Akai S2000
The S2000 is a professional and user-expandable studio sampler. The base S2000 model comes with 2MB sample memory which can be expanded to 32MB. Sampling specs are variable from 22kHz to 44.1kHz sample rates in stereo or mono and at 16- or 8-bit resolutions. All the necessary edit tools are here: time comp/exp, tune, pitch shift, truncate, looping, key placement, velocity effects and more. Up to 32 voices of polyphony, complete MIDI implementation, a built-in disk drive and a SCSI interface prepare this sampler for any situation.


Upgrade the S2000 as your needs grow. Up to eight outputs, digital I/O, four effects processors, expanded filters, EQ, and alternate internal disk storage mediums can be added to the S2000 making it more and more like an S3200 series sampler. The S2000's only fallback is its small LCD display screen, but that can be bypassed via an external editor. The S2000 makes the perfect entry-level studio quality sampler that can grow with you into a very professional instrument. It is used by Moby, Underworld, and The Avalanches.
- Demos & Media
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Manual - Click this link to download the Akai owner's manual for the S2000.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 32 voices
- Sampler - 22 to 44.1 kHz sample rates; 8-Bit or 16-Bit
- LFO - 2 LFOs
- Filter - 12 dB resonant filtering
- Effects - Up to 4 effects
- Keyboard - None
- Memory - 48 MB: 2 MB expandable to 32 MB + 16 MB ROM Card
- Control - MIDI (16 channels)
- Date Produced - 1995
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.

I have to smash something to calm down
a S2000 for example
Have a question 'bout my S2K - it's a pain in the _ to find SCSI peripherals for it these days, but i found one external HD on ebay that's EMU formatted and also filled with samples, whole bunch of them also EMU format. Will the Akai recognize/work the EMU formatted HD? Also, will it load EMU format samples? The manual says yes to both questions, but i'm not so reassured - does anyone have any experience? Thanks for any help!
The OS can be loaded from an external SCSI device (I use a Zip drive).
NOT the best sounding 16 bit sampler (I have Emu E5000, Roland S770, Kurz K2000 & K2661, Yam A5000) but integration with the PC thru Mesa was better than any other and sound was OK.
Synth architecture basic. Reasonant LP filters horrible sounding, but this machine can produce some usable pads.
EB16 flexible if tinny with 2 rev and 2 multi fx happening at once on individual sends, can also route ext audio through from the sampling inputs.
Indiv outs do not subtract signal from main outs - useless!
Still better than 2-D metallic software drums.