Commitment to the synth cause. :) I remember borrowing the VX600 (which is great) and spending the first 5 minutes thinking that it was the most atonal synth ever until I realised that I needed to run the tune up cycle. Haha.
two of my fave (only?) synth channels in one place! Although Alex needs to get a check mark if he doesn't already. ETA: You two need to do a collab: Alex composition mixed and mastered by Dr. Mix?
@Alex Ball at the very beginning of this video I was screaming at Claudio in my head to hit the damned big 'auto tune' button on the front faceplate as my ears cringed at the synth being out of tune! Haha.
The AKAI AX73 is a repackaged AX60 with a longer key bed and less knob per function control. I also believe the rack mount VX90 shares the same circuitry. They all sound absolutely fantastic. Frankly, all of Akai's synths are under rated.
I am not sure but I believe the AX73 is velocity sensitive and has an option for velocity control of the VCF. I know that is the difference between the S612 and the S700 samplers. So, I would assume that since the s612 is the companion to the AX60 and the S700 is the companion of the AX73/AX90, it would make sense.
Akai AX60 & AX73 and VX90 are based on the CEM 3394 VCO CHIP .. theses are true analog beast ! And they particuliary frequency range, makes them fit in a mix more easyly than juno's ...
Dr Mix ! I had an AX73 from about 90 til early 00' I used it with U110 for piano / pads. Happy memories 😀 Just FYI my AX73 had a fault caused by the large capacitors working loose, caused by gigging transport, and often needed to open it up and resolder the bad connection. Easy to fix but remember the days of gigging with a soldering iron in hand. Thanks for the video.
6:05 That feeling when you finally get everything to work. The AX80 I bought had multiple unknown issues and didn't power up. Sorted out the crusty old power switch and everything lit up! Hands in the air and some "oh my gosh it works!"
What about the AX-60? I've had three of those at the same time. Loved it. It had an output to connec to AKAI samplers to use the filter inside the AX-60...
Man, this sounds absolutely amazing! I'm genuinely surprised this wasn't used more in the 80s, but I suppose that when it came out companies like Roland had already been picked up by all the major artists. I wonder what would have happened if akai's synthesizers became more popular, and they didn't go down the sampling route.
Yeah, and they were good MIDI controllers too, but Akai did one stupid thing:no key aftertouch on the X60 and X73. Incredible. Back then I coulda punched Akai in the face. 🙄
I know this is supposed to be about the AX-73... ...but that bass. I feel sad for people without a good set of cans. It's just so smoooooth. and sooooo lowwwww.
I own a VX90 witch is the rack cousin of the AX-73. Super dope filter grain. Omg. Such an underrated vintage synth ! With a bit of tinkering on the awkward proprietary connector, you can route any signal thru the filter (and enveloppe if i remember correctly) . It has an autotune (not the Cher effect, ) button to tune the oscillators well...automatically (they move with temperature). Dont the AX73 have that somewhere ?
That example song on French horn sound moved that instrument immediately into muzak environment be it from "Godfather" or not. With that bass you should have played Devo's "Whip It".
Ah, memories. My first analog polysynth since that's all I could afford in the 90s when no one wanted them. The hours of frustration when you realize it's impossible to get smooth string sounds out of it, especially with that noisy and quirky chorus. No Oberheim or Jupiter emulations here. Then you realize that it all comes down to the filter... Its brittleness and harshness (starts self oscillating at what seems like 50%) give it a unique sound you can't really get elsewhere. The fact that you could modulate it with the VCO in the audio range opened up even more possibilities. I got passable guitar sounds out of it, a decent R2D2 emulation, and the unison 6vco bass sounds are outstanding. I even tracked down a cable that allows you to feed S900 samples through its filters. Same CEM3394 chipset as the Sequential 6 track and max, but a more interesting implementation. It makes no sense to keep such a big beast because the keyboard action is mediocre. But while I sold it long ago I have the rack unit instead, the VX90 for those unique sounds.
My first programmable keyboard I had in early 90’s. Had lots of fun with it. One of the last sounds was a type of a sweeping noise, me and a friend programmed it so it sounded like a Boeing 747 rewing it’s engines about to take off down the runway. Dad was furious because we had maximum volume out on the stereo. Good times.
