The S-900 sampler was Akai's first truly professional sampler, released in 1986. Its sampling specifications were pro-quality at the time: 12-bit stereo sampling, 7.5kHz to 40kHz variable sampling rates and a maximum of 63 seconds of sample time at 7.5kHz. Up to 32 samples can be created and stored to disk along with any edit settings. This was one of the first rack-mount samplers to use a built-in disk drive. Although the drive could load sounds while you play, it was still a very slow process.

Editing and programming the S-900 is a very good precursor to the advanced S-3000 series. There are lots of advanced edit capabilities for looping, truncating, velocity crossfading, tuning and even analog-like parameters to control. Individual outputs for each of the eight voices, stereo mix out, stereo input, MIDI and trigger inputs round out this machine as a professional vintage-status sampler that still proves to be very useful even for today's musicians!

The S-950 soon followed the S-900 and offered increased memory and sampling rates. The sample rate was now variable from 7.5 to 48kHz and it could hold up to 99 samples in memory. Memory could be expanded from 750KB to 2.25MB. The S-950 is used by Fatboy Slim, Moby, Skinny Puppy, Depeche Mode, Future Sound of London, Sneaker Pimps, The Bomb Squad, Dr. Dre, DJ Premiere, Prince Paul, Vangelis, Digable Planets and A Guy Called Gerald.

33 VISITOR COMMENTS

visceralvoids

August 23, 2011 @ 5:28 pm

Used by Andrew Eldritch for all the drum parts on Sister Of Mercy's "Floodland" album (based around Yamaha RX5 and DMX toms...) I had no idea this was a 12-bit machine though.

peter

August 19, 2011 @ 7:48 am

Hello,

i am i looking for IB 109 board. It's possible to get this board or bay today. Please help.

Thanx for your reply

Irvin Cee

July 31, 2011 @ 5:26 pm

I remember the DMC remixes in thoses days where heavely (to much) sampled with this machine.

Daniel Fletcher

July 29, 2011 @ 11:00 am

Does it have analogue filter?
Which type of filter does it have, only lowpass?
Does it have a AMP envelope generator (digital) or a VCA envelope generator?

Thanks!

Daniel Fletcher of D a z z - S y n t h
www.myspace.com/dazzsynth

thebeatmarket

July 25, 2011 @ 11:39 am

@Peter. Check EBAY. Get the update on EPROM Chips. They're up there all the time.

<7654321>

 

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