The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> All,
> 
> >It's all down to personal preference, of course, but one very 
important
> >requirement of presets is that they make the unit sound good 
in the shop.
> >That doesn't necessarily mean that those presets sound 
good in a mix.
> 
> While I agree that making the unit sound good in the shop 
SHOULD be the driving force, even that doesn't always seem to 
be the method used by synth manufacturers.  Many 
manufacturers, including Yamaha, seem to focus on showing off 
the capabilities of the synth, which leads to interesting -- but not 
necessarily musically useful -- presets.
> 
> A good example, IMHO, is "We All Die."  It's one of the most 
unique patches I've ever heard, and it certainly highlights both 
the modulation capabilities and the free EG, but it never made 
my list of keepers because I can't really figure out anyplace to 
use it!
> 

Ha ha ha - Perhaps you can use "We All Die" for a Gary Numan 
cover tune? 

Seriously though, you make a valid point. Sayer has just ordered 
that OB12. While we were at WMC last wekend I had a chance to 
play the OB12. Before I could even locate the patch increment  
button on the front panel somebody was whispering in my ear 
something about the presets not being representative of the 
synths capabilities?! And what about the Ensoniq FIZMO? How 
do you expect shoppers with MTV attention span to judge a synth 
that requires you to hold a note/chord for three seconds or longer 
while the patch develops?

Jon