I love the jazzy playing you got going in this video! Reminds me so much of my playing back in Jazz Rock ensemble in middle school when I was a teen. I used to play the Yamaha PF80 though.. playing a synthesizer was only a dream as a teen. Keyboard sounds nice. Like a Kawai or Technics classic synth..
Sold my AX60 after a month, still dunno why. But then again, I have sold all the 'classic' synths (JD-800, AlphaJuno2, SuperJX, MKS-50, PolySix, SK-30, 2x DX100s, 2x FB01s). Me kinda stupid I guess LOL
@@mauriziomauricone It just the way life and instrument flows. Trade em collect em. When I was an older teenager, got it new and took it to the limit. Crazy thing I remember is putting the signal through a Ibanez flanger. Wicked growl! I have my eye open for the sake of getting one.
I had an AX-73. It was a shocker. It did something to the whole MIDI Daisy whenever it was on so I could have the Akai on and most of the other (newer devices) stopped responding, or I could keep the AX off and use all my (other) gear. It was not a great loss. Yes a fairly nice unit (better here than I remember it actually) but not worth anything in real life.
So much fun to see that thing especially cos I got the little brother in the attick the akai X7000. :-) It is definitely the same case too. . Some patches remind me of the Korg poly 800 and that was around the same time. . Thumbs up.
I almost had one of these from a local pawn shop for $100. I bought it but couldn't get it home in the car I was driving. They said they could hold it in back. We'll the idiots put it back on the shelf later that day and someone else bought it. They refunded my money but I was furious!!! 🤦♂️
Wow...I thought I was the only person in the world to have owned an AX-73!! I stumbled across one a few years ago in the classified for $150 CDN. What an awesome synth! Unfortunately it was just too damn big for my studio at the time. It stuck out and blocked the door..haha. I traded it for a Univox MicroKorg and a Casio SK-1. Now that I have a house with a proper full-size studio I wish I had the AX73 back. Very gritty, raw-sounding board.
Dear Dr Mix, please can you do a basics. I can never hear a voice with reverb live when recording in cubase without latency, yet you just put on a keyboard and the previous brass with a blow tube and had no issues. Is it the interface or you have a massive PC?
I had one of these early nineties and something I never got to try out was the connection you could make with the S900 sampler. Both the AX73 and the rack version VX90 had this. A couple of the other units had the same connection. Also the low end of this synth is almost untameable! You can really blow out speakers with the sample n’ hold sounds. They’re cinematic. Not a great variety of sounds but it is certainly underrated! Nice to see it getting some recognition👍
I sold mine,both as a set with partial trade to Becks keyboard player. I was not using it like a person of his caliber would and was glad that he got it. These sounds amazing but if you arent the programming type the menu diving will frustrate you. I know he is making beautiful music with them cause he is an unbelievable producer and composer as well as player. Nice guy too!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
And just like that the price of the AX-73 went up.
they are kind of too big for a bedroom studio setting.
@@Heathcliff_hensel Get the VX90 rack version - perfect size for home studio :)
From like $400 to $5000??
So stoked i got mine for 350 a year ago in ebay
Ugh. That sums my love/hate relationship with these reviews. 😭
Commitment to the synth cause. :)
I remember borrowing the VX600 (which is great) and spending the first 5 minutes thinking that it was the most atonal synth ever until I realised that I needed to run the tune up cycle. Haha.
Hahaha!!!!
two of my fave (only?) synth channels in one place! Although Alex needs to get a check mark if he doesn't already.
ETA: You two need to do a collab: Alex composition mixed and mastered by Dr. Mix?
@Alex Ball at the very beginning of this video I was screaming at Claudio in my head to hit the damned big 'auto tune' button on the front faceplate as my ears cringed at the synth being out of tune! Haha.
❤️ To download Kee Bass for free CLICK HERE www.martinic.com/products/kee-bass
thanx! it works!!!
The AKAI AX73 is a repackaged AX60 with a longer key bed and less knob per function control. I also believe the rack mount VX90 shares the same circuitry. They all sound absolutely fantastic. Frankly, all of Akai's synths are under rated.
I am not sure but I believe the AX73 is velocity sensitive and has an option for velocity control of the VCF. I know that is the difference between the S612 and the S700 samplers. So, I would assume that since the s612 is the companion to the AX60 and the S700 is the companion of the AX73/AX90, it would make sense.
@@AlchemicalAudio They both use the CEM3394 "voice on a chip" ICs. You are correct about the addition of velocity, I forgot about that.
