Akai Professional Miniak

3 octave vocoder synth with 40 strips
600 presets, sequencer, integrated rhythms
5 kg (surprising for a little synth!)

UTILIZATION

I bought it especially for the price, for the next little synth performance, and the vocoder. My goal was to use it as a second synth accompaniment to a bigger one.
This synth has given me some services (eg to record arpeggios some songs like Muse Bliss for example), but I have not found it useful.
The sound selection is done by clicking on a button and key in the sound category. So for the game live, whether to change the sound for a song, it is not practical unless record their favorite sounds in the section ... Faves!
The keyboard is very pleasant to the touch, the keys have a standard format, it is a good (though 3 octaves is not expected to play a symphony).
The arpeggiator is powerful, but can not use it in real-time is required to record its first sequences, again it's a shame for the game live.
The vocoder is very difficult to master. I try to edit some presets, blah blah.
Finally, there are just three assignable knobs (again to play before ...) and three wheels, so for the real-time control is a little lottery, unless very patient and spend much time to prepare everything.
Ah yes, something that has often inflated to me: sometimes, depending on the setting is done, the synth bugge and maintains the tone you're playing ad vitam eternam, and the only way to remedy this is to turn off and turn on the keyboard (bloody practice on stage).

SOUNDS

For its price, this synth has some potential. However, I have not hooked to its sounds. Well of course it has no acoustic sound. As for electronic sounds, there is everything (600 sounds in total, with the good and the less good, some sounds really used for anything). Some leads, basses and pads have evocative names (Min. .., .... JP, OB .... etc..), Also some of the filters Miniak are emulations of famous synths. But in the end, to take advantage of the potential well of the beast, we have to spend a lot of time ... be very patient and knowledgeable too, because editing sounds is not to step on the tiny screen of the synth!
Finally, if you buy it for his vocoder, go your way. Of the 11 presets, I would say that there are two drinking, about editing the vocoder, unless a pro at something, it is very difficult to do, especially as the mode manual explains nothing at all about it, and I found nothing on the net to help me.

OVERALL OPINION

The Miniak has potential, full of amazing features for such a small synth, but the lack of heat and it is not practical to use. I sold it after a year to take my Novation Mininova, the vocoder seems an entirely different dimension, more powerful sound, and that what the order in real time (including a big knob for the filter).

It has the same synth engine as the micron which is excellent.
Against any damage by having replaced the aluminum housing and the design of micron with plastic and design that I find less successful ...

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use but again I prefer the micron. Particularly because of the blue to blue screen very hard to read and is in addition recessed into the panel ... brief.

SOUNDS

The sounds, since it is a repackaged micron I find it perfect. The synthesis engine provides in my opinion the best analog emulation that you can find.
Also almost impossible to detect by ear and blind if it is an emulation or analog vintage sounds. It is therefore very successful.
By Akai against invents nothing because everything was in the micron and therefore they could at least lower the price instead of increasing it.

OVERALL OPINION

Akai completely recovers a technology developed by Alesis but increase the selling price.
Worse I think the new packaging is less beautiful, less wise and more cheap than a micron. Why did you put a plastic panel if it is not to save the penny-pinching?
The angled shape of the sides is not practical at all and the fact of putting three wheels instead of one only adds clutter. I also found the 2 micron sliders actually more practical.
Basically, it is less beautiful, more expensive, cumbersome and unreasonably cheap due to the increased presence of molded plastic which as everyone knows is much cheaper to manufacture.
It only remains that sound good, but we find it in the Alesis micron has developed the machine from the ion.
Just make your choice. In my case it is seen.
I put this note for Akai creates nothing and resumed amortized technology for years and they have not invested anything in terms of creation and secondly they sabotage a product whose design and manufacture are based very successful. I hope someday you will not find only Miniak but the Micron will continue to be made!
Akai communicate as if they relaunched after synthesis in the machines produced in the 80s but it is mocking the world! They just relaunched in packaging that is more highly questionable.

It is an analog synth with a keyboard than 3 octaves, 3 dials (1 + 2 pitch modulation).

Polyphony 8 voices can play several types of sounds simultaneously with the "multi" mode, hundreds of presets categorized by types of sounds (percussion, pads, leads ...

The connections are many, I just enjoyed a USB output complement (but MIDI can communicate with a pc / mac).

UTILIZATION

The miniak is a gas plant ... it's a fact! But it is a synth where everything is modular, with the ability to sculpt their own sound, adding various effects ... said that many possibilities said relatively long learning period.

Editing sounds quite laborious, we feel that the device is not designed for direct editing (the menus are anything but intuitive), software exists for this but it pays and is not even designed by Akai ... This is pretty amazing as a way to do so, especially since the output of the instrument there is still nothing new on the site of the manufacturer.

SOUNDS

In sound nothing wrong, it's heavy, but the presets are unequal illustrate the capabilities of the machine.

It will sort of course because many sound very "dancefloor" and are typical of the 2000s prod (guetta and co) but there are also beautiful tablecloths are ideal for ambient or new age.

The keyboard is nice, upscale but not in the average of what we find on a synth, it makes you want to play and that's it the principal.


OVERALL OPINION

I own it for 6 months is a serious instrument, strong and rich in opportunity, my only regret is the difficulty editing sounds, there really is a problem at this level.

But do not spoil our fun, once you get the desired sounds fun is all!

It is an extremely versatile and modern synth that covers many musical styles.

This superb 37 in a keyboard under the carcass. You just need to know about FM synthesis and after all is, I keep it out, and being a regular user of Ableton, I love her voice like.

3 waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth pulse)

3 oscillators

2 Filters

Several effects

3 knobs (this is not enough, damage injury).

Three wheels (one pitch)

I use it just like that without my mac.

There are 640 presets, but you do not buy it for that.

Lots of styles his ancestor the micron is the same product used by MGMT and other
...

I practice the Ghetto House and now the minimum and it should be! It is suitable for all styles except classical music (we see again the nocturnes of Chopin above).

All sounds are editable.

Agreements until 8 notes.



UTILIZATION

It's a bit complicated interface, read the manual! (English)

The manual is clear except for the preset starting from a resin that is called "Default" and is located in "comp". The whole thing is quite complicated and it is unfortunate but possible.

The sound editing is tedious, but it's pretty fun.



SOUNDS

Yes, the styles are suitable for my style of music (since it is seen that the models).

The expression is great with a superb keyboard (keys are as big as real, not like the microkorg).

They are obviously not of analog string sounds.
Like lots of sounds other than typed david guetta, presets are multi nazes but not bad.



OVERALL OPINION



* For how long have you been using it?

Two months.

Did you try many other models before getting this one?

No

#
# What thing do you like most/least about it?

I love the sound and design, I just hate one thing the inclination of the screen (forces himself to stand straight and overhead, if, if, if, great for the back!).

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

Was at 299 on a balance among woodbrass that lasted just one day. (Flying monstrous bowl).

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?

No, I would buy a korg, beware this is a joke, live akai! Of course I would buy one!