The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "hemlyn2003" <christone@o...> wrote:
> 
> My electronica band JUDSN (www.judsn.net) are playing shortly in 
> Newcastle on Tyne (Tues. 9th March 2004 at the Tyne Bar supporting 
> Adam Johnson (Merck Records Miami)), and I have come up with 
> something that I would like to make work for the gig
> 
> The 'problem' that I am addressing is that I have a musical 
> imagination that outstrips my technical ability!  
> 
> Onstage we run Cubase VST live on PC (yeah, I know, don't tell me, 
> one day...), playing some audio tracks while in- and outputting MIDIm 
> and we are playing live too.  
> 
> What I'd like to do is - think of an appropriate sequence for the 
> AN1X on the fly during a song; record it in to the step sequencer 
> there & then (using headphones, with the AN1X channel on our stage 
> mixer at zero volume); & then put the mixer up & have the sequence 
> play locked to MIDI Clock while I fool about with the various patch 
> settings.
> 

Here's the thing - you don't really 'record it in to the step sequencer' so much as play, 
or program, the AN1x step sequencer. 

> Is this do-able?  The key bit, I think, is having the sequencer 
> sync'd to incoming MIDI Clock, and starting the sequence at the right 
> time (??), and then retriggering it regularly after each 16 steps.
> 

1st of all, you likely want to preprogram some parameters - perhaps come up with a 
template for improvisation and copy that Voice to a consecutive number of program 
slots. Some suggestions for default settings: use a Tempo of MIDI so it would sync to 
the MIDI Clock signal from Cubase - does Cubase need to be in 'Play' mode to 
transmit MIDI Clock? Probably... 2nd, you'd likely want the Voice Common/ARP/SEQ 
parms preset to the obvious values - I'd think Seq HOLD would be easiest to work 
with. And under Seq/EDIT/SETUP you might preset Base Unit and Length - watch out 
for Step Hold or you'll hear unpredictable results.

If memory serves, place the AN1x into Mode 2 which wil permit you to program a foot 
switch to stop/start the AN1x Arp/Seq withou taking your hands off the controls. 
Don't think that option was available under Mode 1 but I'd have to check the manual 
(Data List) to make certain.

> That's what I want to do, and I think it ought to be possible.  
> Thoughts please - how/will it work?

The biggest concern, IMO, would be the ability to dial in a note value with accuracy 
under a live condition. Editing with the Assign Knobs can sometime be tedious when 
using the Push Knobs feature for exact values - don't know how comfortable it would 
be in a live situation yet the idea is intriguing. Certainly easy enough to try it out in 
the comfort of your home or rehearsal space.

Jon