Akai S900 Sampler

State-of-the-art sampling at a state-of-the-building society account price.

SamplerCheck

Paul Fishman gets weird — again

Akai's super-sampler carries on where their S612 left off. Paul Wiffen finds its ease of use belies its sophistication.

Akai S900 Sampler

Akai's first foray into the sampling market, the S612, was a resounding success. Their new sampling system, aimed more at studios, is considerably more advanced yet still a respectable price. Eventually it will incorporate a multitrack event recorder and harmonic synthesis module, but just released is the first system component - the S900 rack-mount sampler. Mark Jenkins checks it out.

S900 owner David Mellor receives a package in the post from Akai, which rekindles his enthusiasm in the sampler which was one of the first to combine a wealth of facilities with a reasonable price. Will the Version 2.0 software update bring the Akai into line with the latest samplers on the market or has it become old technology - just after its first birthday?

How To Upgrade Your Akai S900

What do you do when your 12-bit Akai S900 sampler starts to seem a little underspecified in comparison with the latest models? Upgrade it with a '16-bit injection' from Marion Systems. David Mellor reports.

Akai S900 V2.0 & ASK90 and Steinberg Soundworks

Already a well-established sampler, the Akai S900 is on the receiving end of a series of software and firmware updates from Akai and Steinberg. Chris Jenkins boots them up.

Software for the Atari ST

After his recent jaunt on BBC TV's 'Micro Live' show, Atari ST owner Tony Hastings tries out Steinberg Research's new editing software for the Akai S900 sampler.

Manual Madness!

Manual madness! Roger Jackson proposes improvements to the currently poor state of some manufacturers' equipment manuals.

Currently proving to the world that there can be more to metal than breakneck guitar riffs and sexist lyrics, Living Colour's Vernon Reid talks samples and technology with Lars Lofas and Nick Armington.

Software for the Atari ST

If you're looking for a visual aid to drum pattern editing or a means of turning your Akai S900 sampler into a drum machine this Atari software could be the answer. Chris Jenkins investigates.

Another low-cost digital reverb from Alesis, a SMPTE/EBU to MIDI event synchroniser, new DX ROM/RAM cartridges, and a visual editor for Akai's S900 sampler are all amongst the forthcoming crop of new products.

Man Jumping sticksman Simon Limbrick talks about tuned percussion, sampled percussion and technology on the stage. Nicholas Rowland tunes in to the rhythm of technology.

One Dove: Recording Their Debut Album

Mike Collins investigates the magic behind Enigma Studios, a MIDI-based recording facility in London's East End.

Declaring Independence

They've been on CBS, they run their own company called Dry Communications, and they've learned a thing or two: they are a band called Thomas Lang. Phil Ward meets the Scousers with a Dry sense of humour.

Rich Bitch Studio

From rehearsal room to recording complex. David Bradwell tells the story of a Midlands musician who hopes to open a nationwide chain of recording studios.

Getting the Most from... MONO MODE

Only one drum machine has so far been given an implementation of MIDI's multi-timbral Mode 4 - the Sequential Tom. Paul Wiffen reveals how it can be used.

The Micro Guitar

Tony Mills uncovers some software for—guitarists! Whatever will they think or next?

Music Workstation

Korg's latest line in synths is the T-series workstations - modestly designed to pick up where the successful M1 workstation left off. Simon Trask climbs aboard the flagship T1.

It began with an illicit remix of Suzanne Vega and it's already earned them their own album release. Simon Trask tracks down the elusive DNA musical partnership to ask who, how and why.

...Is already hugely successful as an engineer, producer, musician and programmer for the likes of Grace Jones and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Paul Tingen finds fame has made him disillusioned and cynical.