The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

>
> Hi.
>
> Newbie to AN1x here (as to owning, but have been checking them out for
> 2 years via YouTube and forums, etc)
>
> Got an AN1x off of ebay and have been giving it a checkout, not sure
> how this is going to turn out, is not quite as advertised.
>
> The touch ribbon is kind of funky. Works fine on one patch in X
> direction as to filter opening and such, but is not exactly gradient
> as to pressure or slide at times in Z.
>
> When you check it via the Factory Tests, it's clearly wonky...jumps
> from 128 to 00 for example. Yet can pass, and say OK. Anything I can
> do to get the ribbon working better when I open it up to change out
> the battery?
>
> The aftertouch/pressure for the keyboard keys seems completely
> non-functional in all the programs, key down after pressure does
> absolutely nothing, however it checks out perfectly gradient from 0 to
> 127 when doing the factory test? I tested multiple keys.
>
> There a factory preset patch where aftertouch opens the VCF up for
> instance, or adds a vibrato, where it clearly should be working?
>
> My OS version is v1.0.2
>
>

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Jeff <jf.serviere@...> wrote:
>
> Happy new year to you all, AN1x fans !
>
> Hi yp !
> I guess you can fix your troubles with ribbon control and after touch,
> as these are "tweakable", both in each patch (destination and amount)
> and in the hardware, it should be trim pots on some PCB to adjust the
> effect (minimum value and range), as these controllers are purely
> analog. They act as voltage dividers whose output is fed in some A/D
> converter. As they are passive and contactless they are likely reliable.
> The last OS is (should be...) available, it's an EEPROM, but it seems to
> depend on your country .... but don't expect too much improvements.
>
> I have mine, bought second hand too some years ago, and it's pretty
> reliable. The plastic case is a bit cheesy but the electronics and
> keyboard are flawless. Be careful when you open yours to change the
> backup battery.
>
> Cheers.
> J.F.
>
>
> yp_artist_guy a écrit :
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > Newbie to AN1x here (as to owning, but have been checking them out for
> > 2 years via YouTube and forums, etc)
> >
> > Got an AN1x off of ebay and have been giving it a checkout, not sure
> > how this is going to turn out, is not quite as advertised.
> >
> > The touch ribbon is kind of funky. Works fine on one patch in X
> > direction as to filter opening and such, but is not exactly gradient
> > as to pressure or slide at times in Z.
> >
> > When you check it via the Factory Tests, it's clearly wonky...jumps
> > from 128 to 00 for example. Yet can pass, and say OK. Anything I can
> > do to get the ribbon working better when I open it up to change out
> > the battery?
> >
> > The aftertouch/pressure for the keyboard keys seems completely
> > non-functional in all the programs, key down after pressure does
> > absolutely nothing, however it checks out perfectly gradient from 0 to
> > 127 when doing the factory test? I tested multiple keys.
> >
> > There a factory preset patch where aftertouch opens the VCF up for
> > instance, or adds a vibrato, where it clearly should be working?
> >
> > My OS version is v1.0.2
> >
> >
>

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Edwards" wrote:
>
> Unfortunately, there are no hardware adjustments for the ribbon. The aftertouch does have a variable resistor (trim pot) which may be adjusted. It is the only trim pot on the circuit board.
>
> OS version v1.0.2 is the final released by Yamaha.
>
> As an electronics technician I would advise you to unplug and re-insert any components that are socketed and any connectors when you have it open to change the battery. Doing this will help if corrosion or oxidation has built up over time.
>
> Once you have it open you may be surprised at how small the circuit board is.
>
> The ribbon controller is one of the weaker components and is not easy to replace if it has failed.
>
> So - open the bottom, remove the battery, reseat all connectors, put a new battery in, reset the unit to clear the memory, re-load the factory patches and then try adjusting the trim on the aftertouch before you put all the screws back in.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Ed²
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeff
> Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 6:57 AM
> To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [AN1x] Aftertouch issue (and greetings)
>
> Happy new year to you all, AN1x fans !
>
> Hi yp !
> I guess you can fix your troubles with ribbon control and after touch,
> as these are "tweakable", both in each patch (destination and amount)
> and in the hardware, it should be trim pots on some PCB to adjust the
> effect (minimum value and range), as these controllers are purely
> analog. They act as voltage dividers whose output is fed in some A/D
> converter. As they are passive and contactless they are likely reliable.
> The last OS is (should be...) available, it's an EEPROM, but it seems to
> depend on your country .... but don't expect too much improvements.
>
> I have mine, bought second hand too some years ago, and it's pretty
> reliable. The plastic case is a bit cheesy but the electronics and
> keyboard are flawless. Be careful when you open yours to change the
> backup battery.
>
> Cheers.
> J.F.
>
>
> yp_artist_guy a écrit :
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > Newbie to AN1x here (as to owning, but have been checking them out for
> > 2 years via YouTube and forums, etc)
> >
> > Got an AN1x off of ebay and have been giving it a checkout, not sure
> > how this is going to turn out, is not quite as advertised.
> >
> > The touch ribbon is kind of funky. Works fine on one patch in X
> > direction as to filter opening and such, but is not exactly gradient
> > as to pressure or slide at times in Z.
> >
> > When you check it via the Factory Tests, it's clearly wonky...jumps
> > from 128 to 00 for example. Yet can pass, and say OK. Anything I can
> > do to get the ribbon working better when I open it up to change out
> > the battery?
> >
> > The aftertouch/pressure for the keyboard keys seems completely
> > non-functional in all the programs, key down after pressure does
> > absolutely nothing, however it checks out perfectly gradient from 0 to
> > 127 when doing the factory test? I tested multiple keys.
> >
> > There a factory preset patch where aftertouch opens the VCF up for
> > instance, or adds a vibrato, where it clearly should be working?
> >
> > My OS version is v1.0.2
> >
> >
>
>
>
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>