Akai AX60 & AX73 and VX90 are based on the CEM 3394 VCO CHIP .. theses are true analog beast ! And they particuliary frequency range, makes them fit in a mix more easyly than juno's ...
yes sir i have 17 3394s 😎 6 in an ax73, 6 in a SCI MAX and 5 spares for future proofing
And all of a sudden you wonder if the first one just had the lcd contrast setting off....
That package looks like it received just the standard DHL treatment.
It was missing the necessary large puncture hole...
damn you are not kidding. 3 weeks late and looks like it was dragged behind the truck that just dropped it off.
The added 'brokerage fee' that they like to tack on and double the price of what you ordered was also missing. Haha.
I love this! It sounds so great Claudio!! Thank you! 💙
I’ve been subscribed since the days of your “How to play Thriller” days and I’m happy to see that your channel has grown so
I was just watching the Alison Moyet video Is This Love on Top Pop in '86, the keys player had only two AX-73's on his rig! 👈🏻
I got mine when they first came out and still have it. It's not currently set up but after watching this maybe it's time to blow the dust off.
Dear Dr Mix, would love to see you do a team up video with Matt Johnson from Jamiroquai. 😊
YES!
pretty plz?
great video! i always love to see reviews of old synths and 80's gear like this!
Dr Mix ! I had an AX73 from about 90 til early 00' I used it with U110 for piano / pads. Happy memories 😀 Just FYI my AX73 had a fault caused by the large capacitors working loose, caused by gigging transport, and often needed to open it up and resolder the bad connection. Easy to fix but remember the days of gigging with a soldering iron in hand. Thanks for the video.
6:05 That feeling when you finally get everything to work. The AX80 I bought had multiple unknown issues and didn't power up. Sorted out the crusty old power switch and everything lit up! Hands in the air and some "oh my gosh it works!"
Key Bass is absolutely amazing.
Les années 80... Tout un programme !
The 80's... A whole program!
I love them!
I miss my old Akai S1000. I bought it new when they came out as a voice for my guitar synth rig. Good times.
What about the AX-60? I've had three of those at the same time. Loved it. It had an output to connec to AKAI samplers to use the filter inside the AX-60...
Man, this sounds absolutely amazing! I'm genuinely surprised this wasn't used more in the 80s, but I suppose that when it came out companies like Roland had already been picked up by all the major artists. I wonder what would have happened if akai's synthesizers became more popular, and they didn't go down the sampling route.
Yeah, and they were good MIDI controllers too, but Akai did one stupid thing:no key aftertouch on the X60 and X73. Incredible. Back then I coulda punched Akai in the face. 🙄
It was he just played a little bassline from commando lol.
That free synth has got some great Barry White-like tones. 😊
I know this is supposed to be about the AX-73...
...but that bass.
I feel sad for people without a good set of cans. It's just so smoooooth. and sooooo lowwwww.
This synth must surely have had Tony Banks' name all over it in 1986 and onwards - it totally smacks of that Genesis keyboard sound!! :-)
Beautiful sounds dr Mix loving it
I had an MX73 and honestly I didn't know an AX73 existed before today!
That VST is immaculate, thanks for sharing it with us :)
I own a VX90 witch is the rack cousin of the AX-73. Super dope filter grain. Omg. Such an underrated vintage synth ! With a bit of tinkering on the awkward proprietary connector, you can route any signal thru the filter (and enveloppe if i remember correctly) . It has an autotune (not the Cher effect, ) button to tune the oscillators well...automatically (they move with temperature). Dont the AX73 have that somewhere ?
Loving those sounds around the 12:00 mark...
That example song on French horn sound moved that instrument immediately into muzak environment be it from "Godfather" or not. With that bass you should have played Devo's "Whip It".
You got it in the pocket @ 6:55.
You´re great and I love you!!! Greetings from Brazil, my friend!!!
Ah, memories. My first analog polysynth since that's all I could afford in the 90s when no one wanted them. The hours of frustration when you realize it's impossible to get smooth string sounds out of it, especially with that noisy and quirky chorus. No Oberheim or Jupiter emulations here. Then you realize that it all comes down to the filter... Its brittleness and harshness (starts self oscillating at what seems like 50%) give it a unique sound you can't really get elsewhere. The fact that you could modulate it with the VCO in the audio range opened up even more possibilities. I got passable guitar sounds out of it, a decent R2D2 emulation, and the unison 6vco bass sounds are outstanding. I even tracked down a cable that allows you to feed S900 samples through its filters. Same CEM3394 chipset as the Sequential 6 track and max, but a more interesting implementation.
