Bad Gear - Akai Miniak - The Copy/Paste Synth

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Akai Miniak. Why is this 2010 virtual analog synth so suspiciously similar to the Alesis Micron and Alesis Ion and still so different. Is it just an Akai MPK 49 with some added synthesizer sounds?
Thanks to Tom from Synth Anatomy for lending me his Miniak:
www.synthanatomy.com/
/ synthanatomy
Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:20 Overview Akai Miniak
01:54 User Interface
02:22 Presets
03:03 Oscillators (Waveforms, Waveshaping, Sync, FM, RingMod, Noise)
03:39 Filters
03:51 Envelopes, LFOs, S/H Generator
04:01 Tracking Generator, Mod Matrix
04:17 Drive, FX
04:33 Signal Flow, Mixers, Analog Drift, Unison, Portamento
04:55 More UI, Multitimbrality
05:13 Sequencers, Arpeggiator, Phrase Recorder, Groovebox & Drum Machine Functionality
05:45 What else??? (Rear Panel, Pricing, Thanks)
06:00 Hate
06:28 Jam 1
07:15 Jam 2
08:10 Finale (Drum and Bass)
08:37 Verdict
09:46 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout

Пікірлер: 844

  • @AudioPilz
    @AudioPilz Жыл бұрын

    Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel* Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz

  • @lo-firobotboy7112

    @lo-firobotboy7112

    Жыл бұрын

    Another fun episode! I'd love to see a bunch of the DIY kits and novelty instruments explored. How about the KORG/Little Bits Synth Kit, or The GAKKEN SX-150 or Vocaloid , or the MODAL Craftsynth (especially the first one which sounds great but is difficult to integrate into a setup)? I've alway enjoyed the old Yamaha FM synths and would love to see more from the PSS series (480, 580 etc.) the PSR-36, or DSR 2000 which hide interesting, sometimes powerful FM engines inside ugly home keyboard cases. Friday's are always better with Bad Gear!

  • @zakblackhawk204

    @zakblackhawk204

    Жыл бұрын

    Still want you to do the Sound Blaster 16 preset sounds, and the Elektron SidStation....

  • @freshmint5130

    @freshmint5130

    Жыл бұрын

    Pls, make review of roland mc 707

  • @pomafiwo

    @pomafiwo

    Жыл бұрын

    Casio XW-P1 deserves your wrath

  • @zakblackhawk204

    @zakblackhawk204

    Жыл бұрын

    @@pomafiwo maybe that new voice synthesis one....

  • @ogami1972
    @ogami1972 Жыл бұрын

    I haven't made music in almost 20 years, and I love every episode, here's to you never running out of at-least-mediocre-if-not-actually-bad gear!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @dantalion447

    @dantalion447

    Жыл бұрын

    You need to start again man, just buy a cheap synth or whatever instrument you play, you will really enjoy it,

  • @midimoog

    @midimoog

    Жыл бұрын

    Watching Bad Gear and occasionally purchasing the actual recommended gear seems to satisfy my desire towards electronic music production. I just don't need to make music anymore.

  • @JJohnkkttran
    @JJohnkkttran Жыл бұрын

    My friend's family got him this synth when it came out. We were in high school and in a band. I was initially kind of jealous of it because the third Osc made it sound so much sharper than my microkorg, and the presets kind of amazed us at what we could potentially make. Overall, it was impossible to use, even compared to the confusing matrix of the microkorg (which at the time I also didn't know how to use). Every time we tried to pull this thing into a song, it took over and sounded horrible, mainly because the sounds could not be easily tweaked to what we wanted. Glad to see the groovebox features confounded you too and it wasn't just that we were synth n00bs. We ended up using my Mircokorg in conjunction with the ever confusing QY-70, which somehow was still simpler than this synth's UI.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, MK is so much easier to integrate in real music making!

  • @Gainn

    @Gainn

    Жыл бұрын

    I use a QY70 to run my MiniAK. Ultracursed.

  • @clauscombat418

    @clauscombat418

    Жыл бұрын

    Yamaha QY20,22,70,100 coming up...?

  • @t0xcn253

    @t0xcn253

    Жыл бұрын

    This reads like a war story, straight from the trenches of menu-diving hell.

