vintage Sampler roll call !!

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by living sounds

The right one is linked in some thread here, it's not much trouble if you know what you're doing.

Haven't found it yet, but I'll keep looking. See, I told you I was intrigued by your tales, so...




and to post relevant stuff for the thread, there is also an E-mu ESI4000 in a box somewhere. The S2000 did not strike me as particularly punchy and crispy but it has been a long time since I used that.

Besides that, I also used to own an A4000 and an MPC1000.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Haven't found it yet, but I'll keep looking.

If you're looking for a really good sounding sampler, try the S1100. Transposition is using sinc interpolation which Akai later removed (probably too expensive to at the time) and moved back to linear.

Damn, when you transpose stuff on S1100 it sounds just magnificent. Effects are killer too. Definitely a Rolls Royce of its time. The converter section inside can stand right next to any high end sound card available on the market today. Ok, maybe it's not 96k/24, but who cares. :o)

TBH i'm thinking of installing electric fence around mine - i can't just take my fingers of it - and it's been going on that way for months.

[SEED78]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

If you're looking for a really good sounding sampler, try the S1100. Transposition is using sinc interpolation which Akai later removed (probably too expensive to at the time) and moved back to linear.

does it have XLR outs? if so are they balanced?

sonic wise, how does it compare to the MPC3000/s3000 sound - am guessing maybe it has more grit?

I'm v interested in this sampler, although a rack ASR10 would prob make me just as happy.

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

If you're looking for a really good sounding sampler, try the S1100.

Yeah, but the reason I got this one was because of the phenomenon living sounds described - reducing the frequency of the clock to transpose up and down. Sinc interpolation is also possible in software, frequency reduction isn't. Plus, 12-bit and analog filters Also, http://www.amazona.de/index.php?page...rticle_id=4252

[xanax]

these early akai non-linear sampling and transpose technologies got me curious, what exactly happens sound wise? does it sound like slowing down vinyl/tape?

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

reducing the frequency of the clock to transpose up and down.

I thought every sampler of that era used this technology, no?

I'm 99% sure Emulator II changes the clock frequency as well.

Amiga as well. :D

Originally Posted by xanax

does it sound like slowing down vinyl/tape?

Exactly. But the most important thing is the preserved harmonic content. When you transpose something down it really starts to sound enormous. Additional charm is the low bit content which adds its own color when transposed.

[Yoozer]

I don't have the money or the space for an Emulator II. This was readily available and relatively cheap .

All I have to find is the right replacement display - the backlight of this one's dead. The display is readable without issue, but a lit display would be nicer.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

All I have to find is the right replacement display - the backlight of this one's dead. The display is readable without issue, but a lit display would be nicer.

Go either VFD or OLED. Both can fit those ultra thin EL-LCD frame sizes.

If you want cheapest, then go with EL foil from Midi-Rakete - foil type 8w (25 EUR).

Originally Posted by SEED78

sonic wise, how does it compare to the MPC3000/s3000 sound

No idea.

[Yoozer]

Yeah, but the issue is sort of figuring out which model's the correct one; I'm assuming not all 2 x 40 character displays are created equal.

edit: I think I -finally- found something.

EL backlight inverter recommendations

"40X2 Character LCD Module Module LCM = HD44780"
40X2 Character LCD Module Module LCM = HD44780 | eBay

If this works I'm just going to buy this, 20 quid is not what I call expensive, and new EL foil will eventually deteriorate as well. Unless you have a better OLED/VFD option, that is .

[living sounds]

This is the one:

40X2 Character LCD Module Module LCM = HD44780 | eBay

Works perfectly.

As for the transpose-via-clock feature - no, very few samplers worked this way, the Fairlight, the Synclavier I know of, I'm not sure about the EII. I'm positive about the S900/S950 though.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Yeah, but the issue is sort of figuring out which model's the correct one; I'm assuming not all 2 x 40 character displays are created equal.

There's no rule. I used exactly the same driver chip for LCD in MC-500MkII but the LCD never showed any characters.There seems to be an issue with the speed (IIRC) of new ones vs old ones, though they're based on the same driver. Luckily specs sheets for all those chips are available in PDF so it's easy to check which standard you have (though in my case didn't helped). OTOH on Emax I it worked perfectly.

Originally Posted by Yoozer

"40X2 Character LCD Module Module LCM = HD44780"

I don't know. Have you measured the thickness of the existing LCD PCB board?

[RobJB06]

Ive got a VFD in my S950, looks great!
Plenty of room inside for it, no hacking just drops in nicely

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by RobJB06

Ive got a VFD in my S950, looks great!
Plenty of room inside for it, no hacking just drops in nicely

Good to hear!

Before i discovered VFD and OLED my other tool was unfortunately a chainsaw.





.

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Luckily specs sheets for all those chips are available in PDF

Yeah, but then there's the issue of being able to read one correctly; I'm not a real engineer. But, I'm happy to hear that living sounds already did the hard work of figuring out whether it'd be compatible .

I don't know. Have you measured the thickness of the existing LCD PCB board?

Haven't even switched it on yet after I brought it home. No time... :(

Originally Posted by RobJB06

Ive got a VFD in my S950, looks great!
Plenty of room inside for it, no hacking just drops in nicely

Would you mind posting the model number/eBay seller you got it from?

