The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

hey-

> Hi everyone. I've narrowed down my search for a new synth. I decided to
> go for a module. And came to 2 units: a AN200 and a Korg EX-8000. How
> would you compare the two synths? I've heard great sound examples of
> both. The Korg wins on polyphony and availability, but I've read Korg's
> support is awful. The AN200 seems more programable and has more knobs
> for realtime tweaks, but I'll have to import one from the US and pray
> that customs won't screw me up with taxes.

as an owner of both, i would say your choice can be made thusly:

if you want to make 80's new wave/synthpop in the style of flock of
seagulls, omd, depeche mode, etc - then maybe the EX-8000 will do fine. it
has great bass and pad sounds, but sounds _very_ dated (at least to my
ears).

if you want to make techno/EBM/synthpop (90's and beyond) - then the AN200
is probably more what you want. it's got a much more "current" sound, and is
easily 10x more programmable than the EX8000.

if you are making country, polka or rhumba, then you're maybe barking up the
wrong tree, hehehe.

i still use my 8000 for pads and bass when appropriate, but definitely
prefer the flexibility of the AN200, which i consider to be one of the best
and most overlooked instruments since the turn of the millenium.

to respond to other posts, there are many differences between the AN200 and
AN1x, all dutifully covered elsewhere, so i'll not go into them. if you need
certain features, then you need to pick which AN flavor best suits you. i
don't really use the groovebox features of my AN200 except as a sourcepoint
for loops that i mangle using other devices. but i also didn't need another
61 note keyboard taking up space in my studio. so, pick your poison.

i'd say try the AN200 and see if you like it. if not, there's always ebay,
where they are still getting decent returns. if you get it though, keep in
mind that you REALLY MUST get the editor software, or it really isn't going
to deliver the full potential that the instrument has. i have uploaded this
file to the yahoogroup files section, so that people can get easy access to
it without having to email the list 10 million times about it.

good luck.

- tyler / battery cage
-[www.batterycage.com]
======================

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, tyler newman <tyler@b...> wrote:
> i'd say try the AN200 and see if you like it. if not, there's always ebay,
> where they are still getting decent returns. if you get it though, keep in
> mind that you REALLY MUST get the editor software, or it really isn't going
> to deliver the full potential that the instrument has. i have uploaded this
> file to the yahoogroup files section, so that people can get easy access to
> it without having to email the list 10 million times about it.

This file has been removed from the Files section. While frequent and helpful 
contributions are always appreciated - we are not redistributing 'for purchase', 
copyrighted materials on AN1x-list.

As a rule of thumb, if the item is not available for download free of charge from one 
of Yamaha's many web resources we will not post if for download in the Files section 
here at Yahoo! Groups. To the best of my knowledge, we have purged these types of 
materials from the Files section:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list/files/

If any list memeber finds this is not the case, please feel free to bring it to the 
attention of either myself or Jimmy and we'll make a good faith effort to set things 
right.

As an alternative to AN200 Editor, please consider the freeware application 'AN Expert 
Editor' (Mac/Win) available for download here:

http://www.xgfactory.com/html/down/down_f.htm

or the ubiquitous AN1xEdit (which works with AN1x, PLG150-AN and AN200) 
available for download here:

http://www.xgfactory.com/html/down/an1xed_1.htm

Thank you for your understanding.

regards,

Jon