The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

What do I need to use the AN1x to control 2 synth modules?

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

Hi Jimmy,

>What do I need to use the AN1x to control 2 synth modules?

A lot depends what you want the other modules to do.

Generally, though, I would turn Local Off, and connect the modules like so:

An1x Out --> Module 1 In
Module 1 Thru --> Module 2 In
Module 2 Thru --> An1x In

This way, the AN1x isn't automatically on all the time. Now set the AN1x Rx Channel to CH1, Module 1 to CH2, and Module 2 to CH3. Then use the An1x Tx Channel to switch between synths.

If you want to do more complex things (layering, splits), you might need to add some MIDI processors in the chain, depending on the setup you want. Contact me offline if you need more details.

Regards,

-BW
--
Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@...

spaceanimals said:

> What do I need to use the AN1x to control 2 synth modules?

RJ,

Can you be a bit more specific? Are you talking about hardware you'll need to
buy (two MIDI cables or a MIDI thru box, depending on the modules), or setting
up the AN1x to do splits or layers, or what?

mike

--
"You know it's Friday when you find yourself
trying to turn on the stereo with your cell phone." (b. hale)

> < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > <

metlay / atomic city / metlay@... / http://www.atomiccity.com

Bruce,

What does the last midi in from the second module to the AN1X do?
thanks.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> Hi Jimmy,
>
> >What do I need to use the AN1x to control 2 synth modules?
>
>
> A lot depends what you want the other modules to do.
>
> Generally, though, I would turn Local Off, and connect the modules
like so:
>
> An1x Out --> Module 1 In
> Module 1 Thru --> Module 2 In
> Module 2 Thru --> An1x In
>
> This way, the AN1x isn't automatically on all the time. Now set
the AN1x Rx Channel to CH1, Module 1 to CH2, and Module 2 to CH3.
Then use the An1x Tx Channel to switch between synths.
>
> If you want to do more complex things (layering, splits), you
might need to add some MIDI processors in the chain, depending on
the setup you want. Contact me offline if you need more details.
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
> 978.386.7389 voice/fax
> bruce@a...

>Bruce,
>
>What does the last midi in from the second module to the AN1X do?
>thanks.

Ooh! Ooh! Mr. Kotter! I know this one!

The Local Off setting in the AN1x means that all of its physical
controls (the keyboard, the knobs, the wheels, the ribbon, the
pedals, etc.) send out MIDI information from the MIDI Out but not
internally to make the AN1x do stuff. Essentially what you've done is
break it into a MIDI controller keyboard and a sound module that
happen to be living in the same box.

If you don't make the connection back to the AN1x, as long as Local
Off is set, the AN1x won't make a sound if you play the keys.
Following the advice below, you can set the transmit channel of the
AN1x to play module 1, or module 2, or circle back and play itself.

mike

>
>
>
>--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
>> Hi Jimmy,
>>
>> >What do I need to use the AN1x to control 2 synth modules?
>>
>>
>> A lot depends what you want the other modules to do.
>>
>> Generally, though, I would turn Local Off, and connect the modules
>like so:
>>
>> An1x Out --> Module 1 In
>> Module 1 Thru --> Module 2 In
>> Module 2 Thru --> An1x In
>>
>> This way, the AN1x isn't automatically on all the time. Now set
>the AN1x Rx Channel to CH1, Module 1 to CH2, and Module 2 to CH3.
>Then use the An1x Tx Channel to switch between synths.
>>
>> If you want to do more complex things (layering, splits), you
>might need to add some MIDI processors in the chain, depending on
>the setup you want. Contact me offline if you need more details.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> -BW
>> --
>> Bruce Wahler
>> Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
>> 978.386.7389 voice/fax
>> bruce@a...
>
>
>
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--
"You sank my Jenga ship!" "Jenga ship? We're playing CONNECT FOUR!"
====================================================================
Mike Metlay * ATOMIC CITY * PO Box 17083 * Boulder CO 80308-0083 USA
metlay@... * 1-800-924-ATOM * http://www.atomiccity.com

Much thanks guys. I never knew what all that MIDI stuff did. I just
used the volume knobs. Difficult doing that live. So that's what the
MIDI thru does. Cool. You'd never know I've been using MIDI synths
for over 15 years.

Rainbow Jimmy

Hi Jimmy,

>Much thanks guys. I never knew what all that MIDI stuff did. I just
>used the volume knobs. Difficult doing that live. So that's what the
>MIDI thru does. Cool. You'd never know I've been using MIDI synths
>for over 15 years.

You're far from alone. You'd be surprised at how many synth owners know absolutely nothing about MIDI.

For complete closure: The MIDI Thru jack is supposed to be nothing more than a perfect copy of MIDI In. It was added to the specification because MIDI cannot be connected in a "Y" fashion like you would use to connect a mono synth to both channels of a stereo amp. (MIDI is designed as one-output-connected-to-one-input.) The Thru provides another way to get the master data to Device #2, etc. by connecting the Thru of each device in the chain to the next In. The Thru is optional in the MIDI specification, but most keyboards and modules provide the feature; sometimes the Thru and Out a sent to one jack, with a switch or software selection to choose one of the two items.

Some keyboards merge the data from the In with other data created by the synth/module, or merge two Ins to one output. This useful feature is actually outside the MIDI specification, but is often seen on master keyboards and modules that add knobs and switches. Usually, this merging is done on the Out jack, leaving the Thru as simply a copy of whatever arrived at the In jack. It's useful to understand the difference between merged Out and Thru.

Each Thru adds a small delay to the data, so if you are connecting more than say, 6-9 devices, you may start to hear a little lag between the time when the key is pressed and the time you hear actual sound from the synth or module, or between the attack of Device #1 and Device #7. Whether this lag is bothersome -- or even noticeable -- depends both on your playing style, the kinds of sounds and layers you are using, and any additional processing (merging, etc.) added by the devices. A velocity-sensitive keyboard adds some delay by just measuring the speed of the key hit, so you may already be compensating for a bit of delay in your keyboards.

If you are using more than 3-4 devices, many people purchase a device called a "thru box" that has one In and many Thrus; this way, all of the down-line devices have only one, equal Thru delay.

Regards,

-BW
--
Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@...