Akai S900 Explained

Synth Name:	Akai S900
Synth Manufacturer:	Akai
Synthesis Type:	Digital Sample-based Subtractive
Polyphony:	8 voices
Timbrality:	8 parts
Ext Control:	MIDI
Memory:	896KiB (768KiB for samples)
Dates:	1986

The Akai S900 is a 12-bit sampler, with a variable sample rate from 7.5 kHz through to 40 kHz. It was common in recording studios until it was superseded two years later by the S1000.

An expanded version, the Akai S950, was released in 1988 alongside the higher end S1000. The S950 imported some of the S1000's improvements, including timestretching (allowing the user to change a sample's length and pitch independently of one another), and it increased the maximum sample rate to 48 kHz. Unlike the S1000 series, the S900 series allows a sample to loop alternating forwards and backwards.

Notable users include The 45 King (who named his hit "The 900 Number" after the sampler), Juan Atkins, Beatmasters, Black Box, Ian Boddy, Enya, Fatboy Slim (who nearly exclusively uses a pair of S950s), Front 242, KLF, The Bomb Squad, Prince Paul, Renegade Soundwave, and Tangerine Dream.

References

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Notes and References

1. Wiffen. Paul. Jul 1986. Akai S900 Sampler. 74-78. Electronics & Music Maker. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
2. Jenkins. Mark. Jul 1986. Eat your heart out PPG!. 50-53. Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
3. Hughes. David. Dec 1989. Ian Boddy. 18-20. Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. 2022-01-19.
4. Trask. Simon. Dec 1988. Future Shock. 38-43. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
5. Hillier. Stephen. Jan 1989. Renegade Action. 18-22. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
6. Lennard. Vic. Jan 1989. Akai S950 Digital Sampler. 50-52. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
7. Collins. Mike. Mar 1989. Enya - Watermark. 32-33. Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
8. Trask. Simon. May 1989. 45 Kingdom. 50-54. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
9. Bradwell. David. Jun 1989. Front Line. 76-79. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
10. Goodyer. Tim. Jul 1989. Beat Generation. 40-45. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
11. Trask. Simon. Jan 1991. Dream State. 40-46. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
12. Prendergast. Mark. Apr 1991. Inside The KLF. 24-28. Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. 2021-03-02.
13. Doyle. Tom. Jan 2017. Classic Tracks: Fatboy Slim "Praise You". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. 2021-02-22.