The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Funny. After spending huge amounts of time programming the AN1X, I 
can still only find a few sounds, mostly leads, that work well live. 
The EMU Vintage Keys, which sounds lame soloed, works much better, 
cuts through the mix. I guess I need to pare down the sounds.

Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.spaceanimals.com
http://www.mp3.com/spaceanimals

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "spaceanimals" <alciere@m...> wrote:
> Funny. After spending huge amounts of time programming the AN1X, I 
> can still only find a few sounds, mostly leads, that work well live. 
> The EMU Vintage Keys, which sounds lame soloed, works much better, 
> cuts through the mix. I guess I need to pare down the sounds.
> 

RJ,

The problem you describe is fairly common when mixing/programming sounds in 
isolation. I would make a few suggestions:

1) Don't use the built in EQ as an 'effec't in your sound design - rely on the vairous 
filter types for that. The same can be said for relying on Parameters such as 
Feedback, Ring Mod, Unison, etc. to boost the 'volume' of your patches. Proper gain 
staging will go a lot further than using the paramters as a crutch for perceived lower 
volumes. Pay attention to FX settings in particular as this can have significant impact 
on the final sound.

2) Don't program in isolation - set up a demo sequence to run in the background 
while programming Voices so that they 'sit' in the mix. As you've readily discovered, a 
synth program that sounds good in isolation doesn't necessarily fit with other 
sounds.

3) Adopt a strict "cut don't boost" approach to EQ settings - to emphasize a specific 
frequency you'll find it effective to apply a slight cut to the surrounding freuqencies. If 
and when you do boost a specific frequency keep the amount of boost minimal, i.e., 
+1-3 db NOT 4-12 db. If the sound really needs such an exagerated amount of gain 
then I woul dgo back to the source material and start over.


Jon