Hi there, I found some explanation on the yamaha website…
http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/music-production/plugins/plg150-an/1988/2777/Can_AN1x_voice_data_be_played_by_a_PLG150-AN/?current_page_id=1&sort;=&type;=

However, it seems the an expert editor seems required. It is also mentioned that the AN1X has to be connected to the computer. It is not mentioned wether how the ES is connected in this setup. A lot of midi channels/ usb settings seem required ... : P

Is there an easy way, let’s say by connecting the AN1X tot the ES directly (midi in/out) OR by connecting the computer tot the ES and using AN1X editor to put voices in the PLG board? (that would be great!!!!!!!!)

Thanks for advice, Michiel

From deep in the archives:

PLG150-AN and the AN1X - read through this thread from 5 years ago. My posts have links to past Tutorials, explains the difference between the PLG150-AN and the AN1X engines, how to duplicate a dual AN1X Voice in the Motif ES with 2 PLG150-AN, I even post an example of one poster’s favorite AN1x Voice. And I posted an mp3 of the AN engine in action

More useful information and link to Studio Connection Recall article

Recreating an AN1X would require 2 PLG150-ANs plus some effects help from the Motif ES host product:
You can connect the AN1X to your computer and use the AN EXPERT EDITOR to extract libraries (SCENE1) from the keyboard.... then you can swap the Scenes and do a second bank extract. Load the first 128 to one PLG150 and the second 128 to the other.

Bad_Mister - 03 November 2011 07:55 AM

From deep in the archives:

PLG150-AN and the AN1X - read through this thread from 5 years ago. My posts have links to past Tutorials, explains the difference between the PLG150-AN and the AN1X engines, how to duplicate a dual AN1X Voice in the Motif ES with 2 PLG150-AN, I even post an example of one poster’s favorite AN1x Voice. And I posted an mp3 of the AN engine in action


More useful information and link to Studio Connection Recall article

Recreating an AN1X would require 2 PLG150-ANs plus some effects help from the Motif ES host product:
You can connect the AN1X to your computer and use the AN EXPERT EDITOR to extract libraries (SCENE1) from the keyboard.... then you can swap the Scenes and do a second bank extract. Load the first 128 to one PLG150 and the second 128 to the other.

unfortunately links are dead

So deep in the archives they have died, what’s your question. The PLG boards era ended six years ago…

I’ve updated the dead links:

PLG150-AN and the AN1X

More useful information and link to the Studio Connections article

If you have both AN1x Edit and the AN Expert Editor, the latter can open files written by the former.

Good luck.

Bad_Mister - 01 March 2013 09:30 AM

So deep in the archives they have died, what’s your question. The PLG boards era ended six years ago…

I’ve updated the dead links:

PLG150-AN and the AN1X

More useful information and link to the Studio Connections article

Thanks Bad_Mister :-)
it was a pity that PLG boards era ended because I’m still in love with my 2 PLG150-AN inside my S90ES.
And once a little updated they might be a great add to the next Motif serie.

Updated vintage technology!?! If you update it too much it loses it’s charm… Analog synths are now in the phase of their history where they are popular for some of the things that sampled versions cannot do, if you understand my meaning.

If you like analog synths for those things that the sampled versions of analog fails to emulate properly, then we truly have come to a full circle of some type… Because in general, analog went away due to the things it could not do that samples could.

Four, five, six, and finally eight notes of polyphony was a major stumbling block, and was the trigger event that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs… ( yes, I know about dual engine units, a prophet 10 was literally two fives, a matrix 12 was literally two sixes, etc. Not to mention accuracy in sounds like piano.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved analog sounds not for their ability emulate, but I used them mostly for their own sound. It is interesting to see the resurgence (however small) of the non-emulative synth sound.

If you owned a miniMoog, it was either a lead sound or a bass sound based on the octave you were performing in… :-).  .... Or a sound fx.

There are performance gestures that behave differently in different technologies… But mostly these are subtlties that only the discerning ear knows to look for… Fancy way of saying: not a huge market that desires to get that subtle response.

Music is part fashion, so fashion changes.

Bad_Mister

I see your point and I feel so honoured that you took the time to reply :-)
Although you might think that PLG era is way outdated, there are still several great features that such boards can deliver. I don’t think to be the only one who believes that Yamaha did a mistake removing PLG slots from its workstations. And I keep asking myself the reason why when Yamaha produced its latest cutting edge instrument relying on a ROMpler based technology again.

Another brand I prefer not to mention ;-) did a 9 synthesis engine workstation, so why Yamaha doesn’t take into consideration to expand its horizons producing something similar but more powerful?

That’s why I roughed out a “new series” of PLG, because in my humble opinion, future of synthesis is not based just on samples, sampling and ROMpler but also on powerful sound engines that interact each other.

I’m not in Yamaha’s engineers/developers brain, anyway given that analog synthesis is hard to replicate with expensive analog circuits, sampling techniques give somewhat static results, an alternative way might be producing hybrid sound engines that help producing both accurate acoustic and electronic sound reproductions and original and never heard new ones.
My 2 cents

digitalperformer7 - 04 March 2013 07:28 PM

Another brand I prefer not to mention ;-) did a 9 synthesis engine workstation, so why Yamaha doesn’t take into consideration to expand its horizons producing something similar but more powerful?

