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James Yerkes

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  1. I don't think anyone was ever really "running" the forums, so yeah, probably up to "us" to fend for ourselves, whatever that means (like there's anything we can do, unless someone gets set up as a moderator I am one of the first people who signed up here and was very excited to get involved as a part of the "XW-P1 community", start making music, helping others etc. Unfortunately I have been swamped with work over the holidays and have not even had a chance to do anything musically... sad to have a new instrument and barely be able to touch it!!! Also have not had an optimal physical location to "set up" at (living in a small apartment). I do check on these boards pretty often, probably daily or at least every other day, and yeah, seems like things have gotten pretty quiet. Good news is, my work should be slowing down, and I am working on setting up a physical space for not only my XW-P1 but also enough space to integrate other instruments (microkorg, microsampler, monotrons, kaossilator... nothing special, but will be fun to mix it all up), and will be probably be doing everything I can to push the MIDI/sequencing capabilities to their limits as I hate using software. So, for what it's worth, there's at least "one person" out there who will be a bit more active on here pretty soon.
  2. Hey Patrick I like your track a lot! Really cool sounds. Thank you for sharing.
  3. Mine just has the gold "GD" sticker on a regular XW-P1 box as well. No clue what the K3 is about.
  4. (My opinion) No need to delete threads like this. It's good to have documented discussion about all these different things... even if we don't really resolve anything, at least others can get an idea of where we are at on the issue. Glad to hear you are keeping it! I know everyone goes to the "well it's a $500 synth, what do you expect" argument and that's a bit overplayed now, but as I have been diving into all the different features, I can't help but feel that even with these flaws it still brings a lot to the table and is still a very useful instrument. Maybe not in a full studio setup, I don't know, but for someone like me who does not have a real studio setup and does not like using a DAW during the creative process, it really is a nice little package of all sorts of goodies.
  5. I also noticed the popping on raw waveforms in the SoloSynth, and similarly resorted to A/R values of 1. Of note, I have read about people having to do this on other synths, same exact problem and solution (VA synths, not PCM waveforms - back when I was doing a lot of research VA synth programming), so I suspect it's just one of those things that happens depending on how "raw" the waveform is programmed without being forcefully "padded" to sound nice? Just my suspicion anyway, I really know nothing about deeper synth architecture other than what I can get by twisting knobs. Have not really noticed it on the Hex Layers, but also have not really been "looking" for it. I'm sure now I'll notice it all over the place. THANKS A LOT FOR RUINING IT FOR ME!! The P1 does seem a little "raw around the edges" in a lot of places... like the other stuff you mentioned, and of course the blaring filter stepping when tweaking realtime, and various other little things here and there. But overall I am really starting to love this instrument, flaws included, and I think with a little effort and "thinking outside the box" a lot of those flaws can even be used artfully and purposefully. One thing that keeps popping up in my mind, when I hear that notorious filter stepping, is how we're basically told to think that filter stepping is bad (maybe it is!), but every time I hear it I secretly think "that's kind of cool, actually...."
  6. Well I still haven't found a way... there probably isn't... guess I have to use my microkorg for more specific "VA trickery" like that. BUT... I have been playing with controller tracks in the sequencer and they are pretty dang awesome. Can do equally as cool stuff with some careful editing, so it makes up for it. I guess it's stuff you could do in a DAW pretty easily, but I hate DAWs and don't have a hardware sequencer, so I'm really happy to have it on the instrument.
