AX80

Akai AX80

Released: 1984

MSRP: $1395

Synopsis:

Akai’s first synth, with features similar to Roland’s Juno and JX lines (e.g. sub oscillator, dual oscillator with both low and high pass filters). The AX80 also has a bar graph display for each of the parameters. Architecture Class: Conventional (subtractive).

Ebay Description:

The Akai AX80 is a 61 key (velocity sensitive), 8 voice analog synthesizer, featuring dual oscillators (with sub), resonant low (24dB CEM) and high pass filters, dual envelopes, 3 LFOs, chord memory, and MIDI.

Physical

Form Factor	Dimensions	Weight	Audio Input	Audio Output	Communication Port	Control Input	Control Output	Switch Input	Power
61 keys	W:1018mm H:102mm D:392mm W:40.1in H:4in D:25.4in	15.2kg 33.4lbs	no	mono	MIDI: IN OUT THRU Tape: IN OUT	no	no	sustain increment pedal	wired

Interface

Compatibility	Multitimbral Memory	Program Memory	External Storage	External Programming	UI Input	UI Output
none	no	RAM:64 ROM:32	tape	no	dedicated buttons	LED displays

Architecture

Multitimbral	Polyphony	Unison	Architecture
no	8	no	DCO1+DCO2->VCF->HPF->VCA

Output

Effects	Pan Modulator	Volume Modulator	Headphone
no	no	EG Key Velocity	yes

Control

Arpeggiator	Arpeggiator External	Sequencer	Sequencer Memory	Sequencer External	Continuous	Program Change
no	no	no	N/A	N/A	Pitch-Wheel Mod-Wheel	increment pedal

Keyboard

Key Pressure	Chord Memory	External Control	External Sustain	Key Scaling	Velocity Curves
no	yes	MIDI	pedal	1	1

Source

Name	Signal Class	Waveform	Octave Range	Amplitude Modulator	Harmonics Modulator	Pitch Modulator	Wave Assign Modulator
DCO1	digital		4-16′	mix: Key Velocity	PWM:LFO(dedicated)	EG LFO1 Pitch-Wheel	no
DCO2	digital	Pulse Saw Sub	2-16′	no	FM:DCO1	EG LFO2 Pitch-Wheel	no

Filter

Name	Signal Class	IC	Resonant	Shape	Frequency Modulator	Resonance Modulator	Shape Modulator
VCF	analog	CEM3372	yes	24dB low pass	LFO3	no	no
HPF	analog	CEM3372	no	high pass	no	no	no

Envelope

Name	Level	Rate	Loop	Polarity	Trigger	Level Modulator	Rate Modulator
EG1	sustain	attack decay release	no	no	key	no	no
EG2	sustain	attack decay release	no	no	key	no	no

LFO

Name	Waveform	Delay	Polarity	Sync	Delay Modulator	Level Modulator	Rate Modulator
LFO1	Up Saw Down Saw Square Triangle	yes	no	no	no	Mod-Wheel	no
LFO2	Up Saw Down Saw Square Triangle	yes	no	no	no	Mod-Wheel	no
LFO3	Up Saw Down Saw Square Triangle	yes	no	no	no	Mod-Wheel	no

Conventional Models

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