  • @gaborb6577

    @gaborb6577

    Жыл бұрын

    yes, for the first view seems to me also a typical Bad Geat

  • @Fantishow-is-a-butt
    @Fantishow-is-a-butt Жыл бұрын

    I know you probably hear this a lot, but I don't know how you pump out such quality content on a weekly basis, it's crazy. At this point, you uploading is what tells me it's Friday. Also more synths should have multiple bindable modwheels

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!! I like to drink espresso;)

  • @TheDungeonDive
    @TheDungeonDive Жыл бұрын

    Never had the Miniak, but I had the Alesis Ion and Micron, which are basically the same. They are amazing digital subtractive synths. Some of the best sounding around.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @Claidheambmor

    @Claidheambmor

    Жыл бұрын

    Especially if you like evil techno. :D

  • @Galova

    @Galova

    3 ай бұрын

    @@Claidheambmor good people like evil techno. bad ones like pop ballads

  • @MASAMEDIATV
    @MASAMEDIATV Жыл бұрын

    My favorite synth in my small collection finally made it to Badgear. My love for this thing is a prove that I know nothing about synths.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️

  • @davide2.07

    @davide2.07

    Жыл бұрын

    hahaha

  • @KRAFTWERK2K6

    @KRAFTWERK2K6

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah one of the only things i USED to have that now appears here. It's an EX-instrument for a myriad of reasons and i really feel it DESERVES to be in this series xD

  • @tblv9300

    @tblv9300

    Жыл бұрын

    it has a solid synth engine, it just needs a better interface or software editor to live up to it’s potential. when it was inside the alesis ion they had enough knobs to do it right.

  • @iishirasu

    @iishirasu

    Жыл бұрын

    Maybe you're just a programming genius!

  • @aegis3d
    @aegis3d Жыл бұрын

    I will need about a 4 hour set of that Decorative Dancefloor Tapestry for the weekend.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️

  • @underduckbro

    @underduckbro

    Жыл бұрын

    Where on earth did he get those visuals they were so sick

  • @olik136

    @olik136

    Жыл бұрын

    for when you need to chill.. but fast

  • @-HustleUnion-
    @-HustleUnion- Жыл бұрын

    man i'm so glad i found this channel. love the set up of the videos. the editing and you use the damn thing not just play around with it. just to have the patience to learn every machine is crazy.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @ocnb
    @ocnb Жыл бұрын

    Just love love love my Miniak! It's so much *fun* to use 🤗

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @ocnb

    @ocnb

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz While you're here.. how about Liven's bass&beats or the Alesis Andromeda 😋

  • @georgei.giannopoulos6294
    @georgei.giannopoulos6294 Жыл бұрын

    I own a Miniak and i must say i LOVE IT!!! I find it very versatile and inspiring!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Happy to hear that it works for you!

  • @georgei.giannopoulos6294

    @georgei.giannopoulos6294

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz so much,that i have a problem with the L output and i keep postponing the technician visit. I play it mono thru R out :)

  • @bjorngoud5259
    @bjorngoud5259 Жыл бұрын

    I LOVE the Miniak, had it twice. Sold it again because of the devastatingly depressing way of programming. Please Akai make a miniak with at least about 20 knobs. It sounds so extremely good. Even alone for the kickdrums and basses. They just blast.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    I think you need an Alesis ION;)

  • @bjorngoud5259

    @bjorngoud5259

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz yes ofcourse, because all the rotary dials just do their thing, whatever the way you turn them. 😁

  • @samcaldwell3024
    @samcaldwell3024 Жыл бұрын

    Another fantastic video. Thank you.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @2.7petabytes
    @2.7petabytes Жыл бұрын

    You’ve done it finally!! 😂 I suggested the Miniak quite a while ago to you and you mentioned that it would be something that was hard for you to get ahold of at the time. I own this maddening synth! Some cool sounds but the menu diving is on another level and I HATE it! Great video!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @richardsaffle
    @richardsaffle Жыл бұрын

    Dude... These make me so happy every week, & I feel like I learn a little bit more every episode, as well. Thank you for doing these, & I guess, for making learning fun?!? Hahaha...

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @rorz999
    @rorz999 Жыл бұрын

    That photo of Nick Batt after you said "aftertouchless" lol - he's so disappointed whenever a synth doesn't have aftertouch even though hardly anyone ever uses it 😆

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Even worse: NO PWM!!!

  • @sub-jec-tiv

    @sub-jec-tiv

    Жыл бұрын

    Nick Batt uses aftertouch, obv… to modulate the PWM, duh! … (actually that’s a pretty good way to use aftertouch. brb)

  • @dankeplace

    @dankeplace

    Жыл бұрын

    Correct pronunciation is No touchy touch after you touch me.

  • @cooptrol

    @cooptrol

    Жыл бұрын

    Who even uses a keyboard these days!!🥲

  • @stephenhookings1985

    @stephenhookings1985

    Жыл бұрын

    This synth does have aftertouch - both channel and poly ... not in the keybed but in the synth engine. Couple it with a poly AT keyboard and it is very expressive

  • @SynGirl32
    @SynGirl32 Жыл бұрын

    Having three pitch/mod wheels looks a lot more cursed than it should.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    It's actually really nice!

