Akai S2000

Maybe a bit hard to understand in the beginning but once you get into it everything is very simple. The manual, that can be downloaded from AKAI PRO website is very "Thick" but a bit hard to understand. The "secret" of making your own program is to use the default test program and rename it and then assign samples to one or more keygroups. The manual is a bit unclear about this, and you'll have to experiment a lot, but suddenly everything will be very clear and easy.
The operating system floppy also holds some basic synth waveforms, and can be a good start for some experiments.

A polyphony of 32 is not bad. Remember that the S2000 is not new so you can't compare to new synths or samplers! There are no onboard effects but it can be expanded both with effect card and optional filter card. It has external SCSI port so you can hook up a Jaz, zip, cdrom or even a HD to it. I have managed to mount a internal harddrive and this ofcourse simplifies a lot when you handle large samples. The memory can be expanded to 32MB with standard 72pin edo simms. The loop function is simple and fast, you really don't need to see the waves to make a good loop,just press FIND until you are satisfied. There are more options if you need to fine calibrate but most of the times the FIND does the job.

The S2000 sounds good. But as always what you put in will come out, so if your sampling is noisy the result will be the same. The level meter is very handy but your ears is also important. Some people doesn't seem to understand this (Mighty Mike?)The filter is the sweetest digital filter I've heard, and the S2000 can emulate analog synths very well!
Also the modulation matrix is impressive, so you can use the S2000 as an advanced synthesizer to! I will give it a 10 here, but remember i don't compare it to new synths or samplers but to equipment from the same era, not said it sounds bad today, it still sounds very good.

It IS built like a tank! Inside everything seem's to be of very high quality.

The AKAI PRO website has the newest OS and a PDF user manual. What more can you demand on such an "old" sampler? I have also mailed a question and got an answer very quick.

I'll give it a 10 because i like it very much, and it is inspiring to work with. I know there is newer instruments but i like it anyway.
I have owned a lot of instruments and I bought the S2000 3 months ago since it was cheap and I've heard a lot of good words about it, and I can say it was a hit! Now I understand why it is a classic.

You program it with a little buttons and dials with a green display that emits laser beams and kills your eyeballs. It is not hard but it is tedious.

32mb RAM 32 note polyphony 16 part multitimbral hey it was ok for 1982 but it is kinda **** now software samplers can smoke this crap

It sounds like a Pentium 3 with a sound blaster card in it no joke except it is crappier and doesn't have a hard disk or CD rom and also only takes 32mb of memory it is a hunk of junk.

They are built pretty well I buy them remove the circuits and throw them away and keep the case for my own home built projects the circuits are junk

who cares

I guess it was cool for 1982 but you can buy a pentium 100 PC with an AdLib card and it will sound better than this

The S2000 have a wide range of functions, it'll take time to learn everything.

A lot of people will tell you it's hard to use it because of the little screen. DON'T BELIEVE THEM. Now I can do everything in minutes, not more difficult than using your computer.

Everything is simple.

The only little problem is the data selection wheel, cuz it works two ways : you can spin the inside, an move the outer wheel left and right. And sometimes when I use the outer, the inner starts moving. Maybe it's just my machine.



If you have an SCSI card+cable and download the MESA program, it'll become a very easy to use stuff because you can control it from your computer, and don't have to use the LCD.
Howewer, it's kinda hard to get the right cable.

The basic editition does everything you need except the multiple outputs. I can live without it, but yeah it'd be more comfortable if I could record all the tracks at the same time.

You can upgrade to 32 MB ram, which is enough for anything in my opinion. The sample record time is only limited by the memory. Mine with full memory lets me record 374 second sample! So you can easily sample full loops into it.

The basic stuff has only one filter, but that sounds very warm and punchy.

Now this is the main thing.

DON'T BELIEVE NOBODY WHO SAYS COMPUTERS AND AKAI SAMPLERS SOUND THE SAME WAY.

