The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

(Sheesh - ya go to the ocean for one day and a miss a completly good rant
thread....)
> I've heard complaints on the list about the AN1x keyboard many times.
Specifically, what don't you like about it?

I read through all the responses before I poked back in.  I think it's the
"touch" I'm referring to.  I just did an experiment before responding here so I
could be clear about what I mean.  I went to our new Young Chang piano and did a
trill, then tried it on my KT-76 (Ensoniq - weighted Fatar action), my 01/W
(leaf spring action), then the AN1x.  It's not the width of my fingers so much
as the thrust of them that I've got a problem with - basically I've got a heavy
touch.  I'm not a trained pianist, and I play a bunch of different instruments,
so I think I lack the precision on a light touch keyboard to enjoy one.  The
01/W has a unique action that has a "break point" during the downstroke that
feels more like a B3.

...aha!  I think I've found it.  Two issues - the 01/W has a shorter key stroke
than the AN1x (I used a peice of paper between the keys, drew a line at the top
level and then the bottom level when pressed).  But even more significant is
that the 01/W triggers sooner in the keypress.  You don't have to push the key
down as far to get a sound out.  So, somehow this works better for my fingers
than for Bruce's.  To each his own preference...

On a side note - I just got a Joystick-MIDI converter and now the AN1x Edit
software works.  I think I know why.  My Gadget Labs Wave 8/24 probably has some
MIDI buffering system in it due to being a 24 bit audio system at heart.  I read
in this month's Keyboard magazine how difficult it is to get MIDI timing correct
with these DAW systems and got suspicious.  So I got the joystick converter and
now there's no problem with the editor.  **Fascinating, Mr. Spock***

Ed Edwards
Leader: Ezekiel's Wheel      \ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffdRetro-Progressive Rock\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd
http://www.untiedmusic.com/ezekiel
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/227/ezekiels_wheel.html
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