AKAI AX73 & AX60 Overviews

Akai's AX73 // Modern Features, Vintage Sounds // 1986 Seems Dope video upload by Jorb

"An overview of my new favorites analog poly, Akai's AX73.

Akai AX73 Parameter Magnet : https://reverb.com/item/45506569-akai...

0:00 Intro / Overview
3:40 Patch Demos
11:42 Oscillator Programming
14:14 CEM3394 Mention
14:43 Pulewidth on EVERY WAVEFORM?!
18:14 Filter Programming
22:11 Envelope
25:13 Amp & LFO
28:05 Voice Modes
31:25 Midi Splits
34:03 Chorus
35:36 Conclusions"

Akai AX60 // What Makes it So Unique? // Patch Walkthrough & Breakdown

video upload by Jorb

"A hands on patch breakdown of the Akai AX60, one of my personal favorites.

Its a powerful, yet finnicky keyboard, and I do my best to demonstrate some of its most interesting qualities to help any interested parties. Hope it is of use to you!

I consider this to be sort of a technical companion piece to my Horror movie special, Resonant Screams : [posted here]

I mention the Tauntek mod, here's a link to where you can get it. I'm thinking of getting this, if you have any insight please share it! : http://www.tauntek.com/AX60.htm

I mention the sampler connectivity, here's a link to a video where espen craft covers this synth, and that function in detail : [posted here]"

SIEL Opera/Dk600 Expander EX600 - HD Demo (1985)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Alberto Napolioni

"SOME IMPROVISATIONS...
Testing a Rare SIEL EX 600
It is the Rack version of the Siel Opera 6 / Dk600.

Here with upgraded mod with CC midi controlling.


Fx used:
Oto bam reverb
Oto bim delay"

Siel MIDI Expander SN 212/33 w/ TAUNTEK MIDI Mod + Case via this auction

"Ideal for those who want the amazing sound of Siel Opera 6/Dk600 but need space in studio.
Or for who have already a Siel Opera 6/Dk600 and want to play with a monster doubled voices (12 voices x 4DCOs) turning your Siel Opera in a polytimbric synth with split mode.

Comes with TAUNTEK upgrade installed on it which gives all these new features:
1) all controllers, except for the two wheels, of the expander can be controlled via midi (CC)
2) omniMode
3) all sounds can be loaded in one go via midi."

CLICK FOR MORE »

MIDI Designer Editor for Kawai SX-240 w/ Tauntek Mod

You can find the editor here.

"With the great firmware update by Bob Grieb (tauntek.com) it's finally possible to control all parameters of a Kawai SX-240 via MIDI. Here's the MIDI Designer layout for the iPad to make full use of the new capabilities of this firmware update."

Oberheim Matrix 6 with Tauntek Upgrade & Stereoping Controller 1016R

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This monster synth is in mint condition and recently serviced . Comes with the tauntek upgraded operating system and the stereo ping controller . This Matrix 6 truly needs the controller and patch editor to unleash its full power , and it’s part of this deal !"

CLICK FOR MORE »

AX60 Tauntek Installation // Issues Solved with Modern Firmware

video upload by Jorb

"http://www.tauntek.com/AX60.htm

Undeniably impressive work, happy to show it off, even for a bit.

I also have a chip for an AX73 mod, but there's not much of an installation to demonstrate, just plugs in."

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 W/Tauntek Upgrade V3.3

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This baby is in very nice shape and working perfectly. It has the Tauntek V10.6 firmware upgrade which adds many midi features..

One of the first fully programmable polyphonic analog synths, the Prophet 5 is the most classic synthesizer of the eighties! It is capable of a delightful analog sound unique to Sequential's Prophet series in which the P5 was King! Five voice polyphony - two oscillators per voice and a white noise generator. The analog filters, envelope and LFO all sound great and are extremely flexible. The P5 had patch memory storage as well, which scanned and memorized every knob setting for storing and recalling your sounds - a desperately needed feature at the time!
Rev 3.3 is capable of taking a MIDI retrofit, (Which this has)."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland CR-78 w Tauntek MIDI mod (FULLY SERVICED) SN 945925

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

"This one has the amazing TAUNTEK upgrade installed on it which adds these unique features:

MIDI clock, in, sync.
Custom Patterns program editing using the WS-1 method, but now without needing the rare WS-1!!
MIDI module mode, which let you control and play each individual sound (kick, snare, hi hat, tom, ecc)
15 User programs for saving your patterns
no battery installed anymore
FULLY SERVICED by pro tecnician

100% perfectly working conditions

Amazing aestetics conditions (just some marks on the wooden case)

This one was lucky to not suffered of usual battery leakage. Inside circuitry is perfect."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Vintage Synthesizer (TAUNTEK MOD)

Published on Jul 17, 2017 NIGHT SKY SOUND

"This is a custom Prophet 5 analog synthesizer which has been fully-restored, calibrated and has had the Tauntek Mod added. It also features 100 CUSTOM patches by synthesizer guru, Steve Donato. This video shows some of the sound design included with this vintage synth."