It makes no sense to keep such a big beast because the keyboard action is mediocre. But while I sold it long ago I have the rack unit instead, the VX90 for those unique sounds.
This synth is a gem. Had one briefly but wasn't a fan of the interface and sold it. The sounds I made with it were amazing.
same, it was a gorgeous sound but the interface frustrated me because I'm a lazy programmer. Flat out, I can admit it. lol
I missed out on one of these back in the 80s. The AX80 and ax73 were on my hit list!
that machine sounds AMAZING!!!!! Especially with you on it, please do more vids with it
And another Synth for my list of Gear to buy ^^
Great review and have fun with in the future
My first programmable keyboard I had in early 90’s.
Had lots of fun with it. One of the last sounds was a type of a sweeping noise, me and a friend programmed it so it sounded like a Boeing 747 rewing it’s engines about to take off down the runway.
Dad was furious because we had maximum volume out on the stereo.
Good times.
I love the jazzy playing you got going in this video! Reminds me so much of my playing back in Jazz Rock ensemble in middle school when I was a teen. I used to play the Yamaha PF80 though.. playing a synthesizer was only a dream as a teen. Keyboard sounds nice. Like a Kawai or Technics classic synth..
Thanks for telling us about that awesome free plugin Dr. Mix !
we love you dr mix.
You are amazing man . And really nice synth right there !!!!!
I insta bought the AX-73 plugin. And of course got the FREE Key Bass. Thanks Dr ;D
Strange I stopped getting Dr Mix notifications.but just realised
Interesting , fun and uplifting , ThAnks
Dr mix :)
Thanks 4 sound & video ,great!
Why am I always sooo insired + feel like buying new gear after watching DrMix? :-O
12:52 beautiful! Is this from another song?
awesome as always my friend :D
Had an opportunity to pick one of up for next to nothing recently and chose to pass on it for space reasons. Thanks for the regrets!
What is the tune from 08:50? I have played this but no idea where it is from. 😂 Help?!
Taaaac!
Questa PIANOLA me la sono sognata per un po' in quegli anni ❤❤❤❤
E ancora non sono riuscito a provarne una...
Thanks for the video 👍
Viva questa PIANOLA!!! 😁😂
Oh my..the intro just blow me away
Grande il taaaac alla Pozzetto, and big ups for this piece of equipment!!!
i have one. it’s stunning
I happened to own one and I loved it!!!!
I used to have an AX-60 back in the day. I wish I still owned that piece of gear. What a dream.
Still have mine :-)
Sold my AX60 after a month, still dunno why. But then again, I have sold all the 'classic' synths (JD-800, AlphaJuno2, SuperJX, MKS-50, PolySix, SK-30, 2x DX100s, 2x FB01s). Me kinda stupid I guess LOL
@@mauriziomauricone It just the way life and instrument flows. Trade em collect em. When I was an older teenager, got it new and took it to the limit. Crazy thing I remember is putting the signal through a Ibanez flanger. Wicked growl! I have my eye open for the sake of getting one.
@@mauriziomauricone Forgetting the value aspect; if you could have just one of those synths again, which one would you choose?
@@MisAnnThorpe Today I would rebuy the SuperJX, in fact I did (albeit in MKS-70 shape 😉). I also repurposed the MKS-50 a few years ago.
I love these reviews. They make me want to buy the synths. But the downside is that the prices skyrocket 😔
I've had one for about the last 10 years. Superb bit of kit. Underrated for sure. But they always get found in the end and the prices shoot up.
Claudio, the godfather of synths
still have my trusty ax80 (my first synth) without effects little dull and dry!! add a effectunit, is opens up and...... boy what a sound!
What a beautiful sound...
What commitment to the cause! You are a synth high priest teaching us all the gospel!
I had a Kawai K5000S get smashed to bits by UPS in shipping, so I felt the frustration immediately when watching the unboxing of the first AX-73.
Very cool video
The guy from Swing Out Sister was playing this on Top of the Pops.
Now you just have to find a (sadly now pricey) AKAI S612 sampler and hook it up so you can get an additional oscillator.
