Akai S2000 (1995)
Budget rack-mount digital sampler with 32-voice polyphony and 16-bit resolution, requiring boot disk startup.
Overview
The Akai S2000 is a 2U rack-mount digital sampler released in 1995 as a budget professional-grade alternative to the more expensive S-3000 and S3000XL models. It features 32-voice polyphony, 16-part multitimbral operation, and a 16-bit stereo sampling engine with selectable 22.05kHz or 44.1kHz sampling rates. The unit ships with 2MB of standard memory, expandable to 32MB using 72-pin SIMMs, and includes an internal floppy disk drive for storage and OS loading. It requires a boot disk to start up, as the operating system loads from floppy, though OS 2.0 can be run via EPROM modification. The S2000 supports up to 255 samples and 254 programs, with sound design enhanced by timestretch, crossfade looping, and a flexible APM modulation matrix.
Specifications
| Bit Depth | 16-bit |
| Memory (Standard / Max) | 2MB / 32MB (72-pin SIMM) |
| Polyphony / Multitimbral Parts | 32 voices / 16 parts |
| Sampling Rates | 22.05kHz, 44.1kHz |
| Maximum Loop Time | Up to 10 seconds |
| Display | Two-line, 16-character backlit LCD |
| Rack Size / Weight | 2U / 7.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 483 (w) x 88.1 (h) x 408.8 (d) mm |
| Standard Storage | Internal floppy drive (DD/HD, Akai proprietary format) |
| Standard Interface | SCSI (25-pin D-sub) |
| Audio Outputs | Stereo only (8 individual outputs via optional IB-208P board) |
| MIDI I/O | IN, OUT, THRU |
| Expansion Slots | Two for Flash RAM cards |
| Keygroups / Zones | Up to 99 keygroups, 4 zones per keygroup |
| Effects | Optional (EB-16 effects board) |
| CPU / DAC / ADC | NEC D-70236 / PCM69AP / AK5359 |
Design
The S2000 is built around a 16-bit CPU with a digital 2-pole resonant low-pass filter, offering keyboard tracking over one octave. It includes two envelope generators (EG1: 4-segment ADSR + Hold; EG2: ADSR + 4 times) with preset templates for piano, string, brass, and percussion. Two delayed LFOs provide modulation with triangle, sawtooth, square, and random waveforms. The APM matrix allows nearly any modulation source to route to any control input. Sample editing features include reverse, normalize, resample, timestretch, and assisted looping via Find function, though loop points are specified in samples, not time. The front panel includes a dual-concentric Data/Select wheel, two knobs, 16 buttons, and a backlit 16x2 display.
Context
Positioned as a budget spinoff of the S-3000 and S3000XL, the S2000 shares technical foundations with those models but lacks standard individual outputs. It competes with the E-MU ESI2000, released the same year. Unlike higher-end Akai samplers, it supports only a single loop per sample and has a more limited editing interface. It is retrocompatible with samples from the S900, S1000, S2800, S3000, and S3200. The unit is grouped with the S3000XL and S3200XL in service documentation, indicating close engineering ties.
Market
Current prices range from $90 to $1,015.14, with most units selling between $200 and $400. Common issues include SCSI compatibility problems and incompatibility with many CD-ROM drives. The Data/Select wheel is noted for poor tactile response, and a software bug at release prevented proper Multi saving, requiring full memory saves. Upgrades include GoTek floppy emulators, USB drive replacements, and EPROM kits to run OS 2.0 without a boot disk. Spare parts like the jogwheel encoder and SCSI fuses are available, along with expansion boards for additional outputs and effects.
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