The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

What's an easy way to find out what software (firmware) version the AN1x is 
running?

TIA,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> What's an easy way to find out what software (firmware) version the 
AN1x is 
> running?

Keep the '0', '-', and '+' buttons pressed while you power on the 
AN1x. The latest (last) OS revision is v1.04 which is an EPROM 
available from Yamaha. I received mine free of charge. Here's a 
summary I posted to the list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-
list/message/2013 There are a few of us on the list who have 
upgraded. And while on the subject of opening up your AN1x you may 
want to read this post too http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-
list/message/2570

HTH,

Jon

> 
> TIA,
> 
> -BW
> 
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Design Consultant
> Ashby Solutions"
> www.ashbysolutions.com
> CloneWheel Support Group moderator
> 978.386.7389  voice
> 978.776.0096  fax
> bruce@a...

Jon,

Thanks for the help.  I checked the version, and it's v1.02.  Your pointer 
to message #2013 was helpful, and I sent a message to Yamaha to ask about 
getting v1.04.  I see that it corrects a couple of bugs in the system; do 
you know if it corrects the problem with MIDI CC#32?  (If you map CC#32 to 
one of the Control sources -- MW, Knob 1-8, Foot Volume, etc. -- the AN1x 
will accept the value, but it will never send any data out on MIDI.  All 
other valid CC#'s -- 1-31 and 33-96 seem to work fine.  Kind of a shame, 
because CC#32 is one of the few controls that doesn't have a native meaning 
to the AN1x.)

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...

Hi Bruce

     As far as I'm aware of, the new chip should only correct to things.
Some pooping noise and a problem with the delay. Can't remember exactly what
the problems were, but I don't think the problem you mentioned, were in
there. There was an old thread on the list some time ago concerning this.
Try look in the old postings, or maybe somone can remember what it was. I
got the chip from Yamaha, myself but has not installed it yet.

     Hope this helpes!!!

Jan

> -----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
> Fra: Bruce Wahler [mailto:bruce@...]
> Sendt: 7. marts 2001 19:22
> Til: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Emne: Re: [AN1x-list] Re: Software Version
>
>
> Jon,
>
> Thanks for the help.  I checked the version, and it's v1.02.
> Your pointer
> to message #2013 was helpful, and I sent a message to Yamaha to ask about
> getting v1.04.  I see that it corrects a couple of bugs in the system; do
> you know if it corrects the problem with MIDI CC#32?  (If you map
> CC#32 to
> one of the Control sources -- MW, Knob 1-8, Foot Volume, etc. -- the AN1x
> will accept the value, but it will never send any data out on MIDI.  All
> other valid CC#'s -- 1-31 and 33-96 seem to work fine.  Kind of a shame,
> because CC#32 is one of the few controls that doesn't have a
> native meaning
> to the AN1x.)
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
>
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Design Consultant
> Ashby Solutions"
> www.ashbysolutions.com
> CloneWheel Support Group moderator
> 978.386.7389  voice
> 978.776.0096  fax
> bruce@...
>
>
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>
>
>

Hi Bruce,
Check out the MIDI Implementation chart in the latter section of the 
AN1x Data List:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list/files/Documentation/an1xe2.pdf

CC 32 Bank Select is not implemented in the AN1x ('X' not 'O') - this 
is a design limitation not a 'bug'. :-/

You'll need to use some time of rechanneling for program changes to 
include a bank select command. For example, when I'm in 
editing/sequencing mode I just use Logic Audio to issue the 
MSB/LSB/Prog commands to my ASR-X Pro sampler. This has the benefit 
of allowing me to select programs in the ASR-X by name (and what a 
pain in the butt that was to setup in advance.) When I'm in 'get the 
idea down quickly' mode - I issue all my program changes manually.

If you're looking at using the AN1x as a controller in an extensive 
rig of MIDI Module you *may* want to consider a MIDI Patch bay that 
allows you to rechannel program change commands. Alternatively, you 
could could always reprogram your AN1x & slave module(s) to respond 
to your patch change commands in seq order.

At least this is how I'd go about it...Sayer has quite a bit of gear 
- maybe he has a better idea :-)

Or, perhaps you already thought of all this and were just hoping the 
AN1x accomodate CC 032 to get around it ;-)

HTH,

Jon

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> Jon,
> 
> Thanks for the help.  I checked the version, and it's v1.02.  Your 
pointer 
> to message #2013 was helpful, and I sent a message to Yamaha to ask 
about 
> getting v1.04.  I see that it corrects a couple of bugs in the 
system; do 
> you know if it corrects the problem with MIDI CC#32?  (If you map 
CC#32 to 
> one of the Control sources -- MW, Knob 1-8, Foot Volume, etc. -- 
the AN1x 
> will accept the value, but it will never send any data out on 
MIDI.  All 
> other valid CC#'s -- 1-31 and 33-96 seem to work fine.  Kind of a 
shame, 
> because CC#32 is one of the few controls that doesn't have a native 
meaning 

> to the AN1x.)
> 
> Regards,
> 
> -BW
> 
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Design Consultant
> Ashby Solutions"
> www.ashbysolutions.com
> CloneWheel Support Group moderator
> 978.386.7389  voice
> 978.776.0096  fax
> bruce@a...