This was the only reason I bought it, and I couldn't have a better decision.

Everything I put into it, becomes more punchy and stands out better in the mix. Sounds just come alive. Maybe you won't hear it first, but once you make a full track with drums from the S2000, you'll blown away.

If you doing music on software and need some better sound, this is what you're looking for.

You can make real hits with this.

Floppies is not the most reliable stuffs in the world, so you gotta treat them careful, but if you can do that, you'll have no problem.

I suggest you to make copies of the system disk, because it's kinda hard to create a new, because the program which creates them doesn't work on new operation systems like XP or 98.

But if you lose it, download the OS from akaipro.com.


Anyway, it's a very stable stuff.

Akai still provides official support, you can get the latest OS, manual, MESA. You can buy secondhand memory upgrade or the EB16 board.

The only reason I bought it because I was making beats with software only, and I missed the real punch and groove from my music. I couldn't have done a better deal for this price.

The best stuff in the price range.

Admittedly the S2000 hasn't got the easiest interface to navigate. But while it doesn't really allow for quick experimentation, the "Page" and "Group" idea is easy to navigate and, as long as you know what you want to do with a sound, can be fairly intuitive. I like the fact that the outer select wheel can be used as a shortcut to switch between keygroups and parts, without moving the cursor from the parameter you used last. One gripe that springs to my mind is the constant need to copy samples to achieve intricate edits or loop slicing. This can get tedious, compounded by the lack of waveform editing and constant switching of "pages". All this aside, you should know what you're getting yourself into when dealing with a two-line LCD display, right?

The S2000 is pretty "lightweight" right out of the box and yes, I suppose 32 voice polyphony is low but remember that this machine was built around 15-20 years ago! The APM system is fantastic and offers modulation possibilities that even some modern outboard synths and software samplers lack - I often sample from my Nord Lead 2 to allow me to warp its sounds further using my S2000. On a minus note; The modulation sources are shared by all keygroups within each program, which can sometimes be a big limitation when creating percussion programs. If you're lucky enough to have the EB16 option installed, the ability to route external sounds through the FX, via the S2000s inputs, is a great bonus to the already incredible sound of the effects themselves. Akai could've quite easily left this idea out considering that this is a budget sampler. A very comprehensive output(/effects) routing section tops of a fine list of features.

"That Akai sound" is all about the filters in my opinion. They deliver a warm, "sweet" sound and can breathe life into an otherwise stale sample. There are even software vendors who have included emulations of Akai's -12dB filter in their products. Reason's NN19 is one example. This is testament to the quality of the Akai filter sound. You can even add three more filter types and an EQ with the optional IB304F filter board if you must. Although the DSP timestretch is rubbish at convincingly time/pitch correcting samples, I find that the gritty sounds it produces can be put to fantastic use. The A/Ds seem very clean also. You'll have no problems in that department.

Not a single crash or loss of data ever. Not one.

Akai probably don't provide support for this unit anymore. I've never needed it anyway.

I practically live for samplers/sampling and therefore know what I need to produce decent sounding material. The S2000 steps right up to the plate, grinning arrogantly from its small back lit LCD of a face. It's no coincidence that lots of people consider Akai samplers "industry standard" - It becomes clear after using one... even the lowly S2000. It's not perfect - things rarely are - but if anything this makes me love my S2000 even more. If you can get your hands on a fully laden S2000 (FX/filter/output boards fitted, and 32Mb) with Zip drive, you will want for nothing else. Akai (re)wrote the rules on samplers. Fact.

Using v2.0 of the software. Its a sampler so it has no presets.
Editing is a real pita with the little LCD display - get a cheap SCSI card for your PC, a cable and download MESA from the AKAIpro website. Contrary to a lot of folks tales, i did manage to get this setup working first time after researching the topic thoroughly (working fine on Windows XPsp2). The manual is good

Im not sure what the polyphony is on this unit. I've certainly not run out of notes - but then again it sits in a rack with an S5k, an S900 and an MPC - between them and all my other gear i have enough notes! It doesnt have any built-in effects - but you can buy an EFX card (big $$) - you'd be better off buying a more recent Akai sampler if this is the route you want to go down. Midi implementation is good. No on-board sequencer.

