the an-200 has parted company with me..
I miss it, but I sold it to fund buying a dave smith evolver so it was somewhat an upgrade
Here's a bit of a review of just things that come to mind. .not comprehensive or anything
First things first. . unless you have a windows 95 computer, you can not use the software editor. I never used it. I have no idea what parameters you can access via it that can't be accessed on the front panel. .I found I had enough to create all manner of variations of sounds anyhow, so I dont think it's too important.
Sounds quite fat for a VA, especially a cheap VA! Plenty capable of doing big bass and lead sounds.
Scene morphing & free EG are the most amazing things about this box by far. . . you get 4 bars time of sequenced automation, as well as the ability to shift between two completely different variations of the same basic oscillator set (cant change oscillator types in scene morph, and a couple other things. . filter type, effect type)
The drum samples (and also multisampled basses that you can play as well as the synth line) are actually pretty good for a groovebox. . I sampled them into my 404 to use and with a few effects they were great.
Effects were OK. . I dont think there was any BPM sync on the delay which was really the only negative I can think of.
Other useful features... 'current value' button - holding it down and turning the knob you're interested in displays the value, but doesnt change it - so you can turn the knob to the correct position for that value, let go of current value, and then it will turn smoothly from the right spot rather than jumping. . useful for live performance.
Same thing goes for the 'original value' button - this is the value saved in the synth patch... so you can always get back to where you were no matter how much tweaking you do.
I never much used the sequencer, but by using the free EG you can create some great acid style sequences (an200 does an OK acid impression but its not exactly going to rival the original or a faithful clone)
What else can I say. . hmm. . Oh yeah, dont forget that with some buttons that cycle through a couple options (eg waveform cycle button), not all of the options have an led and are listed on the front panel - turning the main data knob will cylce through all possible options and display what they are on the LCD. . same goes for the effects, there are a couple extra things not listed. .
Run through the manual, its really well put together.
Also built like tanks! Mine came all the way from the US to Australia in a cardboard box with no wrapping/foam/protection, just rattling loose.. survived!
Man what a rant. . really nice synth! Yamaha's seem to be a lot better than their ebay prices would have you believe!
I would definitely think about buying one again one day. . But for now I think I'd like to try the DX200 if i go for another synth like that, since I dont have an FM synth and its sposed to be equally as good.
The end! phew
PS: A little tip. . if when you hit play, no sound comes out even though you've sequenced something to play, its probably because the midi clock is set to external - so it just doesnt go past step 0 because nothing is telling it to advance.
I thought i broke mine once but this was the problem.
so I'll definately find a use for more rave sounds!
this is after specifically telling them to take care packaging it...
