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Average Price: $339

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$700+

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Description

Dive into the world of digital sampling with the Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler, a classic piece of DJ gear designed for both seasoned musicians and enthusiastic beginners. This sampler offers a seamless blend of vintage charm and modern functionality, making it a standout choice for anyone looking to add depth and versatility to their music production setup. With its SCSI interface, the S2800 ensures fast data transfer and compatibility with a variety of storage devices, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

The Akai S2800 is celebrated for its rich sound quality, attributed to its advanced DACs and ADCs, delivering crisp, clear audio that faithfully captures every nuance of your samples. Its intuitive layout and user-friendly interface make it easy to navigate, allowing you to focus on your creativity rather than getting bogged down by complex menus. Whether you're crafting intricate loops or layering dynamic textures, this sampler is equipped to handle a diverse range of audio tasks.

Key Features:

  • 16-bit stereo digital sampling for high-quality audio reproduction
  • 8 individual outputs for flexible routing options
  • SCSI interface for enhanced data transfer and storage compatibility
  • Comprehensive MIDI implementation for seamless integration with other gear
  • Intuitive user interface with a backlit LCD screen
  • Extensive editing capabilities including looping, truncating, and time-stretching
  • Built-in effects for added sound shaping versatility

Product specs

Brand Akai
Model S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler
Finish White
Year 1992
Made In Japan
Categories Digital Synthesizers, Samplers
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony 32 Voices

FAQs

What are the sampling rates available on the Akai S2800?

The Akai S2800 offers sampling rates of 44.1kHz and 22.05kHz, allowing for high-quality audio capture suitable for various applications.

How many voices of polyphony does the Akai S2800 support?

The Akai S2800 supports 32 voices of polyphony, enabling complex layering and playback of multiple samples simultaneously.

Does the Akai S2800 have MIDI connectivity options?

Yes, the Akai S2800 features MIDI Input, Output, and Through, allowing seamless integration with other MIDI-compatible devices.

What are the main differences between the Akai S2800 and S3000 samplers?

The primary difference is in their physical size; the S2800 is a 2U rack unit, while the S3000 is a 3U unit. Both share similar sampling and editing capabilities.

Is the Akai S2800 suitable for live performance setups?

Yes, with its MIDI capabilities and 32-voice polyphony, the Akai S2800 is well-suited for live performances, allowing for diverse and dynamic sample playback.

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vinyljunkie07

Akai S-2800

Video thumbnail for Akai S-2800 by vinyljunkie07

Akai S-2800

vinyljunkie07

vinyljunkie07

Video thumbnail for Metroid Song on S2800 by 8bitwidgets

Metroid Song on S2800

8bitwidgets

8bitwidgets

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler.

Features and functionality

  • The Akai S2800 is noted for its converters, which are the same as the MPC3000, offering similar sound characteristics without the hefty price tag of the 3000.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The S2800 can be used as a cost-effective alternative to achieve the distinctive sound associated with the MPC3000, particularly for those interested in sampling and production.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Users suggest comparing the S2800 with other Akai rack samplers like the S2000 or S3000 series for those seeking the vintage Akai sound without the vintage hardware's limitations.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Vintage samplers like the S2800 may require maintenance and potential repairs, echoing experiences where users invested over $1k on upkeep for similar vintage gear.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The S2800 offers a budget-friendly way to access the coveted Akai sound, often considered a more practical investment than the MPC3000 due to its lower cost.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Akai S2800 & S3000 Samplers (MT Mar 93)

muzines.co.uk

The Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler impresses with its robust feature set, including 16-bit stereo sampling, real-time filter modulation, and Assignable Program Modulation (APM), which expands creative possibilities. Users will appreciate the clear waveform displays and the ability to edit individual sample sections, enhancing ease of use and precision. However, the review notes some design flaws, particularly the rear placement of sample input jacks and optional SCSI ports, which might inconvenience users. Despite these missteps, the S2800 stands out with its sound quality, offering exceptional bass and high-frequency clarity, solidifying its position as a superior choice for modern musicians.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 4 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
battleandroid

All this, and 2MB of memory too!

This was my second sampler after the Akai s-700. Intuitive interface. Shame about the proprietary RAM cards though. I've never had so much fun juggling floppy disks during my live sets.

spleentaste

THE LEGENDARY AKAI SAMPLING

For the legend I'm a nostalgic of old hardware samplers....I found this (equivalent to 2 x S1100) for only 70€ !!! I just need to create my sounds now ;-)

Artist usage

Add artist
See how David Byrne uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

David Byrne

Singer, Guitarist

Talking Heads

...
Verified via Soundonsound

David Byrne is noted for using the Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler, as detailed in an article from Soundonsound regarding his work with Talking Heads.

See how Liam Howlett uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

Liam Howlett

Music Producer

The Prodigy

...
Verified via Theprodigy

Liam uses it at the live shows and of course in the studio. Classic broadcast quality professional sampler from AKAI. Very versatile machine with excellent dynamic range, filter and timestretch capabilities (timestretch to 2000%). Excellent sample / program editing functions. 16-bit linear encoding. 32 voice polyphonic. Digital moving low-pass filter (-12dB/octave with resonance). Balanced inputs on 1/4" phono. Backlit LCD display (320 characters/240x640). Max sample time: 44.56s (using unexpanded memory). 2MB onboard memory expandable to 16MB using standard SIMMS.

See how Ceephax Acid Crew uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

Ceephax Acid Crew

Music Producer

Tom Jenkinson & Friends

...
Verified via YouTube

In this YouTube video, at 0:37, the Akai S2800 can be spotted. This sampler is extremely similar to the S3000XL, but can be distinguished since it is possible to see what appears to be "S2800" just above the floppy disk drive.

See how Sonic Boom uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

Sonic Boom

Guitarist, Composer

Spacemen 3

...
Verified via Sonic-boom

Included in Sonic's equipment list

See how Emperor Machine (Andy Meecham) uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

Emperor Machine (Andy Meecham)

...
Verified via YouTube

In a studio tour featured by MusicRadar Tech on YouTube, Andy Meecham, known as Emperor Machine, showcases his use of the Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler.

See how Momus uses Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

Momus

Singer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Livejournal

Momus used a S2800 sample during the 1990s.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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1 alternative for Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler, curated by the Equipboard community.

Akai S3000XL

$179.12

Vintage or Discontinued high-end alternative

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