Akai

Akai truly made its mark in the 1980s by delivering innovative, reliable samplers that quickly became staples for keyboard players and producers. Their S-series samplers, like the S900 and S1000, were groundbreaking, offering high-quality sampling at a more accessible price point than competitors, with easy-to-use interfaces and powerful editing features. This dominance made Akai synonymous with sampling, particularly in genres like hip-hop and electronic music, where the Akai MPC series became legendary for its combination of sampling and sequencing capabilities.

In 1988, Akai expanded its focus, introducing digital effects processors to complement their sampler lineup. Notable among these were the Akai PEQ6, a programmable equaliser that allowed keyboard players to tailor their sound with precision, and the Akai AR900, a digital reverb unit known for its versatility and depth. These units, while not as widely celebrated as Akai’s samplers, showcased the brand’s commitment to providing comprehensive audio solutions. Still, it was Akai’s samplers that left the biggest legacy, defining the sound of entire music genres and maintaining their status as a go-to choice in studios worldwide for years.

Released in 1985
The Akai S612 Sampler provides synth enthusiasts with affordable sampling technology. Offering 12-bit resolution, 32 kHz bandwidth, and 6-voice polyphony. With the Akai S612, you can sample a variety of audio sources like voices, instruments, or any analogue or digital signal, and play it back on any MIDI keyboard within 8 seconds.
Released in 1986
The Akai S900 is an 8-voice digital sampler with up to 32 sampling points and a frequency range of 7.5 kHz to 40 kHz. It offers up to 63.3 seconds of sampling time, advanced editing features, and supports MIDI mono mode multitracking. With a 20 kHz frequency response and extensive MIDI connectivity, it’s ideal for both studio and live use.
Released in 1987
One of the most unusual tape recorders released during the golden period of the 1980s, is without a doubt, the Akai MG14D, a tape based analogue recorder that offered excellent sound quality in a relatively compact chassis, released hot on the heels of a wave of digital multitrack recorders.
Released in 1988
Akai S950 MIDI Digital Sampler features a 48kHz Sampling Rate and up to 99 Mult samples which allow you to reproduce the beautiful sounds of acoustic instruments.
Released in 1988
The Akai S1000 is a legendary sampler known for its CD-quality sound, advanced editing features, and full MIDI integration. Its flexibility and compatibility with AKAI S900 disks made it a studio favourite, solidifying its status as an industry-standard tool for producers and musicians.
Released in 1988
Akai could have gone down the path of trying to compete in the lower end of the multi-effects market with the likes of Alesis, but instead aimed to produce a high quality dedicated reverb, with the Akai AR900 being the end result.
Released in 1988
Akai Professional Products released their Akai AR900 Digital Reverb alongside the PEQ6 Programmable Equaliser with similar commercial acceptance. The Akai PEQ6 was targeted more towards the keyboard player rather than studios, and with its MIDI implementation it was perfect for that purpose too.
Released in 1991
The Akai DD-1000 Magneto Optical Audio Recorder is a significant development in audio technology, known for its innovative digital recording and editing capabilities. Combining advanced technology with professional functionality, it has established itself as a key piece of studio equipment history.
Released in 1993
With the Akai DR4d Version 4, Akai has taken affordable digital recording to the next level. Building on the power and flexibility of the original DR4, the DR4d Version 4 further expands your creative horizons with our new VirtualTracks and Stereo Ping Pong capabilities.
Released in 1994
The Akai DR8 is an 8-track digital hard disk recorder and editor, with a built-in digital mixer. Features CD quality audio, non-destructive editing, etc, but unlike computer-based systems, the Akai DR8 is as easy to use as an ordinary multi-track tape recorder.
Released in 1995
The Akai DR16 is a digital hard disk recorder with sophisticated non-destructive editing functions allowing near-instant data access, and a 16-channel programmable mixer. It’s as easy to use as a conventional analogue MTR machine but gives true 16-track performance from a single hard disk at a highly cost-effective price level per track.

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