Akai Racks-What is there MPC equivilant converter wise?

I'm trying to make a list for both myself, and my website. I totally fell in love with my akai s2000 rack when i found out how much i could do with modern software to both chop, and using as basically a soundcard as well. I am planning to buy atleast one more, maybe a few. I think that they are great since most of them are cheap. So, if any of you would like to help me, i would appreciate it greatly. I'll put what i know, and people can hopefully contribute what i don't and correct me where i'm wrong.

The 3 attibutes i'm looking for. The sampler name and model. The equivalent mpc model (if one exists). And if it can be used with reycle, mesa or any other software through scsi or other means (sampler/mpc/mesa, recycle, or no)

So, here is what i have thus far...

s900/mpc 60/none-(no scsi)
s950/mpc 60/mesa????
s1000/mpc 3000/recycle (only midi), mesa?
s1100/mpc 3000/recycle (only midi), mesa?
s2000/mpc 2000/recycle, mesa-SCSI
s2800/mpc 3000/recycle-(only midi-IS THIS TRUE?), mesa?
s3000/mpc 3000/recycle-midi (no scsi out the box)
s3000xl/mpc 2000/recycle, mesa-scsi
s3200/mpc 2000??/recycle,mesa-SCSI?????
s3200xl/mpc 3000/recycle, mesa-SCSI
CDs3200xl/mpc 3000/recycle, mesa-SCSI

And beyond-no mpc equivlant, basically like a 1k.

I am sure i have errors, obviously somethings i don't know. If you know of other software that works with these, please add too it. But, only software that can communicate directly with the device, i know of alot of programs to make disks, but that's not what i'm trying to do. I'm basically trying to get a list of all akai racks that you can easily use with a computer. If you have had a setup like this, plus you are always coming across cheap gear and pass it up becuase you don't know about it, you may understand why i'm trying to do this.

I plan to add other brands of samplers too, it just seems like the akai s series has great documentation.

These site will help allot, check the dates...

http://akai.brothelowner.com/jules/
http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/machi ... index.html

And this maybe too:
http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/arti ... =71&lang=0

Thanks, i had already found 2 of the 3 but i apprciate the links. I don't know if anyone else feels the same but i think taking old gear and making them function with modern components is really dope. One thing that has bugged me forever is people saying how you can't get good sound out of software because of converters. You can easily do it with a plethora of samplers.

So, i've been making a spreadsheet (i do weird things to avoid studying lol) and there are two things that i either can't know without owning a sampler, or are debatable. First, i'm trying to make a list of either stand out features that make a sampler very attractive (feature wise), and more importantly, any samplers that have very bad/problematic features, either on their own, or when used with a computer through scsi. If you can comment on something that works well or doesn't not, dope. Second, i'm trying to come up with a price for samplers that is "good" to "fair". Obviously, you can find this online but i find you can often get a much better deal than ebay, if somebody doesn't know something is actually cool, and since many of these things are not desirable, you can come up well.

Lastly, if you had a good/bad experience with a scsi card, let me know.

Sorry, this started out as me just researching for myself, then a way to waste time. It just became something where i feel there should be more documentation in a solidified format. I feel my S2000 when combined with recycle performs like a $400-500 peice of equipment and it cost me $60 total. So, why not get another one.








This is seperate but, i was wondering this. With my s2000 rack, when in record mode, it plays whatever is coming in the input through the main outs. I only have analog. Does the digital I/O do the same thing? I don't have it so i can't check. The reason i'm wondering is because i have a m-audio 24/96 i don't use. I could basically make an akai rack into an interface pretty easily if this would work. I think it would be dope to have basically a soundcard with mpc 3000 converters to go along with else i'm using. If it stays digital, it would basically be the exact same but i wouldn't have to worry about sample time, or even recording on the rack. Just software. Just an idea i have, i don't want to buy a sampler if i don't have to to figure it out.

It's interesting that you should be doing this because awhile back I was on the hunt for similar information to determine which Akai S-series sampler had the same A/D, D/A, and basic sampler engine as the MPC-3000. From that I wound up buying a S-3000i on eBay for $77.00 with shipping included. Also like you things just began to spiral out control into me just compiling the various sampler specs. Here's where I got before I gave it up:

Akai S-612

Year: 1985
Polyphony: 6
Sampling: 12-bit / 4,8,16,32 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 8 Seconds
Memory: 128kb
Filters: Analog HP,LP
Features: LFO (sine), Looping, 13-Pin Voice Out Port
Options: 2.8 inch Quick Disk (QD)
Limitations: (Lots of Em')

Akai X3700

Year: 1986
Polyphony: 4
Sampling: 12-bit / 4 to 40 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 8 Seconds
Memory: 128kb
Filters: Digital
Features: 13-Pin Voice Out Port, 37 Note Keyboard
Options: ASK70 Memory Expansion
Limitations: 6 to 16 Samples in RAM

Akai X7000

Year: 1986
Polyphony: 6
Sampling: 12-bit / 4 to 40 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 8 Seconds
Memory: 128kb
Filters: Digital
Features: 13-Pin Voice Out Port, 61 Note Keyboard
Options: ASK70 Memory Expansion
Limitations: 6 to 16 Samples in RAM

