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

More info: Akai Pro homepage