Photo of Akai S2000 and more gear in a studio

Akai S2000

^# 68

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$34.99 Price Tier: Budget

4.0 (40)

5 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Akai S2000

3 community setups

1 wishlisted

77 saved

Page last updated Jun 20, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 19, 2026.

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Price

$34.99 21 available Used

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Average Price: $35

Budget/Beginner

$249

$700+

Price Tier

In the Audio Samplers category, Akai S2000 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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High-end

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Description

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The Akai S2000 is a classic staple in the world of audio samplers, offering DJs and producers a versatile tool that has stood the test of time. Known for its robust sound processing capabilities, the S2000 lets you explore a vast range of audio possibilities with high-quality sampling and playback. This sampler is equipped with an intuitive interface that makes it accessible for both beginners and seasoned professionals looking to expand their sonic horizons.

One of the most remarkable features of the Akai S2000 is its powerful 16-bit stereo sampling engine, delivering crystal-clear audio quality that brings your creative ideas to life. With its flexible memory options, you can store numerous samples and manipulate them with precision, thanks to the comprehensive set of onboard editing tools. Whether you're crafting intricate soundscapes or laying down beats, the S2000 provides the control and reliability you need.

Perfect for live performances and studio use, the Akai S2000 integrates seamlessly with other gear, thanks to its extensive connectivity options. Its durable construction ensures it can withstand the rigors of travel and frequent use, making it an ideal choice for musicians on the go.

Key Features:

16-bit stereo sampling for high-quality audio
Intuitive interface with comprehensive editing tools
Flexible memory options for extensive sample storage
Extensive connectivity for seamless integration with other gear
Durable design suitable for both studio and live environments

Product specs

Brand	Akai
Model	S2000 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler
Finish	White
Year	1995
Made In	Japan
Categories	Digital Synthesizers, Samplers
Analog / Digital	Digital
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony	32 Voices

FAQs

How much sample memory does the Akai S2000 have?: The Akai S2000 can be expanded to a maximum of 32MB of sample memory, allowing for almost six minutes of mono sampling time at 44.1kHz or three minutes of stereo.
What are the MIDI connectivity options available on the Akai S2000?: The Akai S2000 offers MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, providing comprehensive connectivity for integration with other MIDI-compatible devices.
Is the Akai S2000 suitable for live performance sampling?: Yes, the Akai S2000 is equipped with features suitable for live performance, including real-time MIDI control and the ability to trigger samples quickly.
Can the Akai S2000 be used with modern DAWs?: While the Akai S2000 is a vintage sampler, it can still be integrated with modern DAWs using MIDI connections, though additional adapters may be required for full compatibility.
Does the Akai S2000 support stereo sampling?: Yes, the Akai S2000 supports stereo sampling, allowing for richer and more dynamic soundscapes in your productions.

Videos

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AudioPilz

Bad Gear - Akai S2000

AudioPilz

Why I Bought an AKAI S2000 Sampler in 2021

Stephen McLeod

S2000 - Why AKAI rack sampler is better than sampler in MPC part 2

vubeatz

AKAI HARDWARE SAMPLER BATTLE S3000XL VS S2000

TheBizzyBScience

AKAI S2000 sampling tutorial: TR-909 style drum machine

Dreamwebspace

Akai S2000 vs S3000 - Sampling Comparison | #s2000 #s3000 |

vubeatz

My circuit bent vintage sampler - Akai S2000. (Glitch FX monster)

Stephen McLeod

Akai S2000 - Sampling Drum Break Comparison

vubeatz

Reviews

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PROS

Delivers punchy, bit-crushed sound unachievable with plugins
Characterful hardware sampling enhances audio quality
Expandable with effects board, extra outputs, and memory upgrades
Affordable, offering good value for vintage gear enthusiasts
Compatible with Akai S900, S1000 samples for versatility
Fast, snappy envelopes ideal for drum hits
Unique cyclic and intelligent timestretch features
Can achieve the iconic "Akai MPC sound"

CONS

Operating system can be unstable, with occasional hangs and freezes
Small screen size hampers usability
Interface feels dodgy and outdated, steep learning curve
MESA software no longer supported and was buggy
Requires specific, often outdated accessories like SCSI card, iomega zip drive
Debate over hardware sampling's relevance in modern production setups

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Akai S2000.

