I felt the same way you do about the AX60 on first impression, that it was cold, thrashing, metallic, and industrial, and not very warm, smooth, polite, or musical much like a Juno-106. I found myself having a hard time getting it to sound the way I ‘expected’ or 'wanted' it to - very chaotic, untame, and punk. It has this fairly small window of a "sweet spot" where it does sound lush, warm, and musical, but outside that narrow range it quickly gets wild and mean sounding. The resonance on the filter is one of the most aggressive I've ever heard and it doesn't take much (just a quarter of the way up) to get it there. I agree with you in that it does not necessarily suit my music style either. I write and produce a lot of funky/RnB derived music where sounds are often buttery, smooth, and warm, or even the right kind of cold (FM style EPs and crystal-like sounds) and not very brash, noisy, or harsh. That being said, after the first day I brought it home, during the next the next morning with fresh ears, I spent an hour with it, and just constantly programmed sounds with its intuitive interface and getting to know it for what it is and letting it sing or scream the way that it does and wants to. That hour changed my perspective for me. I came to appreciate just how mean it can sound, and how wildly expressive and ultra complex it can get. The synth is kind of like a rebel punk - it just doesn't play nice. And you know what? The bulk of my synth collection tends to all play nice and be polite and be very musical. From Roland to Yamaha and Korg to even Kawai/Ensoniq/E-mu synths, they all have some kind of 'class' to their sound. The AX60 is more of a wild and untamed horse that won't be broken easy.. and I like that.. even though I normally wouldn't. It's nice to have at least one outlier black sheep in the synth collection to do what all the others cannot. I find the AX60 will very likely lend itself well to 80s Horror Film, Sci-Fi, ambient, 90s industrial, or contemporary sound design to name just a few applications.The sonic territory it can reach with its distinct PWM for all waves, the LFO wave selection, the also distinct VCF VCO mod, pitch mod envelope, and simply the raw character of its VCO and VCF, is utterly unique and delightful when following the way the synth naturally behaves. I'll definitely continue to use the Juno-106 a whole lot more often than the AX60 in my music, but I'm admittedly loving what I originally thought I didn't love about it. Also funny enough, I bought the AX60 one day before you posted this, so superb timing with this video. As always your efforts and production value truly shine, Espen. Thanks for making another sweet demo and review! Cheers :0)
Many thanks for the elaborate comment. I think you're right and it's definitely a synth that can add texture and offset all the other more well behaved sounds in a track. Cheers! :)
Loved this Espen. Has that later Curtis sound that's definitely cold. There's numerous synths like that, like a little era within an era. Can see why that then wouldn't suit your personal style. The ability to interface with the S612 is awesome! Had no idea that it did that. I actually preferred the grittier sampled sound to the VCOs when you were blending.
So damn cool. When I think of all the gear I got rid of it makes me almost cry. The eternal conflict, your passion vs the mortgage payment and food on the table for your family. Good luck for the future Espen.
OK- honestly-I'm a hack compared to you: I like to create "unusual" music and I just got one of these, it's very powerful in my opinion and seems to be able to go from mild (piano-like) to beyond wild! 64 patches with seemingly infinite possibilities with the functions available. Your video really helped me with the initial navigation-THANK YOU!
Great demo as always. The combo of a 12bit sampler like the S612 with an analogue synth section still is an exciting approach to vibrant and almost infinite sounddesign options. Heard the S612 back in fall 1985 as an 18 years old beginner with an "Maria Magdalena" orchestra break sounding sample at a music store in stuttgart/germany and could never forget this massive impact hearing sampling the first time. AKAI pursued this approach with the S700/x700 series and the 1 VCO AX73 synth in 1986 but this also did not work out fine. Analogue was dead then and only digital seemed to be the future.
AX60 + S612, what a combo! How the VCO, filters & old school sampling blent together is great. (and now it's on my wishlist, unfortunately for my bank account)
Great to finally see a really good video about this mostly overlooked synth! The VCO Mod is actually not a tone control; what it does is modulate the filter cutoff with the VCO, which can make some wonderful sounds, ranging from adding overtones, through gritty modulated sounds, to ring mod like effects. Examples can be heard at 18:14 and 19:43 in the video. In the factory soundset there's a nice hammond organ produced this way, as well as a really good church bell sound getting its inharmonic overtones through the VCO Mod. What the PWM actually does on the Saw, Triangle, and Saw+Triangle is to mix in the modulated Pulse wave with the selected waveform, not modulating the Saw, Triangle or Saw+Triangle waves themselves. At least that what it looks like when I look at it in Audacity. Also, I think you overlooked the Hi pass filter which can come in handy from time to time. I've had mine since 1987 and I love it. I installed the tauntek.com firmware last week. It lifts the synth to a whole new level, especially by adding MIDI CC control over all parameters, MIDI SysEx support, and a bunch of other useful stuff.
In the manual Akai themselves describe the VCO Mod as a sophisticated tone control so I think I have my words intact, but thanks for augmenting what it actually does. There's a lot of the sound shaping parameters I don't describe in detail in many of my videos as I have to keep the lenght of the videos down. ;-) Even with the Tauntek upgrade this is still a shallow, thin and cold-sounding synth to me, but I totally get that for others it might just the right tool. That's the beauty of it all, we all seek different sound to make out music. :) Cheers
@@EspenKraft You are right that it not as warm or lush as many other synths, but that's not necessarily all bad. You may not want it as your only synth, but it can be great as a contrast to the Junos, Prophets, OBs, and what have you. Those unison leads can really scream, the VCO Mod can make some sounds that no Roland, Korg, or even Moog can come close to, and the in-your-face filter resonance can make for some aggressive sounds. Not very suitable for the classic synth pop you make, but it would probably be a perfect fit for LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (or Alex Ball?).
Absolutely, It can be perfect for other types of ectro music. I always augment my videos in the video description and I say that there as well. ;-) Alex Ball already commented on this video and it's definitely more up his alley than mine.
Great look at this! I love mine but didn't know about the tauntek firmware, and it seems like it solves a lot of the little annoyances. Excellent work!
This was one of the boards I owned and performed on in the 80s and even 90s. You’re right, you love or hate to sound. I actually like the cold and distant aspect to it. I found its course rather quirky at times though. That auto tune was very necessary to return those isolators during a performance. You would have to hit that at convenient times during a set or between sets. Especially if the temperature changed, like if you were outside playing an outdoor show. I think this board really shines in the weird scary sounds, and when you use it for either fat Juno strings, or in its unison mode for lead parts. The reason I found lead parts to be really good on it, with precisely what you said, the faders. Everything was right there that you can directly manipulate without modifying the saved sound, just the performance. And it was really easy to do right there on the fly, with this board as the top board of your stack. Also, having just one oscillator was a clear downside for many things in the boards, but it did make for some very interesting sounds and added to quite a few shows. Mine went the way so many instruments go, went out on the road being baptized by beers and other things.
