YAMAHA AN-200
Loop factory (2002)

Mostly DJ-Live oriented in the LOOP FACTORY series grooveboxes based on AN analog physical modeling synthesis and sampled percussions.

The desktop AN-200 is a slimmed-down version of keyboard Yamaha AN1X.

DESKTOP MODULE The main panel features a basic segment display, 16 knobs (they send Midi CC#) 35 buttons and 16 non-sensible pads.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- Midi input and output (can be set to thru)
- main out
- headphones out.

Power supply is PSU external 12V +)

SOUND the machine based on CPU HD6413002FP16 handles 2 syntheses:
1- VA APM subtractive: virtual analog generates 5 VA voices
2-PCM AWM2 samples: 32 sample voices.

APM SYNTHESIS the virtual AN synthesis is slightly different from the previous model AN1X but still keep 2 VCO structure + white noise. FM APM frequency modulation can be applied to the VCO1 to change its frequency, in which case the output of the oscillator will become the carrier.
VCO1 is modulated by VCO2 following 4 algorithms with variable FM depth:
1- only FM
2- sync + FM both: sync mode FM applied to master and slave oscillator
3- sync + FM master: sync mode FM applied to master oscillator
4- sync + FM slave: sync mode FM applied to slave oscillator.
Slave oscillator's pitch can be tuned.

 

	VCO1	VCO2
Waveforms	saw / multisaw / tri / pulse / (mix) pulse + saw	saw / sin / tri / (mix) pulse + saw / pulse
Edge smoothing	up to sinewave	up to sinewave
Inner waves	3 in sync mode	-
Rectangular width	yes	yes
Detune	yes	yes
Ringmodulator	yes	yes
Mix volume	yes	yes
VCO sync	VCO1 > VCO2	VCO2 >VCO1
Crossmodulation	VCO1>VCO2	-

AWM2 SYNTHESIS the ROM contains a 8 MB wavetable: 120 drums, noises and percussions sampled at 16 bits resolution.

FILTER digital resonant filter multimode -12/ 18/ 24 dB/ oct slopes and 4 modes:
1- LPF lowpass
2- HPF highpass
3- BPF bandpass
4- BEF band eliminate
Key Track setting determines the key tracking of the VCF, changing the cutoff point in accordance with the notes played on the keyboard.

LFO 2 delayed modulators with variable depth and 5 destinations:
- VCO pitch
- VCF cutoff
- VCA amplitude
- LFO FM depth (slave or master)
- waveform width.
Up to 4 waveform categories: sine (+4 variations), square (+2 variations), saw (+3 variations) and randomish sample-hold (3 variations).

ENVELOPE 2 EGs:
- EG1 FEG VCF filter: 4 segments ADSR
- EG2 VCA amplitude: 4 segments ADSR
Both EG are also assignable to other parameters like: pulse width and pitch.

 

EFFECTS a digital DSP with delay, reverb, flanger, chorus, phaser and overdrive.
AN200 synthesis features an extra distortion section that adds fuzziness using 3 models: stack, combo, tube + a final stage EQ

PERFORMANCE the machine is multitimbral and manages 1 APM part + 3 AWM parts.
Special synth APM playmodes:
- full polyphonic
- twin mode with possible stack voices (also full unison and monophonic play)
In addition 2 special scenes functions: each scence has a sound in memory and then the adjacent pot morphs a sounds toward the other one, interpolating intermediate values.

SEQUENCER up to 4 tracks:
- 1 for synthesis
- 3 for drums.
Optimized live functions as backward play, half or double tempo, roll flame, humanize- quantizes, mute track and transpose sequence. Special FREE VOICE EG records up to 4 tracks recorder for knobs movement with a single parameter per track.
SYNC internal tempo range from 20 to 300 BPM or sync to external Midi clock.

 

MEMORY:
- 256 preset recording patterns
- 128 user patterns
- 10 songs.

EDIT display is more than basic and it is impossible to directly program anything deep on it! worst of all the panel lacks many important parameters from original AN synthesis only accessible by a free computer-based editor, still available on the official website.

MAINTENANCE the data encoder often needs cleaning for precise control. Protect it from dust!

 

RELATED FAMILY:

	PLG-150AN -daughterboard for Yamaha synthesizers with PLUG modular technology. It's the same board found on AN-200
	AN1X- synthesizer with AN technology, a bit different.
	EX5 contains 1 AN voice + other syntheses. Exists also in rackmount version EX5R
	DX-200same groovebox format but with FM synthesis on board.

 

 

An200 VS AN1X : the An200 features half polyphony, the extra Multi SAW wave and some quite useless PCM drum sound kits. Both machines have a similar architecture but they do sound different anyway. I do personally prefer the An1x also for all parameters access from pannel.

 

AUDIO DEMO

factory demo 1 factory demo 2 factory demo 3 frog lead brass techno pattern techno pattern 2

Drum PCM SYNC distortion click bass filter preset pattern

Check out AN1X - AN synthesis advanced demos to get an idea of AN power.

 

Soundcloud AN-200

VIDEO CLIP SELECTION demo1 Acid Techno old - Loopfactory