The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hello all,
new to the list:
currently i use a MC505 and and an old roland W30 (as my controller) 
everything is usually sequenced through cakewalk.   The W30 is 
getting old, and i am going to replace it.  I have read many good 
things about the AN1x.  Can anyone tell me if i would be wasting my 
money here, since i allready have a synth/drum machine in the 505.  
My goal is to use it as a midi controller, and use all the phat 
sounds that the 505 can't produce.
Oh yea, i have my eye on one thats going for $600 (canadian)

Cheers 

Gerry

My studio is basically a 505, cakewalk, and an an1x.

IMO it's an incredible combo.  $600 canadian is what i paid for my an1x, and
I feel it was the perfect choice.  Like you plan, i use the 505 for drums
and rhythm, an1x for all the fat trancey sounds.  they work together
beautifully.


----- Original Message -----

From: "Gerry Bolda" <tam_ger@...>
To: <AN1x-list@egroups.com>
Sent: November 14, 2000 1:04 PM
Subject: [AN1x-list] i need some advice


> Hello all,
> new to the list:
> currently i use a MC505 and and an old roland W30 (as my controller)
> everything is usually sequenced through cakewalk.   The W30 is
> getting old, and i am going to replace it.  I have read many good
> things about the AN1x.  Can anyone tell me if i would be wasting my
> money here, since i allready have a synth/drum machine in the 505.
> My goal is to use it as a midi controller, and use all the phat
> sounds that the 505 can't produce.
> Oh yea, i have my eye on one thats going for $600 (canadian)
>
> Cheers
>
> Gerry
>
>
>
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From: "Gerry Bolda" <tam_ger@...>

> Hello all,
> new to the list:

Glad you could make it!

> currently i use a MC505 and and an old roland W30 (as my controller)
> everything is usually sequenced through cakewalk.   The W30 is
> getting old, and i am going to replace it.  I have read many good
> things about the AN1x.  Can anyone tell me if i would be wasting my
> money here, since i allready have a synth/drum machine in the 505.
> My goal is to use it as a midi controller, and use all the phat
> sounds that the 505 can't produce.

The AN1x is a quite nice MIDI controller. I used it to control my EX5r,
until I replaced the EX5r with an EX5. Keyboards like the EX5 and Korg Z1
are better than the AN1x, but in its price class, nothing much is better.

As a controller, it's nothing fancy, but it does the job and I would imagine
that the W30 isn't anything fancy either.

All in all, I think it would be a good choice for you, certainly as a
controller.

In regards to the sounds, you do have limited polyphony and multitimbrality,
but any virtual analogue (virtualogue?) has that, unless you shell out major
mullah for a Supernova. Whether you like the sound is a matter of personal
preference (and in the case of this list, highly subjective opinion :) ),
but I think you won't be disappointed.

> Oh yea, i have my eye on one thats going for $600 (canadian)

Sounds like a reasonable price to me. Perhaps even a good price. Be sure to
check out the status of the keyboard, the ribbon controller, the knobs (both
turning *and* pressing), and check if there's a crackle when you start the
machine in Split mode (meaning that you switched it off in Split mode).

- Peter

Hello Gerry - welcome to the list.

Time to retire the Roland W30, huh? Well, since you're on the AN1x
list 
you're going to get an overwhelming vote for an AN1x - and I'd
concur, 
it makes a terrific MIDI controller - but there are a few things to 
mull over first.

1) The AN1x keyboard feels completely different than the keyboard 
mechanism used in the Roland. The Roland mechanism is lighter and
more 
organ like in it's action.

2) Obviously the Roland Pitch/Mod bend thingy would be replaced by 
dedicated Mod and Pitch wheels. While they feel adequate to the touch 
they are by no means as robust as the mechanisms used on the current 
Euro-V/As. FWIW, I've never liked the feel of the Roland Pitch/Mod 
thingy and prefer dedicated wheels.

3) The Ribbon Controller on the AN1x is excellent but the one on the 
CS6x is much improved, IMO. The Assign Knobs are great! Very useful
and easy to program.

Aside from all that are you certain you want to replace a Sampler
with a Virtual Analog? Personally, I think the combination of Sampler +
V/A is the way to go - that's what I've done. Still, you have the MC505
for a ROMpler/Drum Machine/Sequencer combo so you'd have an
effective and flexible setup, IMO.

While on the subject of W30, I assume you're hip to the SGroup page
at http://www.generalconcepts.com/sgroup/ Did you ever get the SCSI mod 
done to your W30?

regards,
Jon

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, "Gerry  Bolda" <tam_ger@h...> wrote:
> Hello all,
> new to the list:
> currently i use a MC505 and and an old roland W30 (as my
controller) 

> everything is usually sequenced through cakewalk.   The W30 is 
> getting old, and i am going to replace it.  I have read many good 
> things about the AN1x.  Can anyone tell me if i would be wasting my 
> money here, since i allready have a synth/drum machine in the 505.  
> My goal is to use it as a midi controller, and use all the phat 
> sounds that the 505 can't produce.
> Oh yea, i have my eye on one thats going for $600 (canadian)
> 
> Cheers 
> 
> Gerry

I like the keyboard of the AN1x because it's sturdy yet light but not bouncy.
I've had my hands on a few keyboards, and the Yamaha AN1x's is my favourite to date.

my 2 cents,
 mango


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From: <mangey@...>

> I like the keyboard of the AN1x because it's sturdy yet light but not
bouncy.
> I've had my hands on a few keyboards, and the Yamaha AN1x's is my
favourite to date.

The nicest keyboard I played on so far was on a Yamaha C3 grand piano,
although it's difficult to play very fast on it.