Great video, Espen! Really enjoyed seeing and hearing this one that slipped by me during our heyday in the 80s! Not to detract from the otherwise stellar content, but I wanted to compliment you on how you integrate the sponsored content within your videos. It's always very tasteful and unobtrusive. I've been meaning to say this for a while. Anyway, thanks for an insightful look at the AX60! 🐬
This is great!! I almost had an AX73 from a local shop but they sold it before I could get there! 😥 These sounds are epic and having you at the helm makes it 100% better!! 😄👍
That thing is like a dedicated modern chillwave/synthwave keyboard..who would have thought that sound would come back and now be so popular...its so crazy how things recycle.On a side note someone needs to make some 80's synth posters of these keyboards, they look gorgeous!
Great video. Like how you touch upon these not so ”main stream” vintage synths. Allways wanted the AX60 however bought the AX80, as I did not come accross the 60, second hand. Now I know why I wanted the 60. The AX does not sound like any Juno imho. As you say much colder and I think also more gritty. That’s why I think it’s unique sounding. The AX80 benefits massivly from reverb/delay/Chorus. Otherwise a bit thin.
The AX60 reminds me of Roland's JX3P more than the Juno that it's often compared to. That slightly clinical, cold feel. With the S612 put through it, it sounds fantastic - I've always loved the combination of gritty, low bitrate samples combined with analogue filters.
The short "Take On Me" part really grabbed me...I definitely liked that more than even the original. It took something a little commercial & cheesy, and made it beautiful. I wouldn't buy this synth for myself, but I should check out more music from this channel for sure, and I think at least for that song, the AX60 actually worked well. Just my impression of course :)
I own 2 of those, bought them on Ebay 10 years ago when nobody was really interested about analog Akai (also got an AX80 for ~ $ 500.00) I really enjoy them, unfortunatly I didn't realised at the time the benefit of pairing a 612 with it (now they became pricely 🤨), I also enjoy my SX210 and 240 bought around the same aera... for nothing.... 😉. Thanks Aspen, with you we're back in our 80's (helping us forgotting nowadays anxious situation....)
@@EspenKraft God dag, Espen! Yes, that's some good remark again of you...AKAI's Hi-Fi designs/that's how I fell in love with the early AKAI-synth and related stuff. It had something magical goin, the whole AKAI thing. Emotional relationship? I really loved the lay-out and colour-settings of that period and had a lot of love for the stuff! That's (40 years later) still not over... In those days, I worked my socks off for purchasing my first AKAI GX-F 35 cassettedeck and from then on it all started ;-}
Thanks for the video of this underrated synth Espen! It can definitely be polarizing, but its one of my personal favorites. Love the PWM especially, it just sounds great to my ears. Ax60 can go from sweet to harsh in an instant, I guess that's what I like about it most... but not everyone shares the same opinion which is fine too. :)
@@EspenKraft Absolutely, and that's what's so great about synths -- there's so many different synths with their own character, there's something for everyone out there! :)
Cool! Always wanted one of the AXs but they seem especially rare outside of Europe and there isn’t much info on them so thanks for featuring this one👍. Brilliant how akai made it possible to link the samplers with them. I like the sound of the 60 very much but the midi spec is rubbish, the 80 it doesnt sound as good but I LOVE its display & controls....& I doubt if I’ll actually ever buy either at current prices but the 80 would be the only synth Id have purely for its looks! Please feature an AX80 if you can ever get your hands on one.
I thought so as well, both seem to share the same harshness and lack of warmth, which is nice when you need it. I think of buying one mostly to get more out of my S612 though.
The PWM is great, the sampler interface is greater, but the REAL king of this synth is oscillator modulation of the filter; so many synths lack that and it makes anything more beautiful and complex.
Loved this video, I'm actually a proud owner of an AX-60 which suits my style of music perfectly (EBM, WaxTrax, 242, etc...). It's nasty / harsh in the best possible ways :)
I Have a AX60 and i love it, but like Espen, i not like it on is own. I love it in combinaison/stack with a more 'deep' synth. ( My favorite trick is to use it staked with a JX3P. with the AX one octave upper and detuned, it sounds great !!! ) I also use it for the high frequency and agressives / weird part where is has a very unique sound.
My neighbor just gave one of these to me before he moved to New York. Never heard of it until now. I multisampled it and made it an MPC expansion because I think my voice chips are about to die. Some days it drifts out of tune after a while. We tried taking it to get serviced but everyone says its a headache and the parts don't exist. Now my AX60 will live on inside my Akai MPC as keygroups with AIR effects
@@EspenKraft Indeed It is. He called me and said Im moving and I have something you may like for sound design. I thought it was going to be something cheesy and the AX60 came
I mean, once you hook up that S612, you've got endless possibilities for sounds. I love it! And boy, that filter resonance can slice through an elephant in no time! Didn't care too much about these synths at first, but this video changed my view on them :).
the sampler input is so handy and fun, my goal is to write a max4live patch or something that could allow the sampler input to be played via midi. The way it cycles midi channels in that mode is interesting and can actually be used to cool effect on its own
I bought, refurbed, and sold a Sequential 6 Trak for 100 bucks. Lol. Dohhhhhhhhh. I am still trying to get it back from my neighbor, the new owner. Unfortunately, he is divorcing and is never home.
@@leehenri987 An update. I found a recently serviced AX60 on Craigslist for a killer price. I'm picking it up soon. Fixing the mistakes of the past, just like Quantum Leap!
i used to own one of these... i now regret selling it even though i got a JX-3P with the money i got from the sale... there's something different about this synth. don't expect it to sound like a juno, it's totally different. the drifty vcos are awesome, the filter resonance is wacky, and it has a lot of sweet spots.
I can’t believe you skipped over one of my favourite things about this synth! The fact that you can modulate the filters with the VCO’s! For filter FM! You can get some really unique sounds from that feature and I’m amazed you missed it!
Nice video as usual. Production quality top notch. To the synth itself, personally really like the sound sometimes very much. Some things sounds a bit harsh/cold/thin and some warm and softy. Love the sailing oscs though. Features seems plenty. Propably costs a house though?
I believe that synth was used by Münchener Freiheit's hypnotic über-hit, "Every time", an ultra-weird comping sound utilizing resonance on filter to velocity envelope sensitivity linked to delay repeat...pad
Easily my number one synth. So much so, I have two plus the S612. Layer them all together and it's amazing. It's true that it sounds very industrial and harsh. You can get some crazy FM sounds plus the resonance is exponentially intense. Tame it down, and you can get some warmer sounds. Thankfully this synth is very under the radar and you can get them for a fraction of a Juno-106 with equal or greater the functionality. So far the only long term flaw I've ran into, the rubber spacers holding the keys tight start to disintegrate and make the keys wobbly. But that's a very simple fix. Oh also the AX73 and VX70 do have the sampler voice in function just like the AX60. Those are identical to the AX60 minus knobs and sliders, but add velocity.
