The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Op 16-6-2010 3:30, brofjw schreef:

> Hi! I just joined. I don't have an AN1x but I actually DO have the Yamaha EX7. Is it true that the VA section of the EX7 is identical to the AN1x? If so, maybe I can learn things by tuning in to this group.

Well, yes and no. Yes, they have the same virtual analogue engine, but 
no, whereas the AN1x has ten voices, the EX7 has only one.

So yes, you can pick up things here, but it's pretty much AN1x and AN200 
here. The AN PLG board and the EX5/EX5R/EX7 get very little mention here.

You could also have a look at EX5tech, although I think most would use 
an EX5 (as I do).

> First of all, I have the EX7 not its bigger brother the EX5. The EX5 supposedly has physical modeling on top of a VA section (AN1x engine) and also the ROM-based synth engine. Now, I see that the AN1x has been referred to as a physical modeling synth...so how does all this pan out, considering what is said about the EX7 and EX5? I currently use a Z1 as my physical modeling synth. It does great strings, great basses, decent brass, and some cool bells and percussion sounds (i.e. marimbas and steel drums). I also think the Z1 is a great VA. So why does virtual analog and physical modeling seem to get put in the same box so much with these synths? Is there a difference? How does the AN1x fit in to all this and physical modeling and comparison to my Z1?

Strictly speaking, virtual analogue or analogue modelling is a form of 
physical modelling. But with physical modelling, people usually mean 
acoustic modelling.

The reference physical modelling synth is still the Yamaha VL-1, and 
it's also a great (monophonic) 'analogue' synth. The AN1x (and the 
others) is a very specific implementation of modelling, so that you can 
get more voices out of the same processing power. But you will never be 
able to do acoustic sounds with a Yamaha AN-synth.

The virtual acoustic in the EX5 is cool, but somewhat limited, because 
you can't use it together with analogue modelling or FDSP. But the 
effects system of the EX5 and EX7 is a lot more elaborate than on the AN1x.

Hopefully, this has given you a bit more insight into the Yamaha AN and 
VA synths.

- Peter