Akai ME20A | Midi Sequence Arpeggiator - a spectacular failure, but still fun
The Akai ME20A sequencer and arpeggiator from 1985/86, is a bit of an oddball thing. It can sequence or arpeggiate a set of notes, or chords, and somewhat manipulate the midi notes going to the synth you're playing. However, Akai didn't make this sync-able, in any way, so forget hooking this up to a drum machine or anything like that. Unless you mod your unit it have to be used stand-alone, which in some live gigs can be fun although limiting I guess.
This came out about the same time as the Akai S612 sampler, in a black sleek design that shows Akai was a hi-fi manufacturer at the time.
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft
Tauntek has done some mods for the Akai ME20A that will give you more clocking/sync options so you can Google that.
Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: espenkraft.ban...
Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9
Find my patches and sample packs through these links:
thepatchbay.co...
sound7.co.uk/p...
Please join me on social media:
/ espenkraftmusic
/ espenkraft
/ espenkraft
I use DistroKid for all my releases onto streaming services.
Try out Distrokid yourself and get a 7% discount off your first year by using this link:
distrokid.com/v...
Growing up I listened to so much synth-pop and it's only natural that my own music takes inspiration from many of the acts I loved back then. I still love them and listen to them!
Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Erasure, Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears, The Human League, Propaganda. FGTH, Ultravox, OMD, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Giorgio Moroder, Jean Michel Jarre, Jan Hammer, Alphaville, A-ha as well as loads of artists doing what is now called Italo Disco. And many more great acts like Nik Kershaw, Spandau Ballet, Wham, Dire Straits ++
Пікірлер: 81
Found one of these a few years ago at a Thrift store for 7 bucks. Had SO much fun playing around with it as it was my first piece of midi equipment! It really has been what got me into the whole game~
@jessihawkins9116
Жыл бұрын
are you done with it yet?🤨
@jessihawkins9116
10 ай бұрын
if your done can I have it?
I used to use the delay function in a tracker on the Amiga A500 or the Amiga 3000 and then either sample each arpeggiated chord and then sequence that or save the MIDI file and place that in my main sequencer, thinking of this made me think of all the different workarounds we had to use back in the day!
I can see how this box would have been very useful in the 1980s for live performers who wanted to play leads and chords but wanted a rhythmic element to their sets. Also, it seems much less fiddly than a dedicated hardware sequencer with floppy drive or certainly a computer at the time. Vintage soft sequencers can certainly do this, but the real time knobs seem much more inviting. A fun curiosity for sure!
I have had this unit and the midi delay for over 25 years and still use it now and then. The simplicity of the hardware gets you going, as you point out, with immediate satisfaction, a rarity in today's world of rich features and increasing complexity. It might not be cool by today's standards. No sync for sure but it has midi in, out and thru. It would have to be the clock master for all the wrong reasons but it still performs quite well for what it is. Thanks.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Cheers :)
Very creative within the constraints of the system
I love this guy , I'm straight on eBay looking for these gadgets ! Before they go up 200% !
Memory lane; loved seeing the S612. My first sampler! I don't remember if I ever played with these in the store "back in the day"; I know we sold them. Really enjoyed your demo, Espen!
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
I had one of these in the 90s. I thought it was quite good for live work/improv but these days most keyboards have an arpegiator/delay built in. But lots of classic 80s and 90s gear did'nt, so it was useful back then!
I used to had an Akai Sampler and this is fantastic !! thanks !
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Cheers!
Wooah its so cool and creative ! Feel the vibe step to step.
I still have this unit …the fun begins if you play around with the speed knob and add a delay to your sound device.
Very unique little box! Love it, and the brochure was a fabulous touch. Thanks Espen!
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Cheers!
Boy what a crazy deal. I always make myself play it. By the time you get MIDI sync working, just play it. I'm probably wrong. These things are incredible. I think I just play it.
@GizzyDillespee
2 жыл бұрын
I agree for most things, just play it. In this case, if you have a drum machine doing the beat, and this thing doing a chord loop... if they're not synced, they'll start to drift apart, and it'll sound naff.
Thank you Espen much appreciated.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Cheers!
...this thing & S612 (or the S9's) would be quite a formidable setup(with a delay unit & controller [sorta early foreunner mpc]) it'd that what TFSOL kinda done did dude 😎 thanx EK
Great. I really want one of these now. Thanks.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Cheers!
Man, id love one of these!
I agree about the cool appearance, I was considering buying them just because they’d look nice in the rack next my S-612.
@devondetroit2529
2 жыл бұрын
Slave to consumerism
@mastercylinder1939
2 жыл бұрын
@@devondetroit2529 nah, consumers have to buy the latest consumer goods, buying classic gear for its aesthetic is something totally different. I have zero desire to buy any of the latest tat.
Sounds great man! 😎
Great unit!
Tedium in a box. But fun, perhaps, for individuals with more patience than I.
