Akai • S-612
The S-612 was one of Akai's first professional rack-mount samplers, released back in 1985. Some of its features included 12-bit sampling from 4 to 32kHz with loop and truncate functions, an overdub function and mic or line input jacks. Internal memory is only 128KB which gives a maximum of 8 seconds sampling time at the lowest sampling rate available. An optional disk drive that features the quick disk (QD) 2.8 inch format is needed for permanent storage of samples. Only one sample is stored to each side of the disk.
You won't be able to do much with the S-612 these days. However it bears some classic traits that may still be of interest. It features classic high and low pass filtering and an LFO for modulating and giving your sample an animated edge. It's also fairly simple and straight forward to operate, responds to external triggering and is still very well suited to any MIDI studio applications. It's definitely a limited sampler, but it makes a cheap back-up instrument that may come in handy for lo-fi sounds or triggered effects. It was Future Sound of London's first sampler.
it sounds really dirty and "Analogue" like. Like the guy above me
mentions there are two sliders that determine the End and Start
point of the sample. I've been playing around with them while my
sequencer is still going and found a way to do some really
interesting beats (with a sampled beat): If I slide the
points while the sequencer is going I get the most awesome
beats (BTW I really like IDM music). And if I put both the sliders
at the same point I get the most outrageous analogue like
Synth sound. I recommend that folks that have this sampler
play about with the sliders. It is awesome!