The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

> Terry Lewis one of the best dance producers in the country only uses
> presets. His theory is professionals are hired to create these sounds
> and he doesn't have the time to roll his own.
>
> I disagree with him.
>
> I am not quite as successful as he-yet.

And I might like your music VASTLY more than his... (I haven't heard his (AFIK),
but I have heard yours)

When we were little, my sister and I noticed that my grandmother had this
proof-test.  We might say that we didn't like some group, or some singer.  My
grandmother would say, "He makes a lot of money, doesn't he?"  Rhetorical
answer: "So what?..."

Ed Edwards
Leader: Ezekiel's Wheel      \ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffdRetro-Progressive Rock\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd
http://www.untiedmusic.com/ezekiel
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/227/ezekiels_wheel.html
\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd

From: "spaceanimals" <alciere@...>

> Terry Lewis one of the best dance producers in the country only uses
> presets. His theory is professionals are hired to create these sounds
> and he doesn't have the time to roll his own.

It's all down to personal preference, of course, but one very important
requirement of presets is that they make the unit sound good in the shop.
That doesn't necessarily mean that those presets sound good in a mix.

I think presets, on the AN1x and similar instruments at least, can function
well as a starting point. From there on, you can tweak to your heart's
content.

- Peter

All,

>It's all down to personal preference, of course, but one very important
>requirement of presets is that they make the unit sound good in the shop.
>That doesn't necessarily mean that those presets sound good in a mix.

While I agree that making the unit sound good in the shop SHOULD be the driving force, even that doesn't always seem to be the method used by synth manufacturers.  Many manufacturers, including Yamaha, seem to focus on showing off the capabilities of the synth, which leads to interesting -- but not necessarily musically useful -- presets.

A good example, IMHO, is "We All Die."  It's one of the most unique patches I've ever heard, and it certainly highlights both the modulation capabilities and the free EG, but it never made my list of keepers because I can't really figure out anyplace to use it!

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions\ufffd   http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> All,
> 
> >It's all down to personal preference, of course, but one very 
important
> >requirement of presets is that they make the unit sound good 
in the shop.
> >That doesn't necessarily mean that those presets sound 
good in a mix.
> 
> While I agree that making the unit sound good in the shop 
SHOULD be the driving force, even that doesn't always seem to 
be the method used by synth manufacturers.  Many 
manufacturers, including Yamaha, seem to focus on showing off 
the capabilities of the synth, which leads to interesting -- but not 
necessarily musically useful -- presets.
> 
> A good example, IMHO, is "We All Die."  It's one of the most 
unique patches I've ever heard, and it certainly highlights both 
the modulation capabilities and the free EG, but it never made 
my list of keepers because I can't really figure out anyplace to 
use it!
> 

Ha ha ha - Perhaps you can use "We All Die" for a Gary Numan 
cover tune? 

Seriously though, you make a valid point. Sayer has just ordered 
that OB12. While we were at WMC last wekend I had a chance to 
play the OB12. Before I could even locate the patch increment  
button on the front panel somebody was whispering in my ear 
something about the presets not being representative of the 
synths capabilities?! And what about the Ensoniq FIZMO? How 
do you expect shoppers with MTV attention span to judge a synth 
that requires you to hold a note/chord for three seconds or longer 
while the patch develops?

Jon