Yamaha AN1x vs Oberheim OB-X8: Can an analog synth match the glory of a vintage VA???
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- A bit of a click-baity and facetious title. But there is a goal here. The Yamaha AN1x "005 Soar" preset is magical, majestic, glorious, epic, wonderful, etc. It uses 2 layers, or "scenes" as they're called on the AN1x. 1 layer is a soft floaty arpeggiated line and the other is an epic whooshing pad. It maxes out the use of onboard FX, using chorus, delay, and reverb. The FX mix is obviously very wet too, and maybe too much as it can get kind of muddy.
Anytime I get a synth that can do layers, I try to make a similar patch. It doesn't matter if it's an analog or digital synth. Some synths that I've tried have been the Sequential Rev2, Nord Lead 2, and Roland System-8. Out of those, the System-8 got pretty close, though not quite as epic. The other 2 didn't really impress me at all. So I guess you could say I'm still searching for something that can capture the magic of the original. And by the way, the goal isn't to make them sound exactly the same, but more to get similar epic vibes and feels. I just got the OB-X8, so I had to try it. I added delay and reverb from my go-to Audiothingies Doctor A. The dry/wet mix is about 50/50. The Audiothingies unit just seems to meld well with input sources, rather than taking them over. The arpeggiated layer uses the OB-Xa 24db low pass filter, and the pad layer uses the OB-X SEM 12db low pass filter. A winning combo, if you ask me!
Thoughts and opinions welcome in the comments.
I have both synths.
The AN1x patch sounds fantastic as it is so any modulation attempt will likely diminish it because it is so perfect.
The OBX8 is much more enjoyable in the process of sound design and it has more growl in the bottom end, of course, it’ll never replicate the modeling of DSP waveforms. They are both great.
I’ve viewed the soar preset in the editor before, and if I remember correctly, it makes use of the edge parameter. So that softens the waveforms a bit and means they really can’t be reproduced by another synth outside of the AN family.
They both sound gorgeous.
I love the An1x
I’m coming back and think I prefer the AN1x. But that’s just one patch - making an amazing patch on the obx8 and seeing if the AN1x could do it would be interesting.
It’s funny. I find myself liking the X8 in this video more and more, and maybe it’s because I didn’t put much effort into matching them, but I still got a great vibe that I really like. The AN1x has a plasticy sheen that takes away from the magic a bit. But that might be due to its internal fx, which can be bypassed in favor of the ones I used on the X8. It’s also never made it onto any of my recordings, although I have some ideas for where it might fit. Idk, it seems to enjoy being right on the edge of the chopping block. I just never feel drawn to it. I should probably cut it loose.
@@thesrabbit Internal FX is from legendary Yamaha 01V96 digital mixer with top notch halls and delay's. I don't think they are so so bad. An1X is a monster ready to use; you get dramatic (changes) results fast not like some other synths where you go throught all the nobs like crazy and almost nothing happens. :))
@@b.hornetiii.6771for real you can get the AN1x FX from that mixer?
@@thesrabbit If I'm not mistaken the FX inside Yamaha is from 96 and 02R96 mixing console. That's how it was advertised in 1997. It was my first synth. :)
The Ober is 10x the price of the AN1x - Er, I'll stick with my AN1x, love it!!!
This is such an incredibly warm sounding synth
Very different, equally amazing. What a pity that Yamaha didn‘t put the AN1X engine into the MODX+!
Agreed!
A new montage with analog modeling is coming.
Strange comparison but my impression is. The AN1x has its beautiful silkynes and the OB-8X its balls in the low end. It's what you need in your mix. For beautiful pads with a big baseline underneath, you don't need the big balls of the OB-8X in that case. So you can save 10 times money in this case lol. 😉😆
Nice sounds from both instruments! The more I hear from the OB-X8 the more I like it.
Me too! :)
interesting is how warm the AN1x is - but the OB is a fat beast in the lower Frequencies - layering is a great option when it comes to hardware in my studio, I make beautiful pads with my JD-990 and for example add the Micro - Q - this sounds real huge and warm.
