The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

> Can someone please comment the keyboard of the AN1X? 61 keys (with
velocity & aftertouch)? But what's the AN1X like as a master keyboard?
Quality keys or less quality...<

I think it makes a very nice master kbd because of the knobs on the left
side.  There are several 'groups' for the knobs, one of which can be
customized to any MIDI CC#s.  I like the feel of the keyboard,
personally ... Synth-like (not weighted or anything), but has a good
firm feel to it.    Aftertouch is pretty easy to get.  The case is
plastic, but feels pretty sturdy.  It has a far better keyboard than the
CS1X and CS2X do, although all three have about the same case shape.
 
> I also read that the AN1X has a morphing function, which makes it
possible to morph between two different sounds. I can imagine that this
function is a source of some really weird and nasty sounds. But how
easy/practical is this function? Is it as exciting as it sounds?<

It's quite simple to use - basically you can create two 'scenes' for
each sound, which can be very different from each other or nearly
identical.  Then, you set a controller to handle the scene switch (such
as the mod wheel), and can move it back & forth to morph between the
two.  So it's not exactly like the Nord Modular's morph function, but
definitely useful.  
 
> And does anyone here know where the AN1X stands compared to other
VA-synths? Would it go well together with, for example a Nord Modular,
Access Virus B or a Korg MS-2000, or would it be a bit like getting a
duplicate of one of the synths?<

One of the coolest things about the AN1X, IMO, is the arpeggiator / step
sequencer.  It is very flexible, and can be set to transmit on *any*
midi channel.  I haven't been overly impressed with the *range* of
sounds it can create compared to the Nord Modular (but then again, what
*is* as flexible as the NM??), though what it does I think it does well,
and it is *very* tweakable.  I think it complements my MS2K pretty well
from a sound perspective - it has a bit of a darker, 'wetter' sound to
me than the MS2K, especially the filter, although there are definitely a
lot of similarities in the design of the two synths.  I think the AN1X
makes a very nice master controller keyboard because of the knobs,
ribbon controller, and step sequencer, which was a main reason why I
bought it.  
 
> One last thing ... does the AN1X send any "ACTIVE SENSING" messages?<

Yes, it does.  Seems to be something that all Yamaha kbds do - my old
SY22 did it as well.  Which reminds me - if you've ever used an SY22,
the AN1X keyboard feels a lot like it to me.

Hope this helps ... 

-Steve
 sbm@...
 Sacramento, CA