I always wanted an AX60 to play around with the sampler integration. Shockingly, I HAD an S1612 and an AX80 back in the 80’s (The AX80 came first for me). It always surprised me that they didn’t include those features on the AX80. I’m sure they had their reasons. I am absolutely in the Pro AX camp and still own an AX80. Not only have I always enjoyed the brash tone of it, but it is simply one of the most gorgeous synths ever made. Back in the 80’s my rig included an S612, AX80, Juno 106, and a DW8000. I think the complemented each other wonderfully, especially since I was doing avant garde electronic underground rock and was desperately trying to sound unique. I am surprised that you can use a gotex drive to replace the QD drive in the S612! I will check out your video on that wonderful little beast soon.
@@EspenKraft Only two years apart on these machines, I would suspect that they had those features in development, but sadly they weren’t ready in time to be included in the AX80. I also wonder that because the AX80 didn’t sell well, it might have lead to them backing off of the extravagant build quality when working on the AX60. I remember seeing the two side by side and feeling like the AX60 was a step backwards in visual appeal and how solid it felt.
The AX80 was my first synth and I hated it almost from the start. I had deep regrets about choosing that one, back then. It sure looked nice, it still does, but the sound has always been sub par to me. I don't like the AX60 any better for that matter. The AX80 ultimately bombed because of the sound, no doubt.
@@EspenKraft My first synth was an Octive CAT! So I have a tradition for backing the weird underdog synths. 😂 No doubt sales suffered because it was not the “sound” most people were looking for, it was no Juno 106 after all! I would likely feel differently about it if I had been after that more universal sound (and if I had not also owned a 106). But I always found its grit “charming” especially when ran through my mighty SDR-1000 and layered with other gear. I doubt I will ever sell mine.
If your AX60 was a give-away, I'd be running to sign up. ;-) It's a matter of taste. But I know that some synths make you do stuff that others don't. It's like, yeah it could do that, but somehow it feels very tedious to get ther. I often use a Korg Monologue, which was bashed by many reviewers for not being new or special in any way. However, it's so easy to get the more aggressive stuff from it than from any of the nice playing synths.
One video demonstrates the use of a gradual taper vs. the stock VCO-> Filter modulation slider control; allows longer travel (at the low end) before the onset of deeper/harsher tones
I bought an AX60 about five years ago mainly for the intention of utilizing the sampler input, but haven't been able to afford one of those samplers yet and they keep going up. I wish somebody would make and sell some sort of aux converter cable.
Hi Espen. I was wondering, the AX60 came out at the same time as the S612, then the AX73 and VX90 came out as the same time as the S900 and S950. The AX73 and VX90 have the same function for sampler input and are compatible with the S900, S950, S700 and S612. Do you think it is possible that the AX60 is compatible with the S900 and S950?
It required spending a little time with it. Definitely a fun board to work with. Checkout Code Industry's Method of Assembly album from 1990. It was the predominant synth used on that album.
Love the sounds coming from the AX60. Pretty awesome keyboard! 👍☺️ BTW. Love your fave band listing. I'm just wondering if you remember The Yellow Magic Orchestra, they had a minor, well I'd say a major hit with "Computer Game". The invaders theme in 1980. A one hit wonder record which I bought on 12" vinyl. Great tune! 🎶🎶🎶🎤
Some of the Akai AX60 sounds are wonderful. But I agree that the synth has plenty of "flat" sounds that are uninspiring. Great for some synth motifs when combined with other synths I think.
Akai AX60 is my favourite synth! I would never ever sell it. Why? Because if you compare it to a lot of other machines its standard sound is a bit agressive. This is no machine for soft ambient sounds, this machine and it sounds want to take up room an space. And. Most important of all. Out of this synth there is a connector specially made for connecting it to Akai S-700 sampler.
I have theAX80. I can see where you're coming from and why it doesn't quite suit your style of synthpop. I find that the 'coldness' is quite applicable for electro, though.
Well that synth gave some and took some... some sounds pretty decent some not so good. Great video though. Very good walkthru of a synth thats long time forgotten.
The AX80, although different oscillators has pretty much the same sound and very little low end. No sample input either. It's one of the coolest looking synths though.
@@EspenKraftof course! My most recent addition is a Kawai K1-II I found for super cheap. It's fantastic, takes some time to get used to editing the sound sources, but it's pure 8 bit wavetable magic
Although you say the AX80 was the bigger brother of the 60, I think really its a completely different synth, as you pointed out the the lesser 60 has options the 80 doesn't, but the 80 work in a very different way. Tell me your thoughts on this? Great video as usual, sets up the weekend brilliantly! Damon from the 80s!
Sure, I know the AX80 very well as I had it for several years. DCOs, cross mod, detune and enevelopes are all different from the AX60, but ultimately it sounds just as bland as the 60 imo. No bottom end either and not a synth I'd consider getting back unless someone gave me one. It also lacks all the fun features from the 60 as the arp, unison, split and sampler input. They both have their places in synth history though and few other synths looks cooler than the AX80. ;-) Cheers mate!
This actually seems like an amazing synth..! I can't believe they had this tech in 1985.. the atari st and amiga 500 came out in this year.. i disagree with kraft on this one.. amazing piece of gear for its time!
Hi Epsen, How about the DK Synergy II? I have one of the originals and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Although it was a very large and heavy synthesizer it had some special features that rivaled many in that era. Many may have not even heard of the DK Synergy Systems. Just found your channel. Thanks much!
You played a couple of pads that were rather nice, but overall I agree that the sounds were a bit "hollow". Was the "auto-panning" effect on the arpeggiated part (at around 1:34) an effect on the synth, or was that an external effect? And what did you use for the drums at around 2:00? They really sounded good with what you were playing.
No, there's no effects inbuilt on this one, so reverbs. delays and pans and such is all done when I mixed this. The drums are a standard TR-808 set of samples. But the drums are mixed very carefully of course as is all my sounds at all times. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Sorry, I should have re-phrased that: I know the synth has no built-in effects. I just didn't know if it was panning the voices in a way similar to how Oberheims do it. And your drums always sound good. I know you put a lot of work into them, and it pays off! :)
Ah, yes. Well, no. It doesn't have anything like that. In fact, not many synths do, except for the Oberheims. The Crumar BIT01 I have, has something like that, but not manually.
I had an AX-73 once. I couldn't get it to sound cool, because of its one oscillator per voice. The unison mode made it sound better. The AX-60 seems to have the features the AX-73 is missing, like a chorus and a split mode. The keyboard of the AX-73 is very crappy. I can't imagine why Akai made a Midi master keyboard with the same bad keybed, called the MX-73.
