The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

So, further to my posting a while back about my AN1x rebooting
continually, I think I may have kinda found the problem.

After opening up the AN1x and having a look inside, I was going to give
up and just accept that it is dead.  I'd removed the tiny circuit board
that is attached by clips to the main board, just to see what was under
there.

My housemate suggested switching the synth on without that board
attached, just to see what happened.  Well, the synth has now been
running the "Alan" sequence for about an hour or so without crashing at
all.  I'm starting to hallucinate from the sound, but it's still running
and it hasn't crashed yet.

This is a wild guess, but the AN1x seems to work pretty well when that
little board isn't attached.  When I re-attach it, I'm back to having a
broken AN1x.

Closer inspection appears to reveal that the large square DSP chip on
that little board has some kind of discolouration and a circular marking
around the middle of the chip, as if it has melted inside.  So, I think
my problem is that that chip has blown.

Anyway, for now, I have an AN1x with 5-note polyphony (also, it's note
scheduling only plays the first five in a 10 note sequence, or sometimes
every second note, depending on the program) but it seems to be half
working, which I can live with I guess.

As I mostly use the AN1x as my master keyboard to control everything
else, it's good that it's not crashing all the time now (so I can do
that again).

Still, I love the sounds of my AN1x and will (half) miss them, but
thankfully I nearly always sample it rather than use it straight into a
tune, so I can probably cope with this.  I'm quite sad at the semi-death
of my favourite synth, but there may be hope for me yet!

Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a replacement
mini-circuit board thing?  The numbers on it are "DMS XS316" and "YAMAHA
#A0282".  I think I would be willing to pay for one - not sure how much,
probably \ufffd50 or so.

I guess if someone else has a buggered AN1x lying around, I might be
able to buy theirs for spares, but at the moment I don't have much money
to spare.

Anyway, I'm not holding my breath since Yamaha customer service isn't
exactly outstanding.  I'll email them, but to be honest I would be
surprised if I even got a reply.

So, I have the worlds only 5-note polyphonic AN1x, which will have to do
for now! :(

And yes, I do feel a bit like crying.  :'-(

~Dave

-- 

Dave Silvester
Music Technology Junkie
Web: http://www.mu-sly.co.uk/
Email: sly at mu hyphen sly dot co dot uk
ICQ: 165159988

Dave Silvester heeft geschreven:
> Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a replacement
> mini-circuit board thing?  The numbers on it are "DMS XS316" and "YAMAHA
> #A0282".  I think I would be willing to pay for one - not sure how much,
> probably \ufffd50 or so.

Why don't you ask the nearest Yamaha dealer, if contacting them directly 
doesn't work? Yamaha has been doing business like this (never directly 
with the customer, but always via a dealer) for years, and I think they 
haven't quite caught up with the advent of the internet yet.

- Peter

Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 20:58:45, Peter Korsten wrote:

PK> Why don't you ask the nearest Yamaha dealer, if contacting them directly 
PK> doesn't work? Yamaha has been doing business like this (never directly 
PK> with the customer, but always via a dealer) for years, and I think they 
PK> haven't quite caught up with the advent of the internet yet.

Yep, I'm planning to - found the phone number already (well, for the
main UK support centre).  I know where my nearest Yamaha dealer is, so I
guess I could always try there as well.

Seriously though, do you actually think it would be possible to still
get a replacement circuit board for an out-of-production synth like the
AN1x?  Well, I guess there's still plenty of DX7s and SY99s floating
around, which are far more ancient that my AN1x - spares could be a
handy money spinner for Yammy, just wondered if they would bother?

Anyway, I'm still quite miffed that my favourite synth is half-dead, so
I'm going to go and sulk now, if you don't mind.  :(

~Dave

-- 

Dave Silvester
Music Technology Junkie
Web: http://www.mu-sly.co.uk/
Email: sly at mu hyphen sly dot co dot uk
ICQ: 165159988

Dave Silvester heeft geschreven:
> Seriously though, do you actually think it would be possible to still
> get a replacement circuit board for an out-of-production synth like the
> AN1x?  Well, I guess there's still plenty of DX7s and SY99s floating
> around, which are far more ancient that my AN1x - spares could be a
> handy money spinner for Yammy, just wondered if they would bother?

Since they produced an mLAN board for the long out-of-production EX 
series, I think getting a board shouldn't be a problem. Despite rumours 
to the contrary, I believe their spare parts and repair service is quite 
good (although not necessarily cheap).

> Anyway, I'm still quite miffed that my favourite synth is half-dead, so
> I'm going to go and sulk now, if you don't mind.  :(

Take care, Dave. We feel for you. Come and cry a bit on the Bar if you 
want to.

