Yamaha AN1x
Encyclopedia
Yamaha AN1x, produced by Yamaha Corporation from 1997 to 1998, is a DSP
-based analog modeling synthesizer
and while it was marketed as "Analog physical modeling control synthesizer", it doesn't employ actual physical modeling synthesis.
In order to keep manufacturing costs down, Yamaha decided to build the synthesizer in the same casing as the otherwise entirely unrelated CS1x
and CS2x
, which has led to some confusion.
, modulation wheel, a pressure-sensitive ribbon controller, connectors for two expression pedals, a foot switch jack and the parameter edit knobs when in assign-mode. The underlying philosophy of this arrangement is that the performer doesn't have to alter the actual sound editing parameters when performing but can instead use assignable controls, when their parameter range is scaled properly, for more predictable action.
, though the actual polyphony depends on scene settings and unison
. Scene layering halves polyphony, unison uses five notes per note played, thus in layered unison mode the synthesizer is monophonic, though capable of 10x unison with careful programming. Using keyboard split assigns five voices to each scene, which may also be unisoned into two monophonic voices. Unison is also possible in poly mode - it uses two notes per note played.
The voice architecture is a typical twin oscillator multi-mode filter design with separate pitch, filter and amplitude envelopes and two LFOs. Available waveforms include saw
and PWM
-capable square
, saw2 (which behaves in a different way than basic saw when used with PWM) and saw/square mix waves. Additional waveforms (Inner1-3) are available for OSC1 when in oscillator sync
mode.
To the typical twin oscillator synthesis AN1x added a non-resonant high-pass filter in series with the resonant multimode filter, basic wave shaping, VCA feedback
, frequency modulation
that can be used simultaneously with either hard or soft oscillator sync
modes. A multieffect, reverb and delay units were also built in.
The AN1x also features both an arpeggiator that can receive and output via MIDI and step sequencer. The step sequencer can be used to send control data such as filter cutoff value or notes to the synth's own tone generator or to MIDI output. Furthermore, the notes may be fixed or transposed via the synth's own keyboard or MIDI input. Both arpeggiator and step sequencer sync to MIDI timecode
.
, Psyclon Nine
, History Of Guns
, Spacehotel, Velvet Acid Christ
, Nine Inch Nails
, Nitin Sawhney
, Phish
, Igor Khoroshev
of YES
, Gabriel of Saint John and the Revelations, Down In The Lab, and Jacob Thiele of The Faint
.
Digital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
-based analog modeling synthesizer
Analog modeling synthesizer
An Analog Modeling Synthesizer is a synthesizer that generates the sounds of traditional analog synthesizers using DSP components and software algorithms to simulate the behaviour of the original electric and electronic circuitry, in order to obtain the sound in a more precise manner from the...
and while it was marketed as "Analog physical modeling control synthesizer", it doesn't employ actual physical modeling synthesis.
In order to keep manufacturing costs down, Yamaha decided to build the synthesizer in the same casing as the otherwise entirely unrelated CS1x
Yamaha CS1x
The Yamaha CS1x is a sample-based synthesizer released by the Yamaha Corporation in 1996.Aimed primarily at dance musicians, the CS1x features analogue synthesizer-emulating rotary controllers and monotimbral analogue synthesizer voices.- Features :...
and CS2x
Yamaha CS2x
The Yamaha CS2x is a sample-based synthesizer released by the Yamaha Corporation in 1999. It is the successor of the very successful Yamaha CS1x. Enhancements include 64-note polyphony, a bigger sample ROM and a 24 Db/oct LPF/HPF filter.-External links:**...
, which has led to some confusion.
Control synthesizer
Yamaha referred to the AN1x as "control synthesizer". This was due to each patch in the AN1x having 20 "control sets", which were assignments of the user-adjustable controls and MIDI control change messages to a number of numerical parameters of the sound engine. User controls includes keyboard pitch, velocity and channel aftertouchKeyboard expression
Keyboard expression often shortened to expression is the ability of a keyboard instrument to respond to the dynamics of the music or change the tone of the sound in response to the way that the performer depresses the keys of the musical keyboard...
, modulation wheel, a pressure-sensitive ribbon controller, connectors for two expression pedals, a foot switch jack and the parameter edit knobs when in assign-mode. The underlying philosophy of this arrangement is that the performer doesn't have to alter the actual sound editing parameters when performing but can instead use assignable controls, when their parameter range is scaled properly, for more predictable action.
