The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Thank you, Jack Handy (RODGER) for enlightening me.
I'm sure I CAN play a 6 note chord on a 5 note synth- since you pointed out
my "own creative shortcomings" keep me from doing so (or was it my
"projection").

Sometimes it can be a relief sharing your observations about a product that
falls short of what you've come to expect from a company who have made
incredible tools- in an effort to gain knowledge and insight from others
(who are not arm chair psychologists) and provide feedback to said company.

Having spent years typing out hex code on an Ensoniq Mirage, Adding sample
silence to 8bit waveforms on an Amiga to loop the waves and get a digital
delay, Milking PWM sounds out of a CZ-101, and making EPS Wavetables to
mimic the PPG I could not afford, I have some idea how to work around
limitations, Yet I reserve the right to call technical boundaries when I see
them ( a rose is a rose by any other name ).

-OK... vent mode off (sorry for the rant Rodger - but you baited me too
well- no offense is meant).

It appears the Engine inside the AN200 is much more than what's on offer on
its' Spartan front panel (Exactly how much of the AN1x is actually in there
?).
- Even so- I believe $500 is still a bit steep. I think $300 would tempt me
(with software access to the engine).

Todd S ;)

> From: Rodger Werkhoven <rwerkhoven@...>
> Subject: RE: Digest Number 386
> 
> I guess sometimes it can be a relief projecting your own creative
> shortcomings on (non or very accessible) tools, tools that in the end are
> 'just' tools... waiting to be pushed to your own creative boundaries, not
> theirs or the boundaries of their creators.
> 
> RODGER
> 
> 
>> HAHHAHAHA, those damn whacky kids.....gotta love'm
>> 
>> ash
>> 
>> 
>>> Hell- Why didn't they just add more flashing lights and an
>>> "Beam-control"- the kids would come running...
>> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Todd wrote:

>>
It appears the Engine inside the AN200 is much more than what's on offer on
its' Spartan front panel (Exactly how much of the AN1x is actually in
there?).
- Even so- I believe $500 is still a bit steep. I think $300 would tempt me
(with software access to the engine).
<<

Its basically a PLG150AN mounted in the case, with an additional board to
handle the drum sequences, effect and controls.

An1xEdit will quite happily edit the AN sounds. Yamaha also provide a
modified version of their XGworks AN editor to editor to edit and control
the unit.

Regards

Gary Gregson

Email:gary@...
http://www.yme.co.uk/yme

--- In AN1x-list@y..., tspeer <tspeer@h...> wrote:
> 
> It appears the Engine inside the AN200 is much more than what's on 
offer on
> its' Spartan front panel (Exactly how much of the AN1x is actually 
in there
> ?).
> - Even so- I believe $500 is still a bit steep. I think $300 would 
tempt me
> (with software access to the engine).
> 
> Todd S ;)
> 

The UI appears disceiving doen't it? I haven't played an AN200 yet 
but from a lengthy glance at the promo shots it appears to have 
significantly more Knobs on the front panel but fewer seem to be 
multipurpose (as opposed to the AN1x - where all eight are 
multipurpose.)

There's no mention of AN1xEdit on the Yamaha AN200 page but they do 
mention a few included bits of software (don't know if Gary had a 
hand in these or not - don't think so.) I'd hazard a guess - possibly 
incorrect - that additional features are "under the hood" and only 
accessible via software (think PLG150AN.)

I agree with Todd on the price - for right or wrong I perceive $499 
as too high but $300 sounds too low. IMO, they should discount the 
price to the neighborhood of $379 - $429. I think this would better 
target the ER1/EA1 market.

But, that's just MY opinion - I could be wrong ;-)

regards,

Jon

Thanks for the Info Guys- That's Exellent news about the 
engine and editing.

    I actually LIKE the Korg ER1 (the Waldorf Attack VSTi looks 
good too)- so I'm not against the little tabletop rascals (I'm just 
looking for an AN1x Rackmount I suppose).

    Maybe the holiday season (DEC 2001) will bring us a nice 
tabletop pricewar between Korg and Yamaha.
     Yamaha SP808's are half price at Zzounds- we may be able to 
just wait for the price to drop on the AN200.

Todd

> I agree with Todd on the price - for right or wrong I perceive 
$499 
> as too high but $300 sounds too low. IMO, they should 
discount the 
> price to the neighborhood of $379 - $429. I think this would 
better 

> target the ER1/EA1 market.
> 
> But, that's just MY opinion - I could be wrong ;-)
> 
> regards,
> 
> Jon

--- In AN1x-list@y..., tspeer@h... wrote:
>     Thanks for the Info Guys- That's Exellent news about the 
> engine and editing.
> 
>     I actually LIKE the Korg ER1 (the Waldorf Attack VSTi looks 
> good too)- so I'm not against the little tabletop rascals (I'm just 
> looking for an AN1x Rackmount I suppose).
> 

We're almost on the same page you and I - I like the ER1 too and I'm 
looking forward to trying the Attack VSTi. You may already have seen 
& heard it but if not, check out cesSynth5 (Mac & PC VSTi) at:

http://www.cferrari.dial.pipex.com/

*Read the doc* because the interface is unique in how mutiple sounds, 
i.e., snare, kick, etc, are addressed via MIDI (the other cesSynths 
work as expected.) cesSynth5 sounds GREAT! It's not a sample playback 
VSTi like DR005 or Loopazoid - it's along the same lines as Waldorf 
Attack (or the ER1 for that matter.)