Yeah layering is awesome. And certainly doesn’t need to be limited to single synths that can do layers.
Yes, layering hardware synthesizers often is magic.
Sounds great!
Thanks!
I like the old yamaha better.
It's a truly wonderful sound. I'm still in the process of refining my efforts on the OB-X8 though.
I think one thing many people miss when comparing synths is not just which sounds better or fatter or more analog. Synths of the 90s are great for one thing and that is to sound like a synth from the 90s! If thats your thing then you know what to select. No doubt that the OB here wins in terms of fullness and growl but if I make 90s trance then it may be too much for that specific sound. It would probably be fine, but if I only used 80s analog synths for 90s trance then it may suddenly sound more like 80s trance 😅 anyway thats just me! Both are def great!
@@AnalogFlava I’ve made a pretty decent supersaw patch on the OB-X8. Of course it still doesn’t sound like a JP-8000 but it’s pretty cool in its own right. I just need to finish my patch bank… ugh.
@@thesrabbit sure thats always possible, to make a supersaw’ish patch on most good synths. I just like to think of the synths for what they are and I just happen to love VAs probably more than true analog in many cases depending on the genre you are making. Before supersaws ofc, early 90s, jd990 or maybe OBs and otjer synths were used on tracks by capella, prodigy and more for those fat saw synths, but if we are talking classic trance then Id prefer the jp80xx for supersaw and not an OB even though it indeed can sound amazing in its own right ;)
Been having a lot of fun with the AN1X recently. Great synth. Did you replace the screen?
Naw I sold the AN1x several months ago. I still have the AN engine in the Reface CS. I have a JP-8000 now too.
I bought my AN1X for....250 USD (Swedish Crowns)...so it's really unfair to compare it to an super expensive massive analogue monster, lol. Yeah, it sounds a bit plasticky, I wonder what would have happened if Yamaha put in a true analogue filter. Great work though, it shows the power of the AN1X...people who have expensive synths don't like this, lol.
All for fun. I think the AN1x sounds the most analog of all the early VAs. I have the reface CS, which is the same sound engine, and the filter is beautiful. I just have such a hard time with the AN1x UI. Otoh the Nord Lead 2 has the least analog sounding engine, but a great interface. I love it for its digitalness. In any case I’m glad I still have the reface. I have been struggling with the OB-X8 trying to refine the patch in this video. Just can’t get it perfect. The agony of patch paralysis!
@@thesrabbit
Thanks for the reply...what a lovely monster the OB is. :-)
I wonder how the AN engine in the new Montage II will sound. It's a pity that Yamaha didn't make an AN2X in the ModWav style, for similar cost, people would buy it..
@@Aetila I’m still hopeful that it will happen, probably after the new montage has been out for awhile. They could call it a CS61, like the CP61 they put out a couple years ago.
I love that ober, with heavier sound, but that an-1x it has character with cheaper price
I want both. Just gotta wait to find an anx1 in Australia first.
They’re kinda rare, only having been in production for a couple years. I probably overpaid for mine, but you don’t see them in such good condition very often. I couldn’t pass it up.
I am far from you (in Spain), but have two AN1x. I got them at a reasonable price, just before COVID, but now they seem ever more difficult to find than back then. I wish you luck!
How much would you think a decent price in Australia would be?
@@johnnygraham2 I can't help you with prices in Australia, but as a reference, I paid for my two units 515€ and 405€ in 2019. Current prices here (Spain) are a tad more, but they are pretty scarce
@@JoseVGavila thanks for replying :) so they are still pretty decent value if you can find one
Other question is: Can any Oberheim ever match the glory of the DX1?
Gimme a DX1 I’d love to try! :D
An1x was a virtuale emulation made by Yamaha team and Dave Smith alias mr sequential circuits...the project was to emulate the prophet 5 circuitery...well done
I don't know which I'd like more if I didn't know which was which.... That says a lot for a $500 synth versus a $5000 synth.
