The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Peter,

> > I just wish it looked as cool as the Mini Moog. Maybe Yamaha will
> > make a walnut edition!
>
>I'm still recovering from the fact that Yamaha has released no less than
>three synths with a name that is not some random combination of digits and
>letters (probably with an 'X' in it). Let's not get carried away now.
>
>Next thing you know Roland does the same.

Many of the late-70's Yamaha keyboards had walnut trim (CS-20, etc.), as 
did my electric piano.  Maybe there's hope yet!  And collections of totally 
unrelated letters and numbers seem to be a trend in the synthesizer 
business.  I actually stayed away from looking at the AN1x for more than a 
year, partially because of the awful name.  It's a good thing my Blue 
Friend sounds so nice!

Slightly OT, I love the look of the Minimoog Voyager, but at $2500US 
($3000US for the "special" edition) for a 44-key monophonic synthesizer, 
I'm not counting the days until its release.  Yeah, it has Bob Moog written 
all over it, and it's real analog, but I could almost buy an AN1x, a Virus 
KB, and the small Waldorf for that kind of money.

Even more OT, I also got a chance to audition the Virus KB for about 45 
minutes.  I agree that it is not a replacement for the AN1x, and vice 
versa.  I also can see why those who own both say that if they had to pick 
one, they would lean towards the Virus.  It has a lot of flexibility.  They 
are really two different ways of attacking the same problem.  I liken the 
Virus' smooth, polished sound to a jazz player, while the AN1x's edgy, 
in-your-face tone is more like a rocker.  Or maybe it's more like Fender 
vs. Marshall.  The analogies could go on and on ...

One interesting aside:  I've heard many players on this forum wish that the 
AN1x had a few more knobs to tweak.  I've often felt the same way.  Be 
careful what you wish for!  The Virus KB clearly has more knobs, but I 
don't think they make for a better UI.  I was very disappointed with the 
interface.


Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
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