Akai Professional AIR Iona: Classic Analog Spirit, Modern MPC Workflow

Diving into Iona’s architecture, the walkthrough details the main sound sources: pulse, sawtooth, sub, and noise. Users can blend these generators or isolate them, providing a flexible starting point for everything from classic analog timbres to more modern textures. The VCO section introduces range controls and pulse width modulation, with modulation sources available via LFO or envelope, giving users nuanced control over harmonic content.

Performance modulation is a core part of Iona’s workflow. The modulator section offers pitch modulation with adjustable speed (in Hz or tempo-synced) and multiple LFO shapes, all accessible from the main page. The video also notes the ability to customize preset color themes—a small but thoughtful touch for organizing sounds by type. The interface is designed to keep essential parameters within reach, supporting both quick tweaks and deeper sound-shaping sessions.

Iona’s effects section is presented as a creative finishing suite, offering lo-fi, delay, reverb, and EQ. Each effect can be toggled and edited individually, allowing users to sculpt their sounds with both subtle enhancements and dramatic transformations. The workflow is streamlined: effects are activated with a single click, and parameter adjustments are direct and visual. This integration means that users can finalize their patches entirely within Iona, minimizing the need for external processing and keeping the creative process contained within the MPC or DAW environment.

The video shifts focus to Iona’s sequencing and automation capabilities, demonstrating both the arpeggiator and the step sequencer. The arp section enables chord cycling, note hold, and style/gate adjustments, making it easy to generate rhythmic patterns and melodic runs. The gate function is particularly useful for cleaning up sequences at higher tempos, ensuring clarity in dense arrangements.

The step sequencer stands out for its straightforward design and depth: users can input notes by clicking and dragging, activate/deactivate steps, and introduce rests, ties, and legato. With up to 128 steps, sequences can be long and evolving, and features like sequence transposition and start-point shifting add further flexibility. The classic C3 trigger workflow is preserved, and the ability to transpose sequences via pad selection is a nod to hands-on performance. Akai’s demonstration makes it clear that Iona is engineered for seamless integration into modern production setups, supporting everything from sketching ideas to building full tracks.