Well, I really do hope the real An1x sounds better than this.

I'm willing to bet that it does

Go listen to the demo on Vintage Synth Explorer. Super deep and lush. Just kills.

+1. In fact, it's so awesome Chuck Norris approves it.

Yes it does! Even better than the Virus!

Cheers,
D.

It's like a Diversion with better filters.

Except it sounds even better.

Sounds good but nothing amazing. I had one yrs ago, it had its uses but a bit samey. Nothing that cannot be done with a few modern softsynths imo and bass was weak.

Bass weak? You're doing it wrong.


Also, there isn't a softsynth out there that can mimic AN1x very cool filters, no way.

I have to agree. Listen to that sweep. You can come close with VST, but not that close (but I haven't tried DIVA or Saurus yet)

I've had both a AN1x and the PLG150-AN card (and the FM and VL cards as well.) While the PLG150-AN card might have the engine of the AN1x supposedly, there is no effects on board this card. It's also very different to access its preset banks on the likes of a Motif ES Rack. I'mn assuming it's just as much of a pain on the rest of the units that support this board. Yes, there is a software editor for it, but keep in mind, it was for Windows 95/98.

Personally, I didn't find any of them worth keeping; the PLG cards or the AN1x. The PLG cards, while they are a full synth on a card, which is awesome, as it has its own polyphony outside of the synth its plugged into, it's just the synthesis engine. Like the FM card, I found it more useful to keep a Yamaha TG-77 instead. If I had to choose between the PLG150-AN and an AN1x, I'd choose an AN1x because it be much easier to use (the grid menu system is not ideal in my opinion, but a heck of a lot easier to use than the PLG150 board.) The PLG150 card did have nice, smooth oscillators and filters, smoother than a lot of things, but not enough to justify keeping it with everything else I already have. The cons far outweighed the pros, IMHO. The only thing I really really liked on the AN1x is the Symphonic effect, which is just nice and silky smooth. Again, not enough for me to keep a synth over with limited space in the studio. Honestly, for an early gen VA with low poly count, I'd suggest the Korg MS2000. Much easier to edit on since pretty much everythings right in your face and I love the sound of it. They are also pretty cheap as well; $250-$300 for the rack, $400ish for the keyboard.

So there you go; your con review to counterbalance the pro reviews.

Devon

You just like what you hear because you hear its fine effects and fine presets, and unison. AN1x (which sounds better than PLG150-AN and AN200) doesn't sound that great at all. It's a nice synth with excellent features that are definitely worth "emulating". The filter is unique and the oscillators as well but not necessarily in a good way. Its strength is in having a clear full frequency range sound, fine envelopes and no "mushiness" with any setting, just a cutting sound.

You want to hear its real sound? Here, you can't even tell me BS like "you're doing it wrong", because it's nothing but totally basic sounds that can be compared with any other "VA" synth's.
I didn't "prettify" anything for you in these samples:
lowpass
filter envelope

Anyone can prettify even a terrible sounding synth enough to make it sound "decent". I prettified this avarage-minus sounding synth as much as humanly possible in this patch to try to make it sound "analog" using a few "tricks" like carefully chosen detuning and its fine unison and 2 slightly different filter cutoff points. So some years ago when I posted it, many people believed this sample was from a synth with -at least- an analog filter:
obesity test

Add to that some proper effects like Yamaha's chorus effects, or some delay, reverb, etc. and people start saying "ooh it's so lush", yeah, no shit, effects do that to anything.

Anyway, don't believe the hype about this synth sounding great or "better than software". There are much better sounding digital synths nowadays, in software as well. There are too few synths with -features- that are as good, that's the problem, in addition to the other problem of lack of fine modulation effects.

FYI: if you don't agree with what I said, I don't care, so don't bother telling me or saying that I have no clue about a synth I've had for years. (why do I have it? great keyboard/controller)

Diversion sounds much fatter to my ears. I had an An1x and if it sounded like Diversion back then then there is no way I would have sold it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5r-PBBNsng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3r_W-Wln2Y


It's still damn amazing sounding, whatever the naysayers say. The hype is there for a reason.