Making a polymoog sound on my Akai AX-80

[synthpro]

@EtherealBeatnik Hi, congratulations on getting an AX-80!!! That is a normal function of the AX-80. It is the only thing I don't like about my AX-80, but it is still a great synth.

Take care and have fun with the new toy,

Jareth

[alohalexxx]

Hey there, Jareth. I discovered your channel a couple years ago, but now I am finally getting around to commenting on something haha :]. I was wondering if you'd be willing to share the parameter settings you used on the AX80 to make this patch. Which preset did you use, etc. Thanks a lot, and keep up the good work!

-Alex-

[synthpro]

@alohalexxx Hi Alex, if you could send me your e-mail address, I will be more than happy to send you the tape memory data for my sounds.

Take care,

Jareth

[captainwrongful]

I own both a Polymoog 203 and Gary Numan :) -just wanted to say this sounds really, really great - shows that you don't have to sink fractions of life into owning and maintaining a Polymoog to get pretty damned close to THE sound.

[synthpro]

@captainwrongful Thank you! I now have a polymoog 280a and the AX-80 is very close in sound. It is not as warm as the polymoog, but still close.

Thanks for watching!

[bestrickie2]

Nice 1 you know what your doing. I play G Numan stuff my keyboards, a huge fan of Gary & I play krafwerk, J Jarr, I sing the oldies for elderly groups. That sound you've created sounds just like the moog Gary uses. I'm getting a Juno G wich has a sound called Com that sounds just like Gary Numans moog. Please get intouch as I'd love to hear from others who play Gary Numan. Cheers from Rich

[synthpro]

@bestrickie2 Thank you Rich!

[cypionate011]

you can get a good Vox humana sound on a casio Cz 5000,use the preset String ends 2 then i use the phaser on a Zoom studio 1201,the casio is so powerfull,it useally over powers all my other synths,so I realy only use it for the Numan sound.

[Drevilbreakfast]

Thanks for this you have got a good sound going there it makes me want to learn to play the keyboard

[synthpro]

Your welcome!

Glad you like it.

[synthpro]

---------------------------To get to it you have to remove the four screws on the front control panel and then remove the five screws that run along the back side right under the inputs and outputs. This battery tends to leak and cause problems, but if it looks good i would not mess with it. Just check it every once in a while and you will be fine.

Have fun and thanks for watching!

[FirstSecondFilms]

Thanks!

Do you know what kind of battery it takes, in case I want to do some preventative replacing?

[synthpro]

Your welcome!

I know it is a 3 volt lithium battery, but I am not real sure what would make a good replacement. The only problem when replacing this battery is that you will lose all the user presets. I am still working on how to back my sounds up. I will try to find out about the battery and let you know something.

Take care.

[ossilation]

You can hook the TAPE OUT to the input on a tape recorder or even your computer and record the sound. Then using the load tape function (or something similar to that) you can output the sound you recorded back into the AX80 through the tape in.

[synthpro]

Thanks.

I have got an internal problem, but I am working on it. I think it is just a bad connection from the tape out jack to the programming PCB.

[7graylands]

@FirstSecondFilms It uses a CR2032 battery

[FirstSecondFilms]

Hello from NC!

I just picked up an AX-80 and am gonna delve into programming and exploring it. Any suggestions? My cousin had one in the 80's and I had to get it.

My other keyboard is a JX-3P, which I love. I know enough about ASDRs, oscillators, waveforms, etc. to get going, but haven't jumped in to the AX yet.

I borrowed a friend's AX-60 in the 80's for several months and fell in love with it, so I'd love to have one of those too!

[synthpro]

Hello!

Congrats on getting an AX-80!

One thing I do recommend you do is check the battery that is located inside the unit. It is on the far left side under the front panel. Continued---------------------­--------

[alienkure]

Gary Numan used the MXR flanger doubler on most of his keyboards.. It gives a thicker sound than any other Mxr model..

[synthpro]

I knew he used some kind of flanger, but was not sure what kind. He also used the Phase 100.

Thanks for watching and for that bit of information!

[argonnj]

The MXR phaser is great. Tony Banks of Genesis used it on many of his keyboards including his Hammond organ.

[synthpro]

Yes it is! I did not know that about Tony Banks. I think Gary Numan used one, but am not sure. I have the new MXR phase100. I was surprised to open it up to see all discrete circuitry and not surface mount components. I have not compared it to a vintage one, but it sounds real good.

[argonnj]

At first he used it on his Hammond to replace the leslie speaker, but he also used it on his Prophet 10 and various other keyboards through the years. If you have the Genesis album "and then there were three" Banks uses it quite a bit on his Hammond. It sounds 100% better then the leslie speaker IMHO.

[synthpro]

That is neat! I do not have the album and then there were three, but I have the best of Genesis. I will have to try to find that album.

Thanks

[UnchainTheNight1]

i was unaware that akai had made a synthesizer but not really surprised, many japanese electronics companies were in the market

[synthpro]

I was not sure either until a couple of years ago after I seen another guys youtube video. They are very nice well built keyboards. It uses Curtis filter and reminds me of the pro 5.