  • @Alexis-im4xu

    @Alexis-im4xu

    Жыл бұрын

    I'd beg to differ, looks badass if you ask me.

  • @Magnus_Loov

    @Magnus_Loov

    Жыл бұрын

    Makes me think of "blinky" the famous radioactive three eye fish from "The Simpsons"....

  • @MatthewChristianMurray

    @MatthewChristianMurray

    Жыл бұрын

    It looks great on my Yamaha SY77. Then again, my Yamaha is a 40-pound behemoth.

  • @shadowdancer2439
    @shadowdancer2439 Жыл бұрын

    Almost every piece of gear I have owned at some point or another has been on this channel and I am proud of it! Proud looking back to see how I still managed to make music inspite of all odds being against me!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️Yeah, everybody needs some Bad Gear❤️❤️❤️

  • @sub-jec-tiv
    @sub-jec-tiv Жыл бұрын

    Vintage Bad Gear looks great. Also waiting for other spinoffs like, Dad Gear: only gear designed between 1990 and 2007. Trad Gear: reviews of mandolins. Chad Gear: Sample packs for making mainstream EDM. And for Halloween, of course, Vlad Gear.

  • @laurencehopkins

    @laurencehopkins

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes pls - The Unison MIDI chord pack on Chad Gear.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Great ideas!!! Thanks!

  • @leoclark9086

    @leoclark9086

    Жыл бұрын

    Gear

  • @RoomAtTheTopStudio

    @RoomAtTheTopStudio

    Жыл бұрын

    Damn, all my samplers are Dad's Gear. All the samplers I like are Dad's Gear. I look at the new ones and I'm tempted all the time but I always go back to my Dad's Gear. It's a great idea, doing episodes about Dad's Gear

  • @patrickfitzgerald2861
    @patrickfitzgerald2861 Жыл бұрын

    Lots of love and hate on KZread for this synth. As a guitarist with minimal keyboard skills, I fall in to the "love" column because of all the easy to access presets (especially the multis), the rather nice key bed, and the sturdy construction. It's been a whole lot of fun for a quite small investment of US $250 in 2019. 7/20/2024 UPDATE: I worked up the courage to take my Miniak, along with my minimalist synth knowledge and keyboard playing skills, to my local brewpub synth jam Saturday night. Using just this synth, the sounds that two of the "Multi" presets, cranked out through a professional PA system, blew the minds of the analog/ modular synth maestros in the room . . . seriously impressive. I wish Akai would bring out a Mark II version of this incredible machine with USB connectivity and an editor/librarian, but I know that will never happen.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ...and you already have all the fancy FX pedals to make it usable in a mix;)

  • @patrickfitzgerald2861

    @patrickfitzgerald2861

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz All any synth player will ever need is a Zoom MS-50G! 🤣

  • @LouisSerieusement
    @LouisSerieusement Жыл бұрын

    1:25 lmao people are still mad about the show being called 'bad gear' Thank you for all the great episodes over the years, totally love this weekly show, all the music, all the memes, the vocoder shoutout...everything is perfect !! thanks you :D

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @drindy5166
    @drindy5166 Жыл бұрын

    Your videos are brilliant works of art brother! Totally enjoy learning abour these gems of bad gear! Your editing is top notch mastery 🔥👊🧡👍🔥

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @RodBeauvex
    @RodBeauvex Жыл бұрын

    I've would love to see a series where you review some old gear, the heavy hitters of the synth world, to see if they're all they're cracked up to be and see if they still have a place in the modern world, sort of like your DX7 video. If nothing else, just to see your always humorous take on things.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Bad Gear - Prophet 5 - filter stepping nightmare???

  • @clazza65
    @clazza65 Жыл бұрын

    Outstanding as always.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @NALTOHQ
    @NALTOHQ Жыл бұрын

    God I’m glad you still make these.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀

  • @awhatnow9861
    @awhatnow9861 Жыл бұрын

    changing the double tap skip/rewind from 10 to 5 seconds is a godsend on this channel.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    5 sec is way to go!!!

  • @thesadwolf
    @thesadwolf Жыл бұрын

    Anyone else here constantly pause the video to catch the memes?

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    I usually do;)

  • @jimmylin7233
    @jimmylin7233 Жыл бұрын

    I had this! I loved the aggressive leads on this guy, perfect for cutting thru dubstep wobbles.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, those were the days...