The S2000 sounds like all the other 16bit Akai samplers in my opinion. It is a very cheap way to get the AKAI sound. In terms of instruments - what you put into it, is what you will get out. I cant really comment about which styles of music it works for - but I have used it mainly for dance/techno - works a treat for that.

I can depend on this old workhorse. I dont think id gig with it (if i was still gigging) - simply for the fact there isnt really any mass storage options apart from external SCSI devices.

As always, i find Akai in the UK very helpful on the phone. For spare parts i always go to Cimple Spares or VST and fix it myself. There's a wealth of resources for all Akai gear on the internet - you'll have no shortage of advice for this beast.

If it were lost or stolen - would i buy it again? Hmmm no i dont think so. Unless i was broke - cause it is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get 16bit Akai samples in the mix. It was the first Akai hardware sampler i bought. Since then I've scored the Akai gear above, and i tend to reach for them first - MPC for drums, 5K for everything else and the S900 when i need a dirty fix. I love the sound, i just love the way Akai gear sounds. I dont like the UI - no one could, its just too intricate and gets in the way of me making music. If it had a large LCD and better OS, then it would be a whole lot better. As i mentioned, MESA is virtually essential.

i have had this unit for a year now i got it cheap of Ebay and wanted to see just how hard it was for our forfathers to make music, i have never used thsi unit yet i always go back to my way simpler and 10 year older Roland W30's

i dont have SCSI so mesa is out

If anyone has a " fast start " type manual for this unit plz Email me smacklikethis@hotmail.com

as far as i can work out you can only split 1 midi chan in to 2 key zones ..

OK as far as what go;s in and out it sounds good

well it hasnt crashed in the studio yet , if i can get it to do what i want it to ill take it live for sure

Akai have washed there hands of this unit now because your not ment to use it any more for god's sake get a S6000 would be ther opinion

If anyone has a " fast start " type manual for this unit plz Email me smacklikethis@hotmail.com

Bootloader 1.0, OS 2.0.

The S2000 was aimed as Hi-quality/low budget sampler. If you look closely at the board, you'll notice that it's a stripped down S3000XL, without internal SCSI connector, no integrated individual outputs/Digital I/O and no effect board.

S2k is not difficult to use, but God forbids saying it's intuitive- it is NOT! A great share of pain adds the small 2x16 char LCD and countless pages. Needless to say, your "Page down" button WILL break after a while :). However: AKAI made their MESA and ak.Sys programs free to doanload, and they're a must- importing everything is just mouseclick away, flawless, and comfortable. It doesn't work under emulation programmes, so no UNIX stuff (to my surprise, it was no problem with recognising the sampler with linux, MESA requires direct SCSI access thru it's own driver though- so no WinE)...

S2000 doesn't provide any preset except one program, one multi-setup, 4 shortcycled samples (sine, square, pulse and sawtooth wave). You'll be annoyed that there's no "starting from scratch", creating new programs is possible only via copying existing- not really a problem with MESA, but via panel it's a torture.

Manual is surprisingly good, a little "chatty", but easy to swallow.

Naked unit has 2MB internal RAM and floppy drive.

You can expand it to 32MB RAM (supposedly only EDO memory- I seem not to have luck when using FPM).

External SCSI drive (it can boot from it as well) is a must as well.

By option boards you can add a very versitale effect processor EB16 and individual outputs+Digital I/O. There's also multimode filter option.

Unit can serve as SMF player, but not recorder.

MIDI implementation is excellent. S2k responds to number of CCs and also utilizes SDS, which, although slow, allows you to dump samples via MIDI.

