Disco Dance6, 1989 Product News: Akai S-1000 by Saul Poolman

New Possibilities with Stereo Sampling and Time-Stretching: The Akai S-1000

Since last year, the advanced stereo digital MIDI sampler, the 16-bit Akai S-1000, has introduced the capability for stereo sampling. The previous models, the S-900 and S-950, were already highly favored by musicians, sound engineers, and especially DJs due to their user-friendliness. The introduction of stereo sampling with the S-1000, however, opens up new and extensive possibilities. We had the chance to test the S-1000 and found that, in terms of price, it is unparalleled at FL. 12,500. Achieving similar results with other equipment would cost at least three times as much.

Spectacular Stereo Sampling

The most spectacular feature of the S-1000 is its stereo sampling. Renowned Dutch producer and musician Ben Liebrand was among the first to use this device. According to him, the S-1000 is “incredible.”

Hyper-Timbral

Liebrand works with the full 96 seconds of sampling time (48 seconds in stereo). He can store, for example, 100 programs with 200 samples in total (one of the unique features of the S-1000 is that you can assign up to 99 ‘key groups’ to the programs—samples distributed across the keys). He stores the material for his Veronica jingles and minimixes directly in the S-1000’s memory, described in the manual as ‘hyper-timbral,’ referring to the extensive MIDI capabilities of the S-1000. For example, in a remix of a Bill Withers track, Liebrand utilized the stereo effects where samples can be looped up to eight times, allowing unprecedented possibilities for artificially extending samples. He achieved this through the ‘zone velocity sensitivity,’ or the so-called fourfold velocity zones, enabling placement of a sample left or right in the stereo field, activated by the fourfold velocity sensitivity which can also be crossfaded (i.e., blending different samples).

Time Stretch

The ‘attack’ function (similar to opening faders) allows the sound to fade out with a ‘release’ (decay time). This occurs at various points in the stereo field. In his ‘grandmix,’ Liebrand uses the ‘cross fade’ function to fade one piece of music in and another out. In the track ‘Paranoimia’ by The Art of Noise, he employed the ‘time stretch’ function, compressing the sound of the used samples. The S-1000’s advantage is that you can change the speed without altering the pitch. This enabled Liebrand to create a 120 BPM version of the track instead of the original 112 BPM.

A DJ’s Dream

These capabilities will sound like music to any DJ’s ears. The ‘time stretch’ function allows for precise alignment of a phrase or acapella to a beat or measure, as well as adjustment for rhythms and more. The possibilities are virtually endless. The S-1000 features 16-bit external and 24-bit internal processing instead of 12-bit. Although this difference is marginal, it implies CD-level sound quality. This allows for editing or cutting complete stereo segments from CDs or disco mixes at CD quality, which can then be used for remixes and more.

Software-Oriented

By using double ‘triggering’ to control the S-1000, you can replace an existing sound from a master tape with a new sound. However, this requires a drum interface. The S-1000 is software-oriented, meaning that with the update version 1.2, you gain access to the ‘time stretch’ function, allowing speed changes without altering pitch. According to an Akai spokesperson, this is just the beginning, with many new features on the horizon, such as merging two samples into one—a variation of ‘joining’ (simultaneous playback of samples).

Complete Tracks

The brochure that comes with software version 1.2 explains that ‘time stretching’ is not a perfect technique and often involves compromise. To achieve exceptional results, experimentation with sound is necessary. When used for performances, the S-1000 only requires a sequencer to produce a complete range of stereo sound possibilities on the spot, eliminating the need for a studio setup. Although the S-1000 is still used by only a few professionals in the Netherlands, we thought it valuable to highlight this device, which offers so many new possibilities, to DJs.

For more information: Fodor Radio BV Akai EMI Benelux, tel.: 010-********.