Akai S-900

Year: 1986
Polyphony: 8
Sampling: 12-bit / 7.5 to 40 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 63.3 Seconds
Memory: 750kb
Filters: Digital LP (Non-Resonant)
Features: 13-Pin Voice Out Port
Options: IB-101 A/S HD (16-bit Upgrade), ASK90 (Drum Trigger Interface)
Limitations: 32 Samples in RAM

Akai MPC-60

Year: 1988
Polyphony: 16
Sampling: 12-bit / 40 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 13.1 or 26.2 Seconds
Memory: 268kb or 1.5mb
Filters: None
Features: Performance Pads, Sequencer, FX Loop
Options: Memory Upgrade, SCSI
Limitations: No Headphone Jack

Akai S-950

Year: 1988
Polyphony: 8
Sampling: 12-bit / 7.5 to 48 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 63.3 Seconds
Memory: 750kb to 2.25mb
Filters: Digital LP (Non-Resonant)
Features: Crossfade Looping, Time-Stretch, 13-Pin Voice Out Port
Options: RDAT- Hard Disk & Digital Audio (SCSI), Memory Upgrade, ME35T (Trigger To Midi Interface)
Limitations: 99 Samples in RAM

Akai S-1000

Year: 1988
Polyphony: 16
Sampling: 16-bit / 22 to 44.1 kHz, Stereo
Sampling Time: 47.52 Seconds
Memory: 2mb to 32mb
Filters: Digital LP (Non-Resonant)
Features: Crossfade Looping, Time-Stretch, FX Loop
Options: IBI02 Atari hard disk interface, IB-103 SCSI, IB-104 AES/EBU digital
Limitations: 200 Samples in RAM

Akai MPC-60II

Year: 1991
Polyphony: 16
Sampling: 12-bit / 40 kHz, Mono
Sampling Time: 13.1 or 26.2 Seconds
Memory: 268kb or 1.5mb
Filters: None
Features: Performance Pads, Sequencer, FX Loop
Options: Memory Upgrade, SCSI
Limitations: 34 samples, 1 Set file (Pgm)

Akai MPC-3000

Year: 1994
Polyphony: 32
Sampling: 16-bit / 44.1 kHz, Stereo
Sampling Time: 22 Seconds
Memory: 2mb to 32mb
Filters: Digital LP w/ Resonance
Features: Performance Pads, Sequencer, SCSI, built in delay FX, loads S-1000 & S-3000 sounds
Options: VGA output port
Limitations: 128 samples, 24 programs, only 1 in use

Akai S-2000

Year: 1995
Polyphony: 32
Sampling: 16bit / 22 to 44.1 kHz, Stereo
Sampling Time:
Memory: 2, 32, or 48
Filters: Digital LP w/ Resonance
Features: Crossfade Looping, Time-Stretch, SCSI
Options: FMX 008 8 Mb flash memory, IB-208P 8 outs and Digital I/O, IB-304F 2nd LSI filter, EB16 Multi FX
Limitations: 255 Samples in RAM

And FYI, the MPC-3000 is related to the S-3200, S-3000(i), CD3000 & 2800(i) samplers.
Good Luck & post me the link when it's up on your sight...

Double Post...

kneebone77 wrote:It's interesting that you should be doing this because awhile back I was on the hunt for similar information to determine which Akai S-series sampler had the same A/D, D/A, and basic sampler engine as the MPC-3000. From that I wound up buying a S-3000i on eBay for $77.00 with shipping included. Also like you things just began to spiral out control into me just compiling the various sampler specs. Here's where I got before I gave it up:

Yeah, i don't know why i decided to make this much effort lol. I think it's because most s series samplers are well documented but not in the same places. I plan on getting something with a mpc 3000 sound soon, or a s950, or both (i'll ditch my s2000 then, i don't need 3). So yeah, i just felt it would be dope to have all the basic info in one place instead of searching around. I like to catch deals when i see them so this is one reason.

If you, or anyone else, are interested, here is what i have so far: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V3R0T79X

Hmm, what racks have a S/PDIF output? Or digital outs by default?

I'm thinking if the 2000XL has S/PDIF outs... then it's 'equivalent' rack sampler should right?

im pretty sure s3200 sounds more like mpc 3000 than 2000xl
and s1100 sounds like no mpc imo
i didnt like the sound personally it was too weak
but i love s1000 it sounds like a 16bit stereo version of s950 lol
this is a good thread
keep it goin!

talontsiawd wrote:

kneebone77 wrote:It's interesting that you should be doing this because awhile back I was on the hunt for similar information to determine which Akai S-series sampler had the same A/D, D/A, and basic sampler engine as the MPC-3000. From that I wound up buying a S-3000i on eBay for $77.00 with shipping included. Also like you things just began to spiral out control into me just compiling the various sampler specs. Here's where I got before I gave it up:

Yeah, i don't know why i decided to make this much effort lol. I think it's because most s series samplers are well documented but not in the same places. I plan on getting something with a mpc 3000 sound soon, or a s950, or both (i'll ditch my s2000 then, i don't need 3). So yeah, i just felt it would be dope to have all the basic info in one place instead of searching around. I like to catch deals when i see them so this is one reason.

If you, or anyone else, are interested, here is what i have so far: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V3R0T79X

i think you'd want a s3200 or s3200xl because it comes with hipass filter as standard
but s3200xl is probably better because u can use it with Recycle via scsi

Recycle does works with the S3200. The S3000 & S3000XL too for that matter.

oh really?
i thought s3000 and s3200 works with recycle via MIDI only which is slow as hell
i guess not