Last Decent drum machine by Akai - And why's that...? Because it IS actually an Alesis SR18 under the hood, just with a different sound-set. Same thing they did with the Alesis Micron, where they re-skinned it and called it the Miniak ... Which isn't a bad synth as it happens. This is what happens when a large conglomerate buys out several ailing independent players (Akai, Alesis, Numark etc), then fucks them over & homogenises them.
@@Gainn - No denying that at all, i own a miniak.. But it is an Alesis Micron in a new chasis. In fact, take a miniak apart & the motherboard is actually labelled alesis micron!
The sound of the Circuit is the downfall of the unit. The XR20 sound itself is punchy and full as fuck, not thin and dated like the Circuit. Bass Station 2 and XR20 would be an absolute deadly setup!
Hello, how are you, I want to know if you can help me with a problem I have. I'm trying to connect an akai xr20 to trigger it with the multipad strike and I tried anyway but nothing, from alesis they sent me a link from you but I couldn't get it to work either, could you or do you know how to do it? I have 2 alesis strike multipad and with none I can shoot towards the akai xr20, being that in alesis I am in out and in the akai in. It would be so kind of you to do the test if it works with some special configuration please I'm from Chile and I tried 1 week in a row and nothing greetings 🙂
Can it auto quantize? I’m looking into it for a live performance type thing with maybe just an acoustic guitar and I’m wondering if it will auto quantize what I put in so it can be a lot simpler for me to make a beat on the fly
I'm enjoying working with the sounds a lot. The kits are geared towards hip hop but it can be taken in various directions. You can create custom kits too.
Yeah, that's kind of what I've started getting more interested in... hip-hop, trap and, dare I bring it up from the past, trip-hop/garage (dun dun dun). Digging how this is a standalone unit.
Curious, why didn't you just get a computer or a sampler/sequencer? You already have the controller, keys, and pads. It would have opened up a lot more options for you. Something like an old Ensoniq ASR-X or better (imo) and for little more, an EMU Ultra (e5000,6400, e4xt) on ebay. Something like that would have given you virtually unlimited sounds/sound design capability, and just look at the rear of one of those things. Just curious.
Umm , I got this really cheap used. I felt drums was my biggest gap to fill hardware wise so I filled it. I already have a IPad Pro which is my computer. It can also be pretty much anything you listed. I got it because it was cheap and filed a sound void. Plus, it has a Pretty long sequencer, which is cool.
You can hook this up to NI battery (unlimited sounds) via midi out and trigger your DAW as well. This unit also has some really good on board samples and the effects are mind bending if you use them right. Overall a very unique beat machine!
Thanks for the vid. I bought one a couple of weeks ago, but I dont like how you're unable to treat each pad/instrument with reverb/delay. It only allows to add reverb to the whole "drum kit/pattern". Any recommendations for a drum machine that allows for what I'm in need of?
Me and my nigga Kejuan where planning to learn music, Knmasayin? I teached him how to make beats, This is what he started wit This is good for beginners
all i want is that i play live a song in f major and i want a SIMPLE bass if F major and the bass is following the drum machine tempo and on and off ect.. why do they have to make it so COMPLICATED..
I’d hook up a little keyboard to the synth part via midi to do that, it’s a older machine tho and workflow isn’t as smooth as more modern devices. A keyboard will help you play parts like scales and chords tho
So I wanna start making beats and probably gonna get an mpc for Christmas and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what mpc I should go for I want something I can take wherever ya know something portable that I don't always have to plug into a computer
@@toddsmithmusic3172 it's all good :) and I wouldn't mind having to load samples, but I don't know how to do all that 🙃😂 but I would like to have something that's already had samples loaded into it, just so I can have something on the go
The PO-12 can do some cool stuff but if pretty limited in memory and sound ranges. I'll keep it around tho. Glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for watching.
@@toddsmithmusic3172 it was fun,then I wanted faster work flow, easier effect edit, more 1/4 outputs for post edit, cv, post edit midi map built in, sampling, down loadable sounds. I thought I just wanted a simple drum machine. Yet for some odd reason I have been playing a lot of what seems kinda like rap music on bass live. I got to trying to write speed metal drum tracks with it in my computer and it couldn't articulate fast drums that well on the pads so I had to slow it down and I kinda like the more electronic sounds more now.
