The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- RayMaxer <digil@...> wrote:
> Is Nova's interface not much tougher to use than SuperNova's ?
> I am thinking of getting something to compliment my AN-1x and ViRUS b ...
> It will be either Nova or Waldorf's something (XT or Qrack/micro) ..
> Ray.

There are a few knobs missing, but I did not find much difference. When I went
to look at the SNII there were a few things that made me think... "oh, that's
nice that there is a dedicated knob for that". But, for the most part the
interface is the same. The Nova is truly easy to use. I have the Waldorf MWII
(rack version of XT) and the new Waldorf Micro Q. 

It really depends on what you are looking for. 

Effects:

The Nova gives you 6 parts with full effects (6 effects per part). So all 6
parts sound identical in multi mode to how they sounded in individual program
mode.

The XT gives you three parts that have full effects (but only one effect per
part). 

The Q rack gives you 4 parts with full effects (but only 2 effects per part)

The Micro Q gives no parts with the full (2) effects. Instead it gives you one
effect per part and one global effect. 

Sound Generation:

The Nova is a true virtual analog. It tends to be a little on the smooth and
liquid side. Great filters and resonance, quite different from the Virus b.

The XT is wavetable synthesis. Does some analog emulations, but specializes in
gritty digital wavetable sounds. Unique sounding filters and wavetables gives
this a unique sound.

The Q rack and micro Q are virtual analog with some wavetable capabilities.
Neither are as easy to use as the Nova, but they have good sonic potential. The
Q rack has a step sequencer.

Price-wise the Micro Q is the winner at around $695 new. The Q rack is around
$1400. The XT or Nova could be bought used for slightly more than a Micro Q. 

I've only had my Micro Q for a few days and still have a lot of exploring to
do. It has a particularly low output level which is requiring me to reconfigure
my studio a bit.

I think a dream setup would be:

Virus b
Nova (or S/N rack or S/N II rack)
Microwave XT 
Nord modular rack
Sampler
Controller keyboard (AN1x?)

There would be very little overlap but plenty of muscle.

Useful additions:

EX5R (I love mine) or something similar
Q rack or micro

I have a Virus b and a Nord Micro Modular on the way! :-)

Sayer

=====
'96 PC800 "Discovery"
     Herndon, VA      

Sayer's music: http://mp3.com/sayer and http://mp3.com/dreamquest
Sayer's studio site: http://members.aol.com/sayersweb/

__________________________________________________
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Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. 
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That was not the full list here , I also got Proteus 2K and WaveStation SR ... so I
think I am not so much looking for stuff like wavesequences in MW ... or may be
still am :) it's so hard to manage all that in WS SR and SoundDiver is not treating
it the best way IMHO ..
Sampler is what I am getting for sure in future months ...
I think I like the fact that Nova is softer kind of VA's ..
ViRUS is for sure the synth to be agressive in tracks ..
It's a pity that MicroQ is so low on the FX side ... as I currently have no
outboard FX .. .using either onboard synth fx units or software fx when mixing
(multitracking) ..
Though I am kinda going to get Lexicon MPX 500 and 100 may be to have high q.
outboard reverb at least plus some more dif. effects they have there inside ..
The other problem which is right in front of me is mixing all that ..
I am currently using Mackie 1604 VLZ and if I get myself a sampler plus some FX
plus another synth , I would be in lack of ... say .. 10-15 channels <G> for sure
..
What mixer are you using (and everybody here) ? Your advice ?
P.S. How much is Micro Modular this days ? (and how much poly does it give (I know
it depends on patch complexity , but sev. examples would be enough)
Ray.

Sayer wrote:

> --- RayMaxer <digil@...> wrote:
> > Is Nova's interface not much tougher to use than SuperNova's ?
> > I am thinking of getting something to compliment my AN-1x and ViRUS b ...
> > It will be either Nova or Waldorf's something (XT or Qrack/micro) ..
> > Ray.
>
> There are a few knobs missing, but I did not find much difference. When I went
> to look at the SNII there were a few things that made me think... "oh, that's
> nice that there is a dedicated knob for that". But, for the most part the
> interface is the same. The Nova is truly easy to use. I have the Waldorf MWII
> (rack version of XT) and the new Waldorf Micro Q.
>
> It really depends on what you are looking for.
>
> Effects:
>
> The Nova gives you 6 parts with full effects (6 effects per part). So all 6
> parts sound identical in multi mode to how they sounded in individual program
> mode.
>
> The XT gives you three parts that have full effects (but only one effect per
> part).
>
> The Q rack gives you 4 parts with full effects (but only 2 effects per part)
>
> The Micro Q gives no parts with the full (2) effects. Instead it gives you one
> effect per part and one global effect.
>
> Sound Generation:
>
> The Nova is a true virtual analog. It tends to be a little on the smooth and
> liquid side. Great filters and resonance, quite different from the Virus b.
>
> The XT is wavetable synthesis. Does some analog emulations, but specializes in
> gritty digital wavetable sounds. Unique sounding filters and wavetables gives
> this a unique sound.
>
> The Q rack and micro Q are virtual analog with some wavetable capabilities.
> Neither are as easy to use as the Nova, but they have good sonic potential. The
> Q rack has a step sequencer.
>
> Price-wise the Micro Q is the winner at around $695 new. The Q rack is around
> $1400. The XT or Nova could be bought used for slightly more than a Micro Q.
>
> I've only had my Micro Q for a few days and still have a lot of exploring to
> do. It has a particularly low output level which is requiring me to reconfigure
> my studio a bit.
>
> I think a dream setup would be:
>
> Virus b
> Nova (or S/N rack or S/N II rack)
> Microwave XT
> Nord modular rack
> Sampler
> Controller keyboard (AN1x?)
>
> There would be very little overlap but plenty of muscle.
>
> Useful additions:
>
> EX5R (I love mine) or something similar
> Q rack or micro
>
> I have a Virus b and a Nord Micro Modular on the way! :-)
>
> Sayer
>
> =====
> '96 PC800 "Discovery"
>      Herndon, VA
>
> Sayer's music: http://mp3.com/sayer and http://mp3.com/dreamquest
> Sayer's studio site: http://members.aol.com/sayersweb/
>
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> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
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--
http://www.mp3.com/raymaxer - full tracks and CD !
http://www.ampcast.com/raymaxer - short snippets of the tracks !

Hello Ray,

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, RayMaxer <digil@d...> wrote:
> That was not the full list here , I also got Proteus 2K and WaveStation SR ... so I
> think I am not so much looking for stuff like wavesequences in MW ... or may be
> still am :) it's so hard to manage all that in WS SR and SoundDiver is not treating
> it the best way IMHO ..

I can't speak to the "how to's" and "why not's" of SoundDiver but your 
description sounds similar to my past experience with a WS EX and 
Galaxy Plus Ed/Lib. You couldn't program wave sequences from Galaxy+. 
You were stuck programming wave sequences from the WS front panel (an 
exercise in masochism if you ask me...) The hierarchal nature of the WS 
drove me batty :-P...programming that box was an exercise in 
frustration.


> Sampler is what I am getting for sure in future months ...

A wise decision that you will not regret. IMO, a good sampler is the 
best investment you can make in new piece of gear! They make great, 
multipurpose tools and you'll never run out of excuses to use it! Plus, 
most of the current crop have all kinds of kewl native DSP or FX 
processing to further advance your efforts. Which model are you looking 
at? E-mu, Akai, Yamaha, or Kurzweil? Maybe a 2nd hand Ensoniq or 
Roland? The Yamaha's are nice but I still prefer my ASR-X Pro...but 
that's another story...


> The other problem which is right in front of me is mixing all that ..
> I am currently using Mackie 1604 VLZ and if I get myself a sampler plus some FX
> plus another synth , I would be in lack of ... say .. 10-15 channels <G> for sure

Have you evaluated all the line in's and out's you're running today? Do 
you *need* every_single_one that you have plugged into the Mackie  
right now - or can you fall back to a pair of inputs from each device? 
If you decide on a new mixer, I'd stick with Mackie. If you see your 
self going all digital then I'd spend the time thinking through what 
you need today and what you *think* you'll need tomorrow before 
spending the dough.


