Vintage Synth Explorer

Akai • S-900

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.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Josh

Posted 4 hours ago

Shy FX used this for most of his drums back in the day.

flo

Posted 13 days ago

i don't have one :(
but i like the sound of this old classic sampler!

Christian

Posted 206 days ago

Rush also used a lot of these per their Hold Your Fire tour book equipment list.

Shawn

Posted 280 days ago

This is also the sampler used by The KLF to record their ground breaking album The White Room. Almost every sound on the album was created on or played back from the S900 which kind of tells you what this baby is capable of. It is very easy to use, and whole lot of fun too.

mella

Posted 314 days ago

can't say much about the s900 but I have the s950 which is basically the same as the s900 with a few extra things. I recommend getting the s950 because it uses high-density floppies, the s900 uses double-density floppies which are a mission to hunt for these days. As for the sound - 12bit grit monster! :) seriously, sample anything a little 'hot' on lower bandwidths and you get a really nice gritty sound. Fantastic for breakbeats. rough sounds heaven.

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