[artech909]

I'm with Don about AKAI S1100! This model is SO great sounding this is amazing! I remember that day when after the summing mixer (Nicerizer 16) instead of my Apogee as final AD converter i was record (sample) my mix with slightly overdriven AKAI AD converters... this is what i call vintage grit & mojo for sure! Just try it!

[Yoozer]

Stop trying to bankrupt me, you horrible people :(

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by living sounds

This is the one:

40X2 Character LCD Module Module LCM = HD44780 | eBay

Works perfectly.

Cool!! Appears to be the classic LCD. Any space related problems during installation? No chainsaw requirements? :o)

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Cool!! Appears to be the classic LCD. Any space related problems during installation? No chainsaw requirements? :o)

It fits in perfectly mounted behind the metal frame (the original is in front of it). With a desoldering gun you can even use the multipin connectors attached to the old screen. And of course get rid of the inverter pcb. It looks great and makes using the S950 much more fun, I converted both my units this way now.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by living sounds

It fits in perfectly mounted behind the metal frame

Ha! That was the first thing i wanted to ask, did you mount it on the back side of that mount. Some time ago I was looking at the picture of a naked S950 and wasn't sure how they designed to mount, would it fit. That was my main worry when considered buying 950.

Ok, going to eBay now....

(and not for the LCD)

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Stop trying to bankrupt me, you horrible people :(

Ok. But add Emax I to the list.

Not just for the bird run.

One important thing we forgot to mention in this thread is data companding. We talk about an open territory to implement all kinds of data hyping in the process!! (hello Roland) And i know Emax I uses it. In its case, you can literary *hear* the magic happen to what you sample! A lot of tricks in the hardware of that machine, rather than being spec impressive, it was designed to sound impressive. And we didn't even touched the subject of its analogue section.

Also there's the interpolation thing which is performed one some samplers of that era (S900/S950) and not on some others (Emax I). Each producing its own unique and cool results. Try detuning two waveforms without interpolation, and you'll get the idea. :o)

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Also there's the interpolation thing which is performed one some samplers of that era (S900/S950) and not on some others (Emax I). Each producing its own unique and cool results. Try detuning two waveforms without interpolation, and you'll get the idea. :o)

There is no data interpolation on the S900/S950. That's the rather unique thing about it. You don't need to mess with the data if you can simply change the clocking.
The Emax does a very simple kind of interpolation that seems to preserve the time domain integrity well at the expense of massive aliasing. Which makes for a very cool sound. The old AKAIs sound really transparent in comparison, especially if you load in samples via disk or transfer. In fact it sounds cleaner and nicer than all of the plugins I've tried, which shouldn't come as a surprise as those are all forced to do some kind of interpolation, which given the the real time requirements and restrictons on CPU use always means compromise of a sort.

[RobJB06]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Good to hear!

Before i discovered VFD and OLED my other tool was unfortunately a chainsaw.





.

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Would you mind posting the model number/eBay seller you got it from?

Ahh i knew someone would ask me that! Not sure, id have too open it up to check, next time i have some free time ill see if i can open it up and look for a model number.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by RobJB06

Yes, that's why i asked for parts when you were selling them, i wanted to take your front panel. But in the end i've decided to keep this one as it is. For historic purposes! i.e. how NOT to do things, or how to DO things the Baroque way.

[xanax]

i wonder what kind of transposing the SP-1200 uses to give that massive ring modulation sound when you detune? also i might be picking up a MPC60 tomorrow, i thought it had the guts of the 950 minus the filter but just read it's specs and found this line interesting:

16-bit ADC and DAC, with data stored in special non-linear 12bit format (for lower noise)

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by xanax

i wonder what kind of transposing the SP-1200 uses to give that massive ring modulation sound when you detune? also i might be picking up a MPC60 tomorrow, i thought it had the guts of the 950 minus the filter but just read it's specs and found this line interesting:

16-bit ADC and DAC, with data stored in special non-linear 12bit format (for lower noise)

The SP12 and SP1200 use a simple interpolation algorithm, the same or very similar to the EMAX 1.

The MPC60 sounds very similar to the S950.

[Juno6]

Emulator I
Emulator II+
Emulator II+ with HxC
Emax 1 SE Rack with HxC
Emax 1 HD SE
Ensoniq Mirage with HxC
Ensoniq ASR10R
Korg DSS-1
Kurzweil K2000S
Casio FZ-1 w/memory expansion

[danceobsessive]

Great thread.

Got an akai S950 tucked away and a Yamaha A3000 (rubbish, but great features for the time). Sold the S3000 years ago.

Akais always sounded nice and crispy. Really someone should model how they sound and make a vintage sampler plugin ala what the slate VCC is for consoles.

[DrDanielX]

I haven't posted anything in here for a long time.
So I'll start with this.

Akai X7000
E-MU ESI 2000
Akai S3000XL
Akai S612 w/ MD280 disk drive
Roland S760

[SEED78]

no love for the Casio RZ1 on here?

how about the FZ-1 too?

[Goa-Dubs]

Originally Posted by danceobsessive

a Yamaha A3000 (rubbish, but great features for the time).

The yamahas are bloody brilliant man.Dont make em like that nowadays.....altho the knobs go funny.