Back in 1986, this rackmount gem brought the keyboard swagger of the Akai AX73 into a compact studio format, letting producers stack it neatly while unleashing true analog warmth through its dedicated sampler integration.
At its core, it's a 6-voice polyphonic subtractive synth with one VCO per voice delivering saw, triangle, pulse, saw+tri mixes, and noise, all feeding into a resonant 24dB/octave 4-pole lowpass filter with highpass option and FM modulation for wild timbres. Dual ADSR envelopes—one for filter, one for amplitude—pair with a versatile LFO offering up/down saw, square, triangle, and random waves, plus PWM, portamento, unison stacking for fat leads, built-in chorus, and an autotune button to tame oscillator drift. Controls are digital and intuitive: punch in parameter numbers and tweak via a value slider, with MIDI in/out/thru, velocity sensitivity, 100-patch memory, and a unique input for routing Akai S-612, S-900, or S-950 samplers straight through its analog signal path. Measuring 483 x 367 x 88 mm at 6 kg, it's a sturdy 2U unit with stereo outs and headphone jack, perfect for rack life.
Players dig its big, versatile sound—punchy basses, creamy pads, and thick leads that rival pricier polys of the era—though some note the need for regular tuning and simple editing workflow as classic vintage quirks.
