The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Martin,

>Has anyone created with a decent piano (acoustic rather than
>electric) sound on the AN1x? Hardly what the machine was designed
>for, I know, but maybe some programming wizard has come up with a
>useable sound.....?

This question seems to come up every few months on this list.  I won't say, 
"It can't be done," as "can't" is clearly in the eye of the beholder, but ...

Analog and analog-modeling synthesizers use simple waveforms (saw, 
triangle, pulse, etc.) and filtering to create complex sounds.  The 
resulting approximation either succeeds or fails based on the level to 
which the original and copy waveforms can be made to look alike:  In the 
case of say, a Trumpet, the raw waveform is rather sawtooth-like, so a 
decent copy can be obtained by filtering a sawtooth wave using analog 
methods.  Piano is another story, however.

Commercial piano products using simple waveforms from companies like RMI, 
Univox, and even Roland and Yamaha were all the rage in the 
mid-to-late-70's.  It soon became obvious, however, that the results were 
less than stellar.  The waveform of a piano is rather complex, and 
resembles none of the base elements of classic analog synthesis.  No 
"reasonable" number of standard analog waveforms summed together can do it 
justice, IMHO.  It might be possible to create a decent piano copy by using 
multiple analog/modeling synths -- one to simulate the hammer attack, 
another for the basic tone, a third to add the bright sound of a hard 
strike -- but why bother, when sampling keyboards have been tweaked to the 
point where they are both cost-effective, and more than adequate for many 
piano needs?

A similar attempt occurred when FM synthesis came on the scene, with 
similar results.  Again, with enough synthesizer horsepower, acceptable 
(but far from perfect) results could be found, but a single instrument was 
unlikely to have enough elements to simulate the complete sound -- or if it 
did, as in the case of the Yamaha DX1, the amount of programming necessary 
to arrive at the desired end was prohibitive for all but the most tenacious 
(and financially sound) programmers.

There are many wonderful sounds that can be coaxed out of the AN1x; 
acoustic piano just isn't really one of them.

Just my $0.02US ...

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™
www.ashbysolutions.com
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