"Much as the AX80 before it. It's just bland in its sound." I'm so glad you mentioned that. The AX80 is the worst sounding synth I've ever used. The least inspiring sounding synth that ever touched my studio. Personally, I'm hearing better sounds out of your AX60 than I heard out of the AX80. I don't think I can explain it any better than to say the AX80's filter sounded like it had been stuck in a sandstorm for a few months during production. I could make a list of synths that sound better than it, but that would basically be every synth I've ever played. Still listening - enjoying the content, as usual.
@@EspenKraft So, these, usually, are the synths that have 'real character'? In my personal life, as some kind of comparison, I seem to avoid the more 'mid-section' people...maybe they have their place in the whole spectrum of life, but they wil never choose side and that leaves them somewhere up in the middle, which seems to be a kind of 'safe haven' for them... I guess this all seems to fit synths as well?
This particular AX60 looks very familiar from a 2 part refurbish tutorial =). These are very easy to repair and I fell in lust with it way back when. Still have my AX73. Hold on! Depeche Mode doesn't do melancholy? I feel everybody who says this synth is dark, hollow, metallic (yes it does all that but so can a Juno 106) is brain washed from all the bad hype and they haven't been within 100 miles of an AX or VX but then any hype is good hype. The same with the Prophet 600. Same chip.
I have an AX80 I got on eBay for only US$300. I generally like it (for a membrane synth), but hate that it doesn't have any glide function. I still need to open it up and see if some contact cleaner will fix the 'wandering' pitch bend wheel, but I since upgraded to a DSI Prophet '08 PE for an analog, so it's been sitting in the background for a while. I also have an Akai S2000 (~US$180 on eBay???) that I know turns on and boots from floppy (and could successfully format another floppy), but have never gotten around to fully testing it or seeing what options it has installed.
I was looking at one of these back in like 1985 but ended up buying a Matrix - 6 instead. Actually still happy I did but honestly, the AX-60 sounds better in the video than I remember. I seem to recall that it was very slow at voice reallocation. Pretty sure I could only afford the AX-60 which was I think $600 or so but my dad sprung for the difference in price between it and the M-6 which was about $1k at the time.
You can max out the arpeggiator tempo on these and play with filter and long releases to create an unending smooth swirl of sound. Of course, it also glitches it out when you do this so don't expect normal response. Unison mode is horrid, though.
The Tauntek upgrade fixes the stock unison mode with variable unison detune. I hated unison on my AX60 until I installed the Tauntek, now it sounds amazing.
If you ask me which early affordable programmable polyphonic I would still like to own it would be this one, so even in stead of classic liek the Juno 106 or Polysix. After this Akai turned to the horrible 1 slider programming modes that the DX7 made fashionable. That stuff looked so high tech at te time but by now we know it was a retrograde step. For such a basic synth this thing actually has a few very interesting modulation options. Add the sampler and it becomes the most versatile of the whole lot anyway. And it has a very good basic sound anyway.
Here's a song I wrote using the AX60 (Besides Moog Bass and drums). There's a few of its characteristic filter squeals. I personally love this synth and adding a little delay makes it really bloom. soundcloud.com/jeremywinter69/construc
I felt the same way you do about the AX60 on first impression, that it was cold, thrashing, metallic, and industrial, and not very warm, smooth, polite, or musical much like a Juno-106. I found myself having a hard time getting it to sound the way I ‘expected’ or 'wanted' it to - very chaotic, untame, and punk. It has this fairly small window of a "sweet spot" where it does sound lush, warm, and musical, but outside that narrow range it quickly gets wild and mean sounding. The resonance on the filter is one of the most aggressive I've ever heard and it doesn't take much (just a quarter of the way up) to get it there. I agree with you in that it does not necessarily suit my music style either. I write and produce a lot of funky/RnB derived music where sounds are often buttery, smooth, and warm, or even the right kind of cold (FM style EPs and crystal-like sounds) and not very brash, noisy, or harsh.
That being said, after the first day I brought it home, during the next the next morning with fresh ears, I spent an hour with it, and just constantly programmed sounds with its intuitive interface and getting to know it for what it is and letting it sing or scream the way that it does and wants to. That hour changed my perspective for me. I came to appreciate just how mean it can sound, and how wildly expressive and ultra complex it can get. The synth is kind of like a rebel punk - it just doesn't play nice. And you know what? The bulk of my synth collection tends to all play nice and be polite and be very musical. From Roland to Yamaha and Korg to even Kawai/Ensoniq/E-mu synths, they all have some kind of 'class' to their sound. The AX60 is more of a wild and untamed horse that won't be broken easy.. and I like that.. even though I normally wouldn't. It's nice to have at least one outlier black sheep in the synth collection to do what all the others cannot.
I find the AX60 will very likely lend itself well to 80s Horror Film, Sci-Fi, ambient, 90s industrial, or contemporary sound design to name just a few applications.The sonic territory it can reach with its distinct PWM for all waves, the LFO wave selection, the also distinct VCF VCO mod, pitch mod envelope, and simply the raw character of its VCO and VCF, is utterly unique and delightful when following the way the synth naturally behaves. I'll definitely continue to use the Juno-106 a whole lot more often than the AX60 in my music, but I'm admittedly loving what I originally thought I didn't love about it. Also funny enough, I bought the AX60 one day before you posted this, so superb timing with this video. As always your efforts and production value truly shine, Espen. Thanks for making another sweet demo and review! Cheers :0)
Many thanks for the elaborate comment. I think you're right and it's definitely a synth that can add texture and offset all the other more well behaved sounds in a track.
Cheers! :)
The synth to bring in our dystopian future. Cyberpunk af 👌
Don't all good synths have their sweet spot?
Hmm, so this and a Juno would cover the majority of the spectrum? Your description makes me want it lol
Video production is broadcast quality, just excellent and a pleasure to watch. Really enjoying the video on 80s gear we didn't know existed.
Thanks man!
some of us knew it existed........
@@chloedevereaux1801 hehehe. probably most of us. but few of us know how this gear worked. Still awesome video.
Loved this Espen. Has that later Curtis sound that's definitely cold. There's numerous synths like that, like a little era within an era. Can see why that then wouldn't suit your personal style.
The ability to interface with the S612 is awesome! Had no idea that it did that. I actually preferred the grittier sampled sound to the VCOs when you were blending.
Thanks Alex! I guess this synth would be more cherised by you than by me. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Yeah, I think I gravitate towards that a bit more. But then I'm a dirty boy. 😉
@@AlexBallMusic maybe Espen needs to find his inner Geert lol
You're saying I'm posh? :P
@@EspenKraft Nah, you're smooth. 😎
So damn cool. When I think of all the gear I got rid of it makes me almost cry. The eternal conflict, your passion vs the mortgage payment and food on the table for your family. Good luck for the future Espen.
