The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, Shayne Hardesty <shayne@s...> wrote:
> Hi gang,
> 
>   I have two questions that aren't REALLY related to our lovely AN,
but
> mostly studio related.  Just for background info, my studio is a
VERY
> small bedroom studio (as in, it shares MY bedroom) with the AN1x, a
Yamaha
> W7, and a PC.  My budget is very limited right now..  Ok, anyways..
> 

Everybody has to start somewhere. Don't be embarrassed by what you do 
or do not own. :-)

>   Here's my first question: I have a tiny 4 channel mixer which
handles my
> audio routing (it's sufficient for the an1x and the w7).  I want to
add
> another synth soon (maybe a nord lead 2) and I'm trying to figure
out if I
> can just splice audio outputs together (like with Y adaptors in
reverse?),
> or I run the risk of frying something and I *have* to upgrade to a
larger
> mixer..  Any ideas?
> 

The Nord Lead is a great synth - I'd love to have one too! Since
you're 
on a budget I'd recommend you conisder something other than another
V/A 
until you build up your kit. I'd recommend a sampler w/ internal 
effects or a sampler along with a cost effective, stand alone effects 
box - like a Boss VF-1 or something along those lines.

>   Here's the second question: Right now for sound I've got an Alesis
> studio amp pushing a worn out pair of home stereo speakers.  Yeah,
I know,
> it's cheesy.  Very soon I'm going to upgrade to proper studio
monitors..
> I'm leaning towards the Alesis Studio One's.  Typically, will
monitors
> like this reproduce bass sufficiently so I can accurately produce
> basslines, or should I be looking at supplementing with a separate
> subwoofer?  I was thinking along the lines of a powered
home-theater sub..  
> Any opinions?

The Studio Ones are adequate for you immediate purposes but you may 
want to scrap the idea of adding a subwoofer and just save another 
month or two until you can afford a better set of near fields.  What 
did Peter recommend? Genlecs? Kind of pricey for a small bedroom
studio 
but I'm sure they're great!  The Event speakers are really popular 
thses days (I was listening to some last night by coincidence) and
I'd 
like to hear the Audix myslef. My old Tannoys were pretty good.

Instead of the Y-cord scheme - save up for a little mixer like a
Mackie 
1202 or a comparable model from Spirit or Behringer.  The Mackies 
sounds great and last forever. Even when you upgrade to more channels 
you'll keep the Mackie! I'd advise you to stop thinking of stop gap 
measures like Y-cords, and adding a subwoofer, and start thinking a 
little more long term.  You'll be much better off waiting to buy the  
pieces of kit which will serve you long term. As a matter of fact,
I'd 
go so far as to suggest you put off the Nord purchase until you're 
settled on the new monitors and mixer. You may want to start thinking
a 
MIDI Patchbay if you're going to add more and more MIDI devices. This 
type of gear isn't *nearly* as exciting as a Nord ;-) but in the long 
run you'll be better served by thinking this through and setting some 
priorities.

Hope this helps,
Jon

> 
> Thanks,
> Shayne