Jon,

Thanks for the info.

>CC 32 Bank Select is not implemented in the AN1x ('X' not 'O') - this
>is a design limitation not a 'bug'. :-/

OK, it's a "feature." ;^)  The bug, then, is in the display:  if you set a 
Control item (ex: MW) to CC#0, the display says "off," which makes sense; 
if you set it to CC#32 it says "-------" just like CC#4, 12, 13, 40-49, 66, 
67, 84, 88, 89, 92, and 95 do -- and they all get transmitted.

Also, that MIDI Implementation Chart doesn't seem to directly apply to 
"master controller" messages from the AN1x.  It has an 'X' next to CC#66, 
67, and 84 in both the TX and RX, yet I send CC#66 and CC#67 through Knob 7 
and 8 to adjust my EFX unit all the time, and it works perfectly.  That 
MIDI implementation chart does not have enough info to tell the whole story.

>You'll need to use some time of rechanneling for program changes to
>include a bank select command. For example, when I'm in
>editing/sequencing mode I just use Logic Audio to issue the
>MSB/LSB/Prog commands to my ASR-X Pro sampler. This has the benefit
>of allowing me to select programs in the ASR-X by name (and what a
>pain in the butt that was to setup in advance.) When I'm in 'get the
>idea down quickly' mode - I issue all my program changes manually.
>
>If you're looking at using the AN1x as a controller in an extensive
>rig of MIDI Module you *may* want to consider a MIDI Patch bay that
>allows you to rechannel program change commands. Alternatively, you
>could could always reprogram your AN1x & slave module(s) to respond
>to your patch change commands in seq order.
>
>At least this is how I'd go about it...Sayer has quite a bit of gear
>- maybe he has a better idea :-)
>
>Or, perhaps you already thought of all this and were just hoping the
>AN1x accomodate CC 032 to get around it ;-)

Actually, I just wanted to use the AN1x to control another synth, and 
prefer to use CC#'s that don't accidentally mess up the current AN1x patch 
in the process.  I have an Alesis S4 and a Quadraverb 2 slaved to the AN1x, 
and I use these "orphan" CC#'s to modulate the S4/Q2.  (ex: The FV pedal is 
set to CC#45, because I don't want it to affect the AN1x.)  I use Cakewalk 
to call up patches when sequencing, and it supports bank selection.  (I 
also went through the pain of programming the names of all the patches in 
CW.  Luckily, it can be done in a text-based file, so I was able to use 
cut-and-paste a little.)

I also have a nifty little device called a MIDI Solutions Router that 
allows me to re-channel any MIDI command that I like.  Right now, I use the 
AN1x keyboard to control the synth on CH2, some portions of the S4 on CH1, 
and the lower manual of a KORG CX-3 on CH3, but I have all AN1x patch 
commands going to CH2, regardless of where they originate.

I've learned to work around CC#32, but it was good for a wasted 20 min, the 
first time I tried!

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> Jon,
> 
> Thanks for the info.
> 
> >CC 32 Bank Select is not implemented in the AN1x ('X' not 'O') - 
this
> >is a design limitation not a 'bug'. :-/
> 
> OK, it's a "feature." ;^)  The bug, then, is in the display:  if 
you set a 

"feature" ha haha LOL And I thought "design limitation" was pushing 
the envelope ;-)


> Control item (ex: MW) to CC#0, the display says "off," which makes 
sense; 
> if you set it to CC#32 it says "-------" just like CC#4, 12, 13, 40-
49, 66, 
> 67, 84, 88, 89, 92, and 95 do -- and they all get transmitted.
> 
> Also, that MIDI Implementation Chart doesn't seem to directly apply 
to 
> "master controller" messages from the AN1x.  It has an 'X' next to 
CC#66, 
> 67, and 84 in both the TX and RX, yet I send CC#66 and CC#67 
through Knob 7 
> and 8 to adjust my EFX unit all the time, and it works perfectly.  
That 
> MIDI implementation chart does not have enough info to tell the 
whole story.

That's interesting - I can't recall ever trying to assign so many 
unused MIDI CC's for TX or RX as you have. Never had a need to...but 
it's useful information to know. Particularly that the Data List is 
incorrect...good catch!

Back to CC 032 though - isn't it typically tranmitted in a pair with 
MSB/LSB followed by a program change? Example: 032 001 000 for Bank 
Select, Bank, Program number? Perhaps this why the duel nature of the 
Assign knobs, i.e., MIDI CC + Value, are ineffective for CC 032 but 
not for the unassigned MIDI CC's such as 066 or 067?