I know exactly what you mean Paul! Thanks :)
Same feeling here. Hang in there, it's only material stuff
OK- honestly-I'm a hack compared to you: I like to create "unusual" music and I just got one of these, it's very powerful in my opinion and seems to be able to go from mild (piano-like) to beyond wild! 64 patches with seemingly infinite possibilities with the functions available. Your video really helped me with the initial navigation-THANK YOU!
Cheers!
You can tell that Akai was inspired by the "Juno" line of synthes with their layout. But that filter is something else!🎹👌
Big time juno inspiration, but not a bad synth to rip off
Great demo as always. The combo of a 12bit sampler like the S612 with an analogue synth section still is an exciting approach to vibrant and almost infinite sounddesign options. Heard the S612 back in fall 1985 as an 18 years old beginner with an "Maria Magdalena" orchestra break sounding sample at a music store in stuttgart/germany and could never forget this massive impact hearing sampling the first time. AKAI pursued this approach with the S700/x700 series and the 1 VCO AX73 synth in 1986 but this also did not work out fine. Analogue was dead then and only digital seemed to be the future.
Thanks!
Am I the only one who wants Espen and Anders in one video talking synths and jam together? ;) ... Anyway this was an amazing video Thank You for it!
Cheers!
@ShotecMusic Yessss! But remember that our scandinavian friend would only display the synths of the 80's and maybe 1% of a 90's one...remember ;-}
Espen Kraft and Alex Ball yesss!
AX60 + S612, what a combo! How the VCO, filters & old school sampling blent together is great.
(and now it's on my wishlist, unfortunately for my bank account)
Great video. The AX60 sounds surprisingly good. I have the Ax80 and love it. Use it on most of my productions. Very underrated synths
Thanks! .)
Great to finally see a really good video about this mostly overlooked synth! The VCO Mod is actually not a tone control; what it does is modulate the filter cutoff with the VCO, which can make some wonderful sounds, ranging from adding overtones, through gritty modulated sounds, to ring mod like effects. Examples can be heard at 18:14 and 19:43 in the video. In the factory soundset there's a nice hammond organ produced this way, as well as a really good church bell sound getting its inharmonic overtones through the VCO Mod.
What the PWM actually does on the Saw, Triangle, and Saw+Triangle is to mix in the modulated Pulse wave with the selected waveform, not modulating the Saw, Triangle or Saw+Triangle waves themselves. At least that what it looks like when I look at it in Audacity.
Also, I think you overlooked the Hi pass filter which can come in handy from time to time.
I've had mine since 1987 and I love it. I installed the tauntek.com firmware last week. It lifts the synth to a whole new level, especially by adding MIDI CC control over all parameters, MIDI SysEx support, and a bunch of other useful stuff.
In the manual Akai themselves describe the VCO Mod as a sophisticated tone control so I think I have my words intact, but thanks for augmenting what it actually does.
There's a lot of the sound shaping parameters I don't describe in detail in many of my videos as I have to keep the lenght of the videos down. ;-)
Even with the Tauntek upgrade this is still a shallow, thin and cold-sounding synth to me, but I totally get that for others it might just the right tool. That's the beauty of it all, we all seek different sound to make out music. :) Cheers
@@EspenKraft You are right that it not as warm or lush as many other synths, but that's not necessarily all bad. You may not want it as your only synth, but it can be great as a contrast to the Junos, Prophets, OBs, and what have you. Those unison leads can really scream, the VCO Mod can make some sounds that no Roland, Korg, or even Moog can come close to, and the in-your-face filter resonance can make for some aggressive sounds. Not very suitable for the classic synth pop you make, but it would probably be a perfect fit for LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (or Alex Ball?).
Absolutely, It can be perfect for other types of ectro music. I always augment my videos in the video description and I say that there as well. ;-)
Alex Ball already commented on this video and it's definitely more up his alley than mine.
Great look at this! I love mine but didn't know about the tauntek firmware, and it seems like it solves a lot of the little annoyances. Excellent work!
Thanks! :)
When I think of 80’s synths, this is the sound I hear.
Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for your contribution to the synth community.
Many thanks for saying! :)
This was one of the boards I owned and performed on in the 80s and even 90s. You’re right, you love or hate to sound. I actually like the cold and distant aspect to it. I found its course rather quirky at times though. That auto tune was very necessary to return those isolators during a performance. You would have to hit that at convenient times during a set or between sets. Especially if the temperature changed, like if you were outside playing an outdoor show. I think this board really shines in the weird scary sounds, and when you use it for either fat Juno strings, or in its unison mode for lead parts. The reason I found lead parts to be really good on it, with precisely what you said, the faders. Everything was right there that you can directly manipulate without modifying the saved sound, just the performance. And it was really easy to do right there on the fly, with this board as the top board of your stack. Also, having just one oscillator was a clear downside for many things in the boards, but it did make for some very interesting sounds and added to quite a few shows. Mine went the way so many instruments go, went out on the road being baptized by beers and other things.
Great video, Espen! Really enjoyed seeing and hearing this one that slipped by me during our heyday in the 80s! Not to detract from the otherwise stellar content, but I wanted to compliment you on how you integrate the sponsored content within your videos. It's always very tasteful and unobtrusive. I've been meaning to say this for a while. Anyway, thanks for an insightful look at the AX60! 🐬
Thanks man! I try to integrate the sponsor content in a way that feels natural and not "pushy" so I'm happy you commenting on it. Cheers! :)
@@EspenKraft With this, you, again, set an example for many YT'ers.
Very interesting. I love my AX60. Been using it for years. Keep up the good work. Nice video!
Many thanks! :D
This is great!! I almost had an AX73 from a local shop but they sold it before I could get there! 😥 These sounds are epic and having you at the helm makes it 100% better!! 😄👍
Thanks Nathan! The 73 is huuge. ;-)
I had an AX 60, reminded me a lot of Akai version of Juno 60/106 but with the aggressive curtis filter. Sampler input is cool, forgot about that!
That thing is like a dedicated modern chillwave/synthwave keyboard..who would have thought that sound would come back and now be so popular...its so crazy how things recycle.On a side note someone needs to make some 80's synth posters of these keyboards, they look gorgeous!
Great video. Like how you touch upon these not so ”main stream” vintage synths. Allways wanted the AX60 however bought the AX80, as I did not come accross the 60, second hand. Now I know why I wanted the 60. The AX does not sound like any Juno imho. As you say much colder and I think also more gritty. That’s why I think it’s unique sounding. The AX80 benefits massivly from reverb/delay/Chorus. Otherwise a bit thin.
Thanks Anders! Yes, both of these sound very thin alone, much more so than a Roland Juno. ;-)
The AX60 reminds me of Roland's JX3P more than the Juno that it's often compared to. That slightly clinical, cold feel. With the S612 put through it, it sounds fantastic - I've always loved the combination of gritty, low bitrate samples combined with analogue filters.