> ..
> What mixer are you using (and everybody here) ? Your advice ?
> P.S. How much is Micro Modular this days ? (and how much poly does it give (I know
> it depends on patch complexity , but sev. examples would be enough)

You should check the demo MP3s at the Clavia site - and maybe check  
the software package too. Don't forget, the Micro Mod (and the Nord 
Mod) require a dedicated pair of MIDI In & Outs for host editing in 
addition to a seperate MIDI In for receiving MIDI Note and CC events - 
that's a minimum of three MIDI cables for one box. The software is 
'smart' enough to keep tabs on how much horsepower your patch has 
exhausted. IMO, it's the type of box you really have to want to use and 
not let yourself get caught up in a perceived limitation such as 
polyphony. Of course, I feel much the same about the AN1x. The ten note 
polyphony has never been at issue with me :-)

regards,
Jon

--- RayMaxer <digil@...> wrote:
> That was not the full list here , I also got Proteus 2K and WaveStation SR
> ... so I think I am not so much looking for stuff like wavesequences in 
> MW ... or may be still am :) it's so hard to manage all that in WS SR and
> SoundDiver is not treating it the best way IMHO ..

I have never used the WaveStation... So maybe you won't find the XT that
interesting.

> Sampler is what I am getting for sure in future months ...

I have not used mine as much as I thought I would. I mostly use it to load up
drum samples.  

> I think I like the fact that Nova is softer kind of VA's ..

It's very smooth and nice. Will go well with the Virus.

> ViRUS is for sure the synth to be agressive in tracks ..

Yes, Can't wait for mine to arrive!  :-)

> It's a pity that MicroQ is so low on the FX side ... as I currently have no
> outboard FX .. .using either onboard synth fx units or software fx when
> mixing (multitracking) ..

It is disappointing. It only retains the first effect on the first 4 parts in
multi-mode. I think I forgot to mention that before.

> Though I am kinda going to get Lexicon MPX 500 and 100 may be to have high q.
> outboard reverb at least plus some more dif. effects they have there inside
> ..

I have an outboard effects processor but hardly ever use it. Just about all of
the synths I have offer onboard effects. I try and keep things as simple as
possible.

> The other problem which is right in front of me is mixing all that ..
> I am currently using Mackie 1604 VLZ and if I get myself a sampler plus some
> FX plus another synth , I would be in lack of ... say .. 10-15 channels <G>
> for sure ..

I started with a Mackie 1202 and still have it. I had the same problem you did
and ended up buying a 16 channel rack mounted keyboard mixer (Fostex 2016). It
has great sound and a nice auxilary bus. I liked it so much I ended up buying
two more of them (they are inexpensive). They are designed so that they can be
daisy chained, so I can share my outboard effects from any or all of the 48
channels. I have the three of them dumping through a compressor and then
through a BBE 462 and then the Mackie.

> P.S. How much is Micro Modular this days ? (and how much poly does it give (I
> know it depends on patch complexity , but sev. examples would be enough)

Thay are going for around $1000 on Ebay. I'm not sure about the polyphony.... I
have a Micro Modular on the way, so I went and spent about an hour downloading
patches. When I unzipped the files I had over 8000 unique patches. One nice
thing is that all of the Nord Lead patches have been converted to the Modular
format and are available for free.

Sayer

=====
'96 PC800 "Discovery"
     Herndon, VA      

Sayer's music: http://mp3.com/sayer and http://mp3.com/dreamquest
Sayer's studio site: http://members.aol.com/sayersweb/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. 
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

--- Sayer <sayerseely@...> wrote:
> --- RayMaxer <digil@...> wrote:
> > P.S. How much is Micro Modular this days ? (and how much poly does it give
> (I know it depends on patch complexity , but sev. examples would be enough)
> 
> Thay are going for around $1000 on Ebay. I'm not sure about the polyphony....
> I have a Micro Modular on the way, so I went and spent about an hour
> downloading patches. When I unzipped the files I had over 8000 unique 
> patches. One nice thing is that all of the Nord Lead patches have been 
> converted to the Modular format and are available for free.

Ooops! Sorry! I read your question wrong and thought you meant the regular Nord
Modular. The Micro Modular runs less tan $400 on Ebay. I'll have to wait and
see about the polyphony. 

Sayer

=====
'96 PC800 "Discovery"
     Herndon, VA      

Sayer's music: http://mp3.com/sayer and http://mp3.com/dreamquest
Sayer's studio site: http://members.aol.com/sayersweb/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. 
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/