It definitely has its own special thing that other VAs don’t have. Makes it hard to sell.
I had an1x..Amazing sinth..the real emulation based on the prophet 5 engine ...boosting mid and low frequencies become incredible.superior even than the Roland jp8000... An1x has. A kind of supersaw too.
@@moretto972 yeah you can get a good supersaw out of it by using dual mode and spread, then sprinkle in some fx. I definitely like it more than the JP-8000. I love the old Nord Leads though. They’re the least analog sounding of the bunch and just cut through like a chainsaw. And the UI on those is pretty much knob per function, with a couple exceptions. No awful stepping either when tweaking sounds.
Btw is an1x a PITA to program??
Yes. One of the reasons I sold it again. The main part of the sound design on the left side of the panel isn’t great but one can get used to it. It’s the matrix on the right hand side with the value up/down buttons that drives me insane. I always accidentally select the wrong thing or simply get lost. It would have been better to put all that stuff in a menu with an alpha dial instead, that’s how much I hate it.
@@thesrabbit ahh ok thanks…so since im not the biggest fan of menu diving as well, perhaps i better dtay clear ofcit even if it sounds amazing! As I mentioned, I love my nords and hands on programming. It’s just more immidiately satisfying as well getting to a nice result fast. Ive seen other comments of people saying its not that hard but when you outright sold it because of this then i probably would get annoyed too. My jd990 is also a bit of a pita and ive heard others say its the easiest to program 🤣
@@AnalogFlava I love my Nord Lead 2. It’s so easy to dial in exactly what you want!
Thanks for the sounds! I have an Oberheim Matrix 12 which really CAN run circles around the AN1X, as long as you add in Effects from a separate unit. The modulations you can tap in the Matrix 12 are far more extensive than the AN1X can muster.
Would love to have one of those some day!
So.... After all this 'back patting praise' for the AN1x, according to a message below, you got rid of the AN1x and kept the Oberheim, whilst replying to a comment where the commentor, thinks the OB 'pisses' all over the AN1x?, Which, subjectively it doesn't. Yet by you stating you sold the Yamaha, implies you agree.
This makes this whole video, and another comment you made "It definitely has its own special thing that other VAs don’t have. MAKES IT HARD TO SELL.", a bit 'meaningless' now really.
I fall out of love with synths as quickly as I fall in love with them. The AN1x to me sounds “nicer” and warmer than the other VAs of its time. I find myself reaching more for the “I’m digital and don’t care what you think” VAs like the Nord Lead 2 though. If I want nice and warm I’ll just go with analog because to me, subjectively it’s better. I still own a piece of Yamaha’s AN synth engine in the form of the Reface CS. My biggest gripe with the AN1x is the UI. I’m lucky to get 2 hours alone with my synths per week these days. Fiddling around with an atrocious UI is not a good use of that time. Btw the title of this video was meant to be facetious. I didn’t think anyone would take this comparison seriously.
of course, the oberheim sounds better, the an1x is just plastic noise, the texture of the sound of the an1x is small
Got a cs 1x and cs 6x the an. Sounds nicer
yo quiero un ANx1 :( quien vende aqui en peru?
Lo siento. Yo no se.
Куплю синтезатор Yamaha AN1x! Пишите!
Should be the inverse, does an1x can compete with pure analog beast
nice numeric vs big oberheim, not same range but ok ;) bie
Can’t really get close with the sound itself, but can get a similar vibe at least. One big diff is that the AN1x has the edge parameter, which allows you to shape the waveform of the oscillators in ways that other synths cannot. And this patch makes use of that parameter.
numeric waveform for shaping yes, yamaha have good sound, i use motif es and some analo ;) best vibes
The Oberheim P---ses all over the Yamaha 😀🤣
I’ll just say this. The Yamaha has found a new owner. The Oberheim gets to be buried with me.
@@thesrabbit You are a lucky man. Im seriously thinking about it.😀