PDIF-like digital link, I was in heaven -- at least, 
until I tried to use it.

The Q2 has no digital gain control; they tell you to use the input device 
for adjusting the gain.  Unfortunately, the S4 has no master digital OUTPUT 
control, other than adjusting the volume of the individual 
instruments.  The problem is that the maximum level of the S4 is fairly 
low, and the resulting S4+Q2 output is a good 10-15 dB lower than the 
analog output with all the green LEDs lit and no red LEDs (clipping).  That 
means that I have to raise the gain of the audio mixer to compensate, and 
the level of noise in the final result is WORSE than the analog method!

Granted, these two devices are fairly old -- especially the S4 -- but 
Alesis really dropped the ball here.  The only reason that I can think of 
for their settings is that they might have been concerned about the total 
levels when all 16 multi-parts were in use.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...