Akai CD3000XL MIDI Stereo CD-ROM Sampler, (10MB)

The Akai S3000XL is a 16-bit professional stereo digital sampler. The instrument has 32 polyphonic voices, and 2 MB of built-in RAM. When the S3000XL was released, it was top of the line.

Certain new functions are introduced in the S3000XL In software, the new MULTI mode of operation simplifies multi-timbral sequencing and layering whilst hardware options include a multi-effects processor that offers no less than four channels that include two multi-effects channels with distortion, EQ, ring modulation, modulation effects such as chorus, flanging, pitch shifting, auto panning and rotary speaker effects plus delay and reverb. Two ‘spare’ channels of reverb are also available providing a total of four reverbs. Add to this the second bank of optional resonant multi-mode filters and you can see that the S3000XL is a sampler that can grow with your needs.

For adding sounds to the sampler, the S3000XL featured a 3.5" floppy drive that read Akai-formatted floppies, and a SCSI port to link with an external storage device, such as a zip drive a cd reader or an external hard disk for storage of longer, or more samples. The built-in 2 MB of RAM could be upgraded up to 32 with (2x16) SIMM that Akai provided. Iomega Zip drives were very commonly used for storage and backup. This was especially important considering that the device could play back MIDI files to external MIDI devices, thus syncing samples with any number of other MIDI instruments. A great benefit was that during live performance the Akai could take the role of the computer to trigger the other instruments. Other upgrades included various extra cards such as the EB-16 & IB-304f.

Bundled with the S3000XL is a software application for the Macintosh™ computer that allows you to operate the sampler from your Macintosh allowing large screen operation of waveform and program editing, sophisticated organisation of your sound library on the Macintosh as well as the ability to integrate your sampler more conveniently with your computer sequencer.

Naturally, all sound library developed for the Akai S900, S950, S1000, S1100, S2000 and the S3000 range of samplers is compatible in the S3000XL giving you access to thousands of sounds on floppy disk, hard disk, removable cartridges, MO disks and CDROM. The ability to read CD ROMs made for other manufacturer's samplers gives access to an even further range of sounds.

The S3000XL had 8 outputs, and two 1/4" phone connector inputs, allowing for the S3000XL to operate as a hard disk recorder. The interface consisted of 32 buttons, eight of which were function keys, three knobs, and a four-key directional pad for navigating the 240x64 display, located in the upper-middle portion of the sampler.

The Akai S3000XL is widely considered to be one of the most versatile and useful samplers produced, primarily due to the large screen, and easy-to-navigate interface allowing for quick and in-depth sampling. However, there were some problems apparent in the S3000XL and other Akai samplers as age dawned on them: the LCD screen's backlight faded easily and built-in memory capacity was not so wide.

Akai S2000 is a stripped down, economic version of s3000XL featuring only 2x16 character LCD display, no internal SCSI connector fitted and was usually sold with no options installed. Regardless, it is functionally identical and accepts the S3000XL options listed below (sans internal hard disk) also including the IB-208P 8-channel output board, standard in S3000XL.

Although Akai has discontinued production and product support for the Akai S3000XL, many units can still be found working in recording studios around the world.

Standard S-Series features
32 voice polyphony 
Digital resonant filters 
Assignable Program Modulation (APM) for flexible sound control 
Powerful DSP features including Timestretch 
MultiMode for easy multitimbral setup and layering 
MESA Remote Control/Librarian Software for Macintosh 
RAM expansion (up to 32MB) with standard SIMMs 
Standard MIDI File player 
Clear, easy-to-learn user interface 
Compatibility with E-mu and Roland sound libraries 

Powerful expansion options
EB16 (SampleVerb in the US) 4-channel, studio-quality,
multi-effects board  IB304F (ProFilter in the US)
DSP board for expanded filtering + EQ 
Up to 16MB of non-volatile Flash Memory

CD3000XL features
Quad-speed CD-ROM 
8MB RAM standard 
Large graphic display 
Stereo Mix + 8 individual outputs 
S/PDIF digital I/O 
Direct-to-disk recording 

Technical info:
Sampling System: 16 bit linear 
Sampling Rates: 44.1 (20Hz~20kHz range); 22.05kHz (20Hz~10kHz range)
Sampling Times: 92.13 seconds (mono 44.1kHz) 46.07 seconds (stereo 44.1kHZ) 184.26 seconds (mono/22.05kHz) 92.13 seconds (stereo/22.05kHz)
Standard Memory: 8Mb. 
Expanded (Maximum): 32Mb (by 72 pin SIMMs) +16 (8MB Flash ROM x2) =total: 48MB Polyphony: 32 voice
Maximum Sample Number: 255
Maximum Program Number: 254
Filter: Digital dynamic low-pass filter (-12dB/octave with resonance)
Envelope Generators: 2 (1 multi-stage)
LFOs: 2
APM Functions: Provided
Hard Disk Recording: Provided 
2nd LSI: IB-304F (optional)
Multi Effects: EB16 (optional)
Display: Back lit 40 characters x 8 lines (text); 240 x 640 graphics
Internal Storage Devices: 
Floppy disk: 3.5 inch 2HD/2DD
Hard disk: KIT-SHD524 2.5 inch HD mounting kit (Optional)
CD-ROM: Quad-speed 
Connectors:
Standard Inputs: 1/4" phone jack balanced x 2 
Standard outputs: 1/4 inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 2
Assignable independent outputs: 1/4 inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 8
Digital input: RCA input x 1. 
Digital output: RCA output x 1
Headphone: 1/4 inch stereo phone jack x 1
MIDI: DIN 5P IN x 1, OUT x 1, THRU x 1
SCSI interface: 25pin D-sub x 1
Power Requirements: 120VAC 60Hz 45W, 220~230/240VAC 50Hz
Dimensions: 483mm(W) x 135mm(H) x 423mm(D) (EIA 3U size) 
Weight: 9.2kg
Accessories: AC power cable, operators manual, MESA disk x 1, Demo Sequence disk x 1, Sound disk x 2, CD-ROM Akai Sound
Library x 1

More info: Akai Pro homepage