[layzer80]

mine had the random dead voice syndrome that these sometimes get... i replaced 2 cem chips that are socketed and it worked perfect after that,

i got mine in pristine condition, the glossy endcaps have that beautiful concert grand finish

not a single hairline scratch on it. paid $400

but in that condition, who wouldn't!

[synthpro]

fortunately I have not had that problem. I looked at one before mine that had that problem. Mine is in good shape too. $400.00 is not bad. I payed about the same for mine. I do have one cut in the corner, but it still looks great. I should have some new videos up soon of my new polymoog 280a. I just bought it. The poly is not going to keep me from using the AX-80!

[layzer80]

the only thing missing on this synth is an FX engine to make it killer. ever heard a juno 106 with the chorus turned off? yeah.... you know what i mean.

[xnonsuchx]

What the AX-80 is shockingly missing is glide...and an arpeggiator like the Juno-60 had would be nice on both the AX-80 and the Juno-106. :-)

I got an AX-80 off eBay last year for only $250 or so because it had a broken key, which only cost $17 to fix, but it appears to be fine otherwise w/ all 8 voices workting except the tuning stability when using the pitch wheel (tuning 'wobbles' a little after you release it unless you turn it off).

[synthpro]

I do wish it had glide. I am going to try to find a lag processor soon. I got mine off ebay last year as well and mine had a bad key too. I had to clean the contacts. I went on and took everything out and gave it a good cleaning.

[FanatikJ]

Nice Kraftwerky (!) tone. And an obviously well deserved 5 stars!

[AwakeAudio]

Great job man. I have an AX-80 and really dig it as well. Great idea with the MXR pedal!

[synthpro]

Thanks AwakeAudio!

[thegarranimal]

Excellent. I'm trying to get faithful string synth sounds with some other analogs like A6 but it is not complete without a good phaser or chorus ensemble effect. Might give the MXR Phase 100 a go. Thanks again for posting this! -g

[synthpro]

The MXR Phase 100 works great! It is true analog also. Thanks for watching!

[EdgetoneStudios]

Hey Synthpro,

I just picked up an AX-80 for $325 Candian (with two tiered stand and headphones). I love the sound you got. Could you post the settings? Or better yet, do a data dump to an audio file of all your great AX-80 sounds so I can load them up.

Jon

[synthpro]

Hey Jon,

I will see what I can do. How do you like your AX-80 so far?

[polyneux74]

Good Work Man!! I own a Polymoog 280A and can say this is the closest replicated sound I've heard yet! To be honest, I believe using the AX-80 is what really did the trick as it has the analog filters. Most others I've seen have used digital sample synths and it always comes out too clean and streile. So, good show!!

[synthpro]

Thanks! You are right. I have a digital synth and I can't stand the filter on it. The AX-80 also uses analog oscillators. They are digital controlled, but that also helps with the tone. Man you are lucky to have a polymoog! It is hard to find one in good shape for a decent price. Thanks for watching and great to hear from someone who has a polymoog to compare the sound I made to.

[midnightmusic1]

you can make a recoverytape (also on pc if you connect it to you audio input of you pc)of your settings, so if it may go wrong you can put it back in the last saved file.

[synthpro]

I still use tape. I have a whole box of blank tapes, so I put them to work.

[midnightmusic1]

hey another freak with the ax 80!!

i've got this synth too, (watch my video's)

nice synth.

nice playing, keep up the good work!

[synthpro]

Thanks for watching. The AX-80 is a great synth. I have had mine now for about 9 months or more. You have got some amazing music as well.

[midnightmusic1]

thanks! just doing my best... :D

ive bought mine about 15 years ago and never get bored with it.. and never will.

only thing, the keyboard is wearing out, some keys dont work anymore unfortunaly... :(

[synthpro]

I had to take mine apart and clean the key contacts. They are not too hard to clean. That is another thing I like about it, that it is easy to work on.

[midnightmusic1]

thats true. 6 screws and your in the akai, its like opening a door..

also the handeling edit the voices are very easy.

i think the only synth with so much screens!!

[synthpro]

I agree, it does have a lot of screens. I like the memory protect switch on the back. That has saved me a lot of trouble.

[forgivn70x7]

You are very talented. I really enjoy your videos.

[Dr5ives]

Good Day Synthpro, the camera is a little rough, yet the polymoog sound is fantastic.

Especially the tremelo for the "Cars" intro.

Keep at it always glad to hear other keyboard wizards out there

best

D

[unimaxer]

Damn that sounds good. I'll be picking up an MXR Phase 100. You should check out the Prophet '08 or Access Virus TI. They both have a preset that sounds very close to Vox Humana. On the Prophet 08 it's called T8 Strings. Just turn up the mod wheel about half way and there you have it. On the Virus TI the preset is Hyperbow3@ (Rom-S 64). Hyperbow and T8 strings sound almost the same and both sound very close to Vox Humana.

[synthpro]

The prophet 08 and the Virus TI are very nice synths! I looked at them before I bought the Akai AX-80, but When I seen the price on the Akai and found out it was analog I bought it.

[synthpro]

Sorry once again for the bad quality! I am going to buy me a new camera soon.

[footballceez]

No apology needed man! Cool playing and awesome stuff! Don't worry about the camera just buy more keyboards!! LOL

[synthpro]

Thanks! I got a new camera and a keyboard for Christmas. Thanks for watching.