Features and functionality

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The Akai S2000 is praised for its flexibility despite its 2-line display, with users highlighting its ability to function like a synthesizer by using samples as oscillators.
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The Akai S2000 lacks a built-in sequencer, necessitating external sequencing from a computer or MIDI controller.
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Mods and upgrades

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Owners recommend upgrading to a Gotek or BlueSCSI DB25 for faster loading and saving, with BlueSCSI noted for its speed and capacity compared to Gotek.
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Comparisons

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The Akai S2000 is described as slightly less efficient than the ESI4000 and S3000, with the latter offering better controls and faster workflow.
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The S2000 is noted for its use among Jungle style producers due to its effective time stretching for drum breaks.
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Use cases and applications

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The S2000 can be used creatively to generate unique sounds by sampling small snippets, such as a 909 cymbal, and manipulating them with the sampler's filter.
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Software and compatibility

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Original software editors for the S2000 require a Mac Classic or Windows 95, complicating modern usage but potentially enhancing workflow for those with access.
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A free editor for the Akai S2000 is available for both MacOS and Windows, offering standalone or VST versions to enhance usability.
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User experience

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Users find the S2000 challenging to navigate initially but rewarding once familiar, especially for creating tracks with an authentic vintage touch.
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Owners highlight that the S2000's workflow involves significant menu diving, which can be cumbersome for basic tasks.
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Value and pricing

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At €70, the S2000 is considered a bargain if it includes a functioning disk drive and boot disk, with similar models often priced higher on platforms like Reverb and eBay.
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4.0 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 40 Ratings

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redvoid

204

over 7 years ago

more affordable than an MPC 2000 with the same internals

In conjunction with my Akai MPK-49 this becomes my MPC-2000. Mine has maxed RAM, the 8 output board with S/PDIF, SCSI and an external hard drive. The MESA software is no longer available and was buggy when it used to be supported. The LED is tiny, but fails less often than it's big brother the S3000XL. You can get one for $100 and upgrade it from any of the MPC parts dealers. It's debatable whether or not hardware sampling is still worthwhile in a world where it is honestly much easier and more powerful to do it with software. You sort of need a super special edge case to want to do things this way, but it will load Akai S900, S1000 earlier sampler samples which abound, and the envelopes are very fast and snappy, so unlike many other sluggish samplers, it is well suited to drum hits. It functioned as a breakbeat and sample triggering box for me for many years and these days is mostly not used. I often debate whether I should upgrade it to a SD drive, with chopped and screwed mods, or just sell it, but the once in a blue moon use is still worth the $100 of value it would provide if I sold it, so it sits there awaiting it's next lark.

sounds_past_midnight

279

about 6 years ago

punchy, crunchy, 16-bit goodness

You always wanted that punchy, bit crushed sound, but never quite got it out of plugins or whatnot. This bitch will do it for you and even better. Although hardware sampling is a thing of the past and using your daw or audio interface to sample is so, so, so, so much more efficient, you just cant get that hardware character. On the upside, they are expandable (fx board, or extra outs, sd floppy emulator, memory) and nowadays they are cheap (got mine for 90$). Only downside i'd say is that the os is wonky at times (os can hang and freeze sometimes) and the screen is ssSmall. That said, love mine.

From Gear Setup

ontologyjunglist

132

about 8 years ago

Brilliant sampler, does everything I need it to do and more.

I love this thing, I've never understood why it got so much hate. It does everything I need it to do and more, I can just sample something into it, crunch it down, and it just sounds amazing, no matter what it is. The interface is a bit dodgy but in the end you just get used to it, it's a matter of adapting to it, I'd say in the end it doesn't take any longer than it would on any other sampler. Anyway, point is this thing is a brilliant sampler for the price, you get cyclic timestretch (along with the fancy shmancy intelligent timestretch), resampling, expandable memory, 44.1k max samperate and more. Personally I'd say these things are pretty much the 950s of today.

rikaar

over 4 years ago

Very good sound and time stretch

I bought it 24 years ago with an iomega zip drive effect board and 8 outputs. Full équiped...

Roles:

Keyboardist Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Electronica Alternative dance

laproper

almost 9 years ago

works great for old tech

beward the scsi card and windows 95 based software... works great for old school tech. i used it for the "Akai mpc sound" on my samples. it works well for that.