The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Pete Nalda" <nalda@s...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I'm looking to see what others who have an an1x use for drum sounds
> (mainly) with their An1x's.  I have a Roland MC-307 but it's just a 
bit
> daunting with all the menus and such.  Looking for something more
> spontaneous, maybe just a little more analog sounding as well.  
Plus I
> don't need an arpeggiator, the an1x's is fine.  I'm currently 
looking at
> the Korg ER1 or EM1.  The ER1mkII I'm told isn't as fun as the 
original.
> 
> 
> Any Ideas??  TIA
> 
> Egun On Lagunak (Basque for G'day, Mates)
> Pete Nalda 

I'm using mostly softsamplers at this point - ESX24mkII and Battery - 
but on occasion I'll still use my hardware sampler: an Ensoniq ASR-X 
Pro.  It's still satisfying to load up some individual hits and/or 
loops, tap out some some two and four measure loops and resample the 
results into new loops. A hardware sampler/sequencer combo is a 
flexible solution - maybe take a look a that new MPC1000 from Akai - 
compact and cheap! Or maybe a Yamaha RS7000 (not so compact or cheap.)

I like the ER1, and EA1, and have spent some time demoing them at the 
local GC's. The ER1 has a capable sound set and is certainly easy 
enough to program - I find it very enjoyable to play but you might 
eventually become frustrated at the lack of storage capacity or the 
limited number of audio outputs.  Neither of which are of much 
concern, IMHO. I dig the electro beats from an ER1 but it's not what 
I'd turn to for 'realistic' sounds. I have yet to try the new MkII 
version but I seriously doubt the changes are significant enough to 
substract from the overall experience.

You might take a look at that little Boss DR-202 which is also mucho 
fun - too bad the audio quality is only "okaaaaay" and not great :-/ 
(and the display is lousy, too.) Still, plug it into a KAOS Pad or 
some sort of effects processor and it's off to the races. 

Rebirth is okay but to be honest it's turned into shelfware at my 
house - I rarely use it any longer. Maybe if/when they port it to OS 
X I'll get interested in it again...

HTH.

Jon