Akai S612

The S612 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 S612 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.

25 Visitor comments

Raf

June 1, 2012 @ 11:18 pm

Great for experimental music, the s-612 is as fun as a yamaha vss-30/casio sk-10 but with great 12 bit converters, loop point controls, analog filter, midi and rec level. The power of this sampler is in it's limitations. You don't get lost in menus and infinite options. It's easy and fun to use. Voila! The only hardware sampler I will ever need.

Richard

March 9, 2012 @ 3:01 am

Lots of fun, and a bit of work. Most fun feature for me were the start and end point sliders, which you can cross for some crazy looping frenzies. Bulky and completely superseded by almost any other sampler, with a (now) ridiculously huge optional Quickdisc drive, it'll always raise a smile with any gearslut with a soul. Don't pay a lot, but expect to be surprised by how creative you can get on this very limited but cute relic. Most importantly: it has an earthy growl to anything you sample into it that will always have a place, somewhere.

bruceharty

February 5, 2012 @ 11:26 am

if anyone has one of these in good condition with or without a disk drive, I'd love to buy it! zphillips at gmail

MSNOOP

November 21, 2011 @ 5:44 pm

This is a fantastic highly usable piece of kit. Many talk of moving the sample sliders for glitchy fx which is cool. But what I really like about this thing is the 12 bit sound. Take any bass sound from any of your synths and sample a note and listen to how well that bass sound suddenly fits in to the mix.

Ive also put whole drum kits through this, sampled each sound and then transferred to one of my other samplers. Wow, does it sound really good. Different to an MPC 60, maybe even better..in a crunchy cool kind of way. Takes some effort but be assured results are well worth it

Pablo

August 23, 2011 @ 10:39 am

I always wonder how Matthew Herbert did their records albums, and i saw a video where he use one of this. I bought mine and is some of the best distintive gear a have, nothing sound like this one. I really love it. Very simple and intuitive.