Akai S3200XL (1996)
32-voice 16-bit digital sampler with expanded memory, standard effects, and resonant filters in a 3U rack format.
Overview
The Akai S3200XL is a 32-voice, 16-bit digital sampler manufactured in Japan in 1996 as part of the S3000 series. It features the legendary S-2000 series sound engine and builds on the base S3000 model with enhanced capabilities, including 2 MB of standard sample memory expandable to 32 MB, a standard 4-channel multi-effects board (EB16 SampleVerb), and a ProFilter DSP board (IB304F) with resonant multimode filters. Designed for production and audio/TV industry use, it was Akai’s top-end model, offering direct-to-disk recording, Timestretch, QList sequencing, and multitimbral operation. The S3200XL was widely used by electronic and dance artists in the 1990s, including Underworld on their album *Second Toughest in the Infants*.
Specifications
| Form factor | 3U rack-mountable unit |
| Production status | Discontinued |
| Polyphony | 32 Voices |
| Bit depth | 16-bit |
| Sampling rate | 44.1 kHz |
| Standard Sample Memory | 2 MB |
| Max Sample Memory | 32 MB |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI In, Out, Thru |
| Digital I/O | AES/EBU standard |
| Analog Inputs/Outputs | Balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4" phone jack inputs (parallel); stereo outputs; 8 individual polyphonic outputs on 1/4" jacks |
| Input Level Control | 3-position slider switch (LOW, MID, HIGH) |
| SMPTE | Reader/generator standard |
| Effects | 2 multi-effects processors (EB16 SampleVerb and IB304F ProFilter) |
| Storage | Internal 3.5" floppy drive, SCSI port; optional internal Magneto-Optical drive |
| Display | Backlit LCD |
| Dimensions | 483 mm (W) x 135 mm (H) x 436 mm (D) |
| Weight | 8.8 kg |
Design
The S3200XL includes the IB304F filter card, adding a second multimode resonant filter with adjustable slope and EQ, along with FX sends per keygroup for advanced internal mixing. Its editing screen is improved over earlier models like the S1100, and the "XL" designation reflects expanded memory and standard inclusion of DSP effects boards. The unit supports multiple sampling rates and bit depths, features Assignable Program Modulation (APM), and runs MESA Remote Control/Librarian Software for Mac/PC.
Context
The S3200XL was positioned as Akai’s flagship sampler in the mid-1990s, succeeding the S1000 series and offering greater flexibility than the S1100. It was part of a "clinical" sounding generation favored in professional electronic music and broadcast production. The S3000 series was described as a "workhorse" sampler, and the S3200XL stood out for its stability, capability, and integration with Mac systems via SCSI.
Market
In 2016, the S3200XL sold for $75–$250 on the secondary market, with expansion cards like the EB16 and IB304F valued at approximately £100 each. Numerous parts, including faceplates, PCBs, and OS chips, remain available. While MESA software was reported to be unreliable, the hardware is considered robust and collectible.
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