From tekpagan@io.orgFri Mar 10 11:46:26 1995 Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 01:33:13 -0500 (EST) From: Antony Balcerzak To: Mike Perkowitz Cc: electronica Subject: Re: akai s612 specs? On Mon, 6 Mar 1995, Mike Perkowitz wrote: > > please someone tell me something useful about this machine. is it worth > *anything*? :) Features of The Akai MIDI Digital Sampler S612 straight from the manual. - Realisation of super high quality sound by 12-bit sampling technology. - 6-voice polyphonic performance is possible in connection with MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, sequencers and many others. - Realisation of sampling time up to 8 seconds (@ 4 kHz, 1sec @ 32 kHz). - A short sampled sound can be continuously played with no time restrictions and without sounding awkward. The S612 contains an advanced scanning mode system with "looping" and "alternating" modes. - The best splicing point for "looping" can be selected instantly by the automatic splicing system. - A splicing point can be selected at any time by switching to the manual splice mode. - Because of the starting or ending point of the sample can be selected at any time, it is possible to play the sound after elimination of an undesired portion of the sample. It is also possible to reproduce the sample in reverse. - It is possible to overdub samples and accumulate various sounds infinitely. - The S612 is equipped with an LFO (sine wave only), which can add vibrato effects with a delay. - The S612 is also equipped with continuous variable pass low-pass filters for adding a milder touch to samples. - 2.8 inch sample disks can be used for data files. "Save" and "load" procedures are extremely quick. You can continuously build your own tone sample library with the specially designed Sampler Disk Drive MD280. - Any type of sound can be tuned to a designated pitch by transposing it by a half step. This can also be done by tuning +/- 100 cent. The sound can then be stored on disk. - The S612 is rack mountable (EIA/2U) for excellent operation in the studio as well as at live performances. It can be handled with ease and offers astonishing performance. You can also download samples via SYSEX to a MIDI librarian, far cheaper than 2.8" disks, 2 samples/disk, CDN$5/disk! The auto splicing function doesn't do that spectacular a job, but hey, did you really expect it would? I quite like mine, something about 12-bit samples, crunchy...almost analogue. I did hear of a software package for the Atari ST that allowed visual editing of the sample but have never, alas been able to track down a copy, so I just get better at doing manual splices! As to the value I have no idea, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ******************** _/\_ "We have sought for firm ground and found none. * Antony Balcerzak * _\ /_ The deeper we penetrate, the more restless * tekpagan@io.org * \_ _/ becomes the universe; all is rushing about ******************** || and vibrating in a wild dance." MAX BORN From interval@netcom.com Thu Jul 11 06:57:17 1996 11 Jul 96 09:57:08 +0500 11 Jul 96 09:56:40 +0500 Comments: Authenticated sender is 10 Jul 96 19:13:17 +0500 ID ; Wed, 10 Jul 1996 18:55:29 -0400 (EDT) ID ; Wed, 10 Jul 1996 18:53:10 -0400 (EDT) id PAA19728; Wed, 10 Jul 1996 15:52:57 -0700 Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 15:52:57 -0700 From: interval@netcom.com (Scott Morgan) Subject: Akai S612 Historical Marker ahead >...now don't be a skunk! the 612 has nice features like those start/end >sliders that allow tons of silly wanking to be performed on a captured >sound. Yes, especially the earlier 1.0 software version, which had better wank-ability. Additionally you can play the S612 *while* it is receiving a sample-dump!!! Try THAT Mr. Big-shot 32-voice 16-mega-bit Mac-daddy hard-drive. >also, you can get sounds into it via SDS, so you aren't stuck using >those QuikDiscs. Not SDS, but S612-speak which pre-dated SDS. >I heard recently that the 612 basic design was actually >based on some EH delay or something ...? David Cockerall designed the original EH one-shot sampler (and maybe previous EH digital devices), I forget the name of it- a fun little box for its time as well. DC went on to design the S612, S700, S900, S1000 and so on. I think he still leads the Akai R&D team in London. evil retailers sell the 612 for >200 buxx up here. I paid like $950 for mine in 1986. Still use the little guy every now & then - got the entire P.Gabriel Fairlight Library on it - Mock the Shonkey! _________ Scott Morgan __ Interval Music Systems ________ interval@netcom.com