Akai S3200XL Professional Stereo Digital Sampler

The Akai S3200XL is a professional stereo digital sampler that was produced by the Japanese company Akai Professional in the late 1990s. It was designed for professional use and was a popular choice for musicians, producers, and composers in a wide range of genres.

The S3200XL is a rack-mountable unit that features a variety of inputs and outputs, including MIDI and S/PDIF. It's an 32 voice polyphonic sampler, using 16 bits sampling technique and 44.1 kHz sampling frequency and has a maximum sample rate of 48kHz and a maximum sample memory of 32MB. 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 S3200XL is its sample editing capabilities. The sampler allows users to edit samples in a variety of ways, including pitch-shifting, time-stretching, and looping. The sampler also includes a built-in filter, which allows users to shape the frequency response of their samples. Additionally, the S3200XL has a built-in arpeggiator, which allows users to create complex, evolving patterns with their samples.

The S3200XL 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 S3200XL 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, EMU and Roland sound libraries.

The Akai S3200XL 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 S3200XL was a powerful and versatile sampler that helped to shape the sound of many genres of music. Even though the S3200XL is not in production anymore, it is still sought after by many musicians, producers and composers today.

Used:

At the time in 1996 this sampler was seen on some studio photos and Liam's live rig. He had even 2 of them in live setup.

Standard S-Series features

32 voice polyphony
Digital resonant filters
Assignable Program Modulation (APM) for flexible sound control
Powerful DSP features including Timestretch
New 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

Up to 16MB of non-volatile Flash Memory
S/PDIF digital I/O

S3200XL features

16MB RAM standard
AES/EBU digital I/O standard
SMPTE reader/generator standard with QList sequencing capability
EB16 (SampleVerb in the US) 4-channel, studio-quality, multi-effects board standard
IB304F (ProFilter in the US) DSP board for expanded filtering + EQ standard
Direct-to-disk recording
Optional internal Magneto/Optical drive

Specifications

Sampling System	16 bit linear
Sampling Rates	44.1 kHz / 22.05 kHz
Memory	16 MB (standard) / 32 MB ROM + 16 MB ROM (expanded)
Polyphony	32 voices
Maximum Samples	255
Maximum Programs	254
Recording Gain	HI = -58 dBm / MID = -38 dBm / LOW = -18 dBm
Filters	Digital moving low-pass filter (-12 dB/octave with resonance)
Envelope Generators	2 (1 multi-stage)
LFOs	2
Hard Disk Recording	Provided
Effects	Echo/Chorus/Pitch Shift/Delay/Reverb
Display	Back-lit 40 x 8 characters (640 x 240 dots)
Help Pages	Provided
Storage Devices	3.5-inch 2HD/2DD floppy disk
	3.5-inch hard disk (optional) internally mountable
	3.5-inch MO disk drive (optional) internally mountable
Standard Inputs	XLR (balanced) x 2, 1/4-inch phone jack (balanced) x 2
Standard Outputs	XLR (balanced) x 2, 1/4-inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 2
Assignable Outputs	1/4-inch phone jack (unbalanced) x 8
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
S/PDIF Digital In/Out	Provided
SMPTE Reader/Generator	Provided
Power Requirements	120VAC 60Hz 45W / 220-240VAC 50Hz 45W
Dimensions	483mm x 133mm x 429mm (W x H x D) (EIA 3U size)
Weight	8.8 kg