The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Mark,

>Did you decide to pick up a Darkstar or not? I think I might dash out
>tomorrow morning and grab one at Guitar Center. I hope they have some
>left! I tried one out very briefly a while back, mainly fiddling with
>the presets. It was kinda difficult to figure out without a manual so I
>didn't spend a lot of time with it. I will tomorrow. For 200 bucks, you
>can't go wrong with this one, even if just for a few extra strange, dark
>sounds here and there. Let me know what you think if you picked one up.

Yes I did, although it's not in my hot little hands yet.  ;^)  I bought 
mine by mail order, because the nearest Guitar Center is almost 50 miles 
from my house.  Thus, I bought mine sight unseen (and unheard), something I 
continuously caution others NOT to do!  (If you read on, you'll see that 
I'm not being as foolhardy as I seem...)

Several people responded about the unit:  mostly pro, a bit of con.  I also 
read every review I could find on the 'net, listened to all of the 
available MP3's, and browsed the user's manual, which is available at the 
Red Sound site.  I don't expect it to replace my blue Yamaha friend anytime 
soon.  From the MP3's, it seems that the DarkStar is a bit edgy and digital 
sounding.  This is not necessarily a BAD thing, as I play in a band that is 
based mostly on traditional sounds (electric and acoustic guitars, real 
drums, Hammond organ -- actually, a modeling clone of one, but with a real 
Leslie Speaker -- electric bass).  I've been trying to update the sound 
with electronics wherever it suits the music, and most of the time, the 
more electronic the sound, the better.

One of the most compelling arguments for buying it I received was that, 
since the DarkStar sends all of its controls as MIDI CC#'s, even if the 
sound is awful (and I suspect it isn't), $200US isn't a bad price for a 
dedicated MIDI controller, which could always be used to make real-time 
changes on another synth -- like, say, an AN1x?


Regards,

-BW (whose actual hands are neither hot nor little)

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™   www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...