The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

I've been scanning info about this debate before, but most of those 
posts were from last year and I thought new information might be 
available now. 

I just bought a MOTIF6, and am loving it.  I also own a mint 
condition AN1X.  My awesome AN1X sounds are not duplicated in the 
MOTIF as much as I'd like.  The filters are great, but nothing like 
what the AN1X does.  I'd like to know if the PLG AN board would 
satisfy me?

I'm asking this becuase selling the AN1X would help pay off the 
MOTIF, but I'm not 100% sure if I'll be happy with the PLG 
board...which I'll eventually get to replace the AN1X.  I play mostly 
progressive rock a la Emerson and Wakeman with the AN1X.


Any help would be great,

Thanks
-Jim

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "mclareji" <mclajm@s...> wrote:
> I've been scanning info about this debate before, but most of 
those 
> posts were from last year and I thought new information might 
be 
> available now. 
> 
> I just bought a MOTIF6, and am loving it.  I also own a mint 
> condition AN1X.  My awesome AN1X sounds are not duplicated 
in the 
> MOTIF as much as I'd like.  The filters are great, but nothing 
like 
> what the AN1X does.  I'd like to know if the PLG AN board 
would 
> satisfy me?
> 

Without being flippant, only you will be able to determine whether 
the PLG150AN would 'satisfy' you. There are some inherent 
trade offs in using the PLG150AN as opposed to the AN1x 
proper. Here are some specs I would consider:

1st of all -  the 5 note polyphony and single Scene per Voice of 
the PLG150AN as oppossed to 10 note polyphony and two 
Scence's per Voice on the AN1x. If you program many dual scene 
Voices on your AN1x you can't expect them to transfer to your 
PLG150AN without 'losing' the second scene. Is this an issue for 
you? What about the polyphony? Are you hung up on the loss in 
polyphony? I'm guessing (not trying to stereo type you) that as a 
Prog Rock enthusiast you gravitate towards a lot of Mono and 
Unison type bass & lead sounds? If so, I wouldn't consider the 
reduced 5 voice polyphony an issue for emulating Mini Moogs, 
know what I mean?

The 2nd thing to consider is ease of use. Check out this post 
from a couple fo days ago 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list/message/5786 This is 
typical of the type of question PLG150AN users post to this list. 
Fortunately, we have some list members (Reg & Gary) who will 
chime in on these questions. I'd make a stop by Daivd's CS6x 
list (also at Yahoo! Groups) and see what discussion goes on 
there. I recall he had some hair pulling experiences with his 
PLG150AN. Obviously I wouldn't know how deep you get into 
using your AN1x -  if you're into programming it without a 
computeryou might experience some growing pains switching to 
a daughterboard based system.

> I'm asking this becuase selling the AN1X would help pay off 
the 
> MOTIF, 

No doubt the AN1x will sell quick.

Hope this helps,

Jon

Thanks Jon for your help.  I'll consider these things.  You're right 
about the 'stereotype' though :)  Moogs aplenty for me -lead lines 
and bass lines, however I do enjoy the odd electric piano and soft 
pad sounds.  Polyphony has been a concern there, as I seem to only 
being able to typically hold 4-5 keys down at the same time on my 
AN1X.  If the PLG150AN only has 5 note polyphony, it might not be for 
me.  

Plus, I have the added bonus of having another controller with the 8 
real-time knobs.  Always handy :)  Plus, with the electric pianos in 
the MOTIF, I don't think I'll be using the ones in the AN1X anymore!


Thanks again.

-Jim




--- In AN1x-list@y..., "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:

> --- In AN1x-list@y..., "mclareji" <mclajm@s...> wrote:
> > I've been scanning info about this debate before, but most of 
> those 
> > posts were from last year and I thought new information might 
> be 
> > available now. 
> > 
> > I just bought a MOTIF6, and am loving it.  I also own a mint 
> > condition AN1X.  My awesome AN1X sounds are not duplicated 
> in the 
> > MOTIF as much as I'd like.  The filters are great, but nothing 
> like 
> > what the AN1X does.  I'd like to know if the PLG AN board 
> would 
> > satisfy me?
> > 
> 
> Without being flippant, only you will be able to determine whether 
> the PLG150AN would 'satisfy' you. There are some inherent 
> trade offs in using the PLG150AN as opposed to the AN1x 
> proper. Here are some specs I would consider:
> 
> 1st of all -  the 5 note polyphony and single Scene per Voice of 
> the PLG150AN as oppossed to 10 note polyphony and two 
> Scence's per Voice on the AN1x. If you program many dual scene 
> Voices on your AN1x you can't expect them to transfer to your 
> PLG150AN without 'losing' the second scene. Is this an issue for 
> you? What about the polyphony? Are you hung up on the loss in 
> polyphony? I'm guessing (not trying to stereo type you) that as a 
> Prog Rock enthusiast you gravitate towards a lot of Mono and 
> Unison type bass & lead sounds? If so, I wouldn't consider the 
> reduced 5 voice polyphony an issue for emulating Mini Moogs, 
> know what I mean?
> 
> The 2nd thing to consider is ease of use. Check out this post 
> from a couple fo days ago 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list/message/5786 This is 
> typical of the type of question PLG150AN users post to this list. 
> Fortunately, we have some list members (Reg & Gary) who will 
> chime in on these questions. I'd make a stop by Daivd's CS6x 
> list (also at Yahoo! Groups) and see what discussion goes on 
> there. I recall he had some hair pulling experiences with his 
> PLG150AN. Obviously I wouldn't know how deep you get into 
> using your AN1x -  if you're into programming it without a 
> computeryou might experience some growing pains switching to 
> a daughterboard based system.
> 
> > I'm asking this becuase selling the AN1X would help pay off 
> the 
> > MOTIF, 
> 
> No doubt the AN1x will sell quick.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Jon

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "mclareji" <mclajm@s...> wrote:
> Thanks Jon for your help.  I'll consider these things.  You're 
right 
> about the 'stereotype' though :)  Moogs aplenty for me -lead 
lines 
> and bass lines, however I do enjoy the odd electric piano and 
soft 
> pad sounds.  Polyphony has been a concern there, as I seem 
to only 
> being able to typically hold 4-5 keys down at the same time on 
my 
> AN1X.  If the PLG150AN only has 5 note polyphony, it might not 
be for 
> me. 

It sounds as though you are using Voices in dual mode which 
would explain why you max out at 4-5 note chords.
 
> 
> Plus, I have the added bonus of having another controller with 
the 8 
> real-time knobs.  Always handy :)  Plus, with the electric pianos 
in 
> the MOTIF, I don't think I'll be using the ones in the AN1X 
anymore!
> 
> 

I've audtioned the MOTIF only a few times and I think it sounds 
wonderful - very 'Yamaha', i.e., bright-open-airy, I wouldn't 
hesitate to use the elec piao's in the MOTIF over those on the 
AN1x/PLG150AN. 

I still think you should check in at MOTIFATOR.com or David C's 
CS6x list here at Yahoo! (check the Bookmarks 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list/links section for the 
URL) and see what actual users have to say...I'm only 
suggesting things I'd consider if I were going to go that router. 
And for the records, I still think the PLG concept is a good, cost 
effective solution!

regards,

Jon