Author: Paolo

Categories
Rack Sampler Sampler

Yamaha A4000

Digital professional sampler

The successor to the A3000.  The A4000 (and its bigger brother, the A5000) is an exquisite-sounding sampler.  It’s truly a powerhouse and comes with a very large library of sounds on CD-ROMs.  This line of samplers came out in 1999, just before the soft synth and soft sampler craze started.  The on-board effects in particular, make this machine very unique, and its “sonic character” is warm, imparting some sort of “analogness” to sounds sampled into it.

This sampler was embraced by the dance community – especially because features like loop divide, and the numerous great-sounding effects make it especially adept to House, Dance, Techno and Trance.

Yamaha A4000 audio demos

The Yamaha A4000 comes with four demo floppy disks, and several CD-ROMs full of sounds:

Demonstration floppy disk 1 ”A4000-A5000”
Demonstration floppy disk 2 ”Rainkiss”
Demonstration floppy disk 3 ”A-Dream”
Demonstration floppy disk 4 ”CheckMe!”

Piano / Keyboards (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-101)

Guitar / Bass (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-102)

Brass / Wind Instruments (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-103)

Strings / Choir (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-104)

Real Drums (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-105)

World / Latin Instruments (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-106)

Syntraxx / Loops (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-201)

DJ / Producer Tool Kit (from the included Factory CD-ROM PSLCD-202)

Standards – Yamaha Professional Studio Library

The A4000 also comes with a CD containing software and the rest of the tracks are high-quality samples taken from popular sample CDs, from noted sample manufacturer AMG.

Yamaha A4000 photos

  • IM000652.JPG

Yamaha A4000 manuals

A5000EDownload
A5000E2Download
A5000E3Download
A5000EditorEDownload
yamaha sampler handbookDownload

Yamaha A4000 specs

  • Powerful synth engine and FX;
  • Vast library of sounds included
  • Easy to use once learned the OS;
  • Expansion capability
Year of release:1999
Sound generation method:sampling
Polyphony:64-voice
Tone generation methodAWM2
Sampling frequency44.1, 22.05, 11.025 kHz, 5.5125 kHz (mono and stereo)
Responds to velocity:yes
Aftertouchyes
MIDI:in, out, thru
Sound expansion capabilities:yes – via CD-ROMs, hard drives etc.
Sequencer:Real-time recording and playback
Effects:yes
Controls:rotary knobs
Dimensions:Two-space rackmount unit
W 480 mm x D 461 mm x H 90 mm (18-7/8” x 18-1/8” x 3-9/16”)
Weight: 8.0 kg (17lbs 10oz)

Categories
DAW Music Software Software Software Sequencer

Sony Acid Music 2.0

Music software

Sony Acid Music 2.0 was one of the products of the second version of the classic program “Acid” by Sound Forge (later Sony, now Magix) – one of the first sequencers / DAWs in which it was possible to “paint” patterns and notes and “stretch & loop” while maintaining the pitch.

Sony Acid Music 2.0 audio demos

Dance

Rock

Sony Acid Music 2.0 specs

Year of release1999
Sample categoriesDance, Rock
Number of samples
Categories
Digital Accompaniment Keyboard Keyboard

Yamaha DJX (Portatone PSR-D1)

Portable sampling/arranger keyboard

Yamaha DJX audio demos

FACTORY DEMOS:

STYLES:

VOICES:

The GM sounds are pretty much the same as all the other GM sets in the world, so I’m not recording examples of this bank.

Initialize the Yamaha DJX

Data Initialization
All data can be initialized and restored to the factory preset condition by turning on the power while holding the highest (rightmost) white key on the keyboard. “CLr Backup” will appear briefly on the display.

Yamaha DJX manual

DJX manualDownload

Yamaha DJX specs

  • Light and portable;
  • Knobs, ribbon-controller;
  • Good sounds and accompaniments;
  • Sampler, arpeggiator
Year of release 1998
Polyphony32-voice
Sound generation methodsampled
Preset memories284
MIDIIn, Out
Sound expansion capabilitiesNo
SequencerYes
ArpeggiatorYes
EffectsYes
Touch sensitivityYes
AftertouchNo

Yamaha DJX links

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/index.html

Categories
Desktop Digital Monophonic Synthesizer Synthesizer

Alesis airSynth

synth/theremin/sound effect generator

Alesis airSynth audio demos

Alesis airSynth photos

Alesis airSynth manual

Alesis airSynth manualDownload

Alesis airSynth specs

  • very interesting sounds
  • dj-friendly, gig ready;
  • doubles as Theremin;
  • small and portable
Year of release:2001
Polyphony:monophonic
Sound generation method: 
Preset memories50
MIDI:no
Sound expansion capabilities:no
Sequencersort of
Arpeggiatorsort of
Effectsno
I/OStereo RCA in and out
ResolutionConverter: 24bit; Processor: 28bit
Categories
Groovebox

Yamaha AN200

Desktop Control Synthesizer with Analog Physical Modeling (groove box)

Awesome synth desktop module/ groovebox.  Compared to the Roland D2, which I’ll call “the good groovebox”, this is “the evil groovebox”.  The patterns are very aggressive, stylish and actual.  The 5-note polyphonic VA engine is very powerful and full.  The drum sounds are also very good.  Edgy and “underground”, this machine is perfect for Industrial, Techno, Electro and many other genres.