It's definitely cold. ;-)
The short "Take On Me" part really grabbed me...I definitely liked that more than even the original. It took something a little commercial & cheesy, and made it beautiful. I wouldn't buy this synth for myself, but I should check out more music from this channel for sure, and I think at least for that song, the AX60 actually worked well. Just my impression of course :)
I own 2 of those, bought them on Ebay 10 years ago when nobody was really interested about analog Akai (also got an AX80 for ~ $ 500.00) I really enjoy them, unfortunatly I didn't realised at the time the benefit of pairing a 612 with it (now they became pricely 🤨), I also enjoy my SX210 and 240 bought around the same aera... for nothing.... 😉. Thanks Aspen, with you we're back in our 80's (helping us forgotting nowadays anxious situation....)
Cheers! :)
I love the look of that synth. It reminds me of stereo component systems from the 80’s and early 90’s.
They brought with them all their Hi-Fi designs into their first synths and samplers.
@@EspenKraft God dag, Espen! Yes, that's some good remark again of you...AKAI's Hi-Fi designs/that's how I fell in love with the early AKAI-synth and related stuff. It had something magical goin, the whole AKAI thing. Emotional relationship? I really loved the lay-out and colour-settings of that period and had a lot of love for the stuff! That's (40 years later) still not over... In those days, I worked my socks off for purchasing my first AKAI GX-F 35 cassettedeck and from then on it all started ;-}
Everything it does sounds like it would fit perfectly into an 80's horror film.
Thanks for the video of this underrated synth Espen! It can definitely be polarizing, but its one of my personal favorites. Love the PWM especially, it just sounds great to my ears. Ax60 can go from sweet to harsh in an instant, I guess that's what I like about it most... but not everyone shares the same opinion which is fine too. :)
To me synths are tools to make what I want to make and the AX60 is not a tool I'd prefer to use, but it's cool if it is to someone else. ;-) Cheers
@@EspenKraft Absolutely, and that's what's so great about synths -- there's so many different synths with their own character, there's something for everyone out there! :)
Never heard of this synth, now I want one. This was so awesome!
Thanks! :)
Everyone wants one after Espen shows the magic. Whether it's a 626 drum machine or a synth that didnt get it's due back in the day. You WANT IT.
Cool! Always wanted one of the AXs but they seem especially rare outside of Europe and there isn’t much info on them so thanks for featuring this one👍. Brilliant how akai made it possible to link the samplers with them. I like the sound of the 60 very much but the midi spec is rubbish, the 80 it doesnt sound as good but I LOVE its display & controls....& I doubt if I’ll actually ever buy either at current prices but the 80 would be the only synth Id have purely for its looks! Please feature an AX80 if you can ever get your hands on one.
I don't think I've seen the AX80 after I sold mine many years ago. ;-)
The layout and the sound reminds me a bit of my Jupiter-6.
That S-612 Feature is fantastic.
I thought so as well, both seem to share the same harshness and lack of warmth, which is nice when you need it.
I think of buying one mostly to get more out of my S612 though.
The PWM is great, the sampler interface is greater, but the REAL king of this synth is oscillator modulation of the filter; so many synths lack that and it makes anything more beautiful and complex.
This sounds like 1980's movie music. Actually, a very interesting synth. Nice demo.
Cheers!
Loved this video, I'm actually a proud owner of an AX-60 which suits my style of music perfectly (EBM, WaxTrax, 242, etc...). It's nasty / harsh in the best possible ways :)
Thanks! Yes, to someone making that kind of music it seems like a very good synth. :)
I Have a AX60 and i love it, but like Espen, i not like it on is own. I love it in combinaison/stack with a more 'deep' synth. ( My favorite trick is to use it staked with a JX3P. with the AX one octave upper and detuned, it sounds great !!! ) I also use it for the high frequency and agressives / weird part where is has a very unique sound.
My neighbor just gave one of these to me before he moved to New York. Never heard of it until now. I multisampled it and made it an MPC expansion because I think my voice chips are about to die. Some days it drifts out of tune after a while. We tried taking it to get serviced but everyone says its a headache and the parts don't exist. Now my AX60 will live on inside my Akai MPC as keygroups with AIR effects
Good gift. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Indeed It is. He called me and said Im moving and I have something you may like for sound design. I thought it was going to be something cheesy and the AX60 came
16:58 _So much fun that your body starts to shiver_
No mere mortal could resist. Well played, sir 👍🏿
Cheers!
I mean, once you hook up that S612, you've got endless possibilities for sounds. I love it!
And boy, that filter resonance can slice through an elephant in no time!
Didn't care too much about these synths at first, but this video changed my view on them :).
Happy you liked it Xavier. The sampler input indeed opens up a lot of opportunities.
I think it suits you better than you realise. Intro tune is one of your best, love that change at 1:17
Great to hear. Thanks! :)
the sampler input is so handy and fun, my goal is to write a max4live patch or something that could allow the sampler input to be played via midi. The way it cycles midi channels in that mode is interesting and can actually be used to cool effect on its own
Wow never knew about the sampler mode. That's an awesome feature.
Has a great sound!
Hey it sounds great.
Thanks!
My brother had one in the 90s. Best synth I've ever played. He sold it for $150 and I've never forgiven him.
I bought, refurbed, and sold a Sequential 6 Trak for 100 bucks. Lol. Dohhhhhhhhh. I am still trying to get it back from my neighbor, the new owner. Unfortunately, he is divorcing and is never home.
I have one, I don't know how to use 🤦
@@leehenri987 An update. I found a recently serviced AX60 on Craigslist for a killer price. I'm picking it up soon. Fixing the mistakes of the past, just like Quantum Leap!
@@System-1541 glad to hear you got the synth back ! Haha hope you had fun playing again
i used to own one of these... i now regret selling it even though i got a JX-3P with the money i got from the sale... there's something different about this synth. don't expect it to sound like a juno, it's totally different. the drifty vcos are awesome, the filter resonance is wacky, and it has a lot of sweet spots.
I can’t believe you skipped over one of my favourite things about this synth! The fact that you can modulate the filters with the VCO’s! For filter FM! You can get some really unique sounds from that feature and I’m amazed you missed it!
I had to cut out a lot to keep the length of the video down. ;-)
Thats the sound of Synth Wave - Great video!
Nice video as usual. Production quality top notch. To the synth itself, personally really like the sound sometimes very much. Some things sounds a bit harsh/cold/thin and some warm and softy. Love the sailing oscs though. Features seems plenty. Propably costs a house though?
Thanks! It's definitely feature rich.
LFO square pulse to VCA for tremolo is very good on this synth. One of the better features.
I believe that synth was used by Münchener Freiheit's hypnotic über-hit, "Every time", an ultra-weird comping sound utilizing resonance on filter to velocity envelope sensitivity linked to delay repeat...pad
Beautiful sound. I love that filter!
It's pretty gritty and raw for sure.
My first poly synth. Still have it. Just had it serviced by SynthPro.
