Akai S612
The Akai S612 12 Bit Sampler is a really funny device. I'm not sure, but I think this is the result of it's unbelievable simple User-Interface. But beside this it delivers 12Bit Samples at it's
best, punchy and gritty ;o)
This unit arrives with a defective slider but beside this in working order. The housing shows a lot of wear and tear but there are two benefits that make this particular unit rare. It features
the Firmware Version 1.3e, a firmware developed in munich germany from Werner Szugat, and it comes with a non installed FPA (Front Panel Animator) module from the Hideaway Studios in Great
Britain.
Firmware 1.3e and Editor Software
I found a lot of infos regarding the S612, the Firmware Version 1.3e, it's manual and some hints and Links about ancient Atari-ST Software for editing purposes on Florian Anwander's Website. This was a great help to discover the multisampling extensions of the V1.3e ! After some reading and trying, I was able to install and operate the cool Atari-ST based editing software from Harald Plontke under the Steem-Emulator on my PC. Really nice ... :o) ... it is of greatest interest to connect the Akai with short MIDI cables, I work with approx. 30cm short ones, to get a proper respond and no timeouts during sample transfer. Then you got everything that is needed for the real sampler nerd to get perfect stuff from this stunning little sampler ;o)
Cleaning and Slider Rework
I started with cleaning and with overworking the defective slider. Something hit the slider handle hard from above, maybe a bottle of beer that moved slowly to the edge of the unit due to deep
bass pulses and crashed it :o) Nevertheless the slide was internally bent so much, that it hasn't contact anymore. I saw this during the reworking process after I opened the slider housing.
Luckily it was not broken so I could bent it back in place and ... voila ... it works again !
FPA Installation and PSU
Then I proceed with implementing the FPA module. This module developed from Dan Wilson at the Hideaway Studios in Britain add's 5 MIDI-CC Controllers for remote treatment of Cutoff, Startpoint of
Sample, Enpoint of sample, LFO-Speed and Decay. Once installed it is really inspiring to work with this ... not during live playing - the Akai already has this great analog interface - but for
automated working from the DAW. Listen and have fun with the examples from Hideaway Studios available on soundcloud :o) Overworking the PSU of the Akai. Beside a recap it was neccessary to change
two transistors.
XD-280 Floppy Emulator
After some days I decided to order another module from Hideaway. It was the cool XD-280 floppy disk emulator. It replaces the original MD-280 device featuring a QD-Floppy with a modded Gotek Floppy emulator and a electronic board. This module requires no soldering during installation, it connects directly on the rear-connector of the S612. The floppy emulator sits on top or beside the housing. Perfect ! (Sorry, ... I forgot to make pictures of it, but if you are interrested search the web for AKAI XD-280 or follow the link provided :o)