Akai S900

The S900 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 S900 is a very good precursor to the advanced S3000 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!

Akai S950

The S950 soon followed the S900 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 S950 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.

Anoop Sahal

November 4, 2008 @ 2:46 am

My S-900 will not load samples whilst playing loaded samples. Which update allows this function?

Dan Wilson

October 29, 2008 @ 4:42 pm

The AKAI 950 has a lovely punchy, crunchy sound and lightening fast MIDI response making it perfect for Hip Hop - this is due 12 bit sampling and completely discrete output stages (there is a ton of electronics in this thing!) - Don't believe me then try firing hats on 32's at this thing and then observe how sloppy the equivalent sequence is on a much newer AKAI or just about any E-mu sampler. The EMAX II, for example, is one of the most forgiving samplers I've ever used in terms of audio - it sounds lovely - BUT - it has really sloppy MIDI timing which means it's brilliant for huge pads and useless for hip hop - quite unlike the S950. The S900 is similar but rather curiously can suffer from poor sub bass response.

One warning - this unit can suffer from nasty clicking sounds due to note stealing. Through careful sample configuration this can be overcome.

Dan, Hideaway Studio.

Frayo

September 25, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

In your studio, this is the big white box with the big red button on it that says "Old-Skool-ify" (figuratively speaking). I use the S-900 still because it's much easier and faster to sample than the Emax. It's just a 12 bit sampler. It has the usual reverse, splice, truncate, etc. It also has multiple sampling rates, and a resample at lower frequency option that takes your sample and crunchifies it. Grab the Akai AX series to put on some analog filtering (15pin cable needed). The AX-60 has slider control, making it easy to use.

Dj G.T.Sound

September 16, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

I've got the s950 and it is one of the best samplers for drums or basses. And it's cheap!!!

Lance Walter M.

September 7, 2008 @ 6:10 am

People see this in my studio and laugh. Yes, it is a dinosaur but it is amazing at doing one thing, and one thing only. This IS the best way to run a clean drum loop or sample and make it sound vintage. Like you sampled it from an old, punchy hip hop record or something.

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