  • @MurderToCassette
    @MurderToCassette Жыл бұрын

    I bought one of these when they were practically giving them away at Guitar Center. Not a bad synth, and actually feels nice when I used it as a controller for my rack synths/samplers. Great video as always!

  • @MrTomDangerous

    @MrTomDangerous

    Жыл бұрын

    I find it a pretty good controller. I really like the keys & the mod wheels are good for midi as well (depending on the instrument.)

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, I liked the keyboard and wheels quite a bit

  • @RoomAtTheTopStudio
    @RoomAtTheTopStudio Жыл бұрын

    Great video once again. I seem to end up with a lot of the instruments that end up on this show. I just bought one of these two days ago. I don't really know how to use it properly yet but I plan to use it via MIDI with my MPC500 and a Korg ARP Odyssey. Both Akai products have that small screen that lots of people don't like but for me it's just something to learn seeing as I have it and want to make use of it.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!! That setup should work fine!!!

  • @lukeburkett5645
    @lukeburkett5645 Жыл бұрын

    You did well to get some good sounds out of this interface

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @sportsman6931
    @sportsman6931 Жыл бұрын

    Akai was more expensive than the Alesis at the time. You're not running out of Bad Gear, there are still a lot of synths not reviewed in the channel like Model:Samples, Waldorf Pulse 1 & 2, Roland V-Synth GT & XT, Roland SP-404, Roland JV-90, and half of the catalog of Akai and Ensoniq, just to name a few ones. Thanks for these video reviews !

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Great suggestions!

  • @doctorsynth1

    @doctorsynth1

    Жыл бұрын

    The V-Synth family are GREAT GEAR,.with some maddingly frustrating limitations.

  • @perlmunger
    @perlmunger Жыл бұрын

    Your self awareness is on point! Layers == Leias… Hilarious!!!. In unrelated commentary I’m pretty sure no matter how bad the bad gear is you are capable of making it sound great! Always impressed with your tracks. Love it.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @EatsJapan
    @EatsJapan Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, another bit of my gear ticked off 👍 i pretty much use the presets on mine through some effects for various bits n bobs. Can't really be arsed delving into the headache inducing menus on the tiny screen. I find the drums can be nice and deep. Multis great fun for some instagrooves. Keep up the good work bro 👍

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @computer_toucher
    @computer_toucher Жыл бұрын

    That was a nice spoopy little thing!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀😀😀

  • @Nicolas.S
    @Nicolas.S Жыл бұрын

    Never heard of this one, might just be as well. Off course, you make every synth sound good.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @lambertlambert7076
    @lambertlambert70769 ай бұрын

    Bad Gear is indeed a youtube channel to show that you can exploit any cheap and weak sounding device in a creative way.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @thesequencer4971
    @thesequencer4971 Жыл бұрын

    08:07 Nice....i was waiting Dieter Meyer suddenly sings "Oh yeah"

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀

  • @waxwaine
    @waxwaine Жыл бұрын

    Love my Miniak, thanks

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Great to hear that it works for you

  • @Snomadu
    @Snomadu Жыл бұрын

    I dont know its a Friday until you post. Thank synth its friday! < 3

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Have a nice weekend!!!

  • @eweystewy
    @eweystewy Жыл бұрын

    This was my first synth ever and while I had no Idea what I was doing, I loved it. In fact this video convinced me that I do still love it. Gonna fish it out of my parents loft and re introduce it to my set up. I'll probably sample loads into my digitakt. I think it sounds great.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Definitely give it another try!

  • @nicolaswolf5412
    @nicolaswolf5412 Жыл бұрын

    Wow. This really does sound identical to the ion/micron. Great Job, Akai!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yup, same engine!

  • @5lip5pace
    @5lip5pace Жыл бұрын

    Cant wait until the end of this beautiful series so we can continue with the Better Gear C:

  • @lo-firobotboy7112

    @lo-firobotboy7112

    Жыл бұрын

    Can't we have both?

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Why not both?;)

  • @thezerosky
    @thezerosky Жыл бұрын

    You deserve many many more subscribers.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I wholeheartedly agree;)

  • @autecheee
    @autecheee Жыл бұрын

    4:25 Simply having a Wonderful Christmas Time ! Less than 2 months away! Miniak on my wish list

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @soilentmichi
    @soilentmichi Жыл бұрын

    Ich bin, wie immer, begeistert....super..

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Besten Dank!!!

  • @oofdah6738
    @oofdah673811 ай бұрын

    Owning and working with both the microkorg and miniak are such completely different beasts. For raw sound design microkorg is way more fun, easy to learn and immediate... the ultimate beginner hipster synth.. buuuutt the miniak.. given the proper attention and focus can play an entire lofi set by itself. Okay sure the beats are serviceable at best, I recommend setting and forgetting.. but once you get a multi with bass arp and lead flowing together with the right tweaks set on the knobs & wheels.. welcome to synth Valhalla. My much more accomplished friend swore by his micron in his live set. Surely not for the faint of heart, but at under $250 to this day why wouldn't you travel to the early 2000s and experience what fun we had.

