Hi!
I too have AN1X PLG150 installed on my Motif. IT is excellent.
The only real drawbacks are polyphony and multitimbrality (or lack of there of). It only has five notes of polyphony and it can only be used for one part at a time. The only way to expand that is to install additional AN1X plug-in boards (only two more you can install) and then it all adds up to 15 notes three parts multitimbral.

Advantage of software is that you can run as many instances and use as much polyphony as your computer's CPU can handle. On my G5 dual core 2.7 I can use as many soft synths at the same time as I like and polyphony wise I think it's something crazy like well over a thousand notes (of coarse with some plug-ins it's a bit less. Although not on my system. Ever since I went G5 I haven't once got a CPU overload message.).

Sonically AN1X synth and AN1X KB are identical. Very advanced. Very flexible modular type architecture. Definitely unique and sound wise it's right up there with software beasts like Arturia's CS-80, NI Pro 53, MiniMoog V etc. Great synth. Editor is great to work with. Yamaha's definitely done a good job.
Some silly things regarding it's system setup. MIDI clock has to be enabled per patch and when used as a plug-in board with Motif ES synths it only has like 128 memory locations total (the rest is hidden banks that you can load but can't save to). But if you use software librarians with it it's not an issue. I handle it with Sysex dumps. Since I use about a ton of soft synths I don't really have to be concerned with polyphony and multitimbrality and my main interest in AN1X is it's own unique sound.

So if you think you're going to need 16 parts and 80 notes polyphony of analog modeling sounds get a Virus TI. If you need a workstation that does a bit of it all and does it well get a Triton or a MotiF ES. If you find that you're fedup with limitations of hardware get a decent PC and an audio card and enjoy many many different software toys as most of us here do.

Best way to go is to combine it all into one giant setup. Add one piece at a time and before you know it you've built yourself a decent KB studio. Took me a while but I'm pretty much there.

Just have to decide if I want to spend money on another Neuman mic or a virus TI. It's a never ending process you know. Once you bought one synth expect another 50 on the way. some will come and go. Some will stay with you and stick around like an old friend. Same with guitars, mics and amps.

-ED-

[This message has been edited by 3351 (edited 12-03-2005).]