Akai S1000

The Akai S1000 is the sampler that brought CD-quality sampling to the studio rack. Launched in 1988 as the 16-bit, 44.1 kHz successor to the 12-bit S900, it became an industry standard and its sample format is still read by samplers today.

History and specs

The S1000 samples in 16-bit stereo at 44.1 or 22.05 kHz with 24-bit internal processing and 16 voices. Memory starts at 2 MB and expands to 32 MB, far more sample time than the S900. It has an 18 dB/octave digital filter, two envelopes per voice and eight individual outputs. Reviews of the day priced it well below the E-mu Emulator III, which helped it take over studios. Variants included the S1000HD with a 40 MB hard disk, the S1000KB keyboard and the S1000PB playback unit, and the S1100 (1990) added effects and SCSI.

Where it fits in hip hop

Next to the 12-bit S950 and SP-1200, the S1000 sounds clean and full-range, which is why producers chasing grit often stayed with the older machines. Its best-documented users are electronic and pop acts, including 808 State, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Portishead, Boards of Canada, Moby and Fatboy Slim. Hip hop use is less documented than the S950 or the MPC.

Buying one today

S1000s are uncommon but not rare. The usual failure points are the floppy drive, capacitors and the display backlight. Check how much memory is installed and whether a hard disk or SCSI option is fitted. Akai S1000 and S3000 sample libraries are still widely traded.