Akai S2800 and S3000 Digital Samplers (part 2)

The rest of the front panel is pretty much the same as the S1000, except more
modern looking. The LCD is a touch brighter and clearer, and there is a backlight
on/off switch combined with the Display Contrast control. This apparently helps
preserve the longevity of the LCD. Around the back we find two inputs and two
outputs, available on balanced XLRs and jacks, and eight individual outputs.
Professional users of course always like to see XLR connectors, but I do have
to award Akai a minus point for their adoption of pin 3 of the XLR as their
hot connection - contrary to the recommendations of standards setting bodies,
the AES and EBU. As well as audio connections there is the usual trio of MIDI
sockets, and three blanking panels. Expansion options for the S3000 include
a SCSI card, which you will need if you want to store your samples on hard or
optical disk (which you will, very soon after purchase), a digital interface
card allows digital input and output and also storage of programs and samples
on DAT. The final slot is for a SMPTE card which will be necessary if you want
to use the Cue List function to play back samples synchronised to timecode.
I did say ‘final’ slot, but after making an undercover investigation
- under the cover of the unit that is - I found a fourth slot whose function
is currently a mystery to me, there is no provision for its access from the
outside world. While I’m inside the S3000 I should also mention that memory
expansion is available from the standard 2 Megabytes up to 32 Meg. If the S3000
was a bathtub, 2 Megabytes would be about enough to get your feet wet, so I
think you’ll be investing in an expansion soon. Unfortunately, Akai have
made the unwise decision to use a proprietary card rather than standard SIMMS
modules which are cheap and easily available. Obviously Akai think that they’ll
make more profit this way (and of course they are perfectly entitled to do that
- all Akai users will want to see the company go from strength to strength).
Unfortunately, third party developers will see most of that profit and the user
will only suffer inconvenience. Akai should rethink their policy for future
product ranges.

That covers most of the physical changes between the S1000 and S3000. Other
changes of course include improved audio specifications and capabilities, and
new software features and enhancements. I think I need to cover these under
a new heading...