  • @sikdrumz5752
    @sikdrumz5752 Жыл бұрын

    I bought an Arturia Minibrute 2s and battled hard to make it sound interesting or good in any of the different modes (FM, Sync, all the oscillator warp knobs). Sold it in despair last month. Highly recommended for a Bad Gear review!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, it's not the most inspiring piece of kit

  • @BarnabyWild13

    @BarnabyWild13

    Жыл бұрын

    I second that emotion

  • @mrudo8663
    @mrudo8663 Жыл бұрын

    My favorite intro since I watch this channel

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!! Pixels!

  • @mrudo8663

    @mrudo8663

    Жыл бұрын

    Synth with such minimal human interfaces and which slow you editing possiblitys down are great for ambient music session... The korg r3 got the same feature or issue depending on the view..

  • @danielkurnath9118
    @danielkurnath91188 ай бұрын

    I have a Miniak and you hit the nail right on the head. The synth engine isn't half bad, the arranger is pretty cool, the lack of knobs and buttons makes it practically unusable. I built a custom midi controller to add some knobs, sliders, and buttons, and gave it the same kind of instant on the fly mapping functionality as the built in controls so that it would be more usable and that definitely helped. I wish they had come out with a pro model that just like like 30 knobs instead of 3 that would have made all the difference in the world. There are a few decent programs to control it like miniak tools and miniak editor but I find that trying to fiddle with virtual knobs on a computer interface to be just about as bad as diving through menus with a single rotary encoder.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    8 ай бұрын

    👍👍👍

  • @kaiwetronic
    @kaiwetronicАй бұрын

    This little beast has more features than you may expect... The 'third' wheel sends aftertouch when you control external gear...(nice for my DSI desktops) As a standard, a patch offers you 12 mod matrix slots, but if needed, you can get more, up to 15...!! Not only gives you the standard portamento, you can emulate Vangelis or ELO with the glissando feature...!! The S&H module acts as the real thing, just like the one on an MS20... and it's the key to get the random panning 'a la Roland'... (static for each played note, instead of the pan movement with the LFO) Balanced stereo inputs & outputs... The inputs let you process any external signal alongside the oscillators: filters, comp/dist, fx... Or use any two sources as the modulator & carrier for the vocoder... There is a step sequencer to control anything via the mod matrix... Far from just the modulation amount, the mod matrix slots let you define an offset value for the destination parameter that overrides its patch value, a good way to hide your programmer tricks to the reverse-engineers... You can set levels for every source (osc, noise, ring and ext) to any filter, bypass one source, and after the filters, mix and pan the two filter signals with the bypassed source before the comp/dist stage... It's possible to mimic the dynamic behaviour of any synth or instrument, since you can set every step of the envelopes to be linear, exponential or logarithmic... By far, the most complex synth engine of all the first generation VAs...!! Enjoy it...!!

  • @ProckGnosis
    @ProckGnosis Жыл бұрын

    Gut gemacht! Wie immer, war's lustig und informativ. Tom war sehr nett, dir sein Miniak zu leihen. Great sounding synth with extensive programming options (inheriting the Alesis Ion engine basically), but a SERIOUS PAIN to program without software and a computer. I always thought it didn't sound so analog, but it also didn't have the typical digital VA sound either (it's slightly dirtier, if that even helps describe it). The manual helps, but it's not nearly as in depth as it needs to be. I had a Micron, but sold it, and then later picked up the Miniak to use live for proggy leads (I do prefer the form factor on the Miniak, with the traditional pitch and mod wheels). Had I tried the Micron with some software (for programming), I might have kept it, because it makes ALL the difference for letting you get fairly deep with creating patches.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, Tom is the best!!!

  • @noisetheorem
    @noisetheorem Жыл бұрын

    The MiniAK was further repurposed into an iPad/iPhone app that they abandoned and no longer loads on modern devices. It was really pretty good! I keep waiting for them to resurrect it yet again as a plugin for the MPC line. It would make a lot of sense!

  • @sub-jec-tiv

    @sub-jec-tiv

    Жыл бұрын

    The controls are so minimalist you could run it on any wristwatch with the one push knob.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Nice gotta do some research on this

  • @BobbyGeneric145

    @BobbyGeneric145

    Жыл бұрын

    My most used app in the aviation world was abandoned by the developers during the switch from os 11 to 12 I think. Still hurts to this day.