Easily my number one synth. So much so, I have two plus the S612. Layer them all together and it's amazing. It's true that it sounds very industrial and harsh. You can get some crazy FM sounds plus the resonance is exponentially intense. Tame it down, and you can get some warmer sounds. Thankfully this synth is very under the radar and you can get them for a fraction of a Juno-106 with equal or greater the functionality. So far the only long term flaw I've ran into, the rubber spacers holding the keys tight start to disintegrate and make the keys wobbly. But that's a very simple fix. Oh also the AX73 and VX70 do have the sampler voice in function just like the AX60. Those are identical to the AX60 minus knobs and sliders, but add velocity.
I have a note about that in the video description. It's always cool to hear that the gear I'm reviewing is the number one synth with a viewer. Cheers
It’s a very nice and capable synthesizer
I always wanted an AX60 to play around with the sampler integration. Shockingly, I HAD an S1612 and an AX80 back in the 80’s (The AX80 came first for me). It always surprised me that they didn’t include those features on the AX80. I’m sure they had their reasons. I am absolutely in the Pro AX camp and still own an AX80. Not only have I always enjoyed the brash tone of it, but it is simply one of the most gorgeous synths ever made. Back in the 80’s my rig included an S612, AX80, Juno 106, and a DW8000. I think the complemented each other wonderfully, especially since I was doing avant garde electronic underground rock and was desperately trying to sound unique. I am surprised that you can use a gotex drive to replace the QD drive in the S612! I will check out your video on that wonderful little beast soon.
Since the AX80 was their first synth I guess they didn't know exactly where they were headed at the time.
@@EspenKraft Only two years apart on these machines, I would suspect that they had those features in development, but sadly they weren’t ready in time to be included in the AX80. I also wonder that because the AX80 didn’t sell well, it might have lead to them backing off of the extravagant build quality when working on the AX60. I remember seeing the two side by side and feeling like the AX60 was a step backwards in visual appeal and how solid it felt.
The AX80 was my first synth and I hated it almost from the start. I had deep regrets about choosing that one, back then. It sure looked nice, it still does, but the sound has always been sub par to me. I don't like the AX60 any better for that matter.
The AX80 ultimately bombed because of the sound, no doubt.
@@EspenKraft My first synth was an Octive CAT! So I have a tradition for backing the weird underdog synths. 😂 No doubt sales suffered because it was not the “sound” most people were looking for, it was no Juno 106 after all! I would likely feel differently about it if I had been after that more universal sound (and if I had not also owned a 106). But I always found its grit “charming” especially when ran through my mighty SDR-1000 and layered with other gear. I doubt I will ever sell mine.
If your AX60 was a give-away, I'd be running to sign up. ;-) It's a matter of taste. But I know that some synths make you do stuff that others don't. It's like, yeah it could do that, but somehow it feels very tedious to get ther. I often use a Korg Monologue, which was bashed by many reviewers for not being new or special in any way. However, it's so easy to get the more aggressive stuff from it than from any of the nice playing synths.
We use what we like and we all have our favorites. ;-)
One video demonstrates the use of a gradual taper vs. the stock VCO-> Filter modulation slider control; allows longer travel (at the low end) before the onset of deeper/harsher tones
Thanks for the great video and insight of this interesting synth. 👍
Thanks! :)
I bought an AX60 about five years ago mainly for the intention of utilizing the sampler input, but haven't been able to afford one of those samplers yet and they keep going up. I wish somebody would make and sell some sort of aux converter cable.
Me encanta cómo suena... Nunca lo había visto... Gracias por compartirlo...
Thanks! :)
Hi Espen. I was wondering, the AX60 came out at the same time as the S612, then the AX73 and VX90 came out as the same time as the S900 and S950.
The AX73 and VX90 have the same function for sampler input and are compatible with the S900, S950, S700 and S612.
Do you think it is possible that the AX60 is compatible with the S900 and S950?
If I had a AX60 I would test it with the S900, but it should work just fine.
I've got an AX80, I'd love a 60 as well. It's very different. The 80 is very polished sounding, this thing has a really nice edge to it
Sounds amazing. And not just the synth, congrats on your skills, both technical and as a player. Most enjoyable
Thanks! :)
This is the only synth I use. About to release an album of mostly this instrument in a few months
My first synth was an Akai AX-73, it was quite basic but still sounded great.
It required spending a little time with it. Definitely a fun board to work with. Checkout Code Industry's Method of Assembly album from 1990. It was the predominant synth used on that album.
Love the sounds coming from the AX60. Pretty awesome keyboard! 👍☺️
BTW. Love your fave band listing. I'm just wondering if you remember The Yellow Magic Orchestra, they had a minor, well I'd say a major hit with "Computer Game". The invaders theme in 1980. A one hit wonder record which I bought on 12" vinyl. Great tune! 🎶🎶🎶🎤
Great video 👍👍Thank you for sharing 👍👍
Thanks!
It sound, harsh and thin and soft to me, hummm... but look sexy, thanks espen for testing it out.
It sure LOOKS the part. Thanks! :)
Very nice. Sounds a bit like a Juno 106 with some Alpha Juno resources and more.
Cheers!
Some of the Akai AX60 sounds are wonderful. But I agree that the synth has plenty of "flat" sounds that are uninspiring. Great for some synth motifs when combined with other synths I think.
Akai AX60 is my favourite synth! I would never ever sell it. Why? Because if you compare it to a lot of other machines its standard sound is a bit agressive. This is no machine for soft ambient sounds, this machine and it sounds want to take up room an space. And. Most important of all. Out of this synth there is a connector specially made for connecting it to Akai S-700 sampler.
Does it also work with the S900 multi-voice (Din-13) connector as well?
@@EvLoutonian It works well with Akai S612 and S700 and I guess its the same cable so most probably YES!
@@EvLoutonian Yes. Akai S-700/S-900 connector is present on AX60! Works fine for filtering samplers.
I have theAX80. I can see where you're coming from and why it doesn't quite suit your style of synthpop. I find that the 'coldness' is quite applicable for electro, though.
Sure, it's probably more at home in other styles of synthesizer music than with my mellow stuff. ;-)
It's cool! I like the music you played 19:30
:D
Sounds great😎😎
Thanks! :)
it looks and sounds pretty sweet!! it's not bad at all 😉
Well that synth gave some and took some... some sounds pretty decent some not so good. Great video though. Very good walkthru of a synth thats long time forgotten.
Cheers!
That sampler passthrough is very interesting!
I personally really want an AX 80, shame they're really uncommon and becoming more expensive
The AX80, although different oscillators has pretty much the same sound and very little low end. No sample input either. It's one of the coolest looking synths though.
@@EspenKraft it really is!
It makes some really nice pads too from what I've heard.
You should get the gear YOU think adds to your music, as do I. ;-)
@@EspenKraftof course!