>     Maybe the holiday season (DEC 2001) will bring us a nice 
> tabletop pricewar between Korg and Yamaha.

I think Korg may already have issued a price drop?

>      Yamaha SP808's are half price at Zzounds- we may be able to 
> just wait for the price to drop on the AN200.
> 

Have you seen how cheap that new Yamaha S03 Keyboard is? Under $500 
or something like that...good for a starter kit maybe (not as cool as 
the CS1x, IMO.)

Jon

> We're almost on the same page you and I - I like the ER1 too 
and I'm 
> looking forward to trying the Attack VSTi. You may already have 
seen 
> & heard it but if not, check out cesSynth5 (Mac & PC VSTi) at:
> 
> http://www.cferrari.dial.pipex.com/

I'll check it out- I'm already using his FMHeaven (it ROCKS!)- he's 
a nice guy who makes quality VSTi's at rock bottom prices.


> I think Korg may already have issued a price drop?

I think you're right.
  
> Have you seen how cheap that new Yamaha S03 Keyboard is? 
Under $500 
> or something like that...good for a starter kit maybe (not as cool 
as 
> the CS1x, IMO.)

Woah,... didn't realize that. I've sworn off adding extra Keys to my 
studio (no room !!)
My AN1x is my main controller  (that nifty Local ON/OFF switch is 
so easily accessable- I love it !)

--- In AN1x-list@y..., tspeer@h... wrote:
> 
> > We're almost on the same page you and I - I like the ER1 too 
> and I'm 
> > looking forward to trying the Attack VSTi. You may already have 
> seen 
> > & heard it but if not, check out cesSynth5 (Mac & PC VSTi) at:
> > 
> > http://www.cferrari.dial.pipex.com/
> 
> I'll check it out- I'm already using his FMHeaven (it ROCKS!)- he's 
> a nice guy who makes quality VSTi's at rock bottom prices.


I think his VSTi's sound GREAT (and you're right about the prices.) 
I've tried the demo of FMHeaven - the sound quality is very, very 
impressive. Have you managed to import DX7 voices into FMHeaven? That 
feature is disabled in the demo :-(

I need to email him regarding cesSynth3. I thinks it's still in beta 
and it crashes Logic (Mac) left, right and center :-# I think it will 
be the poor mans PPG V2 when it's finished haha ha :-)


> My AN1x is my main controller  (that nifty Local ON/OFF switch is 
> so easily accessable- I love it !)

Main controller here too - I've *always* used the the Assign Knobs 
extensively (with my ASR-X Pro) and the more familar I become with 
Logic, and the Enviroment, the more uses I have for the Assign Knobs. 
Talk about a utility synth! It's definitely earned it's keep in my 
household.

Jon

> > > http://www.cferrari.dial.pipex.com/
> > 
> > I'll check it out- I'm already using his FMHeaven (it ROCKS!)- 
he's 
> > a nice guy who makes quality VSTi's at rock bottom prices.
> 
> 
> I think his VSTi's sound GREAT (and you're right about the 
prices.) 
> I've tried the demo of FMHeaven - the sound quality is very, very 
> impressive. Have you managed to import DX7 voices into 
FMHeaven? That 
> feature is disabled in the demo :-(

I bought FMheaven- it's great (imports dx7 patches very well)- I've 
even imported s an old TX7 bank I made long ago.
I can't reccomend it enough. Every revision has Cool new 
features.

> I need to email him regarding cesSynth3. I thinks it's still in 
beta 
> and it crashes Logic (Mac) left, right and center :-# I think it will 
> be the poor mans PPG V2 when it's finished haha ha :-)

I'm using Cubase 5.0 (Mac). I'll keep an eye on cesSynth3.

> Main controller here too - I've *always* used the the Assign 
Knobs 
> extensively (with my ASR-X Pro) and the more familar I become 
with 
> Logic, and the Enviroment, the more uses I have for the Assign 
Knobs. 
> Talk about a utility synth! It's definitely earned it's keep in my 
> household.

Just reinforces the notion that the simplest design works best.
The AN1x doesn't try to do everything- it just does a few good 
things really well- So in your studio full of gear- that's why you 
keep reaching for the AN1x (old reliable).

Todd ;)