KVR Audio

dan_s · Post by **dan_s** » Thu May 15, 2008 12:41 am

I just got a brand-new, unopened AN200 of the ebay. I was looking into the electribe line of grooveboxes and I came across this yamaha. After hearing a few clips of it on the youtube, I bought it up.

This is the first of the groovebox type instruments that I own, but I can see it becoming an a habit.

So far in the hour, I've owned it, I pretty much got the sequencing down, although it is a bit cumbersome because you basically have to assign the step, instrument, velocity, gate for each sound, even if its just to do a kick.

But it has a nice little synth engine in it and its harsh as can be. As for effects, there is a mean distortion, that actually sounds good and what I believe to be an amp sim (i didn't get through the manual yet)

I'm curious to here from other users of this box as well as any other recommendations in the same vein?

fac · Post by **fac** » Thu May 15, 2008 2:09 am

I used to own a DX200 and always wanted the AN200. I also have a few other grooveboxes: Korg ER-1 and ES-1, Emu MP7, and I also had a Zoom SampleTrak which I sold.

I really liked the DX200 sound engine, but there were a few annoying things that in the end made me sell it: first, the knobs had a very low resolution and I could hear lots of zipper noise when tweaking. Second, the main data wheel started to malfunction, making the values jump all around, to the point that it became impossible to select a specific patch. Third, the sequencer had a bug where it cut the first note of a sequence when changing patterns, even in song mode, so it was pretty much useless for me. However, you could do some crazy things with the sequencer like reverse and retriggering.

Eventually, I stopped using it and sold it (along some other gear) to pay for a Nord G2, which can do anything the DX200 can, except for the drum samples.

Anyway, grooveboxes are cool, especially if you sync 2 or 3 together and start tweaking. One cool thing about the AN200 and DX200 is that some of the samples are synth sounds, so you can actually use one (or more) of the drum parts for bass or melody lines.

bluedad · Post by **bluedad** » Thu May 15, 2008 2:10 am

dszep wrote: But it has a nice little synth engine in it and its harsh as can be.

you're right there; inside is a PLG-150AN card, which is very close to the AN1X.
You can only program it with a computer though, and should be able to download the editor from yamaha.
have fun with it!
I don't have an AN200, only the AN1X

dan_s · Post by **dan_s** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 am

fac wrote: the sequencer had a bug where it cut the first note of a sequence when changing patterns, even in song mode, so it was pretty much useless for me.

Yea, I've heard of that bug, I don't believe I will ever really use it for creating whole songs or using it live, so this won't bother me much. I'm looking into the E-mu series and the electribes but there are so many different ones now, its hard to decide which would fit me best. I need to hear more of the ER1 to judge its sound shaping possibilities.

I believe mine came with the CD with the editing software, although I have no idea how it will work but I'll check into it once I get some extra time. The box has the basic synth engine controls for osc/mix but little else. It also has an extra EG besides the filter and amp ones,plus an lfo, all from the interface, again I really haven't gotten into them yet.

Overall, it has a very unique sound to it, its easy to get a sound you like despite the limited controls.

The person I bought this one off of also had an unopened DX200, but i didn't go nuts for it as I assume it is very similiar but with a FM engine, which is buh to me.

I was originally looking to buy a machinedrum, but I actually thought about it before buying and realized I can have 4-5 different machines for the same price.

fac · Post by **fac** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:14 am

dszep wrote: I need to hear more of the ER1 to judge its sound shaping possibilities.

I love my ER-1. It doesn't have a very wide sonic range, but it's extremely fun to play with, and can do lots of crazy stuff. I may sell the ES-1 and MP7, but the ER-1 is a keeper (and I've had it for 6 or 7 years).

dszep wrote: I believe mine came with the CD with the editing software, although I have no idea how it will work but I'll check into it once I get some extra time.

Yeah, the editing software is actually a plugin which works within the Yamaha XGWorks sequencer. Your CD should contain a "lite" version of XGWorks and the AN Editor plugin. However, if you have Windows XP, you must install a patch that can be found at Yamaha's website: www.yamahasynth.com

I have no idea if XGWorks works in Vista.

dszep wrote: The person I bought this one off of also had an unopened DX200, but i didn't go nuts for it as I assume it is very similiar but with a FM engine, which is buh to me.

