Description | The AX80 has the privilege of being the first pro-keyboard produced by Akai, released in 1984. It's an eight-voice programmable analog synthesizer with a full 61-note keyboard and a series of techno-looking LCD bar-graph displays running across the top of the keyboard. Two analog oscillators per voice plus a sub oscillator provide the basis of its analog sounds that sometimes is described as similar to a Chroma Polaris or Roland Juno 106. Very good bass, brass, synth sounds, and effects are possible. Its strings are considered average at best.
The blue and orange florescent LCD displays use a simple and intuitive bar-graph format to show all its parameters and values. However, with such a nice display, why couldn't they have included dedicated sliders and knobs for each parameter like the AX60. A decent amount of patch storage and nice enough sounds make the AX80 a useable synth to have around, but it probably won't replace your Roland Juno. Other notable features of the AX80 include an angled rear panel for easy cable connections, chord memory, MIDI control, and pitch/mod wheels. It also started to have special inputs for use with Akai's samplers, allowing you to run those samples through the AX60's analog filters and envelopes.
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