Akai CD3000XL (1996)

Name: Akai CD3000XL
Brand: Akai

A 32-voice stereo digital sampler with CD-ROM and hard disk recording, released in 1996 as Akai's second dedicated CD-ROM sampler.

Overview

The Akai CD3000XL is a stereo digital sampler from 1996. It builds on the S3000XL and follows the original CD3000, the world’s first dedicated CD-ROM sampler. It has 32-voice polyphony and 16-bit linear sampling at 44.1kHz and 22.05kHz. It also has a built-in quad-speed CD-ROM drive and a 3.5-inch HD floppy disk drive. It does direct-to-disk recording, MIDI sample dumps, Standard MIDI File playback, and data backup via DAT. It loads samples and programs from Akai S-series, E-mu, and Roland formats. MESA Remote Control/Librarian Software for Macintosh comes bundled.

Specifications

Production Year	1996
Polyphony	32-voice
Bit Depth	16-bit linear
Sample RAM (Standard / Max)	8MB / 32MB (72-pin SIMMs)
Sampling Rates	44.1kHz, 22.05kHz
Sampling Times	92.13 sec (mono 44.1kHz), 46.07 sec (stereo 44.1kHz), 184.26 sec (mono 22.05kHz), 92.13 sec (stereo 22.05kHz)
Max Sample Number	255
Max Program Number	254
Filter	Digital dynamic low-pass (-12dB/octave with resonance)
Envelope Generators	2 (1 multi-stage)
LFOs	2
Display	Backlit 40x8 text; 240x640 graphics
Rack Height	3U (483mm W x 135mm H x 423mm D)
Weight	9.2kg
Audio Outputs	8 assignable 1/4" unbalanced + master L/R 1/4" unbalanced
Audio Inputs	2 balanced 1/4" jacks
Digital I/O	S/PDIF RCA in/out
Headphone Output	1/4" stereo jack
MIDI I/O	IN, OUT, THRU
SCSI	25-pin D-sub
Data Storage	Built-in 3.5" HD floppy drive
Optical Drive	Built-in quad-speed CD-ROM
Optional Storage	KIT-SHD524 2.5" HD mounting kit
Power Requirements	120VAC 60Hz 45W or 220–240VAC 50Hz
DSP	L7-A1045 (designed by Roger Linn)
Sample Format Compatibility	Loads Akai S1000, S900/S950, S1000/S1100, E-mu, Roland data

Design

The front panel carries a power switch, the CD-ROM and floppy drives, a backlit LCD with soft keys, Mode keys, a data wheel, cursor keys, increment/decrement buttons, Record Gain and Main Volume knobs, and dedicated Mark, Jump, Name, and Enter/Play keys. All told that is 32 buttons (eight of them function keys), three knobs, and a four-way directional pad for navigating the 240x64-pixel graphical display. LCD contrast is adjustable, and the backlight can be toggled. The rack ears have reinforcing brackets attached to removable side plates. Inside, it is laid out like a 1990s desktop computer in a sturdy metal chassis. It runs software from ROMs, with optional Flash ROM for fast storage. It supports SCSI-connected external hard drives and includes internal effects and APM functions.

Context

The CD3000XL belongs to the fourth wave of Akai rackmount samplers. It was Akai's second dedicated CD-ROM sampler, after the original CD3000 from 1993. It inherits the 32-voice polyphony, expansion options, DSP functions, and other features of the S3000XL. It can run in "Old Akai" Mode, and its manual appendix includes an "S3000XL Synthesiser Panel". It supports hard disk recording, song chaining, global tuning, and MIDI file playback, which made it a high-end sampling workstation for its time.