Yamaha AN200 audio demos

These are the three factory demo-songs in the AN200 – they do a good job at capturing the huge variety of styles achievable on this machine:

Yamaha AN200 manuals

AN200EDownload
AN200EditorEDownload

Yamaha AN200 specs

  • Super-powerful VA tone generator;
  • plenty of features both for live and studio work;
  • High quality sounds and patterns;
  • Portable, lots of knobs
Year of release 2001
Timber1 (AN) + 3 (AWM2)
Polyphony 5 (AN) + 32 (AWM)
Sound generation method Analog Physical Modeling
Preset patterns:256 preset, 128 user
MIDI: In, Out
Sound expansion capabilities: No
DisplayYes, 7 segment LED
Sequencer Yes
Arpeggiator 
Effects Yes
Touch sensitivity No
Aftertouch
OutputsStereo outs, headphones out
AccessoriesCD-ROM; AC adaptor
Dimensions338.0mm (W) x 208.9mm (D) x 51.7mm (H)
Weight1600 g

Yamaha AN200 links

www.yamaha.com

Categories
Groovebox

Roland D2

groove box

Roland D2 audio demos

Roland D2 manual

Roland D2 manualDownload

Roland D2 specs

  • Awesome color!!!
  • plenty of features both for live and studio work;
  • High quality sounds and patterns;
  • doubles as serious tone generator
Year of release 2001
Polyphony 64-voice
Sound generation method PCM
Preset memories 600 preset, 20 user
MIDI In, Out
Sound expansion capabilities no
Sequencer yes, 8-track
Arpeggiator yes, 43 preset, 10 user
Effects yes
Touch sensitivity D-Field controller
AccessoriesOwner’s manual
AC adapter (ACI series or PSB-1U)
Dimensions325mm (W) x 256mm (D) x 55mm (H)
12-13/16″ ((W) x 10-1/8″ (D) x 2-3/16″ (H)
Weight1.4 kg / 3 lb 2 oz (excluding AC adaptor)

Roland D2 links

www.roland.com

Categories
Groovebox

Yamaha DJX-IIB

groove box

Yamaha DJX-IIB audio demos

FACTORY DEMO:

Yamaha DJX-IIB manual

Yamaha DJX-IIB manualDownload

Yamaha DJX-IIB specs

  • A lot of fun!
  • Live “effector”, plenty of knobs, and scratch pad
  • High quality sounds and patterns
  • highly portable, cool vinyl-style inlays
Year of release: 2000
Polyphony: 32-voice
Sound generation method: PCM
Preset memories 203 – 180 voices + 23 drum kits (accessible only via MIDI)
PatternsTotal 700 preset patterns and variations
70 patterns preset
5 patterns user
MIDI: In, Out
Sound expansion capabilities: No
Display7-seg LED
ControllersScratch Pad, filter knobs, live effector knobs, cross fader
Effects Yes
PowerAdapter: PA-5B, PA-5C
Batteries: 6 x “D” size or SUM-1 or R-20
Dimensions334mm x 334mm x 126mm
(13-1/8″ x 13-1/8″ x 4-15/16″)
Weight3.5kg (7 lbs., 11 oz.)

Yamaha DJX-IIB links

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/index.html

Categories
Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer Synthesizer

Ensoniq ESQ-1

Digital Wave Synthesizer

  • great, gritty early sampled waveforms
  • powerful analog sounds
  • three oscillators
  • on-board sequencer

Ensoniq ESQ-1 audio demos

(FACTORY PRESETS ver. 3.50 – latest version)

INT1

INT2

INT3

INT4

Ensoniq ESQ-1 photos

Ensoniq ESQ-1 manual

Ensoniq ESQ-1 manualDownload

Ensoniq ESQ-1 specs

Year of release1986
Polyphony8-voice
Sound generation methodanalog, 3 DCOs
Preset memories40 + 80 on cartridge
MIDIin, out
Sound expansion capabilitiescartridge
Sequenceryes
Arpeggiatorno
Effectsno
Touch sensitivityyes
Aftertouchno

Ensoniq ESQ-1 links

http://www.emu.com

Categories
Electro-Mechanical Organ Organ

Hammond C-3

classic electro-mechanical organ

This is my favorite instrument, and the one I feel I’ve developed a personal style on.  I play it through a Hammond PR-40 Tone Cabinet with reverb, not through a Leslie – I feel it better preserves the character of the organ — but that could change in the future.

I pretty much play in the old Jimmy Smith style, with a lot of swing, or in the hard-bop vein.  My favorite drawbar settings are the jazz standard 888000000 on the swell, and 838000000 on the great manual, soft 3rd harmonic percussion with fast release, and C3 chorus, but I experiment with alternate settings, depending on the song I’m playing.

Hammond C-3 audio demos

I played these three examples on my 1968 Hammond C-3 + Hammond PR-40 tone cabinet:

Hammond C-3 photos

  • IM000464.JPG
  • IM000459.JPG
  • IM000460.JPG
  • IM000461.JPG
  • IM000455.JPG
  • IM000467.JPG
  • IM000462.JPG
  • IM000458.JPG
  • IM000456.JPG
  • IM000468.JPG
  • IM000466.JPG
  • IM000465.JPG
  • IM000454.JPG
  • IM000457.JPG
  • IM000463.JPG

Hammond C-3 manuals

Hammond locking top consoles owner’s playing guideDownload
Hammond Organ B3-C3 Service ManualDownload

Hammond C-3 links

hammondorganco.com

Categories
Sample CD

Stand By Music Pro. B-3 Organ – The Legend

Sample CD

This is a sample CD from a German company – Stand By Music Pro. – that I bought in early ’90s.  I used it quite a bit and built a few very good velocity-switch Hammond patches on my Roland W-30 at the time.

This is an audio CD containing B-3 notes, sampled every semitone.

Here’s the on board demo:

Stand By Music Pro. B-3 Organ – The Legend audio demo