Scenes
The synthesizer also allows two individual parameters scenes, which may be two completely different sounding patches. The user can quickly switch between the two scenes, interpolate, or "morph", between them and layer them. This arrangement also allows limited multitimbrality when in split keyboard mode, as both scenes receive MIDI input on separate channels.Voice architecture
In monotimbral mode the AN1x has 10-note maximum polyphonyPolyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
, though the actual polyphony depends on scene settings and unison
Unison
In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance...
. Scene layering halves polyphony, unison uses five notes per note played, thus in layered unison mode the synthesizer is monophonic, though capable of 10x unison with careful programming. Using keyboard split assigns five voices to each scene, which may also be unisoned into two monophonic voices. Unison is also possible in poly mode - it uses two notes per note played.
The voice architecture is a typical twin oscillator multi-mode filter design with separate pitch, filter and amplitude envelopes and two LFOs. Available waveforms include saw
Sawtooth wave
The sawtooth wave is a kind of non-sinusoidal waveform. It is named a sawtooth based on its resemblance to the teeth on the blade of a saw....
and PWM
PWM
-Science:* Position-specific scoring matrix or Position weight matrix, in bioinformatics, a commonly used representation in motifs in biological sequences...
-capable square
Square wave
A square wave is a kind of non-sinusoidal waveform, most typically encountered in electronics and signal processing. An ideal square wave alternates regularly and instantaneously between two levels...
, saw2 (which behaves in a different way than basic saw when used with PWM) and saw/square mix waves. Additional waveforms (Inner1-3) are available for OSC1 when in oscillator sync
Oscillator sync
Oscillator sync is a feature in some synthesizers with two or more VCOs . One oscillator will restart the period of another oscillator, so that they will have the same base frequency...
mode.
To the typical twin oscillator synthesis AN1x added a non-resonant high-pass filter in series with the resonant multimode filter, basic wave shaping, VCA feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
, frequency modulation
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
that can be used simultaneously with either hard or soft oscillator sync
Oscillator sync
Oscillator sync is a feature in some synthesizers with two or more VCOs . One oscillator will restart the period of another oscillator, so that they will have the same base frequency...
modes. A multieffect, reverb and delay units were also built in.
The AN1x also features both an arpeggiator that can receive and output via MIDI and step sequencer. The step sequencer can be used to send control data such as filter cutoff value or notes to the synth's own tone generator or to MIDI output. Furthermore, the notes may be fixed or transposed via the synth's own keyboard or MIDI input. Both arpeggiator and step sequencer sync to MIDI timecode
MIDI timecode
MIDI time code , or MIDI time division, embeds the same timing information as standard SMPTE timecode as a series of small 'quarter-frame' MIDI messages. There is no provision for the user bits in the standard MIDI time code messages, and SysEx messages are used to carry this information instead...
.
Usage
The AN1x has been used by several artists, including Jean Michel JarreJean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
, Psyclon Nine
Psyclon Nine
Psyclon Nine is a musical group formed in 2000 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While their early efforts are generally categorized as aggrotech, their more recent material has incorporated a disparate set of musical and aesthetic influences, notably industrial metal. The group took a hiatus at the...
, History Of Guns
History Of Guns
History of Guns are an English cross-genre group combining elements of industrial, punk, electronica, rock, avant-garde and goth who formed in 1996...
, Spacehotel, Velvet Acid Christ
Velvet Acid Christ
Velvet Acid Christ is an electro-industrial band based in Denver, Colorado. The band was formed in 1990, gaining limited popularity in Europe's underground nightclub scene during the mid-1990s before expanding into other markets in the goth and industrial subcultures...
, Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, Igor Khoroshev
Igor Khoroshev
Igor Petrovich Khoroshev is a Russian keyboard player living in the USA, best known for his work with Yes between 1997 and 2001. Khoroshev appeared on their studio albums Open Your Eyes and The Ladder and the live album House of Yes: Live from House of Blues.-Biography:Igor Khoroshev was born in...
of YES
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Gabriel of Saint John and the Revelations, Down In The Lab, and Jacob Thiele of The Faint
The Faint
The Faint is an American indie rock band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele, Dapose, Joel Petersen and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst...
.