AKAI AX80

[@murdockscott]

I purchased an AX80 new in the box back in the 80’s and I had it for many years using it on countless live gigs ALWAYS ran through my trusty SDR-1000. At some point in the early 90’s I sold it to upgrade my gear, I almost immediately regretted it and spent several years hunting down a replacement. Luckily I managed to come to my senses when they were still affordable. The one I have now is beautiful and only occasionally needs me to open it up and do minor repairs. It is one of my favorite synths of all time.

[@No_Nag]

Cool story. Got this at a steal... But I still need to fix whats wrong with it. And do some nice side pieces for it 😁

[@Psychlist1972]

Most classic synths benefit from a bit of effect. I find it amusing whenever someone posts one with effects and everyone says they want to hear the "raw" sound. We never played these things dry back in the day. As to cost of effects, a $50 valhalla plugin can do it as well. Great effects are great, but these just need a little something, not necessarily the best little something. :)

[@No_Nag]

When I do the videos I don't apply any modulation or eq effects as it would ruin the "pure" tone. And it's true what you say. But sometimes it's nice to hear babe raw tone. Just too get the pure quality of the synth.

[@MrKeytarist]

Love this! By far one of the best demos I’ve seen of this keyboard

[@No_Nag]

Thank you! Hopefully I will keep this quality in coming videos.

[@dominusthirteen8108]

Excellent demo. The patch at 11:40 is pure gold and fat as fat can be! The DCO envelope can do wonders to liven up the DCOs especially when tuned to intervals. Then add one of the two sync modes - gorgeous! Need to get that Tauntec firmware upgrade. Had to repair my poor specimen when I bought it too. Cleaned spilled congealed liquid of of the voice board, fixed panel buttons and recapped the PSU. Worth the effort for such a gem.

[@No_Nag]

It's in the plans!

[@dominusthirteen8108]

@@No_Nag i just ordered the firmware upgrade! Can't wait to use CC modulators with my sequencer. Also ordered the new AX60 Firmware too!

[@No_Nag]

@@dominusthirteen8108 great! I haven't looked at the new AX60 FW adds. Is it of substance?

[@AllureMusicLab]

Unbelievable - Thanks for the video - I just bought an AX 80!

[@CKT1138]

I would give so much to own one. I've longed for it since I first discovered it.... Probably one of, if not THE most gorgeous looking synthesizers of all time, too.

[@No_Nag]

Getting hard to find? Yes they do look awesome. I hope you can fetch one at a decsent price!

[@murdockscott]

I completely agree that it is the most beautiful synth ever, and it’s also built like a tank. I have owned two over the years and once you fix the issue with the way they soldered together the boards behind the display segments, I have found them to be very reliable. On that note, if you see one being offered at a good price that is working other than the right-most segment of buttons and display are not functioning… I would say get it as that is a very simple issue to fix. I did it on my own machine with novice level soldering skills. 😀 Good luck on your quest!

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Seriously this synth is just starting to get appreciated! Mine sits right next to my matrix 12! That.s how I feel about it...

[@waheex]

They're great, appreciate the demo

[@No_Nag]

They are :) Thanks!

[@CodyAvant]

Picked up an AX73 for $270 last month. Not nearly the features of this synth, but I do enjoy it. Surprised there aren’t really any mods for it. Great video!

[@No_Nag]

You really don't need any mods. Tauntek has a better rom version which I'm considering. But you have VCOs in yours and some hotter filters. 😁

[@CodyAvant]

@@No_Nag thanks! I think mine has the Tauntek rom because it also has an oled display. Would be nice to stack oscillators or detune to intervals. Subscribed!

[@No_Nag]

@@CodyAvantThe 73 is equal to the AX60, the 80 is a bit different. Hopefully I'll manage to get some more content out this year. Had so much other work occupying my time 💪🤗 Thanx and a happy new year you 🤗

[@carl156]

Very good meaty bass using this synth!

[@No_Nag]

I wouldn't place it as a bass synth but sure, you can squeeze some good low end stuff out of it. It is sharp and precise. Almost FMish.

[@Bencopland1]

Agree.. I love this synth for bass . Its a great, and underrated synth , but always gets used on my projects

[@LFOSyncToo]

I find it very 'epic' sounding with this pretty reverb. Very nice.

[@No_Nag]

Yes! It doesn't stand out in any way, but it can do what you need(!) My patches and my playing might also tend too the "epic" thing???

[@lars1588]

I love quirky synths of all kinds. I feel like many analog polysynths sound "same-y," but the AX-80 has it's own character (love it or hate it lol). I only own digital synths (my Ensoniq Mirage has analog filters though!), so I'm not picky about DCOs sounding "cold." Most of the character of the sound comes from the amps and filters anyway.