'the Ikea XR20 First Impressions'
Hahaha exactly what I heard
I dig the 90s hip-hop feel on this drum machine
It has that vibe !
is this just as nice for hip hop lo fi electronics as the roland t8 s?
Last Decent drum machine by Akai - And why's that...? Because it IS actually an Alesis SR18 under the hood, just with a different sound-set. Same thing they did with the Alesis Micron, where they re-skinned it and called it the Miniak ... Which isn't a bad synth as it happens. This is what happens when a large conglomerate buys out several ailing independent players (Akai, Alesis, Numark etc), then fucks them over & homogenises them.
The Miniak is a great thing.
A little menu-divey..
But gloriously angry when you need it to be.
@@Gainn - No denying that at all, i own a miniak.. But it is an Alesis Micron in a new chasis. In fact, take a miniak apart & the motherboard is actually labelled alesis micron!
Wowww vintage Todd❤❤❤. Btw, my first time knowing about this.
Glad you liked it!
Nice!
The A/B/Fill function is exactly the same on the rhythm wolf too, that was interesting, and cool.
Really ?? Never knew that. That's really cool.
I miss my wolf. very budget friendly, and very versatile when it comes to syncing stuff too. A hidden gem of the "budget" synth/dm range.
Bro how do you set it up . Does need a midi. I brought it for my nephew learning to make beats.
how would you be able to do 3 hardware synths if there is only one midi input?
hey man I am having a hard time getting my xr20 to sequence external sounds from my microkorg synthesizer. Can you please help me with this? thanks
Great info man! I can't decide if I should get one of these or a Novation Circuit. Do you see these as covering similar ground?
Circuit has more parts and works with other gear better. If it's your first piece. Novation is better choice my friend.
Todd Smith cheers mate. just ordered a bass station 2 so will probs end up buying a circuit to go with it next month.
The sound of the Circuit is the downfall of the unit. The XR20 sound itself is punchy and full as fuck, not thin and dated like the Circuit. Bass Station 2 and XR20 would be an absolute deadly setup!
Does this allow you to upload samples?
No it can't my friend. Would be dope if they did a updated version
Is it possible to stack two sounds on one pad?
I don't think that's possible, I ended up giving this machine away as a prize on the channel
@@toddsmithmusic3172 Thanks. Surprising really.. the BOSS DR660 can do that, which is a cheaper and much more basic machine overall.
@@sidefish8362 It might be able too. It's been a few years =P I'm just going off gut, would not take it as 100% =)
@@toddsmithmusic3172 it's not mentioned in the manual and I'm sure they wouldn't be keeping it a secret if it was a feature..
I finally got my akai xr20
Hip Hop !
Ordered one today got for £120
Okay this is equivalent to what boss Dr xxx? And what is better? kinda like the rap beats on this one.
Hello, how are you, I want to know if you can help me with a problem I have. I'm trying to connect an akai xr20 to trigger it with the multipad strike and I tried anyway but nothing, from alesis they sent me a link from you but I couldn't get it to work either, could you or do you know how to do it? I have 2 alesis strike multipad and with none I can shoot towards the akai xr20, being that in alesis I am in out and in the akai in. It would be so kind of you to do the test if it works with some special configuration please I'm from Chile and I tried 1 week in a row and nothing greetings 🙂
Can it auto quantize? I’m looking into it for a live performance type thing with maybe just an acoustic guitar and I’m wondering if it will auto quantize what I put in so it can be a lot simpler for me to make a beat on the fly
But can it lofi hip hop
I imagine yes =)
Neat little unit =) How do you like the quality of the sounds that shipped with it?
I'm enjoying working with the sounds a lot. The kits are geared towards hip hop but it can be taken in various directions. You can create custom kits too.
Yeah, that's kind of what I've started getting more interested in... hip-hop, trap and, dare I bring it up from the past, trip-hop/garage (dun dun dun). Digging how this is a standalone unit.
This machine has a very dirty 90s hip hop / trip hop feel. I've seen 2 on CL used in my area for 99$. I'm digging sequencing it from my iPad.
ooOoo... i'm all for budget gear at the moment unlike some of the folk in your FB group who own, like, $30K in music gear!
