The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hi Dan,

"Digital" is not the solution to all noise problem, it merely introduces new
ones. In general, a digital output without a digital sync (word clock, or a
digital input on which the instrument can synchronise) is pretty useless as
soon as you have more than one digital source.

To get rid of noise, that really depends on the quality of your instruments.
People familiar with the A3000 sampler (I'm not, by the way) know that the
extra outputs are (a) low in level and (b) noisy. Whereas my EX5, on the
standard four and the extra four outputs, is crystal clear. I run it over
analogue cables into an 01V mixer, and when I listen over my AKG K240M
headphones (amazing as it may sound, they're not Yamaha, contrary to the
rest of my gear) I hear no noise at all.

In contrast, the output of the AN1x is has a lower level, and it
(consequently?) somewhat noisier, but it's still good. I'm not totally
convinced by the AN1x's analogue circuitry, though.

So think very well before you invest in digital equipment. There are things,
like jitter and dithering, that simply don't exist in the analogue world.
You might end up with more problems that you had to begin with. Usually,
good analogue equipment is better than digital equipment in the same price
range.

- Peter