Could AKAI be bringing back the AX analog synthesizer?
On AKAI’s Facebook page, they shared a user demo of the AKAI AX73 6-voice analog synthesizer, with this note:
It’s easy to forgot how great the analog AX series synths sounded. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release, check out this #tbt sound demo video. Might be a great board for us to bring back…
Here’s the video preview:
We expect to find out more at the 2016 NAMM Show, which is scheduled for Jan 21-24, 2016.
Please God no, don’t let Akai put out another terrible product.
Who’s God ?
Juno, well… technically she’s a goddess.
It’d be nice to see them to not go for the Rhythm Wolf level of polish and try for something higher-end, though.
Except that the AX73 is a great synth
??? the ax60 especially was essentially a 6 voice odyssey with tons of sliders and fm options for 6 vcos. Ax range is amazing analog, most worthy of full-on reissue.
Yes, but make it knobby not menu driven!
Can’t wait January 21st to see the 73 minikeys beast!
I’d much rather see a knobby version of the AX80 and/or VX600!
Come on Behringer, put us out of our misery!
I wish they would stop hinting and give us something on their analog projects –
Led lights on the pitch mod wheel new Mpc touch style screen and sequencer on board needed
Good idea. A MPC workstation w/ analog sounds. Remember? The MPC 5k had an internal VA synth.
I think it would be a great idea, certainly better than those analog drum machine people hated so much (that I personally like).
I have a sneaky feeling that this NAMM is going to be all about the poly synths. Korg has already announced a 4 voice.
If anyone is going to NAMM watch for me. I will be the cranky looking old guy wearing a lab coat.
When did Korg announce a 4 voice? why did I not hear about this?
Korg Poly leaks
https://www.instagram.com/p/BARcS9HtwGR/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BARMpduNwFH/
the comments baffle me.
you can expect some half baked product that tries to capitalize on brand name and past glory.
nothing more.
ms2000?
its a four voice
the thing I don’t get about akai is their price pointing – it seems like some 5 year old is given a price gun – there are some inexpensive quality pieces and some overpriced mediocre offerings – it would be nice to see them offer some stuff that is middle of the road pricing for gear – eg – I have an apc mini – which I love and was a steal @ $49 for how solid it is and it’s usefulness – the next step up though – the apc 40 goes to $300 which is like 6 times the cost – you saw the same thing with the rhythm wolf and the timbre wolf – where the drums debuted at 200 (more like 120-149 now ) considered underpriced for what you get whereas the synth debuted @ $500 which is overpriced to the comparable options…..
i like knobs and stuff to turn.
that’s what she said
theyd be stupid not to… but then again they just came out with the rhythm wolf and tom cat and that other thing, which all SUCKED DONKEY BALLS
so, not hopeful
I want a X7000 Sampler reissue complete with Quickdisks
they will never get that sound of ax series from ’80 ,especially ax80 which is the next best thing ever beside mpc60/3000…I’m not saying that new products are not good or not usable but the ’80 and ’90 was the golden age of akai.
Knowing the spec of this synth I found myself pleasantly surprised at the sound. I think I will play the video again now….
I like this type of demonstration – no speech, unboxing process and other no-sound sh*t.
Akai needs to make a new hardware MPC before even thinking about making another synth.
AKAI should stop trying to follow the trends and stick to their niche: sturdy, stand alone hardware sequencing samplers… with at least 4 midi outputs and 8 audio outs on back.
Bringing back the 2000xl or even the 2500 has to be easier than an analog synth…. wtf akai?
right. news from mpc forums: “2 major german retailers don´t carry the ren anymore. so the ren indeed has been discontinued.” A lot of Akai statements on Facebook stating “This is just the beginning”, in response to “standalone” comments. My guess is there will be an announcement at NAMM regarding a hybrid/standalone windows embedded mpc. Reason: Roland´s new standalone 16 pad sampler/workstation w/ ACB technology. My guess is also that NI is coming with a standalone Maschine based on the Rhizome. Native´s CTO Mate Galic and former Feeltune CEO Nicolas Piau were seen together. 2015 was the year of the hardware (step) sequencer), 2016 will be the year of the standalone hardware unit IMO. The time of simple controllers is over. The new Electribes were the beginnings. Problem: they lack song mode. Their event recorder is crap, because event recordings – as of now – do not work as midi slave. there´s currently no way one can hook two of the new electribes together, one being the master, one the slave when using the event recordings. epic fail.
Ah NAMM… one of my favourite times of the year. Looking forward to re-doing my ‘wish list’ for 2016 in coming days as more new products get released.
As for this Akai synth, so far I’m yet to be impressed with Akai synths, but having said that, the AX is one of those keyboards I’m not that familiar with. It looks like its from the DX-7 / D-50 era.
well obviously they’re not bringing it out…It’s not like they hinted at it when we’re 2 weeks away from namm, that’s absurd.
I owned Akai ax-80 and it was one of the best synths ever. I wish I found one available today, when one pops up, it is sold at the speed of light. What a sound!
I have an AX80; wonderful synth. You don’t get the real-time control of any but one parameter, but teh sound is really nice… I find the bar graphs on it really help you know what the settings you have set in the patch really quickly.
God.
I have one. And its such a pain in the but
menu diving that i just use it as my midi keyboard to play other synths. Nothing plugged into the audio out..
Its not like im scared to menue dive (i program a tx81 using the front panel) but the resaults on the tx are actually worth it…
This synth is really not that amazing…
nothing happened?
I just picked up an AX73 in very good condition and I also own an AX60, these in no way compare to modern Akai Analog synths