The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Elson Trinidad wrote:
> 
> jondl wrote:
> >
> > Elson Trinidad wrote:
> > >
> > > One of the Harmony Central banner ads for auctions.harmony-central.com has a
> > > Strat clone and the almighty AN1x pictured in the ad! Go blue! :)
> > >
> >
> > funny that, isn't it?  zZounds hasn't had the AN1x in stock for months
> > either ;-)  BTW - at last count there were four up FA at eBay!  Who said
> > VA's are pass\ufffd?
> 
> No one did. 

Oh, you know I was being sarcastic ;-)

But I'm al little concerned, the hot item these days as far as
> analog/VA is the Korg MS2000. I don't know it that well, but I've played around
> with it briefly, and it seems to be real cool. I don't have plans to dump my
> AN1x for it though, but it does have one big advantage that the AN1x doesn't:
> It's avilable in stores.

I've played it twice now!  Very, very nice.  I love the interface - the
immediacy is wonderful.  It's like everything Roland got wrong on the
JP8K Korg got right on the MS2K.  Mind you I'm quite comfortable with
the AN1x.  I can get around easily and I *love* the Assign Knobs
function.  Too bad the MS2K has no Ribbon Controller - guess Korg wants
you to buy a Kaos Pad to go with it ;-) The polyphony is limited but
that's still not a show stopper now is it?  I like using the AN1x as a
one trick pony and never make use of the bi-timbral functionality.  I
agree with you though - keep the AN1x.  The MS2K is that not *that*
expensive as it stands today.  It will still be there when (if) you're
interested.  I really enjoyed that little ER-1 Drum Machine too.  More
so than the EA-1 box.  

Regards,
Jon

-- 
http://www.jdlx-musique.com/

At 09:00 PM 4/21/00 -0400, you wrote:
 
>I've played it twice now!  Very, very nice.  I love the interface - the
>immediacy is wonderful.  It's like everything Roland got wrong on the
>JP8K Korg got right on the MS2K. 

Except the 4-octave keyboard :) Does the MS2000 have effects? The effects
are what make the AN1x powerful.
 
>I like using the AN1x as a
>one trick pony and never make use of the bi-timbral functionality.  

Same here, though it's not *real* bitimbrality. If Yamaha came out with
even a 4-part (true) multitimbral AN synth, I'd be happy.

>I really enjoyed that little ER-1 Drum Machine too.  More
>so than the EA-1 box.  
 
I have both. I felt the same as you before I bought it but actually use the
EA-1 more for 303-type patterns. Sometimes for basslines. The EA-1 I use
primarily for adding some high-end crisp to rhythm tracks (like lo-fi drum
loops). I always need to use it with a compressor or else it just doesn't
sit well in a mix.

E

- 30 -
: . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
: . elson@...  :  www.westworld.com/~elson
: . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.mp3.com.etrinity

Elson Trinidad wrote:
> 
> At 09:00 PM 4/21/00 -0400, you wrote:
> 
> >I've played it twice now!  Very, very nice.  I love the interface - the
> >immediacy is wonderful.  It's like everything Roland got wrong on the
> >JP8K Korg got right on the MS2K.
> 
> Except the 4-octave keyboard :) Does the MS2000 have effects? The effects
> are what make the AN1x powerful.

Good point regarding the keyboard!  One more X in the AN1x Column!  Uh,
yeah I think it did have delay and distortion.  Don't recall if it had
reverb.  Again, we agree on the AN1x effects.  I *do* wish some of the
delay parameters on the AN1x could be edited more quickly.  You'd think
by now I'd make an Assign Knob for data entry!  Duh.

> 
> >I like using the AN1x as a
> >one trick pony and never make use of the bi-timbral functionality.
> 
> Same here, though it's not *real* bitimbrality.

True, but we're splitting hairs here.  IMO, they were 'damned if we do,
damned if we don't' on the bitimbral issue.  I think they made an
acceptable compromise - but keep in mind I use a sampler as my
multitimbral work horse.  Someone just starting out won't get it :-/ and
that's how I perceive the limitation.  But hey!  That's what this list
if for.  To help AN1x Users!!!

If Yamaha came out with
> even a 4-part (true) multitimbral AN synth, I'd be happy.

The did ;-) Buy a CS6x loaded with PLG150-AN cards - ha ha ha. 
Seriously, I think the PLG concept is GREAT but I too wish they'd make a
follow up.  If I could take my existing Voice library with me for the
upgrade ride (and keep the Ribbon Controller) I'd seriously consider
it...somehow I doubt it will happen.

> 
> >I really enjoyed that little ER-1 Drum Machine too.  More
> >so than the EA-1 box.
> 
> I have both. I felt the same as you before I bought it but actually use the
> EA-1 more for 303-type patterns. Sometimes for basslines. The EA-1 I use
> primarily for adding some high-end crisp to rhythm tracks (like lo-fi drum
> loops). I always need to use it with a compressor or else it just doesn't
> sit well in a mix.

I've a copy of ReBirth sitting around that hardly gets used so I just
know I'd play with the ER-1 for a couple months and get nothing done. 
It's not that I don't think any of this is worth the money - I simply
know one more piece of gear will serve only as a distraction right now. 
*sigh*  You know how it goes: work, family, hobby's, etc.

Jon

-- 
http://www.jdlx-musique.com/

From: "jondl" <jondl@...>


> > If Yamaha came out with
> > even a 4-part (true) multitimbral AN synth, I'd be happy.
>
> The did ;-) Buy a CS6x loaded with PLG150-AN cards - ha ha ha.

Make that two CS6x's (or CS6r's), since the PLG-150AN is monotimbral: it's
half an AN1x.

There are lots of multitimbral modeling synths out there: this Virus range,
the Nova and Supernova range (both series have racks and keyboards), and the
Z1. Especially the Supernova II Pro X (48 voices! yes!) and the Z1 - in my
opinion the ultimate modeling synth, not just for analogue - I crave for,
though I haven't got anywhere near the required amount of money for those.

- Peter

> MS2K is that not *that*
> expensive as it stands today.  

To say the truth, the MS2k is a very cheap built synth. Thin metal-
case, very cheap plastic-keyboard without aftertouch (which the AN1x 
keyboard has...) and cheap tiny plastic knobs...smaller than the one 
on the Electribes. And in Germany Korg wants $US 1300 for it. Nope i 
am not buying it. For the same price you can get a Virus b in Germany 
with a much better synthengine (ok, without the mod-sequencer, but 
really...who cares..;).
But if you can it cheap as an add to your current setup, hey, why not?

tomfinegan@... wrote:
> 
> > MS2K is that not *that*
> > expensive as it stands today.
> 
> To say the truth, the MS2k is a very cheap built synth. Thin metal-
> case, very cheap plastic-keyboard without aftertouch (which the AN1x
> keyboard has...) and cheap tiny plastic knobs...smaller than the one
> on the Electribes. And in Germany Korg wants $US 1300 for it.

Here in the US the rack mount is going for $649.  I didn't have a
problem with the case and I liked the knobs and their layout.  Oh well,
to each his own...

Nope i
> am not buying it. For the same price you can get a Virus b in Germany
> with a much better synthengine (ok, without the mod-sequencer, but
> really...who cares..;).

Here a Virus goes for about $1300.  Not bad - but too much for my budget
this year.

> But if you can it cheap as an add to your current setup, hey, why not?

Agreed.

Jon

-- 
http://www.jdlx-musique.com/