The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hi there,

I just dragged out that Issue #65 of Future Music Issue #65 from my stash
and read through the "1997 Gear of the Year". The "Best Synth" (as voted by
the readers) was the JP-8000, followed by the Korg Z1, with the Yamaha AN1x
voted third. Interestingly, FM's own review scores were placed at 90% for
the An1x and Z1, and the JP-8000 only scored marginally better at 91%.

I own both the AN1x and the Roland JP-8080. This rack-style model differs
slightly from the JP-8000 keyboard by adding an audio input with vocoder,
and a distortion FX.

The architecture of both synth the AN1x and JP-8080 are highly similar
(10voice/2part). Sonically, the AN1x and JP-8080 are in different
territories. I find the AN1x benefits from a darker, fatter, and warmer
texture. The Feedback control can really thicken the sound. IMO it's let
down slightly by it's not-as-immediate interface, but still remains a highly
capable and versatile synth. Remarkably, it very much stands up confidently
against the current crop of VAs (eg. Supernova/Virus) if you look past its
somewhat limited multitimbrality. The effects on the AN1x offer quite a
detailed array of parameters.

The JP-8080, on the other hand, possible isn't as 'fat' when played as a
solo instrument, but I find works brilliantly in a mix. For this reason, I
wholeheartedly believe that the fattest, or should that be PHATTEST(!) synth
isn't necessarily the best. The JP's control surface stands out as one of
the best around (on par with the Supernova - however that's plastic, whereas
the JP-8080 is steel!). I've more than once considered letting it go and
just working with my AN1x, but I find the JP-8080 really shines with some of
richest, sweetest, as well as gritty and cutting sounds posible. The
feedback oscillator (with it's sweet harmonic and resonance control) are not
available on any other synth I know of, and the cross-modulation (X-mod)
control conjures up some really interesting sounds as well.

I hope you can appreciate that trying to place words to the types of sounds
any synth makes is fairly futile so I'm not going to bother, but I hope I've
been able to express my view that both the AN1x and JP-8080 each have their
strong place in the world. What's considered good is of course highly
subjective, so your best bet is to get hold of one and dive in.

By the way, what on earth's a 'cabel'? And, what does 'NoirDesir' mean? I
think I need to get out more!!! :-)

Phil



From: jlevat@yahoo.com
Reply-To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 19:16:08 -0000
To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AN1x-list] NoirDesir


Hi!
Does anyone in the list own a jp8000?? I'd like to know if the JP8000
sound set  in the files section actually sounds *as* the Roland;
effects not in the fight...
In fact, I was re-reading my old FutureMusic collection,and noticed
that the demo of the JP8000 in the issue n°65 included an AN1x preset
arpeggio(track16-also at vintagesynth.com). I missed the issue59,
wich figured the  revue of the AN1X .But I have the issue 53, in wich
Roland got a big 2page full pick,quite sexy, and I always though that
some cabal had occured in these times, to justify the upper price of
the JP ;)
Well, I had to convince a friend, and if it's ok for the sound, I
still have to prove the cabal!!
What do do you think? has anyone compared same patches on the two
beasts?? 


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