An interesting opinion very close to mine! I love Yamaha stuff, but more specifically classic Yamaha gear. I’m afraid the current direction of Motif leaves me a little uninterested, and when I look for a new synth later in the year, I may be jumping ship after 30 years of Yamaha (that started with a second hand CS15 in 1982).

I have an SY99, TG77, EX5, AN1x, FS1R and a Motif Rack ES with a PLG150-AN and PLG150-VL stuffed in. So I guess I like Yamaha! But out of all of those, the Motif is my least favorite (possibly heresy on a Motif site!)

I haven’t tried or heard anything new since 2005 that has made me want to part with my cash, apart from the competitor example you give above ;-)

My last synth purchase was an SY99 from ebay last year. I’ve spent years waiting for the right bargain and finally had one, selling my SY77 to fund it (but not before scoring a bargain TG77). I have upgraded the inevitable failed LCD display, repaired the inevitable loose floppy drive belt, stuffed it full of third party memory boards to max out the sample RAM (to 3MB!), and she is now gorgeous! But I have to ask myself why am I going backwards, when synth manufacturers should be persuading me to go forwards and spend my hard earned cash on what they are offering.

So most of the gear that I rely on for inspiration is now over 12 years old. I feel that significant innovation in synth architectures stopped at the EX5/AN1x/FS1r era; the Wave ROM has gotten larger since then, but an SY99 shows you what you can do with miniscule Wave ROM and a great synth engine with both AWM and AFM).

Age of course doesn’t stop my “vintage” Yammie synths from sounding good, but I’d sell the proverbial granny for a mega synth from Yamaha that was a modern take on all of their classics in an integrated workstation.

But I believe market forces set the direction, and of course Yamaha have to cater for the market to make money. And I’m probably in the minority in terms of wanting such a product, so whilst it’s a lovely dream, I’m not holding my breath.

Back on topic a little, you may be interested in evaluating my an.factory librarian. It supports all AN1x, PLG150-AN and AN200 file formats, including MIDI and SYSEX dumps. It will convert between the different voice types on the fly. Check it out at http://www.xfactory-librarians.co.uk

Cheers
Derek

As you well know, the EX5 was the mega synth, with its multiple synth engines. And while supported (brilliantly by yourself and others) it’s appeal was to a small (perhaps too small) audience of musicians. the EX was not for your casual keyboardist… It was deep!

Following the EX5 you can see the “other” technologies available in PLG boards, this allowed those interested in VL (Virtual Acoustic) and AN (virtual analog), etc., could purchase them separately - and the core workstation (Motif classic) could maintain a friendly price point for the lage majority of musicians who didn’t seem to care for multiple technologies.

You don’t (nor do I) have access to the actual sales numbers, but I guess we have to trust that if the PLG boards were selling extremely well they would still be available. It’s not a matter of how much any one of us likes it, it, at some point, is just reality.

I think you will always be able to count on Yamaha for pushing the envelope, however. But putting everything in one product necessarily, or so it seems, dooms you to smaller and smaller audiences for your product as it gets too complicated for those not interested in anything but just playing. (You see them here, “I’m a musician not a technician” is their theme song).

Now if you argue the EX5 was ahead of its time, you’ll get no argument from me (but we knew that then)
:-)
Could we do the same thing with today’s technology and chips… Who knows? Would it be a smart thing, that’s the really important question.

At the end of the day what really has made the Motif-series so very successful, and where the EX-series did not capture that same broad appeal, has to do with its ability to appeal to a wider audience… It nails, to some good degree, the sounds that have that very broad appeal, overall.

VL, as much as I personally love it (and I know of many others) I also know that there are not a whole lot of keyboard players who do.. Some don’t like/understand the one note thing, some don’t like breath control, some don’t like it because you can’t play it like a piano.

The VL, for me, was all about “playing”, performing
The AN, for me, was all about exploring and programming innovative sounds.

Reality when you must market and sell a product, you have to target the center of the market. Niche products for the niche customers??? Maybe now that the world economy is on the mend…

Hi, Bad_Mister

Sorry, I haven’t looked in for a while, so missed your reply.

I agree with everything you say in terms why the Motif has been a run away success compared to the EX5, which means that Yamaha is of course hitting the market in a way that the core market wants and in a way that makes Yamaha money (its first duty to its shareholders).

I have a similar experience with Nord. I have a Nord G2 Engine, which is a virtual fully modular synth in a 1U rack. An awesome product that Nord are unlikely to upgrade/replace as a modular synth is a niche product.

Having said that, a competitor is doing precisely what I’m looking for - a modern take on an integrated multiple engine architecture, and it seems to be selling.... :-)

I still think that Yamaha has made some awesome technology with AFM, AWM, AN, VL, FDSP, formant synthesis, etc. It’s a huge shame to see it not being taken further. I still have my dream and am ready to sell the granny! And in the meantime I still have my classic Yammies for company (and my Nord).