The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "birminboy" <birminboy@y...> wrote:
> Hi -
> 

Hello Steve,

> I'm very glad this list exists, so thanks in advance for 
my "newbie" 
> question:
> 
> Having a year before purchased the AN200 at clearance price, I 
> decided to buy a used AN1x on eBay as my "master keyboard." What 
> convinced me was the incredible beauty of the sounds I already knew 
> from the AN200 (and AN1x sounds I downloaded in part through this 
> group), and the almost unparalleled glowing user reviews I found 
> everywhere I looked online. Many, many people swear by the AN1x as 
a 
> master MIDI keyboard.
> 
> Unfortunately, it seems I fell shy of completing my homework on one 
> point. It doesn't say so anywhere in the manual, which I did peruse 
> online before making my purchase, and I couldn't quite believe it 
> when I finally read on this site: The AN1x DOES NOT TRANSMIT MIDI 
> CLOCK.
> 

This is correct - the AN1x does NOT transmit MIDI Clock :-(

Another bug-a-boo - each Scene in a Voice can be set to receive on 
individual MIDI Channels but not set to transmit on individual 
channels.

> How do all of you get around this so easily? Especially those of 
you 
> who use the AN1x as a MIDI master keyboard?
> 

I use the my AN1x with Logic Audio as the master clock and leave the 
AN1x set to LOCAL=OFF. In the event I want to record the Output of 
the AN1x Arp/Seq into Logic: I enable LOCAL=ON, set the Arp/Seq 
Transmit channel to something other than the primary MIDI channel for 
the AN1x, record enable a seperate MIDI track in Logic and hit record.

> What makes this so ironic to me is that I intended the AN1x as a 
> replacement for my Sequential Circuits MAX! It was manufactured in 
> 1985, has no pitch or mod wheels, etc. But at least it does 
> transmit clock. . . .
> 
> Needless to say, everything else about the AN1x more than met my 
> expectations, and the last thing I'd want to do now is part with 
it. 
> So, my specific questions:
> 
> * By slaving the AN1x to a Korg ER-1, I can get the sequences and 
> arpeggios to play in sync. But only after re-"storing" each sound 
so 
> that external MIDI is the default tempo. Is this really what 
everyone 
> who uses the AN1x with a drum machine has to do?
> 

Yes, the AN1x stores the MIDI Clock option at the Voice level as 
opposed to Globally. Makes sense if you think about it but a Global 
override would have made a nice touch.

> * By running THRU to the IN on my ancient MAX I am able to in turn 
> employ its OUT to play in perfect sync my Korg MS200R. The only 
> problem then is how to control the AN200. So far, no matter what I 
> try, with this set-up I can only get the AN200 to play AN1x 
> sequences / patterns; I can't get it to act as a "master" keyboard 
> and play notes on the AN200. 
> 
> In short, all I really want to be able to do is sync the AN1x 
> arp/sequencer patterns to a drum machine, and at the same time use 
> the keyboard to play notes on the AN200 as a synth module.
> 

I would start this set-up:

AN200 MIDI Out (transmits MIDI Clock) -> AN1X MIDI In (set to 
LOCAL=OFF)
AN1x MIDI Thru -> Korg MS2KR MIDI In
Korg MS2KR MIDI Thru -> AN200 In

this should allow the clock from the AN200 to drive both synth while 
allowing the AN1x to serve as the master kb controller.

> Thanks again.
> 
> Steve

regards,

Jon