The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "soundcrafter" <aurastar@c...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone here tried doing deep editing on the AN200 without using 
> the software editor?  I have the editor, but I really don't like using 
> it.  I think its utter crap that you can only access 15% of the 
> functions from the front panel...

Please keep in mind that Yamaha is not the first manufacturer to employ the design 
philosophy of a full featured product with limited front panel interoperability (PLG150-AN/
AN200). This has been a practice for many years now by the likes of Lexicon, Boss/Roland, 
E-mu/Ensoniq, etc. The benefit is obvious - you get a great sounding piece of kit at a 
reduced cost. The downside is equally obvious - you either sacrifice some programability 
or adopt new work habits, i.e., software editor/librarians and remote control surfaces. 
Since we don't live in a one size fits all workd it should be apparent this approach is not 
ideally suited for every user - and often what sounds like a great idea in theory is less 
workable in practice (as you seem to have discovered for yourself).


> Anyway, I guess what I am asking is this: does the editor use normal 
> CCs to control the AN200, or is there some other protocol being used?  
> If it's just CCs, I should be able to program the knobs on my XL7 to 
> get similar results.  

The editor is undoubtedly using SysEx.

Have you tried using AN1xEdit or are you using either AN200 Editor (AN Expert Editor) or 
the AN Plugiin for XG Works exclusively?

Do you have a copy of the AN200 Owner's manual? If not, you'll find links to the download 
PDF here:

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

If you turn to the Appendix you'll find chapters on the MIDI Data Format and MIDI 
Implementation Chart. The MIDI Data Format on pages 118-119 give an overview of which 
MIDI CCs are used for what along with a run down on the corresponding SysEx values. 
From page 119 onward is the detailed SysEx documentation.

If you want to program either a hardware or software control surface for your AN200 then 
the simplest approach would be the CC route - see paragraph "1.2.18 Others" on page 
118 for a concise breakdown, but this will not advance matters beyond what you can 
achieve utilizing the AN200 front panel knobs.

I can't imagine programming the XL7 Knobs to send SysEx strings would be much fun :-( 
Think I'd rather approach it with a dedicted control surface that allows ofr SysEx strings - 
like a Peavey 1600x or some such simlar box. There are many resources in the Files 
section here at Yahoo! Groups for download and I know that at least one of the PLG150-
AN Environments for Logic was programmed extesively using SysEx strings and NRPNs - 
you could reverse engineer this without too much effort if you're not up to programming 
the strings yourself - or you could always capture them using a monitoring tool such as 
MIDI Ox (yes, I know MIDI Ox does much more than that - don't start emailing me to let 
me know otherwise...) Since the PLG150-AN is essentially a AN200 you get pretty far with 
this data.

HTH 

Jon