It's a sampler, so your mileage may vary soundpalette-wise :), to that you get polyphony assign with priority selection, monophonic legato and to that, portamento. Panning can be changed in realtime.
Camples can be looped in a way allowing them to have "release" part.

On naked unit, you'll also get 12dB/oct resonant filter- it's interesting, the character of it is harsh, but not discouraging.
Optional board gives you 24dB/oct LPF/HPF/BPF.

The architecture of sound is pretty complicated- you can assign "keygroups" (keyboard spans- max. 99)- also crossfaded, each containing 4 and/or velocity-switched keyzones (sample "channels")!
Each keygroup in zone has an amplifier, filter with separate envelopes, and at least 2 modulation sources. You're also getting two LFOs each. To that, with optional effect board you'll be getting the MOST extensive effect routing EVER! (4 separate effect groups, each 3 effect programs).

All routing can be modulated by LFOs, keyfollow, velocity, aftertouch or breath controller(!)

Not a tank, but hard to break either, you'd always need to have spare OS floppy- just in case.

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It's true that it's an entry level sampler- but you'd be lucky to get a S300+ for that price. What astonishes about it is build and sound quality, but then it's very awkward to program without external editor.
If you don't mind having it connected to the computer, this is the gear for you, sleek, fast and great in value for money.

This is the most non-user friendly piece of gear I have ever encountered. I probably spent 20 hours over a month with tech support asnd STILL never got it to sample. Finally sold without ever using it and ate $400. BTW--I;m a songwriter, not an engineer, but I've always been fairly fluent with the other gear I own. This thing was ridiculous. That's all I wanted to say, to warn anyone who might consider buying this nightmare that MAYBE Mr. Spock could operate.

Gave me lots of time, but everything they said to try did not work. And I really don't think the unit was bad--I think the tech guy himself didn't know how to get it working.

If it had been stolen I would have priased the lord, colledted insurance and done some homework before buying SOME OTHER SAMPLER.

using software version 2.1, as far as i know there are no presets, although this sampler is capable of adding some nice sounds to samples with its lfo. I found editing patches to be a bit hard for the first hour or so, but after that no problem. You may have to skip through a few menus but it becomes second nature. Didnt need the manual to work out how to use this sampler.

32 voices, velocity and aftertouch which can make this sampler a good addition as a basic synth. Sample a cool patch from your softsynths, pitch across the keyboard and play live. I dont have any effects, just 8 output board. I also have not used any midi song files in this machine, so cannot comment on that.

I sample mostly analogue synths and drum machines into this unit, as well as some soft synths. I have sat in my studio many a time, playing either my juno60 or mc202 and comparing them to the sample I had just created in the s2000 and they are so close I would have to say 99.5% of the original, mostly 100%. (i sample through mackie consoles as well as compressors, although i would still back this up as a straight recording device without desks effects) I have the sp808 and it does not even come close the s2000 in sound quality.

definitely, my initial bootup freaks about every 3 months. but if i turn the machine off and on a few times it ALWAYS REBOOTS FINE no probs :)

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this is the sweetest bit of gear in my studio, mainly for what I paid for it. It sounds very, very sweet. a great piece of gear for anyone who is after a quality sampler at a very cheap price. If you opt for the "new" flash samplers for their "features" i think once you learn more about sampling you will revert to one of these calssic quality samplers

Very hard to find out without PC software. Menu structure not balanced.

2 MB RAM, SCSI on board, add your own SCSI disk. Optional 8x output board, optional 2x FX board ($480), optional Flash board, optional 32 MB memory ($180, or $10 PC memory will do!).

Sound very flat. No noise. Clips very easil when overdriven at analog input.

VERY reliable, will never fail. Robust steel case.

Never needed except for options info.

If lost, I bought it the same day again ($500). Very fine gear, not easy to use.

Has enough controls to make any loop, any noise.