The Akai S6000 Sampler represents a major evolution in digital sampling, combining powerful hardware, intuitive interface design, and extensive editing capabilities. Building on Akai’s legacy that began with the S900 in 1986, the Akai S6000 pushes professional sampling forward with enhanced performance, flexible connectivity, and an interface designed for fast, logical control.
At the core of the Akai S6000 is a large 320 x 240 graphical display, surrounded by one-touch function keys and a precision data wheel. This design supports Akai’s innovative ‘Touch and Tweak’ workflow, which eliminates complex menu diving. The sampler’s interface features graphical icons, drop-down menus, and pop-up windows, providing a familiar and efficient editing experience. A ‘Window’ key offers deep-level access for advanced users, while the inclusion of a PS2 port allows easy naming with a standard ASCII keyboard or use of the intelligent auto-name function.
The Akai S6000 adopts DOS and WAV file formats as standard, allowing seamless loading and playback of audio files from PC-formatted media. Stereo interleaved WAV files are treated as a single sample, simplifying editing and playback. Compatibility with S1000 and S3000 libraries ensures continuity for existing users, while virtual sampling allows direct-from-disk playback of long samples without needing to load them into memory. Disk recordings can be assigned to keygroups and processed using filters, envelopes, and modulation, integrating traditional sampling with hard disk recording.
Hardware features include 64-voice polyphony as standard, expandable to 128 voices with the optional VOX64 board. The Akai S6000 supports up to 16 assignable analogue outputs, stereo digital I/O, and offers dual MIDI inputs, outputs, and thru ports for 32-channel multitimbral operation. Dual SCSI ports provide extensive storage connectivity, and a Wordclock input ensures sync with digital studios. An optional ADAT interface delivers sixteen digital outputs and stereo digital input for integration with digital mixers.
Memory starts at 8MB and is expandable to 256MB via four SIMM slots, supporting over 50 minutes of mono sampling at 44.1kHz. The operating system is stored in Flash ROM and can be updated via floppy disk. Sampling inputs include balanced 1/4″ front-panel jacks and rear-panel balanced XLRs, with outputs including stereo headphone, eight assignable outputs (expandable to sixteen), and digital I/O on both coaxial and optical connectors.
The Akai S6000 includes 26 digital filter types with resonance, two ADSR envelope generators, a multi-stage EG, and dual multi-wave LFOs. Akai’s Assignable Program Modulation system allows 14 controllers to be patched to 17 destinations for extensive sound design possibilities. Sample editing is precise and intuitive, featuring waveform display, auto-looping, crossfade, trimming, pitch shifting, BPM matching, and time-stretching using algorithms from Akai’s DD1500 workstation. Additional editing tools include EQ, fade curves, mixing, and join functions.
In Multi Mode, users can assign up to 32 parts, each with its own program, MIDI channel, pan, level, tuning, routing, and effects sends. Quickload simplifies multitimbral setup, and up to 128 Multis can be loaded at once. When fitted with the optional EB20 effects processor, the Akai S6000 adds four independent channels of reverb and multi-effects, including distortion, modulation, pitch shifting, and rotary speaker emulation.
Unique to the Akai S6000 is its removable front panel, allowing desktop operation even when rack-mounted. It also features programmable User Keys for frequently used functions and both front and rear audio inputs, with front panel connections automatically overriding the rear when connected.
The Akai S6000 is a professional sampling workstation offering unmatched power, deep editing, and seamless integration into modern digital studio environments.
Features
- Large 320 x 240 graphical display with function keys and data wheel
- Touch and Tweak interface with pop-up windows and graphical editing
- Supports WAV file format and PC-formatted media
- Reads Akai S1000 and S3000 libraries
- Virtual sampling with direct-from-disk playback
- 64-voice polyphony, expandable to 128 voices
- Up to 256MB RAM via 4 SIMM slots
- Eight assignable outputs, expandable to sixteen
- Rear XLR and front panel 1/4″ audio inputs
- Two MIDI In/Out/Thru ports for 32-channel multitimbral operation
- Wordclock and dual SCSI ports for studio integration
- 26 digital filter types with resonance and modulation
- Assignable Program Modulation system with 14 controllers
- Time-stretch, pitch shift, BPM match and waveform editing tools
- Optional EB20 effects processor with 4-channel multi-effects
- Removable front panel and programmable User Keys