Akai AX80

Provision · Post by **Provision** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:37 am

I just bought one last night in really nice shape, so far it sounds nice.
Anyones thoughts on them?

My Gear,
Nord Lead X2
Waldorf Mircowaxe XT
Roland SH-2000
Akai AX80

calyx93 · Post by **calyx93** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:45 am

Certainly beautiful to look at - love those displays. As for the sound, I don't own one, but I'd like to - I like that it can be warm and cold simutaneously - has that wonderful hybrid "digi-log" sound that's hard to mimic. It can be rather aggressive and PPG-like too - gotta love that

The things that make it beautiful are just the things that keep me from really pursuing the purchase of one - those fluorescent displays. I just don't know if they're at all replaceable. If I could be assured of replacements, then I'd certainly try to find one.

Congratulations on your new synth!

Jexus · Post by **Jexus** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:20 am

Congratulations. You just bought a synth better than a Juno-106.

JUGEL · Post by **JUGEL** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:48 pm

I just fixed mine up (the buttons weren't working).

But there's still some issues. The one display is blank .. and 2 others are just showing full bars all the time.

Also .. the knob is drifting.. for now I just put a rubber band over it to add a little pressure... anyone know what kind of knob is needed to replace it?

Jexus · Post by **Jexus** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:16 pm

for those interested

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sy8ZpeKqlRw

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:25 pm

From that clip, I think it sounds totally Juno-ish on alot of patches, apart from the obvious 2 oscillator sounds. Remember that the 60 and 106 have the powerful suboscillator which lets you do very powerful 2-octave sounds too.

Not a bad thing in any way or form, of course. And it has those cool graphic faders.

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:55 pm

Bitexion wrote:From that clip, I think it sounds totally Juno-ish on alot of patches, apart from the obvious 2 oscillator sounds.

You think? I'd say it sounds a lot meaner and more cutting than a Juno personally - to me the Juno came across as having a rather polite personality most of the time.

Sounds a bit KORGy to my ears actually.

alan partridge · Post by **alan partridge** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:18 pm

what's the ax-73 like compared ? Seen a few of those knocking around for cheap over the years..-)

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:58 pm

Yeah maybe a mix between Poly-61 and Juno-106.
Or let's just say it sounds like an Akai AX80, eh?

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:18 am

Bitexion wrote:Or let's just say it sounds like an Akai AX80, eh?

Sure, but only if we add that it sounds surprising damn good as well. 8)

caligari · Post by **caligari** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:49 am

An AX-73 is way different than an 80.

-six voice VCO versus 16 DCO on the 80 - so take that how you want -

- odd six octave keyboard

- does have the sample input that the AX-60 had that allows you to input Akai format samples for more processing, which I think the 80 lacks but meh on that.

- the 80 uses cem curtis chips

haricots · Post by **haricots** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:44 am

Having owned a Juno 106 for a long time this sounds nothing like a 106 to my ears. The AX80 sounds way more versatile and aggressive.

Jexus · Post by **Jexus** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:24 am

AX80 has 3 LFOs with 4 shapes, ENV-> Pitch Mod, crossmod, 2oscs, 2 envelopes, velocity sensitive keybard. It just steps on mediocre Juno106 and crushes it. It's like an alligator met a tapir.

mirt · Post by **mirt** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:13 pm

ax 80 has 2 osc and sub osc on 1dco, displays are grear but there could be knobs or sliders placed under them.

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:03 pm

Jexus wrote:AX80 has 3 LFOs with 4 shapes, ENV-> Pitch Mod, crossmod, 2oscs, 2 envelopes, velocity sensitive keybard. It just steps on mediocre Juno106 and crushes it. It's like an alligator met a tapir.

Wow, I had no idea it was so feature laden. Awesome.