See this new post for details on this Prophet-5.

MIDI Designer layout for Crumar Bit 01 w/ Tauntek Mod

via MIDI Designer

"With the great firmware update by Bob Grieb (tauntek.com) it's finally possible to control all parameters of a Crumar Bit 01 via MIDI. This MIDI Designer layout for the iPad has been tested with a Crumar Bit 01, but should in theory also work with a Bit 99 and to some degree also with a Bit One. Since I only have a Bit 01 here, I couldn't test it myself, but comparing the CC maps of the three synths they look basically compatible (Bit 99 does not have Detune / Noise though, but CC's are otherwise identical).

Note: To use this layout please ensure your device is in Lower, Edit (Address) mode. CC's are only accepted in this mode. Please also note that you will exit this mode when changing a program (e.g. via the Up/Down steppers in this layout). So, after changing a program you'll need to manually enter the Lower, Edit (Address) mode again."

You can find the template here.

Akai AX80 Synthesizer w/ Tauntek Firmware Upgrade

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar Bit 01 demo with midi controller

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Here is a demo of this italian 6 voice analog polysynth i'm selling (via this auction)
Unit was upgraded with the great Tauntek firmware and can now be controlled remotely over midi by Control Change with any controller.
In the demo I basically flip through the unit presets and edit some of them on the fly just to show how easy it is now to program this otherwise austere synth.

I didn't demo the bi-timbral feature of the rack. You can have 2 different presets, lower and upper, either layered ("double") or split. Lower and Upper parts can have their own audio output.
Preset from 76 to 99 are allocated for the performance presets and need to be dialed in (you can't use the + and - value switch to select those like I did on the video)."

SN 00522 via this auction

"Italian 6 voice analog polysynth. This is the CEM 3328 version, not the SSM 2044 one, in the rare white colour.

This unit was serviced and upgraded and is in perfect working condition, see video.
What was done:
- power supply capacitors were replaced
- new battery was installed
- Tauntek new firmware eproms were installed. You can now control the unit directly over MIDI with CC with any hardware or software controller
- Midi thru socket was modified so that you can export your preset by sysex dump over midi (original could only export presets through the "tape" function)

It also comes with some goodies (well especially for french speaking person)
- original owner's manual + preset lists (in french)
- original schematics diagram
- original Crumar Bit range advertissement (in french)
- original inspection card from factory (this unit came out from factory in November 1985)

Condition is very good with only minor scuffs to the nice white metal paint."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel Opera/DK600 Expander RARE + Tauntek mod (SERVICED) SN 315/272

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

You can find a demo of this unit posted here.

Pics of the inside below.

"FULLY SERVICED by pro tecnician.

Comes with the TAUNTEK mod installed on it (it enables CC midi controlling and many other features..i ll provide also the Maxforlive/Reaktor devices to control it in any Daw)

New Battery installed.

This Expander Ex600 combined with another SielOpera6 or DK600 let you expand voices from 6 to 12 simultaneously, keyboard splitting and layering and much more."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tauntek Rhodes Chroma Dual Channel Board Tester

via Tauntek

"I have been thinking for several years that I would like to design a test fixture for Chroma voice boards, to allow stand-alone testing with easy access to the circuitry. Initially I was planning to have the tester automatically run through a number of tests and give an overall pass/fail result. But I decided it would be better to offer tests that would be helpful in evaluating a board, and let the user make the decisions. In addition to the tests, I implemented a full manual mode, with control over all parameters. The tester requires +/- 12.0 volts DC, well regulated as these voltages power the voice board. Current limiting would be nice, if possible. The tester and voice board together draw less than 150 mA from either supply.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim OB-1 Mk 1 Analog Synthesizer SN 0197 w/ Tauntek Upgrade

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Recently serviced, calibrated, and upgraded by Analog Synth Service (early 2020) in Oakland, CA