[@No_Nag]

Shure you can tell the difference between a DCO and VCO. But I would not stand for that all VCO is better than DCO. Would take a Juno 60 over Sequential six trak any day 😛

[@anderslarsson6149]

Great sounding! I tend to add a chorus, really brings the AX80 to a much higher level than say the Juno 106. 👍🏻😃

[@anthonygilbert3551]

Agree with the Chorus. I do the same with mine, settling on a TC Nova modulator (dual engine) - often adding the triple chorus, with a slow vibrato. To this I generally add a Meris Mercury7 (more than my H9). For a melodic lead, it also sounds great through an EHX Memory Man (original BBD version) - when not doing the same with my Vermona Lancet.

[@MichaelBlueMusic]

Great demo! I finally pulled the pin and bought one myself. It’s got the Tauntek OS but may need a little TLC when it gets here. Shared your video over on my AX80 Facebook group, come join us! 👍

[@No_Nag]

Thank you 🤗 And congrats on the AX80 😁🎈

[@layzer80]

dull one my ass..lol...love my AXE! the priceless value of this synth is in the curtis filter chip cem3372. it is also in the oberheim xpander.

[@No_Nag]

Jupp. I can sound great if you tweak it.

[@RyanParkerTV]

I know it's a lil wild to say but the ax80 makes DCOs sound better than VCOs. Great demo

[@No_Nag]

Yes, a Little bit Wild. But it all depends on the synth and how you can program it.

[@RyanParkerTV]

@@No_Nagget someone like you behind the keys and it’s true. Great sound design and a fun video to come back to 😁 I’ve been putting my ax-80 through a vinyl warble sim and it gives the ax-80 a lil looseness. I think the core tone is very good. Sits in the mix well

[@No_Nag]

So true. Any thing that makes a little movement to the core sound makes a difference. Thank you so much! 2:45 @@RyanParkerTV

[@montazownianr1]

AWSOME.

[@No_Nag]

THANK YOU!!

[@reidhauke3389]

Pretry good sounding. Would you say the sound sits somewhere between jx10 and juno2 when it behaves? Maybe it is a bit cold or harsh, but in a world of warmth, that's actually appreciated.

[@No_Nag]

I would'nt say it sounds roland at all. And for the "cold" , I think that it comes down to that this synth just is very precise with its DCOs and filter. It's like an academic proffessor amongst the barley builders :D

[@reidhauke3389]

Well, looking forward to explore as I just bought one!

[@No_Nag]

@@reidhauke3389 Congratulations !!!

[@MIDERA]

Nice job - I'm glad some people love it. Certainly it's a beautiful synth. I just... I hated it. I loathed its sound so much... I still do! I guess I wish I hadn't sold it for the collector in me, but it bothered me even having it in my studio!!!! I made some patches I quite liked (but yes, it was attached to FX to do anything decent with it). I felt like the Matrix 1000 was so much better sounding to me. But again - totally subjective and I'd never scoff at anyone who loves it.

[@No_Nag]

I feel you here! I've got a Matrix 1000 so I know what you say right here. But if you take it to mix... how much EQ do you use on matrix to not take over the whole mix. Sometimes you have to shoehorn the bugger in. On it's own, the O. M1K sounds better, (I'm there!) even the AX60 sounds better but... the AX80 is just there. This is off course totally subjective. and to any one working with sound and synths.

[@MIDERA]

Well - I don't like using my Matrix cuz it's just a black box! hah, but I didn't like my AX80 cuz it sounded like it had sand in its filters. It was just so disharmonic. But I appreciate the video. Also, you have a better version of the synth. Mine had sort of ugly side panels. The whole thing was not that pleasant to look at, it also had striated banding on half of the LED lights. And half the time I couldn't clean the keys right. It needed way too much love. :/

[@larslevinberget9558]

It's the "Every time"-synth :)

[@No_Nag]

Almost. 🤔 🤣

[@hiddenbear5306]

Yea Akai ax80 the Synthesizer with the big ''S''.

[@AllureMusicLab]

And please, I want to buy these Patches ! I‘ll upgrade the AX next time to Tauntek !

[@No_Nag]

I'll have them ready in some time. I'm just about to organise some sort of sales page as I see People wanting my patches more frequently. Thank you for your encuragement.

[@AllureMusicLab]

Thank you ! Can you contact me, if your Side is finished

[@No_Nag]

@@AllureMusicLab I will try to remeber. There is a lot going on, but if you keep an I on my channel, I'll post it there for sure. Thanks.

[@AllureMusicLab]

I‘m actual a Follower 👍

[@No_Nag]

@@AllureMusicLab ACE! :)

[@tylernicolo7654]

Does anyone know if there's a way to factory reset the AX80? I read through the manual and I couldn't find it.

[@No_Nag]

It is not a thing with synths that old. Mabe you can get the original bsnks online somewhere?

[@tylernicolo7654]

@@No_Nag Kinda like what I have to do with my DX7, I guess? Import the patches via midi?

[@No_Nag]

@@tylernicolo7654 yes, or is it audio (tape in) on this?

