Akai S3000XL Vintage hardware Sampler - Introduction, Buyers guide and Setup

I'm going to introduce you to the Akai S3000XL hardware sample, a vintage piece of kit from the 90's. I'll tell you what to look out for if you want to get one for yourself and how to get it up and running. Let me know in the comments what the next videos should be.

[@racalik]

Had S2000 and S3000XL and sold them a few years ago as they were just occupying space. It wasn't that easy to sell them as well, took some time... I would probably find a few uses (or things to check) with the S3000XL now, such as fx unit for polysynth etc. Anyway, it was fun to even just turn it on and look at it :)

[@EvLoutonian]

I think the S3000XL came out in 1996. Early 90's was the (previous generation) S3000. (Non-XL gen) I purchased an S2000 new in the late 90's, which is the same as the S3000XL but with a smaller screen (but at least the screen was a different type which doesn't seem to fade!).

[@rawedginnah]

🔥💯😎👍🏾

[@atommachine]

16 Mwords. The filter card from the non xl ( S3200 will work in the S3000XL as mine broke and i took the card out now i have a S3000XL with full ram , new screen , floppy emulat , and 2nd filter card. I Run it from scsi Iomega from an adabtec scsi card in my old pc with recycle 2.0 for chopping. Nice sampler.

[@the1version422]

I’m looking at eventually getting a 950 or 1000, but this was a helpful breakdown of the S3000XL. Would love to learn more about how to sample with it, the MIDI capability, and the SCSI functionality. Thanks! - Your latest subscriber

[@jim3uk]

I'll add that too the list of videos to make! Thanks for your comment and good luck!

[@djgreenhornet2892]

Cool video!

[@maxdiamond55]

fab video , thanks

[@Blahdnb]

I've been a happy user since 2020, got mine for as little as 100 quid :)

[@jim3uk]

Thanks for the comment, Yes, you still can get them for around £100 if you know where to look, and hold out for a good deal, but it might need a bit of TLC. Often screens will need a new backlight or the SCSI fuse will be blown. I'll cover fixing those in the next videos.

[@charthers8903]

Thank you for such a wonderful video.. Subbed

[@ichigen511]

Cool video I want to get one of these rack samplers some day to replicate the old ways. Maybe get an Atari ST and cubase as well! Side note: Your 1st monitor with all those icons is giving me OCD issues I can't resolve. LOL Anyways, cheers!

[@edtracey]

Awsome video. Thanks.

[@jim3uk]

cheers!

[@RicoLove7]

I see the Dilla Time book on your desk 🫡😤🙌🏼

[@EvLoutonian]

Nice thorough info + overview! If i remember correctly, the individual outputs are unbalanced, but TRS jacks should usually be ok.

[@jos1eph]

Thank you for this! Funny I have your same zoom mixer too

[@jim3uk]

it's a great mixer!

[@amonster8mymother]

Ive got one.

[@Vesalempinen]

The good thing is that you do not need SCSI stuff to send samples to S3000XL. I just use Data transfer using MIDI. Slow yes, but you do not need mesa/scsi cards etc.

[@XBASS247]

I had my s3000xl 15 years now maxed out and scsi with mesa on windows 11 Brought 60 pound back then And now its maxed out could sell it for 500 pound Im 2023 But ill never sell it ,nothing can beat it not mashine not my mpc one and not my akai s5000 which i allso use but that runs with akai keys through usb on my windows 11 comp with virtual box The s3000xl dont need virtual box It just works on any windows You need aspi drivers to get it going on windows 11🎉

[@amonster8mymother]

I got all the ram maxed out and i got the eproms upgraded and ive got mesa working so i have a sample pack for synths i can get the samples into the 1000 by lading them into the 3000 and then the 1000 reads them.

[@RoofLight00]

Great video thanks! These samplers are so much fun to use. My much loved S3000xl has the scsi fuse problem and doesn’t recognise the hard drive. Would a floppy emulator be able to bypass this issue and use a Gotek to store samples? I think I’ve kind of answered my own question which is most likely a ‘yes’ 😅

[@joshuarieger160]

I’m thinking of buying one and this will my first peice of equipment bought i have a computer tho do i need a sd card or a special software or something

[@AT-eh2eo]

I read that the s1000 a feature where you can assign several loop start points, as to prevent repetitive loops when sampling synths and whatnot. Haven’t seen it in practice, but I’m wondering if the 3000 has the same feature and if you could demonstrate that?

[@AllureMusicLab]

Great Video for Beginners !

[@jim3uk]

thankyou!

[@SOO100BRAND]

Just got mine from ebay for $230

[@amonster8mymother]

I think if you have the fx card the fx arw postfader. That means the fx are mixed in 50/50. With the drys. Im not sure 8f you csn send the wets and drys separately. ???

[@amonster8mymother]

Its cheaper to use a 1000 with the spx90 but you have to make s1000 programs with the fx loop 9n.

[@amonster8mymother]

Ive got a 1000 a 2000 and a s3000xl. But 9nly 8 outs in the 3000xl and no fx cards. I think i can use the 1000 with a spx90 to get the fx but the 1000 only does 9ne loop so maybe i can make loops in the 1000 and resample them into the 3000. ????

[@amonster8mymother]

The 3000xl can be used as a hd recorder.

[@neildeacon3460]

Why does the video description say S3000XL and you keep talking about the 2000 and sometimes the 3000? Which one is it for gods sake?

[@jim3uk]

It's the S3000XL, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[@amonster8mymother]

The s900/950 are 12 bit samplers. The s1000/s3000xl are 16 bit.

[@AgentsofRush]

Cheeky buggers selling the output board. Don't these fit the MPC 2000XLs also? Might be why someone took it out to sell.

[@joshuarieger160]

Does it need a gotek

[@jim3uk]

No, it doesn't need it, you can use the original 3.5" discs, or SCSI, a lot of people use Gotek's because they are really simple and just work. However, they do still work at the speed of an old skool floppy, so you may be there a while if you are loading / saving lots of samples

[@amonster8mymother]

Im not exactly sure what the original hardware was for the s3000xl

[@koolade76]

8 outs and 2mb

[@amonster8mymother]

@@koolade76 ok so I'm 8 outs and 32mb.

[@amonster8mymother]

Fx cards are $300+