The more expensive Yamaha keyboards, as featured on their 76-key
workstations (SY99, W5, EX5), the Korg Z1 and probably the Korg Trition, are
very good as well. They have a pleasant, semi-weighted feel to them. It's
still very suited to play a fast solo, but you get a better feel of what
you're doing than on an AN1x.

The AN1x, though, has probably the best keyboard in its price range.

- Peter

To be honest, the W30 sounds really great, but is very limited as a 
sampler.  No real time mods, slow disk drive, low memory.  Great in 
it's day but now with all the newer (much smaller samplers) available 
it has to go.  Plus i dont' have the room for two keyboards, and it's 
one less item to haul around for gigging.  The keyboard is super 
sensitive, and it's easy to hit two keys if your not careful.  
However i'm sure once it's gone i will have found a use for it :)  I 
still have this nagging little voice saying "you'll be sorry you sold 
it"

To answer you question about the SCSI mod, no it has not been changed.

Any idea what one of these things (W30) might fetch on ebay?

Gerry





--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, jondl@j... wrote:
> Hello Gerry - welcome to the list.
> 
> Time to retire the Roland W30, huh? Well, since you're on the AN1x
> list 
> you're going to get an overwhelming vote for an AN1x - and I'd
> concur, 
> it makes a terrific MIDI controller - but there are a few things to 
> mull over first.
> 
> 1) The AN1x keyboard feels completely different than the keyboard 
> mechanism used in the Roland. The Roland mechanism is lighter and
> more 
> organ like in it's action.
> 
> 2) Obviously the Roland Pitch/Mod bend thingy would be replaced by 
> dedicated Mod and Pitch wheels. While they feel adequate to the 
touch 
> they are by no means as robust as the mechanisms used on the 
current 
> Euro-V/As. FWIW, I've never liked the feel of the Roland Pitch/Mod 
> thingy and prefer dedicated wheels.
> 
> 3) The Ribbon Controller on the AN1x is excellent but the one on 
the 
> CS6x is much improved, IMO. The Assign Knobs are great! Very useful
> and easy to program.
> 
> Aside from all that are you certain you want to replace a Sampler
> with a Virtual Analog? Personally, I think the combination of 
Sampler +
> V/A is the way to go - that's what I've done. Still, you have the 
MC505
> for a ROMpler/Drum Machine/Sequencer combo so you'd have an
> effective and flexible setup, IMO.
> 
> While on the subject of W30, I assume you're hip to the SGroup page
> at http://www.generalconcepts.com/sgroup/ Did you ever get the SCSI 
mod 

> done to your W30?
> 
> regards,
> Jon

Well, at least make copies of your sample data before you sell.  You 
could alway pick up a compatible device down the road and I know of 
some Mac programs which will read Roland formatted diskettes: DSound-
PRO and SMAC (both shareware.)

Regarding price: I did a quick search on eBay for "Roland W30" - 
nothing turned up. I did a 'Search Completed Items' and found one W30 
sale from three weeks ago. The reserve price was on the LOW side :-(  
I did a quick search at Harmony-Central and found one for sale for 
$350 (which is more in line with fair market value, IMO.)  I suppose 
your asking price would depend on how quickly you want to sell it.  
You may want to check the classifieds at Sonic State, Dancetech, or 
better yet rec.music.makers.synth & rec.music.makers.marktetplace.

Hope this helps.

regards,
Jon

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, "Gerry  Bolda" <tam_ger@h...> wrote:
> To be honest, the W30 sounds really great, but is very limited as a 
> sampler.  No real time mods, slow disk drive, low memory.  Great in 
> it's day but now with all the newer (much smaller samplers) 
available 
> it has to go.  Plus i dont' have the room for two keyboards, and 
it's 
> one less item to haul around for gigging.  The keyboard is super 
> sensitive, and it's easy to hit two keys if your not careful.  
> However i'm sure once it's gone i will have found a use for it :)  
I 
> still have this nagging little voice saying "you'll be sorry you 
sold 
> it"
> 
> To answer you question about the SCSI mod, no it has not been 
changed.
> 
> Any idea what one of these things (W30) might fetch on ebay?
> 
> Gerry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, jondl@j... wrote:
> > Hello Gerry - welcome to the list.
> > 
> > Time to retire the Roland W30, huh? Well, since you're on the AN1x
> > list 
> > you're going to get an overwhelming vote for an AN1x - and I'd
> > concur, 
> > it makes a terrific MIDI controller - but there are a few things 
to 
> > mull over first.
> > 
> > 1) The AN1x keyboard feels completely different than the keyboard 
> > mechanism used in the Roland. The Roland mechanism is lighter and
> > more 
> > organ like in it's action.
> > 
> > 2) Obviously the Roland Pitch/Mod bend thingy would be replaced 
by 
> > dedicated Mod and Pitch wheels. While they feel adequate to the 
> touch 
> > they are by no means as robust as the mechanisms used on the 
> current 
> > Euro-V/As. FWIW, I've never liked the feel of the Roland 
Pitch/Mod 
> > thingy and prefer dedicated wheels.
> > 
> > 3) The Ribbon Controller on the AN1x is excellent but the one on 
> the 
> > CS6x is much improved, IMO. The Assign Knobs are great! Very 
useful
> > and easy to program.
> > 
> > Aside from all that are you certain you want to replace a Sampler
> > with a Virtual Analog? Personally, I think the combination of 
> Sampler +
> > V/A is the way to go - that's what I've done. Still, you have the 
> MC505
> > for a ROMpler/Drum Machine/Sequencer combo so you'd have an
> > effective and flexible setup, IMO.
> > 
> > While on the subject of W30, I assume you're hip to the SGroup 
page
> > at http://www.generalconcepts.com/sgroup/ Did you ever get the 
SCSI 

> mod 
> > done to your W30?
> > 
> > regards,
> > Jon