@rachelar
11 ай бұрын
😂
After we discussed this unit in the comments to one of your previous videos, I ordered the parts to add a sync output to my one. Still not got around to doing the mod yet though. It's a great unit, just bizarre that Akai shipped it with no way to sync it to anything!
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Very bizarre. ;-)
I have one and an s612 and an md280 and a AX60. And yes they are alot of retro fun.
I just modified mine to have an analog clock out. Very easy mod to do!
@rachelar
Жыл бұрын
How?
@jessihawkins9116
10 ай бұрын
yeah how
Amazing to think that stuff we have built in to synths now used to be an external box.
WOW! I recently brought one.
Modern DAWs with quantizing audio can help a lot with this sort of old gear. I know that's not the spirit of this channel, but a little of the old with a little of the new can take you interesting places.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
I mix old and new when it comes to mixing and outboards, so I agree with you in principle. ;-)
I've wanted the Midi Delay for years. I use their midi routing boxes because their nice small format and easy to use and program, better than a thru box that slides around on the table
I think I had and sold the MIDI delay unit years ago, but sold it in the 2000s. However, I still have two ME25S MIDI Programmable Note Separators. I used these in my live setup decades ago to route master keyboard MIDI to rack modules with program change.
@rachelar
6 ай бұрын
I don't suppose they would split the sounds of your controller keyboard itself?
I used to have one I got for 20 bucks at a thrift store. Gave it away to a friend about ten years ago and regret it
@rachelar
Жыл бұрын
Ditto
🔥
Thanks verry much. It seems good machine but not easy to find
❤
I'd love a piece on the Kawai K5000 , apparently an amazing synth
Haha! Yeah dude! You made the video! Nice work! Now you can sell it to me! Haha
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Everything is for sale if the price is right. ;)
@mcdosia420
2 жыл бұрын
@@EspenKraft Name it man! I sent an offer but you said you wanted to make the video first. How much you want for it? Thanks for all the great content!
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! My reply was more of a "I don't want to sell price" as I would of course sell for a million dollars. :P
@mcdosia420
2 жыл бұрын
@@EspenKraft Damn that is a very expensive arp!! No worries man. I get it. They are rare and you have a cool mod on it. If you ever change your mind just let me know what you want for it. Thanks again:)
This is such a great device. I'd really like to have one. Except that it is a monumental F-up for not supporting Midi Clock.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Good thing it can be modded for those that want that.
@patrikknoerr9777
2 жыл бұрын
@@EspenKraft Yup, thank you for the heads up. I just read the manual and could not believe my eyes.
yay first...... odd bit of kit, never had one :D .
Bought one new in the 90s. I think it was around $100.
I didn't use mine very much so I sold it.
This device is like an Arturia Keystep ? Is possible to do this with an Arturia Keystep ? Thanks in advance.
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
I have no idea. Never used a Keystep.
@RosalvoParadella
2 жыл бұрын
@@EspenKraft ok. Thank you !! Amazing video.
Hi There this is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris, I was wondering if they need to do the exact same version of Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime, why don’t they just Replace the Synthesiser String Sound to an Musette Accordion sound, and also Replace the Xylophone Sound to an 4 Times More Deeper Chime Bell or Even a 5 Times More Deeper Still Drum Sound, Because it is Still my Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Favourite Song Ever Since I was about 11 Years of Age Thank You 😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😅👍😉👍😉👏😅👍😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏😅👍😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏😉👍😉👏👏
Who did the clock mod and can he do it for mine?
@EspenKraft
Жыл бұрын
If you Google a little around you can find the schematics to mod the ME20A with a gate output like this.
Anyone dump the ROM of this Akai ME20A ?
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
There is no external EPROM in these. It's all happening inside the CPU (NEC).
The Tauntek mod is not easy at all. It can destroy the CPU and whole unit. Theres gotta be an easier way just to add sync
why would they make it like this
is the troll on your desk for all the trolls on the channel????? :D ..
@cortical1
2 жыл бұрын
:)
@EspenKraft
2 жыл бұрын
Everything I do is with a purpose, even the small gadgets or figures next to the gear on display. The Troll will have some significance later. ;-)
@cortical1
2 жыл бұрын
@@EspenKraft Never underestimate Espen's craft. 😉
@sakeenaholivier6207
2 жыл бұрын
I had a Roland TR 909 drum machine from 1988 to 1995. paid R1000.00 for it and sold it for R500.00. not knowing the future. 😞
There goes the prices now thanks to the two poser generations 🐑💨🧔🏻♂️ who have no shame from downright stealing vs. just taking inspiration.
@EspenKraft
Жыл бұрын
Excellent.
I had one of these in the 90s. I thought it was quite good for live work/improv but these days most keyboards have an arpegiator/delay built in. But lots of classic 80s and 90s gear did'nt, so it was useful back then!