So this OB1 has better-than-original functionality, as it has the upgraded Tauntek Programmer board, which adds the following features to an already powerful synth:
1) 64 programs (8 banks w/ 8 programs each)
2) Programs are stored in non-volatile EEPROM. No battery needed. YAY!
3) After a program is loaded, only controls that have moved are "live", so patch editing is now possible
4) Manual mode forces all controls to be "live"
5) Comes with 24 pre-programmed patches, which can be over-written later if you chose
6) 20-turn trimpot for easier one-time oscillator tuning adjustment"

CLICK FOR MORE »

1984 Akai AX-80 Restored & Future Proofed w/ Latest Tauntek Firmware

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Whoa, what an under-rated analogue BEAST ! We proudly present to you the 8-voice Curtis chip Akai AX-80 !

Our technicians have lovingly restored this unit and future-proofed it so that it's good for another 40 years !

ALSO, this unit features the wonderful upgraded OS from Tauntek--latest version.

All functions tested, re-tested, and tested a third time. Everything works 100%.

The AX-80 was made popular by Mark Bell (LFO) on Bjork's Homogenic."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Kawai SX-240 *Serviced and Upgraded*

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is a fantastic sounding synth, and quite a hidden gem. This particular unit is in great condition physically and 100% functionally. Any cosmetic blemishes are small and pictured.

The following work/upgrades have been performed:

-New coin cell battery and holder

-Several tact switches replaced, all others cleaned

-Encoder desoldered and cleaned

-Full calibration

-Standard IEC cable socket installed

-All new flush-mount LEDs

-All new Tauntek OS which really fleshes out the MIDI spec of the kawai. (Google Tauntek SX-240 for more details...)"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel Opera 6 SN 292/316

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Opera 6,super technischer und optischer Zustand, kleine Kratzer, siehe Fotos
Tastatur komplett zerlegt u gereinigt, neue Batterie, factory sounds, frisch kalibriert,

mit neuester Firmware, Version 10 von Tauntek, siehe Video (ich bin Vertrieb für Deutschland):
alle Controller lassen sich über midi steuern (ausser den 2 wheels)
alle Sounds lassen sich in 1 Take über Midi laden und speichern
mitgeliefert werden Editoren für Logic, Reaktor, Max4live, und ein Patch für die BCR2000"

Googlish:

"Opera 6, great technical and optical condition, small scratches, see photos
Keyboard completely disassembled and cleaned, new battery, factory sounds, freshly calibrated,

with the latest firmware, version 10 from Tauntek, see video (I am a distributor for Germany):
all controllers can be controlled via midi (except the 2 wheels)
all sounds can be loaded and saved in 1 take via midi
Included are editors for Logic, Reaktor, Max4live, and a patch for the BCR2000"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar BIT 01 SN 00747 / Serviced and Upgraded w/ Tauntek Firmware

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Italian 6 voice analog polysynth. This is the CEM 3328 version, not the SSM 2044 one, in the rare white colour.

This unit was serviced and upgraded and is in perfect working condition. Tauntek new firmware eproms were installed. You can now control the unit directly over MIDI with CC with any hardware or software controller"

Demo in the listing for another unit, SN 00522, posted here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Akai AX80 with Tauntek OS SN 00620-36534

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"AX80 polyphonic synthesizer with Tauntek firmware installed for realtime modulation of parameters via MIDI CC. Includes Akai operator's manual and other supplemental materials. Original firmware EEPROM is included as well. Please review the pictures for the item's cosmetic condition. The display meters are functioning correctly, and everything else is working as expected."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel: Firmware 10+CC and Editors max for live Logic Reaktor BCR2000 for Opera6 Kiwi DK600 Expander

video upload by

"neue Möglichkeiten für Siel Opera6, Kiwi, DK600 und Expander:
danke der neuen Firmware10+CC von Bob Grieb, www.Tauntek.com
und neuen Editoren für Max for Live von Clemens Bergthaller, Atlantik; Logic Audio, Reaktor und einem Patch für die Behringer BCR2000 sind dies Synthis über midi automatisierbar, Sounds lassen sich über Midi speichern u laden. Das Video zeigt die neuen Features, viel Spaß"

Googlish:

"new possibilities for Siel Opera6, Kiwi, DK600 and Expander:
thanks to the new Firmware10+CC from Bob Grieb, www.Tauntek.com
and new editors for Max for Live by Clemens Bergthaller, Atlantik; Logic Audio, Reaktor and a patch for the Behringer BCR2000, these synths can be automated via midi, sounds can be saved and loaded via midi. The video shows the new features, have fun"