  • @HarvestStore
    @HarvestStore Жыл бұрын

    Great video.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @JeffyG
    @JeffyG Жыл бұрын

    Very timely! as the Akai Mini Plus controller just came out.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Ah, nice, gotta check it out!

  • @tragicwill
    @tragicwill Жыл бұрын

    This channel is everything I want from KZread for a synth nerd like me

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    So happy to hear that, thanks!

  • @johnmeroney2007
    @johnmeroney2007 Жыл бұрын

    I would really like to see manufacturers send their upcoming instruments to be bad-gear “reviewed.” Using pre-release criticism, fodder, vitriol, drama from the interwebs.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Polyend actually did this;)

  • @PLA.net-DANTE
    @PLA.net-DANTE Жыл бұрын

    My weekend just started

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Have a nice one!

  • @64north20west
    @64north20west Жыл бұрын

    Okay, well you outdid yourself this time. The videos and stills in the background of this episode set the bar too high for competition. I cant say the same about this Miniak thing, but once again you managed to get excellent sounds out of it. Thanks again for helping bad gear sound good.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @adamquek1095
    @adamquek1095 Жыл бұрын

    Not surprised that an Akai patch is complicated. 3 mod wheels and an xlr mic input though? sold!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    These features are really nice!!!

  • @videosbruno
    @videosbruno Жыл бұрын

    I loved this thing, only sold it because I had to move to another country and couldn't bring it with me. I suggested the miniak for a video a few months back!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!!

  • @secretelitemusic
    @secretelitemusic Жыл бұрын

    The knobs look like googly eyes with your original camera angle. (Can't be unseen)

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Damn, so true!

  • @EVILJAMARR
    @EVILJAMARR Жыл бұрын

    I had a Micron. Good little synth! I miss it

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @unclemick-synths
    @unclemick-synths Жыл бұрын

    Great video 👍. This is another one to keep my eyes open for - though it is far less likely than the Alesis to end up in the kids toys section of the charity shop! 😀

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I totally agree!

  • @volsteh
    @volsteh Жыл бұрын

    ofc we enjoyed the episode!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @jokeyman2943
    @jokeyman294310 ай бұрын

    Your killing me!!!! Fantastic presentation as always, but since adding a mutilated Micron I had to restore to my other bad gear (I also own and play 2 Fusions) I bit for the Miniak, fully knowing which functions are buried in the menus. The DNA of both these is also in the Fusions, which helps. At least this one can be accessed through software, unlike the Fusion, which omitted sysex code and locked the firmware to further development.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    10 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much!!!

  • @chrishernandez8768
    @chrishernandez8768 Жыл бұрын

    Ah! This was my first favorite synth!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Nice!

  • @tamaspolyak5564
    @tamaspolyak5564 Жыл бұрын

    You got me at Flatulent Duck. Every synth should have that preset! Okay that and the Roflcopter.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    That preset has become quite a meme;)

  • @raistaparta
    @raistaparta Жыл бұрын

    I had one of these and a Micron too. I always preferred the minimalistic design of the Alesis. That thing is just a slab of plastic and that’s part of the charm. The improvements with the Akai didn’t win me over. Two mod wheels is better than the faders but I was so used to the UI of the Micron that it was second nature flipping those faders back and forth, morphing sounds. Seriously. I used it to such an extent that I made myself sell it and learn to live without it, which was hard because I used the sequencer and the multis everywhere. I always thought it sounded way better than a MicroKorg and once you mastered it you could dial in almost any analog synth sound you wanted. Listening to your demo now I felt some sort of PTSD, not so much from editing it through the letterbox but from the overall sound. I still browse the web for used ones once in a while but people are asking crazy money for them. Never pay over 200$ for these and try it before you buy it because those endless encoders like to give up the ghost and the volume knob is prone to noises after all these years. The volume knob is an ok repair job if you’re handy with a soldering iron, the encoders are a lost cause. I’m pretty sure the Akais suffer the same problems. Replacing broken keys is a piece of cake though. If you can find them.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Definitely a deeper engine than the Microkorg

  • @BCThunderthud
    @BCThunderthud Жыл бұрын

    Now I can't wait for the Yam Pounder episode.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yam;)

  • @lava2471
    @lava2471 Жыл бұрын

    I love when I'm looking for reviews of something I'm considering buying only to find there's a Bad Gear review.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀😀😀

  • @jgfjfgjfhjf
    @jgfjfgjfhjf Жыл бұрын

    you're an absolute unit

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😉😉😉

  • @eudubmonia
    @eudubmonia Жыл бұрын

    Finally! And even after you did the Micron! "THERE ARE DOZENS OF US!"