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Edwards" wrote:
>
> Rc,
>
> Glad to see you went as far as possible with the overhaul/cleanup. Takes a lotta guts for many musicians to do the maintenance on their machines. I remember getting my clarinet in 3rd grade. The first thing they taught you was how to properly remove it from the case, grease the cork that holds the sections together, properly wet, mount, tighten and adjust the reed. That’s just how a clarinet works and if you wanted to learn to play one you had to learn basic maintenance. I mean, crap I was 10 years old. Now it’s guitarists and drummers who have to mess around with a lot of hardware regularly but (bomb me if you want for this) keyboardists can be some of the laziest, mechanically inept musicians. A few recent groups I’ve played in had synth players that literally only knew how to get like 4 sounds out of the thing and regarded all the buttons and such as clutter. Just wanted to play piano/organ/strings even though they bought some workstation type beast with 10000 factory patches and touch screen programming, sequencer, etc.
>
> I hope that the overhaul cleaning and reseating restores your ribbon controller. They are unavailable from Yamaha if broken (at least in the US and Europe when I checked about 8 years ago). I didn’t want to give you this bad news on my original post. I’ve been just lurking for a few years due to health issues but you can ask Jon (our moderator) how active I was in the past. Jon even organized a few get together lunches in the DC suburbs back in the early 2000s where we exchanged floppies(!) and ideas.
>
> Ed²
>
> _____
>
> From: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of yp_artist_guy
> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 4:16 AM
> To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [AN1x] Re: Aftertouch issue (and greetings)
>
>
>
>
> "KurtF" wrote:
>
> > There is a sort of more modern equivalent in the Novation X-Station with its XY pad. While it may not have all the sound capabilities of the AN1X, it does have some punch and a wealth of controls, and is a MIDI controller. Perhaps connecting an X-Station 25 to the AN1X would provide a latitude of control that may be missing from the AN1X's own panel. Or a Novation Remote SL which is similar but without the built in KS synthesizer.
>
>
> Thanks for the suggestion. That's a nice looking controller.
>
> Got my courage up, finally did battery and other surgery on the thing, just got done.
>
> Pulled and did some cleaning on the pitch and mod wheels, they look new now, vacuumed out all dust devils, cleaned the back inside, reseated whatever would budge, hopefully didn't break any that wouldn't.
>
> I pulled the ribbon controller, cleaned that off all around, reseated it, and zipped it all back up (no more dust surrounding that, looks new-ish), then cleaned the keyboard as best I could...a full teardown didn't seem advisable or needed. It's now a lot cleaner, but I think still has some kind of odor to it. Not sure if is from old soap, or the bubble wrap was smokey, or it's ganja residue in the dust from some prior owner that perked back up once the southern humidity got to it while cooped up during shipping in the truck.
>
> Also pulled all knobs, cleaned and vacuumed out dust behind.
>
> Ribbon controller X axis is reliably better now, Z pressure might be too...have to do more testing. I had unseated and re-attached the 5 band ribbon connector, and also the multi-connector on that board as well.
>
> Old battery was 2.89 volts still, higher than I expected given the age. Got the new one at Target, only $4.50 or so. CR2450 Energizer, 2020 date.
>
> rc
>
> _____
>
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> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5974 - Release Date: 12/20/12
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5974 - Release Date: 12/20/12
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
>
>
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>