Akai MiniAK

[Derp]

I'm surprised there's no threads about this thing up yet. As far as I know, it'll be Akai's first dedicated synth in a couple decades. The synth engine is being developed by Alesis, so maybe it'll be an improved version of the Micron with higher polyphony?

[Travis Harms]

The way I understand it, it is literally an updated micron. It seems strange that it is being released under the Akai name instead of Alesis, maybe they think the Akai brand name carries a little more weight?

At least it has proper pitch and mod wheels this time, that was one thing that turned me off about the micron.

[SWAN808]

Its not really that exciting...

[Popbott]

Derp, why I should keep having to stick my neck out for you (and post pictures) is quite beyond my capacity.

I dunno. I already have a Microkorg and an MS2000 for that matter.

[Diametro]

At this point, I'd rather not have any synth with the name Alesis on it ... (the only two synths I've ever sold -- apart from a trade where I unloaded MS2K -- were both Alesis ... Micron (some regrets) ... Fusion (zero regrets other than I have much more space for gear then when I sold it... just several months ago after not using it for a long time ... )

And that statement -- no Alesis, please --- includes the it-only-looks-"good"-because-it-has-a-fukton-of-knobs Alesis Andromeda ... but I'm reserving any kind of final judgement because alas I've yet to play one ... but what I've heard so far doesn't really get me excited ... For some reason the sound, the look (i.e. UI) just don't grab me ... Too cold ... I see no humanity in the design or hear it in the sound ... Music for asteroids ...

Though it would be interesting to listen to an Andy with a JP-8 color scheme instead of that chilly purple/black ... Would it seem warmer ... ???

[The Architecture]

having an Andromeda A6 in front of me as I speak, the only bad thing I can say about it, its HARD to program. Even with all those knobs, the modulation options overwhelm me, and i usually start off with a good patch, then it just winds up being garbled nonsense, not the good kind either.

Maybe its a bit too deep? i dunno.

[esaias]

now that's one damn ugly synth!

I wish they had made something that looks like VX600 :P

-Tomi

[revstate]

Originally Posted by esaias

now that's one damn ugly synth!

I wish they had made something that looks like VX600 :P

-Tomi

my vx 600 is purty

[KryonikMessiah]

looks marketed to the hip hop crowd.

[revstate]

Originally Posted by KryonikMessiah

looks marketed to the hip hop crowd.

that or the toys r us crowd

[The Architecture]

hey, I have seen Yamaha DJX II's going for 700 because they "make beetz".

Maybe akai should follow suit, either that or make a toys r us version of it.

Its amazing how much difference there is between the rap producers and the electronic music producers, and then theres us, the gear slutz.

Typical noob Rap Producer: Most likely wants a Triton or a Motif, maybe an MPC if he has the cash left over. they will most likely find some sample set on ebay advertising "Timbalands best kept secret beats", and or sample a 90s rave track, or use a super saw preset in their track.

Impression on MiniAK: Duz dat make beats

Typical noob Electronic Dance Producer (modern day). Will have a copy of Fruity Loops or Ableton Live, have a bunch of cracked VST's, use Vengence samples and patches, and say "throw your hands in the hair". Probably wants one of them Microkargs

Impression on miniAK: Oh shweet! a vocoder!

and gearslutz: I'll leave this open to interpretation

[plaid_emu]

This is looking like a Micron with some minor updates but I'm kind of disappointed there's no talk of a software editor or USB/MIDI. That was the biggest problem with the Micron.

Though I'll tell you the Micron is one hell of a great synth for packing up to play over at your buddy's bachelor pad or a club where there's tons of "party foul" beer spills and shady guys coming in and out of the place.

$400 is a great price for all you get. Sequencer, drums, multi/performance mode, assignable realtime controls, great selection of filters, external audio input, basic effects and even some FM tricks.

Yeah, the Micron is one sweet little self contained package. Throw in an MPC500 and you've got an expressive little portable hardware setup for well under the price of a decent laptop.

I'm kind of excited about the miniAK. It's just too bad they didn't give us aftertouch or battery power this time around.

[Acid Hazard]

I think the Micron sounds great, and i'm sure this will too. Don't really care that it looks not as good as the Micron does. I'm eager to try this out and compare it to the M. I have a nice editor for the Micron actually. Got it from the users group.

[triez]

There probably are no threads about it because it is another plastic box with a DSP in it, that does the same as all the other plastic DSP containers on the market. About as exciting as this year new model Daewoo top loading washing machine.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by triez

....snip... this year new model Daewoo top loading washing machine.

kinky!

[Spectral Climax]

Its essentially a micron...nothing really promising, but a good choice for low budgets with polyphony in demand..its also ugly as hell...looks like digital soviet synths from the 80s...

[zmoorhs]

No idea whatsoever why anyone would conceive a keyboard design with the pitch & mod wheels above the first keyboard octave. You'd have to be a contortionist to modulate the wheels while playing those bottom keys. I think they should have put the wheels underneath the keyboard, in the center & towards the back.

[ark]

Originally Posted by zmoorhs

No idea whatsoever why anyone would conceive a keyboard design with the pitch & mod wheels above the first keyboard octave.