My most recent addition is a Kawai K1-II I found for super cheap. It's fantastic, takes some time to get used to editing the sound sources, but it's pure 8 bit wavetable magic
@@CKT1138 Wonderfully breathy sounds on that one, and one of the few with a vector joystick.
Although you say the AX80 was the bigger brother of the 60, I think really its a completely different synth, as you pointed out the the lesser 60 has options the 80 doesn't, but the 80 work in a very different way. Tell me your thoughts on this? Great video as usual, sets up the weekend brilliantly! Damon from the 80s!
Sure, I know the AX80 very well as I had it for several years. DCOs, cross mod, detune and enevelopes are all different from the AX60, but ultimately it sounds just as bland as the 60 imo. No bottom end either and not a synth I'd consider getting back unless someone gave me one. It also lacks all the fun features from the 60 as the arp, unison, split and sampler input.
They both have their places in synth history though and few other synths looks cooler than the AX80. ;-) Cheers mate!
This actually seems like an amazing synth..! I can't believe they had this tech in 1985.. the atari st and amiga 500 came out in this year.. i disagree with kraft on this one.. amazing piece of gear for its time!
The tech and features are stellar, I just don't like the sound. ;-)
Hi Epsen, How about the DK Synergy II? I have one of the originals and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Although it was a very large and heavy synthesizer it had some special features that rivaled many in that era. Many may have not even heard of the DK Synergy Systems. Just found your channel. Thanks much!
Thanks! Your comment got lost to to, saw it just now. Anyways, I've never tried the DK Synergy, in any form, so I don't have any opinions on it.
I love mine but find it hard to implement into my music recordings
All units of Akai-👍🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Two Akai S612s? Fancy ;-)
You played a couple of pads that were rather nice, but overall I agree that the sounds were a bit "hollow". Was the "auto-panning" effect on the arpeggiated part (at around 1:34) an effect on the synth, or was that an external effect? And what did you use for the drums at around 2:00? They really sounded good with what you were playing.
No, there's no effects inbuilt on this one, so reverbs. delays and pans and such is all done when I mixed this.
The drums are a standard TR-808 set of samples. But the drums are mixed very carefully of course as is all my sounds at all times. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Sorry, I should have re-phrased that: I know the synth has no built-in effects. I just didn't know if it was panning the voices in a way similar to how Oberheims do it. And your drums always sound good. I know you put a lot of work into them, and it pays off! :)
Ah, yes. Well, no. It doesn't have anything like that. In fact, not many synths do, except for the Oberheims. The Crumar BIT01 I have, has something like that, but not manually.
@@EspenKraft Thanks for the follow-up answer. Always informative and entertaining! 👍
I had an AX-73 once. I couldn't get it to sound cool, because of its one oscillator per voice. The unison mode made it sound better. The AX-60 seems to have the features the AX-73 is missing, like a chorus and a split mode. The keyboard of the AX-73 is very crappy. I can't imagine why Akai made a Midi master keyboard with the same bad keybed, called the MX-73.
Thanks to Anders Enger Jensen for making this Video possible
"Much as the AX80 before it. It's just bland in its sound."
I'm so glad you mentioned that. The AX80 is the worst sounding synth I've ever used. The least inspiring sounding synth that ever touched my studio. Personally, I'm hearing better sounds out of your AX60 than I heard out of the AX80. I don't think I can explain it any better than to say the AX80's filter sounded like it had been stuck in a sandstorm for a few months during production.
I could make a list of synths that sound better than it, but that would basically be every synth I've ever played.
Still listening - enjoying the content, as usual.
Thanks! My experience is that those two synths are a love or hate kind of thing. ;-)
@@EspenKraft This is true... I won't reveal what side of the fence I am on!
@@EspenKraft So, these, usually, are the synths that have 'real character'? In my personal life, as some kind of comparison, I seem to avoid the more 'mid-section' people...maybe they have their place in the whole spectrum of life, but they wil never choose side and that leaves them somewhere up in the middle, which seems to be a kind of 'safe haven' for them... I guess this all seems to fit synths as well?
I wonder, Espen, do you have a wish list of keyboards or related 80’s equipment you have yet to fulfill?
I did a Christmas wish video list two years ago which features some of that. ;-)
This particular AX60 looks very familiar from a 2 part refurbish tutorial =). These are very easy to repair and I fell in lust with it way back when. Still have my AX73. Hold on! Depeche Mode doesn't do melancholy? I feel everybody who says this synth is dark, hollow, metallic (yes it does all that but so can a Juno 106) is brain washed from all the bad hype and they haven't been within 100 miles of an AX or VX but then any hype is good hype. The same with the Prophet 600. Same chip.
Does it also work with the Akai S900 multi-voice output (Din-13) connector as well?
Of course. Same thing.
Nice Synth, I wish i can Afford one LOL
The one keyboard I had that I regret selling.
Where did you get the led sliders?
I have no idea. I didn't do the mod.
My first synth, ten years ago... got it for 350$
I have an AX80 I got on eBay for only US$300. I generally like it (for a membrane synth), but hate that it doesn't have any glide function. I still need to open it up and see if some contact cleaner will fix the 'wandering' pitch bend wheel, but I since upgraded to a DSI Prophet '08 PE for an analog, so it's been sitting in the background for a while. I also have an Akai S2000 (~US$180 on eBay???) that I know turns on and boots from floppy (and could successfully format another floppy), but have never gotten around to fully testing it or seeing what options it has installed.
nice job
Thanks!
I love my AX-60
I was looking at one of these back in like 1985 but ended up buying a Matrix - 6 instead. Actually still happy I did but honestly, the AX-60 sounds better in the video than I remember. I seem to recall that it was very slow at voice reallocation. Pretty sure I could only afford the AX-60 which was I think $600 or so but my dad sprung for the difference in price between it and the M-6 which was about $1k at the time.
The Matrix-6 is fantastic. I like that way more than the AX60, but the 60 has a lot of cool features though. ;-)
You can max out the arpeggiator tempo on these and play with filter and long releases to create an unending smooth swirl of sound. Of course, it also glitches it out when you do this so don't expect normal response. Unison mode is horrid, though.
The Tauntek upgrade fixes the stock unison mode with variable unison detune. I hated unison on my AX60 until I installed the Tauntek, now it sounds amazing.
If you ask me which early affordable programmable polyphonic I would still like to own it would be this one, so even in stead of classic liek the Juno 106 or Polysix. After this Akai turned to the horrible 1 slider programming modes that the DX7 made fashionable. That stuff looked so high tech at te time but by now we know it was a retrograde step. For such a basic synth this thing actually has a few very interesting modulation options. Add the sampler and it becomes the most versatile of the whole lot anyway. And it has a very good basic sound anyway.
It did have a lot of features for the time. ;-)
Here's a song I wrote using the AX60 (Besides Moog Bass and drums). There's a few of its characteristic filter squeals. I personally love this synth and adding a little delay makes it really bloom.
soundcloud.com/jeremywinter69/construc