Well, if you ask me, I'd say the DX200 is capable of more interesting tones than the AN200. It's like a DX7 with a resonant filter, an extra LFO, an amp simulator, and some effects: huge sonic range. Give it a try if you can.

dszep wrote: I was originally looking to buy a machinedrum, but I actually thought about it before buying and realized I can have 4-5 different machines for the same price.

I know what you mean. I used to think likewise until I ran out of space in every sense: physical space, mixer space, MIDI ports, electric outlets, etc. I tried to do the opposite when selling various machines for a Nord G2, but then started collecting smaller synths again. I'm such a fetishist.

But seriously, I think having only 3 or 4 great synths that can do lots of things is better than having 10 or 12 one-trick ponies. I'm seriously considering selling the MP7, ES1, Boss DR-770, and some other stuff (not the ER-1, though) for a MachineDrum or a LinnDrum II.

kingtubby · Post by **kingtubby** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:23 am

I'm not 100% certain but I think this editor for the an1X also works with the an200:

http://www.yamahasynth.com/download/an1x/s_an1xed.htm

It's a lot better too.

Mart.

Chopper · Post by **Chopper** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:29 am

hey! I've got that synth for ages gathering dust in a corner because I hate programming it( just a few knobs and a matrix, wtf?). this app is a life saver!!! thx for the info!

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:40 pm

Indeed it's helped me get the most out of my AN1x with ease. It's the best software frontend for a hardware synth I've ever used, and it was made over 8 years ago. If only today's single or multi hardware synth editors came anywhere near.

waiting man · Post by **waiting man** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:53 pm

anyway you can build a cc controlling midivst within minutes with Synthedit and the manual.
I made mine for my dx200 and I'm re-loving this little fm thing tied to Tracktion.

dan_s · Post by **dan_s** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:40 am

waiting man wrote:anyway you can build a cc controlling midivst within minutes with Synthedit and the manual.
I made mine for my dx200 and I'm re-loving this little fm thing tied to Tracktion.

yes i am thinking about doing this myself, as i know have a dx and an200, and i want to get the most out of them with all the extra features.

i know nothing about synthedit/synthmaker. do you have any tips on where to begin in making a vst midi interface for these?

Muzik 4 Machines · Post by **Muzik 4 Machines** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:50 am

as soon as i find one willing to ship in canada i'll get one, and a dx200, just for the synth, I miss my an1x so much (and the dx is basically a dx7 with a filter)

dan_s · Post by **dan_s** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:04 am

Muzik 4 Machines wrote:as soon as i find one willing to ship in canada i'll get one, and a dx200, just for the synth, I miss my an1x so much (and the dx is basically a dx7 with a filter)

they are hard to find... although when they were discontinued they were being sold soo cheap new, like 250$ NEW, so a lot of people bought them..point is you will spot them on ebay unopened.

they are both great. just with the limited controls they are very capable. the dx is really easy fm programming.

if i can figure out how to make a vst interface for these, it would be stellar.

Dunbar · Post by **Dunbar** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:23 pm

I just got hold of an AN200 but it didn't come with the software CD. If anyone could share the original AN200 editor for Win98 i would be most grateful.

Muzik 4 Machines · Post by **Muzik 4 Machines** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:06 pm

iirc the software is available on some yamaha website, maybe the UK one

necessity · Post by **necessity** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:28 am

waiting man wrote:anyway you can build a cc controlling midivst within minutes with Synthedit and the manual.
I made mine for my dx200 and I'm re-loving this little fm thing tied to Tracktion.

Do you mind sharing that vst? I never got XG works to work on Windows XP despite the update. I would looooove to have a VST editor for this is in my DAW!!!. I actually had more luck with software editors after taking the PLG card out of the DX 200 and using it inside a CS6X synth.

Anyway, I really prefer using the DX 200 and would be very grateful if you would want to share the VST. I am sure many other users would be as well.

Thanks man!

Yamaha AN200