Zoë Blade's notebook

S1100

S1100 tech specs

  • Released: 1990
  • Company: Akai
  • Type: Sampler
  • Polyphony: 16 voices
  • Timbrality: Multitimbral
  • Sample rates: 22.05 kHz, 44.1 kHz
  • Sample resolution: 16-bit
  • Audio in: stereo pair
  • Audio out: 8 + stereo pair
  • Control: MIDI
  • Synchronisation: SMPTE timecode
  • CPU: 16-bit NEC μPD70216GF-10-3B9[1]
  • RAM: 2 MB — 32 MB (8 MB ×4)[2]
  • Storage: 2HD/2DD 3.5" floppy disk, SCSI
  • Display: 40×8 character / 240×64 pixel LCD
  • Features: Velocity can offset sample start, timestretching, digital effects
  • Size: 3U

The Akai S1000 was a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz sampler, released by Akai in 1990.

The S1100 took the very successful S1000, added digital effects, digital outputs, and separate DACs (the S1000 multiplexed a single DAC across all its outputs), and had higher quality ADCs. In other words, it was higher quality, and no longer needed outboard gear. As long as you don't mind menu diving, you can do more with it, a MIDI sequencer, and nothing else. It also has SCSI as standard.

Most notably for film and video, it has SMPTE timecode in and out, so it can be used to play sound effects that you can cue up in a list.

Rather ambitiously, version 2.0 of the S1100's operating system turned it into a stereo direct-to-disk recorder... but not an especially good one. It's better to use it as a great sampler.

S1100EX

The S1100EX was essentially a second S1100, minus the user interface. You can use one to double the polyphony or timbrality — and outputs — of an S1100. Or you can daisychain together up to six S1100EXes to a single S1100 for a ridiculously opulent setup, at least for its time.

Accessories

RAM

Quotes

The S1000 and S1100 are probably the only pieces of equipment that I'm almost entirely satisfied with. I think they're probably the most beautiful invention in music ever. They're more fundamentally important than piano or guitar. To me they are like time machines. H.G. Wells would have had a heart attack if he'd seen them.

— Youth, 1993[3]

Notable users

S1100

S1100EX

References

  1. "S1100 service notes" Akai, Nov 1990, p. 11
  2. "S1100 service notes" Akai, Nov 1990, p. 1
  3. "Musical Youth" Paul Tingen, Sound On Sound, Jan 1993, pp. 64—69
  4. "Chemical Reaction" Jon Russel, Future Music, Aug 1995, pp. 62—64
  5. "Curve dare!" Andy Cowan, The Mix, Jul 1994, p. 11
  6. "The Streets Of San Francisco" Kean Wong, Music Technology, Jul 1993, pp. 78—80
  7. "Fluke: '80s Dance & Modern Remixes" Nigel Humberstone, Sound On Sound, Oct 1994
  8. "Future Talk" Simon Trask, Music Technology, Jan 1994, pp. 16—18
  9. "Message In A Sample" Phil Ward, Music Technology, May 1993, pp. 36—42
  10. "Trent Reznor" Greg Rule, Keyboard, Mar 1994, pp. 88—94
  11. "Classic Tracks: Nine Inch Nails 'Closer'" Richard Buskin, Sound On Sound, Sep 2012
  12. "Sampling Nation: They're Making Samplers Wrong" Greg Rule, Keyboard, May 1994, pp. 44—53
  13. "Second Course" Future Music, Oct 1993
  14. "The PWEI Akai S1100 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler" Adam Mole, Molerabilia
  15. "The Lone Raver" Tim Goodyer, Music Technology, May 1992, pp. 68—72
  16. Wind It Up (Rewound) The Prodigy, 1993
  17. "Prodigious Talent" David Robinson, Future Music, Feb 1993, pp. 31—34
  18. "Liam Howlett: The Prodigy & Firestarter" Paul Nagle, Sound On Sound, Sep 1996
  19. "Rack & Roll" Phil Ward, Music Technology, Dec 1993, pp. 20—22
  20. "SNAP! to tomorrow" Roger Brown, The Mix, Nov 1994, pp. 84—88
  21. "Warp Factor 8" Simon Trask, Music Technology, Nov 1993, pp. 32—33
  22. "Electric gypsy" Tim Barr, The Mix, Mar 1995, pp. 88—92

Reviews

S1100

S1100EX

Documentation

Akai: ASQ10 | S612 | S900 | S950 | S1000 | S1000 guide | S1000 page map | S1100

Samplers: FZ-1 | S612 | S900 | S950 | S1000 | S1100 | Studio 440 | W-30