[@tylernicolo7654]

@@No_Nag Not sure. I just picked it up. It does have midi in/out.

[@No_Nag]

@@tylernicolo7654 yes, but to support sysex you need a firmware update from Tauntek. Otherwise it's the old school way with audio.

[@tukimono]

A wicked question again: If it is the end of the world and you have to choose only one synth between the AKAI AX80 and the KORG Polysix and that's it, which one would you choose? Could you expand with an explanation? Thanks :)

[@No_Nag]

AX80.. So much more flexabilaty in this one.

[@tukimono]

@@No_Nag And do you have an opinion regarding Matrix 6 with this contenders?

[@No_Nag]

@@tukimono oberheim, allways 😀

[@tukimono]

@@No_Nag You're the man!! Thanks, with many words, you clear my mind in a second. Salud!

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

I have both. I love the messy sound of the polysix, but AX80 hands down. The only reason Id go polysix is so I could sell it and buy and AX60 + and AX80!

[@marcastonmusic1997]

Hey, waiting for my AX 80 ;-) Would you like to share your Patches ?

[@No_Nag]

Hi. Didn't get that page up yet. But if you're ok with it, I'll trade you for them over PayPal?

[@AllureMusicLab]

That’s ok 👌

[@craigyjp]

If you are still around with your patches I would be willing to trade too.

[@nihilvoid4112]

How does it compare to the AX60 above it?

[@No_Nag]

It's not as wild as the AX60. VCO vs DCO, Filters are not as squeelchy and no chorus. Quite different and really not compareable. Which is a good thing. I've got a Video on the AX60 to if you would want to have a look.

[@gibafilm]

As always a great demo of a nice synth. Reminds me of later Oberheims/SCI and Rolands, but somehow its overall character appears to be not that versatile in terms of its sweetspot. Might be the reason why it is called dull, dry or even boring. That´s my assumption after listening to your and others demos. I´ve never had one to test it and to see how it blends with other synths.

[@No_Nag]

In a mix, you almost never have to do anything, certainly nothing radical. It sits. It might be as you say that it doesn't have any thing that really sticks out that makes it uninteresting, but I see it as it strength. What I didn't put an effort in this video are bass and more extreme leads because I mainly use it as pad/lead synth and have other better suited synths for the other. But it sure can do that. And thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@SweetChinMuzik1]

I need help....I am trying to understand the envelopes on this thing....I know there are 3 EG's...one dedicated to VCA , one to VCF and one to VCA-VCF..... but what exactly is the VCA-VCF generator doing?? Is it a second stage AFTER the VCF and VCA EG's?

[@No_Nag]

Hmm? You Only have 2 EG:s on the AX80. When you set it to VCA/VCF it applies the VCA settings to both. I'm guessing this is just for editing purposes. Or it might be to free up the VCF EG for pitch control of OSC 2. I haven't tried this yet though. Hope this clarifies things for you.

[@SweetChinMuzik1]

@@No_Nag thanks for the reply! I'm currently working on an AX80 based synth in Reaktor.. unfortunately the one button that broke on my surface is the EG select. I don't want to open it up again, as I've already reworked the joints once, but it's the only way I can be certain of exactly how the EG's work. You're explanation seems correct though, the manual doesn't make that distinction.

[@No_Nag]

@@SweetChinMuzik1 Glad to be of help.

[@goodboid]

Your argument would have been a bit more compelling if the effects pedal didn't cost as much as the synth. Nice sounds though.

[@No_Nag]

Well.. I usually use a ensoniq DP/4 for the videos and this is mainly just a hall reverb.Rreally not that special. For me it's not the realestate value in the product of it self. I think it's the mist value of a product that many people thrashed because it didn't get a fair trail. The price of the AX80 was certainly higher than the price of an H9 in todays money… i've could have used a cheaper reverb and got a similar resault. I see your point, but I just want to show that this synth isn't as bad as some people say that it is. You just need to know that it needs some assistance.

[@layzer80]

sucks it isnt the 3372 chip, that was the easiest fix in the world for mine.

[@No_Nag]

Yes. Probably some op amp. But I really should do a recap on it to..

[@kenzieprice6745]

Can you share what ended up needing to be replaced?

[@Senika13]

Anyone here wanting to buy one? $500 plus shipping from Canada.

[@No_Nag]

Good price if all is working. But I think reverb! or eBay is your best shot at getting it sold 🙂

[@Senika13]

@@No_Nag thank you. I will have to check out what reverb is. Never heard of it. This unit has only had one owner and it was bought brand new in '84.

[@No_Nag]

@@Senika13 sounds awesome. You should check your pricepoint to. If it is in good condition you should have some more.

[@hexahexametermeter]

That reverb sounds horrible.

[@No_Nag]

yeah, i turnedout to be a little much and quite bright to. also the early reflection is a bit to far from the start... thank god the synth sounds great though...

[@PrismaticSpray]

How sad you must be to feel it necessary to say so.