I'm a 100% budget musician. Yes, some people have MASSIVE setups. I've found it's best to keep your head down, focus on your gear. 🙃
Curious, why didn't you just get a computer or a sampler/sequencer? You already have the controller, keys, and pads. It would have opened up a lot more options for you. Something like an old Ensoniq ASR-X or better (imo) and for little more, an EMU Ultra (e5000,6400, e4xt) on ebay. Something like that would have given you virtually unlimited sounds/sound design capability, and just look at the rear of one of those things.
Just curious.
Umm , I got this really cheap used. I felt drums was my biggest gap to fill hardware wise so I filled it. I already have a IPad Pro which is my computer. It can also be pretty much anything you listed.
I got it because it was cheap and filed a sound void. Plus, it has a Pretty long sequencer, which is cool.
Right on. Looking forward to another jam.
You can hook this up to NI battery (unlimited sounds) via midi out and trigger your DAW as well. This unit also has some really good on board samples and the effects are mind bending if you use them right. Overall a very unique beat machine!
Thanks for the vid. I bought one a couple of weeks ago, but I dont like how you're unable to treat each pad/instrument with reverb/delay. It only allows to add reverb to the whole "drum kit/pattern". Any recommendations for a drum machine that allows for what I'm in need of?
This is not true. You can set individual reverb or delay effects in the Pad Setup menu.
@@neurology.8065 thanks for info bro
Me and my nigga Kejuan where planning to learn music,
Knmasayin? I teached him how to make beats,
This is what he started wit
This is good for beginners
Yes,it's a great starting machine =)
A Kia? - Sounds like a Swedish furniture shop.
Great video. Is it possible to connect the akai to guitars pedals?
Absolutely not gonna say I know.
all i want is that i play live a song in f major and i want a SIMPLE bass if F major and the bass is following the drum machine tempo and on and off ect.. why do they have to make it so COMPLICATED..
I’d hook up a little keyboard to the synth part via midi to do that, it’s a older machine tho and workflow isn’t as smooth as more modern devices. A keyboard will help you play parts like scales and chords tho
wow! you can do all that in xr20 not bad
It's a decent little drum machine. If you can pick one up used at a good price jump on it !
thanks dude
@@toddsmithmusic3172 got mines from the pawn shop for around 100 bucks
So I wanna start making beats and probably gonna get an mpc for Christmas and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what mpc I should go for I want something I can take wherever ya know something portable that I don't always have to plug into a computer
Pls help guys :(
Sorry for the delay my friend. Are you looking to load samples ?
Work has been mad busy, I'm not full time You Tube =(
@@toddsmithmusic3172 it's all good :) and I wouldn't mind having to load samples, but I don't know how to do all that 🙃😂 but I would like to have something that's already had samples loaded into it, just so I can have something on the go
This is good if y ou want just a drum machine. MPC Live is pretty decked out and modern.
Waiting for jams with new drums! actually I am a bit bored by po-12)
The PO-12 can do some cool stuff but if pretty limited in memory and sound ranges. I'll keep it around tho. Glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for watching.
What all would I need with this to start making beat like I’m saying what else would I have to buy to sit down and make beats?? Like a speaker or what
Yea, at the start speakers or headphones would work. You might need a adapter to make the wire correct size but those are cheap
where the hell do you get uh-keee-yah when it's spelled A K A I?
How many songs it can hold?
100
400
100
great video Todd :)
Glad you enjoyed it my friend !! Loving the drum machine.
Not AKIA but AKAI, sir.
=)
Doesn't have two midi inputs
Nope, just one my friend.
@@toddsmithmusic3172 it was fun,then I wanted faster work flow, easier effect edit, more 1/4 outputs for post edit, cv, post edit midi map built in, sampling, down loadable sounds. I thought I just wanted a simple drum machine. Yet for some odd reason I have been playing a lot of what seems kinda like rap music on bass live. I got to trying to write speed metal drum tracks with it in my computer and it couldn't articulate fast drums that well on the pads so I had to slow it down and I kinda like the more electronic sounds more now.
Use what works for you and don't question it broskies !!Sound like you're figuring all that out already, Stay creative !!
Did he just call it a ikea?
Yes and you have my dads name
Ikea??
You know this @
AKA-EEEE
🤙
IKEA?
They have amazing chairs
Lol the ikea
=)
All I see is your monotron. Lol.