> 
> >You'll need to use some time of rechanneling for program changes to
> >include a bank select command. For example, when I'm in
> >editing/sequencing mode I just use Logic Audio to issue the
> >MSB/LSB/Prog commands to my ASR-X Pro sampler. This has the benefit
> >of allowing me to select programs in the ASR-X by name (and what a
> >pain in the butt that was to setup in advance.) When I'm in 'get 
the
> >idea down quickly' mode - I issue all my program changes manually.
> >
> >If you're looking at using the AN1x as a controller in an extensive
> >rig of MIDI Module you *may* want to consider a MIDI Patch bay that
> >allows you to rechannel program change commands. Alternatively, you
> >could could always reprogram your AN1x & slave module(s) to respond
> >to your patch change commands in seq order.
> >
> >At least this is how I'd go about it...Sayer has quite a bit of 
gear
> >- maybe he has a better idea :-)
> >
> >Or, perhaps you already thought of all this and were just hoping 
the
> >AN1x accomodate CC 032 to get around it ;-)
> 
> Actually, I just wanted to use the AN1x to control another synth, 
and 
> prefer to use CC#'s that don't accidentally mess up the current 
AN1x patch 
> in the process.  I have an Alesis S4 and a Quadraverb 2 slaved to 
the AN1x, 
> and I use these "orphan" CC#'s to modulate the S4/Q2.  (ex: The FV 
pedal is 
> set to CC#45, because I don't want it to affect the AN1x.)  I use 
Cakewalk 
> to call up patches when sequencing, and it supports bank 
selection.  (I 
> also went through the pain of programming the names of all the 
patches in 
> CW.  Luckily, it can be done in a text-based file, so I was able to 
use 
> cut-and-paste a little.)

We're on the same page...I typically use MIDI CC 002 and 012 for 
realtime mod's on my ASR-X Pro (ususually use 012 for the ASR-X FX 
mods.)


> 
> I also have a nifty little device called a MIDI Solutions Router 
that 
> allows me to re-channel any MIDI command that I like.  Right now, I 
use the 
> AN1x keyboard to control the synth on CH2, some portions of the S4 
on CH1, 
> and the lower manual of a KORG CX-3 on CH3, but I have all AN1x 
patch 
> commands going to CH2, regardless of where they originate.
> 
> I've learned to work around CC#32, but it was good for a wasted 20 
min, the 
> first time I tried!


Oh, okay - you mean you rechannel by keyboard zone! Very useful.  I 
once had a Korg Wavestation that was brilliant at that type of thing 
but my personal favorite was an Opcode Studio 4. And everybody is 
probably sick of my saying I never should have sold the Studio 4 - 
and now I'm feeling nostalgic for the Korg WS too ;-)

(Someone on the list was just looking for a MIDI Merge box I 
think...MIDI Solutions came up a couple of times in the discussion so 
whoever was looking might take note of Bruce's kind words...)


regards,
Jon

Jon,

> > OK, it's a "feature." ;^)  The bug, then, is in the display:  if
>you set a
>
>"feature" ha haha LOL And I thought "design limitation" was pushing
>the envelope ;-)

I used to work for several PC manufacturers -- who shall remain nameless -- 
and I've seen many instances where people tried to find a spin for features 
or functions that didn't quite turn out as planned.  "Oh, you can't write 
to the floppy disk?  Well, isn't that a security feature?"

> > I also have a nifty little device called a MIDI Solutions Router
>
>{snipped}
>
>Oh, okay - you mean you rechannel by keyboard zone! Very useful.  I
>once had a Korg Wavestation that was brilliant at that type of thing
>but my personal favorite was an Opcode Studio 4. And everybody is
>probably sick of my saying I never should have sold the Studio 4 -
>and now I'm feeling nostalgic for the Korg WS too ;-)

No, actually I mean rechannel by selected MIDI channel.  Unlike many of the 
synth players I meet, I use the AN1x primarily as a live performance 
keyboard for rock, R&B, and funk.  I like the fact that by setting the 
"selector" to the bottom row of functions, I have a dedicated MIDI TX 
channel button.  I use the AN1x by itself, as a controller for rack-mount 
modules, and as the lower manual for two-manual organ.  Each function is on 
a separate channel, and with one button I can switch setups between songs.

>(Someone on the list was just looking for a MIDI Merge box I
>think...MIDI Solutions came up a couple of times in the discussion so
>whoever was looking might take note of Bruce's kind words...)

Yeah, I like the MIDI Solutions boxes a lot.  I've been toying with the 
idea of becoming a dealer for them for about a year or two.  (I do musical 
modifications as a sort of side business.)  The Router is my favorite 
box.  It's a valuable tool if your MIDI setup is complicated, because it 
allows rechanneling patch changes, CC#'s, etc. to cover for shortcomings 
and inconsistencies in various pieces of MIDI gear.  Fir example, if you 
have a MIDI keyboard that has no patch change buttons, the Router can allow 
you to share some of the buttons from another keyboard.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...