I wonder if it has something to do with the relationship between the longest dimension of the keyboard and the size of a standard airline overhead luggage bin.

[Derp]

I'm more of an Ion fan than I am of the Micron, but I'm curious about how they'll improve the engine if at all. I doubt I'll give the MiniAK a fair shot since I don't like to use synths that require that much menu-diving, but if this were to somehow lead to an improvement on the Ion, then I'm all for it.

[Diametro]

I wonder if they'll release a new version of the ION with the Micron enhancements (better arp/terrific mini sequencer ... )

Unfortunately, it wouold probably share this new AKAI keyboard look which is NOT working for me AT ALL ...

[wax808]

I don't like the look a whole lot either.

But at least I could throw this thing in a backpack without worrying about knocking that stupid clear knob off like on the Micron.

[The_Crooked_Man]

Originally Posted by Popbott

Kinda looks like a mini Quasimidi Sirius to me.

[chrisrnps]

Hmm. Well, personally, I rather like how it looks (and the black-with-orange highlights look of all the new Akai line - but I think they should have gone the rest of the way and used an orange backlight on the display too), although its a bit unimaginative and utilitarian looking. I would have had a single orange stripe that continued all the way across the front panel and ended in the "MINIAK" text 'reverse mask' in the chassis black inside the right end of the orange stripe instead of the two orange stripe segments in the button / display area. And keep the buttons as-is, but make the five knob sides the same orange as the sides of the wheels. The thing looks kind of utilitarian and arbitrary, not 'designed'.

Then again, all the audience really sees is one side or the back, so if it sounds good and the interface isn't unusable, who cares?

If I didn't already have a Micron (which is amazing for the money) I'd think seriously about it if the keyboard action, knobs, and wheels felt decent and I wanted a more conventional layout than the Micron's horizontal wheel and sliders and 'buttons in a circle around an edit knob' arrangement. I'd be happy with a Micron sound engine in a less toy-like-looking box with a more 'standard' control layout and a top-panel jack (with preamp) for a vocoder mic. And it looks like that's what the MINIAK is.

It would have been a lot more interesting if it was a truly 'new' product, as this year's NAMM and ProLight&Sound shows seemed to have little in the way of really 'new' products. This and the new little Doepfer unit were two of the more interesting synth pieces of the show, and they're both just repackaging existing tech into new boxes.

From the list of features, filter types, etc. it sounds like this may very well be the exact same engine and sound as the Micron / Ion.

re: micron editor: if you're on a Mac, look up "Micron AU"; free / donationware editor that works as a plugin in Logic and other AU compatible hosts.

[Franz Schiller]

Interestingly, I was thinking about getting a Micron tonight, when I saw the Miniak next to it in the store. Firstly, it sounds EXACTLY the same as a Micron (they were both going through the same amp too). Second, the mod wheels are much nicer than the Micron sliders.

However, the display sucks big time. Its impossible to read except when looking at it straight on, even with the contrast turned up. Also, maybe its just me, but I didn't like the Miniak's keybed... I actually like the Micron's cheaper lighter action.

Just my thoughts.

[artech909]

Try it a little not so long ago.
Plastic china toy for some noob producers with frootyloops.
VERY cheap & thin plastic construction which won't last long if you plan
use it live
For this money you can buy something used BUT quality say JP-8080 made
with METAL, has big array of contols on the front panel and sound way better too

[msl]

Thread Hijack:

On the subject of small back keyboards with vocoders and gooseneck mics, I think the new Korg MicroSampler is much more interesting, concept wise at least. Info on MatrixSynth

[Franz Schiller]

Agreed. The Microsampler addresses a lot of ideas I've had about playing live. However, seeing the iPod on top kinda turns my stomach. Are those slots really meant for that? Ugh.

Though, now that I think about it, does that mean it will do real-time sampling and looping? I mean, how else would it be useful to the DJ?

[lain2097]

What the frig is that.

I believe that's a iPhone on top as the iPod touch does not have the phone icon. Still why? Just use a damn SD card.

Is it just me or do the keys look like those found on toy keyboards?

Originally Posted by msl

Thread Hijack:

On the subject of small back keyboards with vocoders and gooseneck mics, I think the new Korg MicroSampler is much more interesting, concept wise at least. Info on MatrixSynth
(photo snip)..

[chrisrnps]

Originally Posted by Franz Schiller

However, seeing the iPod on top kinda turns my stomach. Are those slots really meant for that? Ugh.

It could be handy if you have a backup of your backing tracks for your set on your iPod or iPhone in case the laptop with Ableton on it crashes mid-set.

But...it's battery or 9v adaptor powered. You could sit in the park, on a plane, or on the bus with it, a couple iPods, and play along with them or sample breaks off your iTunes library. Could be fun. And there are a ton of cool drum machine, sequencer, remote-MIDI-controller, pretend-theremin, and other iPhone and iPod Touch apps that could be fun with that too. I'll bet you will see people doing entire sets with just that thing and an iPod or two.

I'd hope it's geared towards the real-time-sampling-and-looping thing, but my Japanese skills are nonexistent:

[Emory Safford]

Does anyone out there actually have a MiniAK? Are the programs the exact same as a Micron or have they updated anything besides adding a vocoder and wheels?