Akai MINIAK

[Diametro]

I love the mini-sequencer on Micron/Miniak ... Quite unique imo ...

[JayEm]

http://www.alesis.com/micronse

theres an update?
looks like the specs match the miniak perfectly... i haven't heard of this before... this is odd

[Stab Frenzy]

http://www.alesis.com/micronse

theres an update?
looks like the specs match the miniak perfectly... i haven't heard of this before... this is odd

The only difference is the ends are blue. The Micron and the Miniak were the same to begin with.

[loungedumore]

http://www.alesis.com/micronse

theres an update?
looks like the specs match the miniak perfectly... i haven't heard of this before... this is odd

Odd indeed ... the right hand doesn't know what the left hand do ?

Oddness aside I went to my local GC ( god help me ) and played around with the Miniak .
It dose feel as it has a better build quality as far as the keyboard goes anyway .

still very strange .

[JayEm]

http://www.alesis.com/micronse

theres an update?
looks like the specs match the miniak perfectly... i haven't heard of this before... this is odd

The only difference is the ends are blue. The Micron and the Miniak were the same to begin with.

I just meant that I haven't heard of the SE before, so I think its new... and its odd they'd release another micron, paint it a different color, when their new parent company is releasing that exact product in a different shell...


mmm

[Gianni]

http://www.alesis.com/micronse

theres an update?
looks like the specs match the miniak perfectly... i haven't heard of this before... this is odd

The only difference is the ends are blue. The Micron and the Miniak were the same to begin with.

I just meant that I haven't heard of the SE before, so I think its new... and its odd they'd release another micron, paint it a different color, when their new parent company is releasing that exact product in a different shell...


mmm

I just got the email today, but have seen it on novamusik for at least 2 months by now... Nothing has really changed aside from the color. If they had done this with the Ion... now that would have looked great!

[Mr Knesh]

The release of the MicronSE brings to mind a variety of questions. The first being that what does Alesis/Akai/Numark have to gain by releasing two synthesizers with the same specs under different names? And more importantly, what does this say about the relationship between Alesis and Akai? Do they really intend to release two products that will compete with each other? Do they believe that they are going to obtain more profit from the market by doing so?

I don't get it...

[Ashe37]

The release of the MicronSE brings to mind a variety of questions. The first being that what does Alesis/Akai/Numark have to gain by releasing two synthesizers with the same specs under different names? And more importantly, what does this say about the relationship between Alesis and Akai? Do they really intend to release two products that will compete with each other? Do they believe that they are going to obtain more profit from the market by doing so?

I don't get it...

Numark thinks that by re-releasing the Micron as an Akai product they might get more of a cut into the DJ and hip hop market.

[Stab Frenzy]

I just meant that I haven't heard of the SE before, so I think its new... and its odd they'd release another micron, paint it a different color, when their new parent company is releasing that exact product in a different shell...

No that's basic marketing. They haven't released a new Micron at all, they've just poured blue plastic into the molds instead of red for one production run, called it a special edition and have gotten another few months of sales out of a product that was beginning to fade out, because people who were going to get a Microkorg XL because it's the newest thing now see this and might to decide to go with it instead. Best thing for Alesis is it didn't take any R&D dollars at all. They didn't even change the colour of the LEDs in the rest of the synth to match.

The release of the MicronSE brings to mind a variety of questions. The first being that what does Alesis/Akai/Numark have to gain by releasing two synthesizers with the same specs under different names? And more importantly, what does this say about the relationship between Alesis and Akai? Do they really intend to release two products that will compete with each other? Do they believe that they are going to obtain more profit from the market by doing so?

I don't get it...

This is really common in the car world, you have two brands which are aimed at different markets (Alesis is aimed at the home recording indie hipster white kids, Akai at the 'Maekz beatz' black kids and wannabe black kids, to offensively over-simplify ) and release the same basic product with different trim levels and badging. That way you can double your production run size, increase economies of scale, share R&D etc. Over here the Toyota Lexen was a rebadged Holden Commodore, a Holden Nova was a Toyota Corolla, there were heaps of others. When I was in the states I noticed this a fair bit With the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager and some Chevys, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles all being pretty much the same. Each company has a different demographic so they aren't really competing with one another, or if they are the manufacturer doesn't mind cause they get money either way.

Look at it this way, if someone goes into a shop and is picking between a Micron, Microkorg and Miniak, Numark has a 2/3 chance of getting the kid's money, as opposed to if there was just the Micron and Microkorg. I know people don't just flip a coin to decide what they buy, but you see what I'm getting at?

[Ashe37]

Akai at the 'Maekz beatz' black kids and wannabe black kids, to offensively over-simplify ) and release the same basic product with different trim levels and badging.

Now see, i wasn't gonna say it that way...

[tallowwaters]

No that's basic marketing. They haven't released a new Micron at all, they've just poured blue plastic into the molds instead of red for one production run, called it a special edition

Like Moog has been doing for a few years now...

[lhm1138]

Spent some time with one in the local GC. There was no cacophony of gospel B3 or emo kids doing their best imitation of Arnie from Gilbert Grape on a microkorg, so I could hear it unadulterated. I really like this synth. If I was on a budget and wanted a good VA, this is the one I'd go for. I didn't have a chance to really get in there and edit things, but I assume it's the same process pretty much as the Micron. The Miniak feels more like a real instrument than the plasticky Micron. It's a blast throwing out Bernie Worrell type basslines with the wheels.

[ERIC31]

After watching this video review/demo, I really want this synth. I don't speak or understand a word of German but the synth speaks for itself! I think it sounds great and has very usable sounds even in the presets for what I like to do which is early 80's styled synthpop 6:49 to 6:58 on the video.(old DM, Yazoo and newer groups doing it old style like Elegant Machinery) This thing would be perfect for that!

[Ashe37]

That is kinda the strength of the Micron/Ion/MiniAK...