Akai S1100 sampler

The Akai S1100 is a digital sampler that was first released in the late 1980s. It is one of the first sampler in the market and was considered a pioneer in the world of sampling technology. The S1000 was among the first professional-quality 16-bit stereo samplers. Its abilities to splice, crossfade, trim, and loop music in 16-bit CD-quality sound made it popular among musicians, producers, and composers in a wide range of genres.

The S1100 is a rack-mountable unit that features a variety of inputs and outputs, including MIDI and S/PDIF. It has a maximum sample rate of 48kHz and a maximum sample memory of 512MB. It also has a built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, which allows users to save and load samples and programs.

One of the key features of the S1100 is its sample editing capabilities. The sampler allows users to edit samples in a variety of ways, including pitch-shifting, looping and time-stretching, a feature that allowed the music's tempo to be adjusted without its pitch being altered. The sampler also includes a built-in filter, which allows users to shape the frequency response of their samples. Additionally, the S1100 has a built-in arpeggiator, which allows users to create complex, evolving patterns with their samples.

The S1100 also includes a variety of performance-oriented features. The sampler has a built-in step sequencer, which allows users to create complex rhythmic patterns. Additionally, the sampler includes a powerful modulation matrix, which allows users to modulate various parameters of their samples in real-time.

The S1100 also has a large library of preset samples which can be used to create complex soundscapes and add depth to productions. Additionally, it is compatible with Akai's own proprietary sample library format, which allows users to easily load and use samples from other Akai samplers.

The Akai S1100 was widely used in the music production and live performance during the 90's, it was a favorite for electronic, hip-hop, and other genres that relied heavily on sampling.

The advert of the S1000 paved the way for Jungle music, which later evolved into Drum and Bass. The ease with which it could be used and the high sound quality that it produced created an evolution from the rougher Hardcore genre that preceded Jungle.

The S1100, released in 1990, is an expanded and enhanced version of the S1000 (originally released 1988).

The S1100 was a powerful and versatile sampler that helped to shape the sound of many genres of music. Even though the S1100 is not in production anymore, it is still sought after by many musicians, producers and composers today.

Used:

In 90s Liam used to have all the live stuff stored in two Akai S1110 samplers. These babies can be seen in his old equipment rack that he used for live shows. These samplers were also used heavily in the studio back then.

Liam's old rack setup from 1996

Sampling System	16 bit linear
Sampling Rates	44.1 kHz / 22.05 kHz
Memory	2 MB (standard) / 32 MB (expanded)
Polyphony	16
Maximum Samples	200
Maximum Programs	100
Recording Gain	HI = -58 dBm / MID = -38 dBm / LOW = -18 dBm
Filters	Digital moving low-pass filter (-18 dB/octave)
Envelope Generators	2 ADSR
LFOs	??
Hard Disk Recording	Hardware upgrade (optional)
Effects	Available
Display	Back-lit 40 x 8 characters (640 x 240 dots)
Help Pages	Not available
Storage Devices	3.5-inch 2HD/2DD floppy disk
Standard Inputs	XLR (balanced) x 2, 1/4-inch phone jack (balanced) x 2
Standard Outputs	1/4-inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 2
Assignable Outputs	1/4-inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 8
Effect Send	1/4-inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 1
Headphones	1/4-inch stereo phone jack x 1
Footswitch	1/4-inch phone jack x 1
MIDI	DIN-5P IN x 1, OUT x 1, THRU x 1
SCSI	Provided
AES/EBU Digital In/Out	XLR (RS-422 level) x 1 (optional with IB-104 interface)
SMPTE Reader/Generator	1/4-inch phone jack (balanced) x 2
Power Requirements	120VAC 60Hz 40W / 220-240VAC 50Hz 40W
Dimensions	483mm x 133mm x 425mm (W x H x D) (EIA 3U size)
Weight	10.1 kg