| Model |
Released |
MSRP |
Synopsis |
Ebay Description |
 |
1985 |
$995US |
Very basic sampler |
The Akai S612 is a 2U rack, 6 voice, 12 bit sampler, featuring a programmable analog low pass filter, vibrato, amp release, and MIDI. Sample rates are 4-32kHz (32kW RAM). Sample editing includes loop and truncate. |
 |
1986 |
$1295 |
Adds more sample memory, pressure and velocity support and an internal (vs. external) disk drive to S612 (compatible with S612 disks) |
The Akai X3700 is a 37 key, 4 voice, 12 bit sampler, featuring a programmable analog low pass filter, vibrato, amp release, and MIDI. Sample memory (192kW) can contain up to 6 Waveform, recorded at 4-40kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade, loop, resampling, reverse, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 2.8" Quick Disk drive. |
 |
1986 |
$1450 |
Adds keys and polyphony to the X3700 |
The Akai X7000 is a 61 key, 6 voice, 12 bit sampler, featuring a programmable analog low pass filter, vibrato, amp release, and MIDI. Sample memory (192kW) can contain up to 6 Waveform, recorded at 4-40kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade, loop, resampling, reverse, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 2.8" Quick Disk drive. |
 |
1986 |
$1400 |
Rack version of the X7000 |
The Akai S700 is a 2U rack, 6 voice, 12 bit sampler, featuring a programmable analog low pass filter, vibrato, amp release, and MIDI. Sample memory (192kW) can contain up to 6 Waveform, recorded at 4-40kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade, loop, resampling, reverse, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 2.8" Quick Disk drive. |
 |
1986 |
$2500 |
Adds features typical of the era |
The Akai S900 is a 3U rack, 8 voice, velocity sensitive, 12 bit sampler with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, ADSR amp envelope, auto-bend, and MIDI. Sample memory (500kW) can contain up to 32 Waveform, recorded at 7.5-40kHz. Sample editing includes loop, resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSDD drive. |
 |
1989 |
$1900 |
Bridges the S900 and S1000 lines |
The Akai S950 is a 3U rack, 8 voice, velocity sensitive, 12 bit sampler with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR filter and amp envelopes, auto-bend, and MIDI. Sample memory (500kW) can contain up to 32 Waveform, recorded at 7.5-40kHz. Sample editing includes loop, resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSDD drive. |
 |
1988 |
$4599 |
Akai's defining product. 16 bit sampler, with an massive sample library, due to its popularity |
The Akai S1000 is a 3U rack, 16 voice, multitimbral, pressure and velocity sensitive, 16 bit sampler with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR pitch and amp envelopes, and MIDI SDS. Sample memory (2MB) can contain up to 200 Waveform, recorded at 22.05-44.1kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade loops (8 points), resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSHD drive. |
 |
1988 |
? |
Adds hard drive to S1000. |
The Akai S1000HD is a 3U rack, 16 voice, multitimbral, pressure and velocity sensitive, 16 bit sampler with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR pitch and amp envelopes, and MIDI SDS. Sample memory (2MB) can contain up to 200 Waveform, recorded at 22.05-44.1kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade loops (8 points), resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSHD drive or 40MB HD. |
 |
1988 |
? |
Keyboard version of S1000. |
The Akai S1000KB is a 16 key, 16 voice, multitimbral, pressure and velocity sensitive, 16 bit sampler with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR pitch and amp envelopes, and MIDI SDS. Sample memory (2MB) can contain up to 200 Waveform, recorded at 22.05-44.1kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade loops (8 points), resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSHD drive. |
 |
1988 |
? |
Sample player (no sampling). |
The Akai S1000PB is a 3U rack, 16 voice, multitimbral, pressure and velocity sensitive, 16 bit sample player with 8 individual outputs, featuring a programmable digital low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR pitch and amp envelopes, and MIDI SDS. Sample memory (2MB) can contain up to 200 Waveform, but no sample editing is provided. Waveform can be loaded via a 3.5″ DSHD drive. |
 |
1990 |
? |
Adds standard AES/EBU and SMPTE interfaces, along with effects. Max sample RAM is 32MB (vs. 8MB in S1000). |
The Akai S1100 is a 3U rack, 16 voice, multitimbral, pressure and velocity sensitive, 16 bit sampler with AES/EBU and 8 individual, featuring a programmable digital 18dB low pass filter, vibrato, dedicated ADSR pitch and amp envelopes, effects, and MIDI SDS. Sample memory (2MB) can contain up to 200 Waveform, recorded at 22.05-44.1kHz. Sample editing includes crossfade loops (8 points), resampling, reverse, time-stretch, and truncate. Waveform can be saved/loaded via a 3.5″ DSHD drive or SCSI. |
