The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

All,

Several music stores are offering this sound module at terrific prices 
($200US).  I'm tempted to buy one, not as a replacement for anything I 
have, but as an additional sound source.  I've heard the MP3's and such, 
and it seems interesting -- especially for the price.  If anyone on this 
list owns one, I'd be interested in hearing the pros and cons.  Feel free 
to email me privately, so the rest of the group doesn't have to be bothered.

And yes, I know I could buy an AN200 instead, but I'm looking for greater 
sonic variety, rather than additional capabilities that mirror my 
AN1x.  Plus, it reminds me of the KORG EX-800 (physically and timbre-wise) 
that I sold years ago, which I miss now and then ...

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™   www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

200 bucks? That's very tasty indead...are darksound going out of business?


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

Bastiaan,

>200 bucks? That's very tasty indead...are darksound going out of business?

Not if you believe their website, which seems to imply that they are 
expanding the line with ROM updates.  (We all know that websites never lie, 
right?)  Maybe E-mu, the US distributor, is getting out of their 
arrangement.  All I know is three large chains -- Guitar Center, zZounds, 
and MusiciansFriend -- all have the same deal.  Guitar Center is calling it 
a "special purchase/while supplies last," but the others aren't implying 
this in their ads.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™   www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...

Did you decide to pick up a Darkstar or not? I think I might dash out 
tomorrow morning and grab one at Guitar Center. I hope they have some 
left! I tried one out very briefly a while back, mainly fiddling with 
the presets. It was kinda difficult to figure out without a manual so I 
didn't spend a lot of time with it. I will tomorrow. For 200 bucks, you 
can't go wrong with this one, even if just for a few extra strange, dark 
sounds here and there. Let me know what you think if you picked one up.

mark

On Friday, November 30, 2001, at 07:52  AM, Bruce Wahler wrote:

> Bastiaan,
>
>> 200 bucks? That's very tasty indead...are darksound going out of 
>> business?
>
> Not if you believe their website, which seems to imply that they are
> expanding the line with ROM updates.  (We all know that websites never 
> lie,
> right?)  Maybe E-mu, the US distributor, is getting out of their
> arrangement.  All I know is three large chains -- Guitar Center, 
> zZounds,
> and MusiciansFriend -- all have the same deal.  Guitar Center is 
> calling it
> a "special purchase/while supplies last," but the others aren't implying
> this in their ads.
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
>
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Design Consultant
> Ashby Solutions™   www.ashbysolutions.com
> CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
> 978.386.7389  voice/fax
> bruce@ashbysolutions.com
>
>
>
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
>   Subscribe:    AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   Unsubscribe:  AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   List owner:   AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Mark,

>Did you decide to pick up a Darkstar or not? I think I might dash out
>tomorrow morning and grab one at Guitar Center. I hope they have some
>left! I tried one out very briefly a while back, mainly fiddling with
>the presets. It was kinda difficult to figure out without a manual so I
>didn't spend a lot of time with it. I will tomorrow. For 200 bucks, you
>can't go wrong with this one, even if just for a few extra strange, dark
>sounds here and there. Let me know what you think if you picked one up.

Yes I did, although it's not in my hot little hands yet.  ;^)  I bought 
mine by mail order, because the nearest Guitar Center is almost 50 miles 
from my house.  Thus, I bought mine sight unseen (and unheard), something I 
continuously caution others NOT to do!  (If you read on, you'll see that 
I'm not being as foolhardy as I seem...)

Several people responded about the unit:  mostly pro, a bit of con.  I also 
read every review I could find on the 'net, listened to all of the 
available MP3's, and browsed the user's manual, which is available at the 
Red Sound site.  I don't expect it to replace my blue Yamaha friend anytime 
soon.  From the MP3's, it seems that the DarkStar is a bit edgy and digital 
sounding.  This is not necessarily a BAD thing, as I play in a band that is 
based mostly on traditional sounds (electric and acoustic guitars, real 
drums, Hammond organ -- actually, a modeling clone of one, but with a real 
Leslie Speaker -- electric bass).  I've been trying to update the sound 
with electronics wherever it suits the music, and most of the time, the 
more electronic the sound, the better.

One of the most compelling arguments for buying it I received was that, 
since the DarkStar sends all of its controls as MIDI CC#'s, even if the 
sound is awful (and I suspect it isn't), $200US isn't a bad price for a 
dedicated MIDI controller, which could always be used to make real-time 
changes on another synth -- like, say, an AN1x?


Regards,

-BW (whose actual hands are neither hot nor little)

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™   www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...