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀

  • @annother3350
    @annother3350 Жыл бұрын

    6:52 that 3am feel

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀😀😀

  • @Toolsquatch
    @Toolsquatch Жыл бұрын

    Heyyyyyy I own this one! I have *such* a love/hate relationship with it, because it has one of the most capable synth engines in my entire hardware arsenal but the workflow (especially as a groovebox) positively blows. Patchbase is your best friend with this little guy, once you have all parameters front and center it can make you pretty giddy in operation.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I would love one of these with a more groovebox oriented workflow

  • @Toolsquatch

    @Toolsquatch

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz I'm honestly surprised they didn't go for it! It's not like the Electribe line didn't exist for Akai to compete with 😂

  • @redl3ss
    @redl3ss Жыл бұрын

    I'm a mathematician and I've seen the original form of the meme at 3:27 - which is about math. The memery of this channel is deep!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @thesrabbit
    @thesrabbit Жыл бұрын

    Can’t wait for the Synclavier Regen episode.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Is it bad?😏😏😏

  • @kenfusion
    @kenfusion Жыл бұрын

    Listening at 50% speed to (catch the memes) Almost tempted me to whip out my TE - PO-33-KO and start grooving on samples . Especially in the "let's try out the drum machine " part . So much GOLD . Very lofi. Extra Nutella, and Clamato ! I have an answer to your resonance lack . It's the alesis guitar pedal style filter and mod modules . "Christian's sonic spaces" youtube channel uses them constantly in his ambient synth shootout. (Early 2000s bad gear for sure , and worth an episode perhaps) 🙏

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I actually got the Phaser one here and I found it to be too bad for Bad Gear;)

  • @kldk
    @kldk Жыл бұрын

    Owned the trinity. The Ion, Micron and Miniak. Sold the Micron but kept the two others. Ion is such fun to program and the Miniak is portable and playable. Miniak may have a newer DA converter and sound a little cleaner. The VA engine is still pretty good I think and quite recognisable. I think it is kind of comparable in sound to the MicroKorg but the engine is way more advanced if mastered. The "analog feel" is not bad at all. They are old instruments today and will require maintenance.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    It's almost too clean I would say

  • @renbelmont
    @renbelmont Жыл бұрын

    That second jam i wanted to loop lol, it was so good

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!! Shameless plug: extended jams can be found on Patreon;)

  • @renbelmont

    @renbelmont

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz OHHHhhhh

  • @ZiegWarheit
    @ZiegWarheit Жыл бұрын

    Getting this video out was only a matter of time.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    True that!

  • @jaybird3745
    @jaybird3745 Жыл бұрын

    vintage bad gear. like tubular phonograph records or steel wire recorders. I loved THE BRICK and this Akai. MORE WHEELS,!!!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Wheels really make the difference!

  • @robotdogmusic
    @robotdogmusic Жыл бұрын

    Greg cameos on Bad Gear! Whoever put that clip in there, I owe you a drink 🤣🥃

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    That's me, thanks;)

  • @markbucher50
    @markbucher50 Жыл бұрын

    Micron was my first synth and got a Miniak a few years later. I think the sound is great for what it’s trying to be. The Jupiter filter sounds really cool and if you know 3 osc FM that’s fun for hours. The menu diving sorta sucks but considering what you can do with it under the hood, small price to pay. What other beginner synth in that price range is basically a Keystep Pro, a drum machine, like 8 feature packed synthesizers and 2 effects slots not counting distortion/comp.. I know of JD-Xi but that’s only 4 midi lanes and no FM… Honestly they should bring it back, just make the hardware better- it’s basically the perfect thing for DAWless jamming and learning how Midi and signal routing work as far as first synths go

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    FM is super powerful on these!

  • @josephwright5921
    @josephwright5921 Жыл бұрын

    I have the Micron and I just love that sizzling preset you played at 2:41! Honestly, I have a Virus KC as well and the Micron sounds better and warmer on some sounds. I found that it sounds good in a more limited octave range though. The high pitched sounds seem to have some aliasing or digital nastiness.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    There are some digital artifacts indeed

  • @pthelo
    @pthelo Жыл бұрын

    Florian, you do a lot of funny and cool edits, but the finger >SNAP< at 6:35 was bad ass. I rewound and watched it at least 6 times.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!! That actually wasn't even intentionally;)

  • @pthelo

    @pthelo

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AudioPilz I went back and watched it another five times.

