5
How To Use This Manual
This owner’s manual provides your basic keys to unlocking the power of
the AN1x Control Synthesizer. It is divided into the following sections:
INTRODUCTION Provides a brief rundown of the AN1x’s main
features and description of all front and rear panel controls along
with information about the AN1x’s memory
structure
. We
recommend you take a few minutes and read the
INTRODUCTION section carefully before you get started in order
to familiarize yourself with the basic features and capabilities of
the AN1x.
ANALOG PHYSICAL MODELING SYNTHESIS Provides an
overview of the basic concept of the tone generation technology,
plus descriptions of basic terminology and a signal flow block
diagram,
in order to give you an understanding of what’s going on
inside the instrument as you twiddle the knobs and set parameters.
Congratulations! And thank you for choosing Yamaha. You are now the proud owner of the AN1x Control Synthesizer, a
fully-professional digital keyboard with powerful sound and versatile real-time control features. The AN1x is a modern
music dynamo capable of faithfully delivering the warm, fat, punchy sounds of the legendary analog synths—with the
same familiar oscillator, filter and other sound creation elements and intuitive, "hands on" style of operation—plus all the
sophisticated flexibility you'd expect from a professional digital synthesizer.
GETTING STARTED Provides a basic overview of how to set up
your AN1x and quickly familiarize yourself with all its key features
and operations. We recommend you actually be sitting in front of
your AN1x as you read through the GETTING STARTED section,
so you can try out each feature along the way to get a thorough
understanding of how the AN1x works.
FEATURE REFERENCE Provides a comprehensive explanation of
all AN1x features. This is in essence a dictionary which you can
refer to any time you need to know the details about any given
feature.
APPENDIX Provides information related to MIDI, troubleshooting,
and more.
A separate Data List book provides voice, Arpeggiator Type, Effect
Type and other lists and information.
Main Features
The AN1x Control Synthesizer is a truly innovative professional keyboard with enormously flexible
sound and performance capabilities. Following is a brief rundown of the main features:
Analog Physical Modeling synthesis
The AN1x generates amazingly high quality synth sounds in much the same way as traditional
legendary analog synthesizers—using voltage controlled oscillators and filters, low frequency
oscillators, ring modulator and voltage controlled amplifiers—but with the additional benefits
of digital multi-effects, MIDI control and much more.
128 voices and maximum 10 notes polyphony
The AN1x comes with an impressive array of 128 voices preprogrammed and ready to play, each of which
can be edited and overwritten to store your own. Ten notes of polyphony provide for versatile SINGLE,
DUAL and SPLIT play options.
Intuitive interface with "hands on" voice editing and multiple assignable
real-time controllers
The AN1x's eight CONTROL knobs and panel Edit matrix give you direct and instant access to
many parameters as you play. All controllers are assignable, including [PITCH] and
[MODULATION] wheels and various foot pedals, plus the [RIBBON] controller with horizontal slide
(X) and pressure (Z) control of filter, LFO, delay and more. The Control Matrix function permits
easy assignment of up to 16 sets of "source" controllers (MW, FC, Key Touch, etc.) to destination
parameters (VCA, Filter, LFO, etc.) for each Scene, all of which can be stored as voice data for
each voice.
2 Scene memories for each voice, with real-time morphing between Scenes
Each voice has two Scenes, each of which can be selected by pressing a [SCENE] switch. This
provides two distinct sounds within each voice available for instant recall as you play. You can
press both [SCENE] switches to activate the "Scene Control" function, and roll the
[MODULATION] wheel (or press a foot pedal or use any other continuous controller) to morph,
or cross-fade between the sounds of Scene 1 and Scene 2 as you play.
Six types of Layers to choose from for each voice
SINGLE, UNISON, DUAL, DUAL UNISON, SPLIT, and SPLIT UNISON Layer modes give you a
wide choice for control over how the two Scenes are configured to play in relation to each
other for each voice.
Arpeggiator with 30 patterns and various play options, plus MIDI data
output
The Arpeggiator lets you play perfect arpeggiated chords at the simple press of a key. You can
have the Arpeggiator play only one or both Scenes, or play one Scene to the left of the Split
Point while you play the other Scene normally to the right. You can choose from various types
of arpeggio patterns, including Up, Down, and Up&Down across one or more octaves, plus
various special patterns including Techno, House, Random, and more. The arpeggio pattern
data can be output via MIDI on its own MIDI channel.
Easy-play/edit “Step Sequencer” with 128 Voice Patterns and 128 User
Patterns
The Step Sequencer permits quick, easy creation of highly sophisticated looped patterns which
can be triggered from the keyboard in a variety of ways. Each individual step event (Note,
Velocity, Gate Time, and Control Change) can be accessed and edited by a specific CONTROL
knob, over a maximum of 16 steps. There are a variety of handy Step Sequencer edit and
play options, including “Play Effects” which give you detailed control over the “feel” of your
sequence. Pattern event data can be output via MIDI on its own MIDI channel.
4-track “Free EG” records and plays real-time changes of knob positions
for up to four different parameters
The 4-track Free EG lets you record real-time CONTROL knob movements, in order to “hand
draw” filter, resonance, LFO and many other available parameters over time—and have them
play back automatically by simply playing a voice. You can control up to four different
parameters independently, each recorded into its own Free EG track. Ideal for those times
when you wish you had an extra couple of pairs of hands, the Free EG lets you build up an
incredibly complex, completely unique voice.
Programmable multi-effects and 3-band EQ for each voice
The AN1x has three types of programmable multi-effects plus EQ built into the voice
architecture, which lets you customize the effects configuration for each voice. There are 8
Reverb effects, 5 Delay effects, 14 Variation effects (which includes Chorus, Auto Pan, Pitch
Change, Compressor, Distortion effects and more), and a stereo 3-band Equalizer. An Effect
Bypass function lets you bypass all effects or specific ones at the press of a switch.