Cheetah SX16 (1990)
A 1U rack-mounted 16-bit stereo sampler released in 1990 with 8-voice polyphony and Akai-compatible operation.
Overview
The Cheetah SX16 is a 1U rack sampler released in 1990 under the Cheetah brand. It samples in 16-bit stereo at rates up to 48 kHz and has 8-voice polyphony. Storage is on 3.5" floppy disks. It has eight individual audio outputs, so it works well in multi-timbral setups. MIDI support includes velocity and aftertouch.
Specifications
| Product type | Sampler |
| Form factor | 1U |
| Audio resolution | 16 bit stereo |
| Sampling rate | up to 48 kHz |
| Memory | expandable to 2MB |
| Polyphony | 8 voices |
| Outputs | eight outputs |
| MIDI support | velocity and aftertouch |
| Storage | 3.5" floppy |
| Original price | $1,399 |
Market
The SX16 was listed at £799 in 1991 and 70 euros in 2009. It is still a niche unit on the secondhand market. The power supply is hard to source, and users report buying units without one. It is noted as an Akai-compatible module, so it can slot into existing sampler workflows.
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