  • @KurtFuller
    @KurtFuller Жыл бұрын

    *PROS:* -A lot of featurers for program dozens and dozens of different and powerful sounds, sequences, etc. -Great analog emulation (still one of the best you can find actually) -You can get it very cheap on the secondhand market. *CONS:* -Very limited real control. -A lot of functions to edit with only one small screen and a few knobs. -Keyboard and controls feel cheap. -Sooner o later, you will have problems with the volume knob or audio outputs.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    That sums it up nicely!

  • @Shred_The_Weapon
    @Shred_The_Weapon Жыл бұрын

    Hoping you’ll keep this channel active at least long enough to review the Akai MPC keyboard model. I really am curious what that has on its tabletop module siblings other than the keyboard.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Great suggestion and no worries;)

  • @Shred_The_Weapon

    @Shred_The_Weapon

    Жыл бұрын

    😁 Glad you liked the suggestion, @@AudioPilz.

  • @Drinkyoghurt
    @Drinkyoghurt Жыл бұрын

    Thanks to all the manufacturers that keep bringing out poorly thought out devices. The synth community would probably be in another galaxy without your limitations that breed our creativity.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    True! Electronic music would be so boring!!!

  • @totomhavehat
    @totomhavehat Жыл бұрын

    I browse classified add regularly and every time I find something over priced I think “there must be a bad gear episode about it” and there it is

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, there usually is;)

  • @LaurentDiscShowMan
    @LaurentDiscShowMan Жыл бұрын

    Muy bien very good buen teclado sintetizador....Animo y vayamos con alegrias...

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️

  • @davidm3569
    @davidm3569 Жыл бұрын

    I still like mine, it's fun 😀👍

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀

  • @jack3361
    @jack3361 Жыл бұрын

    Bad Gear vintage made me smile!😃

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    😀😀😀

  • @NEOROADER
    @NEOROADER Жыл бұрын

    Great video and jams as always! Can I steal your "THIS TRACK IS DIFFICULT TO CLASSIFY SO I'LL PUT EVERY ADJECTIVE THAT COMES TO MIND" genre description method for my jams? Cheers!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I don't think there's a way to copyright that method;)

  • @raysubject
    @raysubject Жыл бұрын

    damn, this ion/microm engine sounds SO amazing .. had opportunity to buy micron for 290€ recently and now i regret i didn’t

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    You can find them a bit cheaper, there'll be another one. Don't worry...

  • @Moon-kr1pw
    @Moon-kr1pw Жыл бұрын

    Great!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️

  • @paulbmorgan
    @paulbmorgan Жыл бұрын

    Wow, you read my mind. This week I treated myself to a Behringer Odyssey, so far so good, and it is ticking all the vintage boxes for me, so a Vintage Bad Gear would be great (does the Bodyssey count?). Anyway, whatever you put out next I am sure it will be edutaining as usual :-)

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!! Took a look at the Boddyssey as well;)

  • @saxonguitarness

    @saxonguitarness

    Жыл бұрын

    Lol, if an odyssey is bad gear idk what’s good gear anymore

  • @MrTomDangerous

    @MrTomDangerous

    Жыл бұрын

    I got one about two months ago. It's. So. Fucking, Good. Also, my main previous HW synth is actually the Miniak! Mostly been using that as a midi controller, but it does have a lot of depth if you can be bothered to menu dive in the abyss. The Boddy, though, is so immediate.

  • @paulbmorgan

    @paulbmorgan

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MrTomDangerous Couldn't agree more, the immediacy of the Odyysey is addictive. The effects are ok, perfectly passable if a bit vanilla, a separate effects unit really takes it to a new level I have found. I only wish they had added a tuner to the onboard effects and perhaps offered a better key board (the keyboard isn't great but not awful at the same time), other than that I am really glad I bought it :-)

  • @arturovod5847
    @arturovod5847 Жыл бұрын

    I've been looking for such a synthesizer for my band for a long time! Hello from Ukraine, my friend! Glad to watch your channel!

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @YouthTheBand
    @YouthTheBand Жыл бұрын

    I can't remember if I made this comment on the Alesis Micron video, but I've made the conversion to completely analog gear over the last few years with the exception of the Alesis Ion. I don't know why but when it comes to basses the thing just always sounds good. I have nearly wall-to-wall bass patches in the user bank. I would suspect the Akai MINIAK has the same character if it did indeed inherit the same engine.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    These basses are very functional - great for stacking!

  • @randynovick7972
    @randynovick7972 Жыл бұрын

    Vintage Bad Gear? - I like the concept. Would sub.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    ❤️❤️❤️

  • @cdwhiley
    @cdwhiley Жыл бұрын

    Sheesh. I can't believe this thing is so capable.

  • @AudioPilz

    @AudioPilz

    Жыл бұрын

    It's very deep indeed!

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