SYNTH LORE AKAI AX80

[@sneakyalien101]

AX80 really is a sleeper synth. Not sure why it never really caught on, but it is a really beautiful sounding synth(when you add a chorus/reverb/delay). It is also one of the most beautiful looking synths ever created. Once you have it setup in a darkened studio you get to see it in its glorious beauty.

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

I like mine. Thanks for the comment.

[@murdockscott]

Our stories with the AX80 are remarkably similar! It was my first polyphonic synthesizer (I had an Octive Cat before the AX80). I also had a Juno 106 eventually I added a DW8000 and an Akai S612 sampler to my early performance rig. I can’t recall when I sold my original AX80 but I also immediately regretted it and I purchased a replacement once I was financially stable and found one at a decent price. Mine is in great condition. I have had to fix the connections to the front panel switches a couple of times, but they finally seem to be holding. Just this week I finally updated the firmware and I am enjoying the new features. I doubt I will ever sell mine. It is simply one of the most beautiful synths ever made.

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Thanks for sharing.

[@thirstyCactus]

I believe that the buttons on this unit, although covered with the panel overlay, are tactile switches underneath, mounted to a PCB. This should be similar to the DX7, that have a nice snappy click, small travel, and low actuation force. So they're not really membrane buttons, that either don't click, or have a more mushy feel, and typically require more force to actuate, like the Atari 400 or most microwave ovens.

[@anderslarsson6149]

Great video! Bought my AX80 in ’86. Was always envious on my pals Korg P6. As you say a Chorus is a must, delay and reverb don’t hurt either. Got the Tauntek installed, it brings many great festures but sometimes the free running LFO takes away a bit of the ”coldness” of the AX80

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@System-1541]

I just got one of these on eBay for a screaming deal. The end caps are shiny on mine. I was surprised to find that they're actually made out of really smooth MDF with a shiny black paint on them. They're actually not plastic if you can believe it.

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

I believe it. Thanks for the comment.

[@ariksemagin7220]

Keyboard appears to be made by Yamaha, same as in DX7 Mk.1. Yamaha supplied quite a few keyboard assemblies to other manufacturers, with Korg being the largest one (You can see "Yamaha" stamped all over keyboard chassis in Korg Triton). Also, individual keys are totally interchangeable.

[@lassel1644]

A very good in-depth video.

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Glad you liked it!

[@thejollyjoker187]

Have you noticed that the L-R output of your keyboard leans heavily to the right?

[@Michel-r6m]

For the money you have something that sounds like nothing else. Isn't that the point in order to develop your own sound? Seen a few AKAI synths in the wild, never owned one (an MPC ok 😅). Quality stuff. Enjoy 🤠

[@Ambientnauts]

Hey great run down, love the big picture journey with it. Since you mention a chorus would probably be the best way to get the most out of it, any particular Chorus plugin or outboard you prefer to pair with it?

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Just something with flexibility depending on what sound you want. Back in the eighties playing live, I was using a Boss CE-2 guitar pedal; it was all I could afford. A few years ago, I was using a Lexicon MPX550. Currently I'm using a Roland DEP-5. It's only 32kHz with 80db of snr, and 90db of dynamic range, but that's really par for the course, since they are both mid-80s devices. All three of those options sound good for playing music live. I know someone that loves to mangle analog synths including the AX80 with a Moogerfooger. Hope this helps.

[@Ambientnauts]

@@JeffreyScottPetro Totally helps. Thx man. The more I hear demos of the AX80, the more I think it can be a mailable chameleon. And depending on your goal you can treat it with specific effects to get there. Now I have one on the way (with a stop for servicing first.)

[@murdockscott]

I am a bit fascinated as your preset bank is VERY different from mine! Not just a little, some sounds are vastly different and I can see that the parameters are not the same. I knew that there were different revisions to the AX80 but I wasn’t aware that the rom based preset sounds changed so much! I mean it makes sense as I know they had disappointing sales and that many people thought that it was due to the factory sounds being weak. Maybe later units had an improved (more synth-centric) set of sounds to help the AX80 compete with the Roland and Korg units that were out around then? My P1 sound is a surprisingly decent attempt at an acoustic piano. In a world where samplers had not yet made a huge splash, maybe that was an understandable choice, but perhaps just a few months down the road, maybe a synth piano was not the best “very first sound” to represent the keyboard’s capabilities. It’s fine really as these 32 sounds are absolutely the same ones I had in my first AX80 that I purchased in the mid 80’s. I wonder if I can find the set you have as a sysex dump? 😀

[@murdockscott]

My P30 is a haunting synth voice that is called “Spaced” in the patch list one sheet (yes I still have it) that came with my original AX80. Far different than the brassy synth patch in your video. P31 is identical, it’s called “Helicopter” in the literature. 🤔 Interesting!

[@murdockscott]

Maybe this is more info that you might want, but recently I did an OCR scan of that patch list I mentioned so I could import the names into Logic. In case you are interested here is the preset bank I am familiar with. PRESETS: 1. Acoustic Piano (I) 2. Electric Piano • (I) 3. Clavichord (I) 4. Harpsichord (I) 5. Toy Piano (I) 6. Rag Piano 7. Trumpet * (I) 8. Trumpet * (II) 9. Flugle Horn *' 10. Horn * 11. Flute • (I) 12. Clarinet * ° 13. Sax ° (I) 14. Strings (I) 15. String Ensemble (I) 16. Solo Violin * 17. Electric Bass (I) 18. Bass (I) 19. Double Wood Bass 20. Percussive Hammond • 21. Hammond 22. Full Church Organ 23. Small Church Organ 24. Sixties Organ ** 25. Orchestron 26. Van Halen Synth. 27. Solo Synth. 1 28. Synth. Clav. 29. Synth. in 5th's (I) 30. Spaced 31. Helicopter 32. Sweep

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Very interesting. I had no idea that the presets were different from one AX80 to another. I don't know if the one I purchased new in 1985 and sold circa 1996 had different presents than the one I purchased circa 2012. I had always thought of the presets as being average. Sometimes I think about getting the Tauntec ROM upgrade, but I barely use the AX80 anymore. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@HazeAnderson]

The bargain I NEVER try to talk people into buying are the Zoom G1on and B1on pedals. Easily turn that AKAI AX80 from a flat monophonic sound to a full chorus stereo AND still have 3-4 more effects available for chaining like delays and reverbs, bit crusher and a ring mod (and a tuner and drum beats). All for $50. I have about TEN of these lil beasties.

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Great advice, thanks for sharing.

[@StuffnSuch]

What about G2?

[@reidhauke3389]

Thanks. Did you record fully dry here, or with a chorus?

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

That's with a simple chorus.

[@CollapseReport]

Under a 1000 ? Here in Holland i never found one under 1500 Euro .

[@JeffreyScottPetro]

Yes. I don't understand why European prices are so much higher.