- Peter

DS> Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 20:58:45, Peter Korsten wrote:

PK>> Why don't you ask the nearest Yamaha dealer, if contacting them directly 
PK>> doesn't work? Yamaha has been doing business like this (never directly 
PK>> with the customer, but always via a dealer) for years, and I think they 
PK>> haven't quite caught up with the advent of the internet yet.

DS> Yep, I'm planning to - found the phone number already (well, for the
DS> main UK support centre).  I know where my nearest Yamaha dealer is, so I
DS> guess I could always try there as well.

DS> Seriously though, do you actually think it would be possible to still
DS> get a replacement circuit board for an out-of-production synth like the
DS> AN1x?  Well, I guess there's still plenty of DX7s and SY99s floating
DS> around, which are far more ancient that my AN1x - spares could be a
DS> handy money spinner for Yammy, just wondered if they would bother?

DS> Anyway, I'm still quite miffed that my favourite synth is half-dead, so
DS> I'm going to go and sulk now, if you don't mind.  :(

DS> ~Dave


just to keep your hope alive (sorry formy bad english..)_

i  bought  a  korg  poly-800, one of the first, and korg germany still
supplies eprom updates for this one!!

just  ask  your dealer, i think you will be surprised how much support
is for "out of production" synths!!

 soeren

Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 22:09:38, usergroups wrote:

u> just to keep your hope alive (sorry formy bad english..)_

Yay... this is turning into a book of condolence for my poor half-dead
AN1x!

u> i  bought  a  korg  poly-800, one of the first, and korg germany still
u> supplies eprom updates for this one!!

Really?  I have one of those babies too... it's so quirky, but a really
fun little synth I think!  What does the eprom update achieve?

u> just  ask  your dealer, i think you will be surprised how much support
u> is for "out of production" synths!!

Awesome!  :)

~Dave

-- 

Dave Silvester
Music Technology Junkie
Web: http://www.mu-sly.co.uk/
Email: sly at mu hyphen sly dot co dot uk
ICQ: 165159988

DS> Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 22:09:38, usergroups wrote:

u>> just to keep your hope alive (sorry formy bad english..)_

DS> Yay... this is turning into a book of condolence for my poor half-dead
DS> AN1x!

u>> i  bought  a  korg  poly-800, one of the first, and korg germany still
u>> supplies eprom updates for this one!!

DS> Really?  I have one of those babies too... it's so quirky, but a really
DS> fun little synth I think!  What does the eprom update achieve?

u>> just  ask  your dealer, i think you will be surprised how much support
u>> is for "out of production" synths!!

DS> Awesome!  :)

DS> ~Dave


i  wil sent my synth next week to korg, they told me that it got a new
eprom  where  i  can  switch  from  omni to poly an d can use th chord
memory.  i  don't know actually whic version it is, but for me it is a
great progress -  now i can use the synth fully in my setup!!

if your korg dealer doesnt provide this -  contact me of list, i think
we will find a solution!

soeren

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Dave Silvester <sly@m...> wrote:
> Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 20:58:45, Peter Korsten wrote:
> 
> PK> Why don't you ask the nearest Yamaha dealer, if contacting them 
directly 
> PK> doesn't work? Yamaha has been doing business like this (never 
directly 
> PK> with the customer, but always via a dealer) for years, and I 
think they 
> PK> haven't quite caught up with the advent of the internet yet.
> 
> Yep, I'm planning to - found the phone number already (well, for the
> main UK support centre).  I know where my nearest Yamaha dealer is, 
so I
> guess I could always try there as well.
> 
> Seriously though, do you actually think it would be possible to 
still
> get a replacement circuit board for an out-of-production synth like 
the
> AN1x?  Well, I guess there's still plenty of DX7s and SY99s floating
> around, which are far more ancient that my AN1x - spares could be a
> handy money spinner for Yammy, just wondered if they would bother?
> 

I don't see any reason why not.  I'm with Peter on this - call 
Yamaha.  I've found them to be very repsonsive to all my inquiries 
and request for service.  Cosequently my AN1x is working trouble free 
(aside from known bugs.)


> Anyway, I'm still quite miffed that my favourite synth is half-
dead, so
> I'm going to go and sulk now, if you don't mind.  :(
> 
> ~Dave
> 

Tough break.  Hope it works out well.

Jon

On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 04:19:33 -0000 "Jon <jondl_2000@...>" wrote:

> I don't see any reason why not.  I'm with Peter on this - call 
> Yamaha.  I've found them to be very repsonsive to all my inquiries 
> and request for service.  Cosequently my AN1x is working trouble free 
> (aside from known bugs.)

I should add, though, that I get the impression from people's stories,
that Yamaha USA is one of the better ones in regards to service. My own
experience is limited to Yamaha Netherlands, who are very friendly and
cooperative, if not overly responsive or speedy due to their limited size.

- Peter
-- 

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