I always use kee bass
gracias por el kee bass Claudio
I had a Alesia QS7 someone gave me. Had a lot of fun with it until CPU died. They had a lot of display problems but the LCD was replaceable.
0:49 Brexit broke it
Get the tauntek firmware, straight socket rom swop , all parameters accessible via cc controllers no more menu diving!
Make sure Dr Mix sees this msg !
Mebbe msg him directly on his thread or one of his msgs ?
Bloody hell, its a Jupiter 8 (sans sliders!).
Ser, bravo!
Claudio, what did you end up doing with the one that arrived broken?
Sent back!
Claudio fools around until finally we can hear something at 5:25. But it really sounds nice!
you inspire me! I love your music "live beat making"!!
I had an AX-73. It was a shocker. It did something to the whole MIDI Daisy whenever it was on so I could have the Akai on and most of the other (newer devices) stopped responding, or I could keep the AX off and use all my (other) gear. It was not a great loss. Yes a fairly nice unit (better here than I remember it actually) but not worth anything in real life.
Those voicings are just.... Beautiful.
Oh yeah those horns sound good! Maybe the contrast was not set properly on the first one as well. Did you manage to get it fixed?
Great Looking Keyboard ! what about Patch editing, can you get a controller for it ? Don't UVI do a software version of this synth 😉
I own one and the UVI version. The UVI version doesn’t come any close.
So much fun to see that thing
especially cos I got the little brother in the attick
the akai X7000. :-)
It is definitely the same case too.
.
Some patches remind me of the Korg poly 800
and that was around the same time.
.
Thumbs up.
The X7000 can be connected to the AX73 to give you a second (digital) oscillator.
Dr. Mix I got another keyboard/synth!! It’s a Korg triton though
Replaced my AX73 LCD with one that is blue letters on black background. Much easier to read. Love my AX73 🖤
Can you give us more info regarding the display that you bought?
I almost had one of these from a local pawn shop for $100. I bought it but couldn't get it home in the car I was driving. They said they could hold it in back. We'll the idiots put it back on the shelf later that day and someone else bought it. They refunded my money but I was furious!!! 🤦♂️
D*mn. SMH 🤦🏿♂️
14:23 :) It's Evo - Din Don ... Italo Disco Iconic Classic, probably was written, using the same synthesizer. :) So Satisfying!
Akai also made sound modules as well.
Are you sure the first one doesn't work, or does it also just have a very dim panel like the second?
Its an awesome synth for sure. Has character.
What song is it at 8:49?
Wonderful sound great keyboard wonderful. Played very well.x🎹🎼🎸🎷🎺👌
You still crack me up!
Hi Claudio, when appears a Kawai K1??? It`s a great synth
Do a comparison with the Martinic AX73 plugin please.
Wow...I thought I was the only person in the world to have owned an AX-73!! I stumbled across one a few years ago in the classified for $150 CDN. What an awesome synth! Unfortunately it was just too damn big for my studio at the time. It stuck out and blocked the door..haha. I traded it for a Univox MicroKorg and a Casio SK-1. Now that I have a house with a proper full-size studio I wish I had the AX73 back.
Very gritty, raw-sounding board.
Should have cut a notch in the door so it would still open/close.
@@Prophes0r Damn right!
Beautiful, i recently downloaded the uvi emulation
I love this so fucking much!
Loved my MX-73 Master Keyboard, but needed a forklift to move it.
Dear Dr Mix, please can you do a basics. I can never hear a voice with reverb live when recording in cubase without latency, yet you just put on a keyboard and the previous brass with a blow tube and had no issues. Is it the interface or you have a massive PC?
14:57 OMG ! How did you played that ??? Please reveal the technique Claudio.
Question: when do you started using vocoder?
I had one of these early nineties and something I never got to try out was the connection you could make with the S900 sampler. Both the AX73 and the rack version VX90 had this. A couple of the other units had the same connection. Also the low end of this synth is almost untameable! You can really blow out speakers with the sample n’ hold sounds. They’re cinematic. Not a great variety of sounds but it is certainly underrated! Nice to see it getting some recognition👍
I sold mine,both as a set with partial trade to Becks keyboard player. I was not using it like a person of his caliber would and was glad that he got it. These sounds amazing but if you arent the programming type the menu diving will frustrate you. I know he is making beautiful music with them cause he is an unbelievable producer and composer as well as player. Nice guy too!