Akai S-950
Midi Digital Sampler (1988)

 

Rackmount sampler, a super revamp from legendary Akai S-900 keeping same sound character.

In the same year, Akai in collaboration with Roger Linn developped the AKAI MPC-60 founder of the desktop line

RACKMOUNT 3 units. Main panel features a 2 x 40 lines display, 28 buttons, 3 knobs and a rotary encoder.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- 8 individual jack outputs
- stereo main out
- Midi interface
- custom voice connector to link Akai VX or AX synths.

Front panel terminal connectors:
- mic input
- line input
- pedal trigger rec / play.

SAMPLING core based on a 8-bits CPU NEC manages 8 digital voices polyphony.
The monophonic sampling engine works at 12 bits resolution with a variable recording frequency range from 7,5 to 48 kHz - DAC BA9221
STRUCTURE: A single sample can be stretched up to a maximum of 6 octaves thanks to legendary Akai algorithms and can be modified with various edit functions:
- automatic loop points
- backward loop
- alternate loop
- Xfade smooth
- timestrech.

 

 

EDIT a single or more samples must be placed in a keygroup and once mapped they make a program. Each Keygroup features individual edit parameters:
- Midi channel
- keyboard zone assignment
- EG amplitude
- LFO amplitude
- VCF cutoff
- volume gain
- velocity switch.

 

SAMPLE IMPORT it is possible to sample dump handshake over Midi which is NOT compliant to standard SDS protocol and requires special dedicated software. It is also possible also to use the S-232C parallel port with old communication software.
TECH: s950 is retro compatible with S900 and loads S1000 series disks.

 

FILTER a 2-poles non-resonant filter based on a MF6CN a switched capacitor VCF hybrid analog-digital. VCF also features a keytrack function for keyboard note tracking.

 

 

LFO a delayed single triangular modulator vibrato with special desync option that emulates acoustic vibration feeling - the LFO can be triggered by CC1 wheel or assigned to aftertouch.

 

ENVELOPE 2 main EGs with same ADSR structure:
- EG1 amplitude for each element in keygroup (+ global BIAS)
- EG2 filter for each element in keygroup.
The special positional crossfade tracks amplitude up to +50% values.

 

MIDI all keygroups can have a different Midi channel assignment.
The S-950 feature a basic implementation with velocity and modulation.

 

MEMORY:
- 99 samples
- 198 programs.
- 750 Kb sample RAM upgradable up to 2.25 Mb using 1 or 2 custom modules EXM-006.
STORAGE floppy disk drive format 3.5 DD/HD 1440 /720 Kb capacity with auto-boot.
Floppies formatted in Akai proprietary file system: beware! S950 is not directly Ms-DOS compatible.

 

MAINTENANCE inverter NEL-D3243 power supply gets faulty and darken backlight, as replacement you can adapt a standard display for few bucks.

AKAI S-950 EXPANSION BOARDS:

	EXM006 memory expansion. Up to 2 modules can be fitted (the slot is under the sampler)
	Marion Ms9c upgrade board to 16 bits resolution.
	Ib 105 interface for Atari with digital I/o and Atari HD interface
	Ib109 more common SCSI interface. Needs EPROM OS update to 1.20B MANUAL
	Akai ME35T not really an interface but a standalone rack for drumming purposes, converter analog trigger IN to Midi IN signal VIDEO

 

AKAI S SERIES RELATED FAMILY OVERVIEW:

	S-612 (1985) the legend started here
	S-900 (1986) previous model with less memory, 720DD and 1 EG.
	S-700 (1987) upgrade version of S-612 also exists in keyboard version AKAI X-7000. It seems that a model called X-3700 was a never-released prototype or a plain hoax.
	S-01 (1987) budget sampler, basic display no SCSI. S-20 laptop version and Remix16 (and japanese 88) with improved options and memory.
	S-1000 (1988) 2nd generation cd quality and SCSI S-1100 boosted model comes with many optional boards and HD recording. S-1000KB is the S-1000 keyboard version S-1000PB playback, just plain sample reader.
	S-2000 (1995) budget sampler between s1000 and s3000 series
	S-3000 (1996) 3rd generation. - S3000XL was an update with extra (SCSI, digital) - S2800 cut-down version - S2800I with SCSI standad - S3200 added filter board + optional boards - S3200XL all optional - 3000CD includes a cd player - 3000I with SCSI standard
	S-5000 (1998) 64/128 voices, optional USB, digital I/O. S-6000 was even bigger with some standard option and detacheable display, last of the S series then replaced hen by Z family like Z4 and Z8.

 

 

AKAI S900 vs S950 both machines sound the same. The s950 features a better floppy drive with higher density 1.44 MB, higher sampler rate, optional SCSI and digital interface and memory can be expanded. The S-900 need OS4 for time stretch function and second EG- However the ASK-90 is a must have expansion for analog sequencer and this feature is compatible only to S-900.

 

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION some free samples disk resources and some plugins, however there are no official PLUGIN version of S900 sampler, but some interesting related programs:

	name	price	link	demo
	OUR FREE s900 S950 DISKS	FREE	HERE	n/a
	AKAIZER	FREE Stand alone program. It simulates the classic Akai timestretch sound.
	112db Morgana	VST COMMERCIAL (pricey) A kind of old samplers emulation.
	Unknown name	HELP! I remember and old program for atari St that tranforms samples from S900/s950 to harmonics for Kawai K5 / k5m additive synthesizer. CONTACT.	n/a	n/a

AUDIO DEMO

Disk SL-516 "Ooos" choir Disk SL-515 "Glass Bell" Disk PSL9046 "Hammond" Disk PSL9005 "moog" with cutoff demo Disk PSL9025 "Linn drum" Disk SL-554 "Latin percussions" Sampling with DSI TEMPEST Sampling with Commodore 64 Sampling with ROLAND TR-909 Sampling with YAMAHA DX-7

YOUTUBE VIDEO CLIP SELECTION Video Manual filter with external SD Cardreader

AKAI S950 MANUAL

S950 SERVICE MANUAL

-OS EPROM DUMP

HISTORY: AKAI S950 PC EDITOR One of the first PC-editor based was SAMPLEVISION for OLD PC

custom s950 black
Face - unknown designer