  7. I only have the XW-P1 and have not used the XW-G1, but to my knowledge the major differences are: XW-P1 has Hex Layer, which is where you essentially layer or split up to 6 different PCM sounds (preloaded sample waveforms... there are a lot to choose from but you cannot record your own). You mix these different sounds at different levels and play them as "one instrument" - or you can split across keyboard, or have certain sounds only play at certain velocities. Basically it seems best suited to big full pads, or for mapping out different sounds across the keyboard and/or having different sounds trigger depending on how hard you play the keyboard. XW-P1 also has a Drawbar Organ. If you don't know what that is you probably won't use it. It's just an organ that has a lot more customizability than just a recorded "organ sound". You can pull the bars in and out to open or close the different harmonic tones in the organ sound. Hope I'm explaining that right - I know nothing about organs. XW-G1 does NOT have the above features, but it DOES have the ability to sample (record) your own waveforms - this could be sounds from other synthesizers, random noises, voice clips, etc. I assume you can then trigger these samples from the sequencer. Maybe even run through the SoloSynth? I really don't know as I have not looked into it that much. Also gives you the "sample looper". I'm not sure on the specifics but I guess it lets you build up loops of triggered samples - similar to how the Korg Kaossilator works maybe? Again, not really sure on the speicifcs of the XW-G1 but basically its "trick" is that it can sample custom sounds rather than being limited to what's preloaded on the synthesizer. Both versions have the SoloSynth. I assume you won't really be using the Drawbar Organ. So that leaves it basically a decision between whether you want Hex Layer or the ability to record and sequence/loop your own sounds. If you want Hex Layer, then P1. If you want to sample your own sounds, then G1. I also suggest watching some videos on YouTube for a demonstration of these features so you understand "what" you're comparing a little more clearly.
  8. Actually seems pretty quick and snappy to me! James
  9. That DJ Enferno video really does not show the color at all. I don't know why they make a video like that, for a special edition color, if they are only going to show the backside of the synth, and under stage lighting!!! Here is another video I just found, looks like it was just uploaded recently. The quality is pretty bad... and I dunno what's up with the creepy serial killing breathing going on... but it does give a much more accurate representation of the color from different angles. EDIT: Apparently I don't know how to embed YouTube videos... check out this link: EDIT 2: Haha, apparently just putting the link in embeds it. See below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wfC9s8ZgAo
  10. I have one. It is just a limited edition color. Otherwise exact same XW-P1 to my knowledge. It's actually a light gold color, not really green. I guess you could say it has a VERY MINIMAL green tint but I think it leans more towards a washed out metallic (slightly yellowish/greenish?) gold. I was a little unsure about the color at first just from looking at pictures online. It seemed kind of gaudy. I'm really not into flashy over the top "bling bling" stuff... but after learning that there were only 200 distributed nation-wide (supposedly...) and that my local GC had one, I decided to get it anyway just for the unique factor... pretty much a blind buy without seeing the color in person. They did not have it on display... actually did not even know it was a limited edition, LOL... I had to ask for it specifically and the guy spent a while trying to find it in the storage/warehouse/whatever the heck they use... Once I got it home and opened it up, I was really pleased... the color looks a lot better in person than all the pictures I could find. If your local GC has one, and if you're into the gold type of thing, I suggest giving it a try. Of course it's all just preference, but I'm glad I got mine instead of the standard color. Your store might not have it on display but maybe they'll let you take a peek in the box before buying. Or I guess if you are ordering online it would pretty much be a blind buy anyway. Maybe I'll see if I can take some pictures of mine, to give you a better idea, since I had a very hard time finding good pictures online.
  11. I hope this isn't a stupid question... but I'm having a real hard time finding out how to do this, or if it is even possible. In the SoloSynth I would like to sync the LFOs to key trigger, so that as I play a note, it always starts the LFO at the beginning of its cycle rather than at random places in the "middle" of its cycle. As far as I can tell, I can only set it to "rate" or "tempo sync" - both of which just let the LFO keep running, and there's no telling where the LFO might be in its cycle when I play a key. Is there a direct way to do this that I am missing somehow?? Or if not, can anyone think of a potential workaround? I was thinking maybe using virtual controls, having either an AMP or Filter envelope routed to the rate or depth of the LFO... but I still don't think that would have any effect on where the LFO is in its cycle.... any other suggestions? Thanks! James
  12. That is some really nice stuff, Sweep. Thank you for sharing. Really like Morgan and Walking in Silence so far, listening through the rest.
  13. Hello all, Just saw the news of these forums, and very happy to be one of the first here! I am an amateur electronic music hobbyist, recently purchased an XW-P1 about 2 weeks ago and have been really enjoying it... still feel like I have barely scratched the surface, there are so many "modules" or layers involved, but slowly getting there. Also own a microKorg and enjoy dabbling with PD (Pure Data) and Ableton Live. I've been really impressed by the little community that seems to be cropping up around these XW synthesizers. Huge thanks to people like Mike Martin and Craig Anderton (on another forum) for their efforts to provide various helps and community support. I'm really excited to have discovered the XW-P1 and look forward to learning from everyone else, contributing as best I can, and just being part of this cool little community. James
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