Behind the Tools: Akai Mesa and Akai S3200XL

A video on the topic of how I integrate Akai Mesa into my production workflow. Akai Mesa was a sampler management program made for the Akai S3000 series samplers. Originally released for Windows and Mac OS, this is covering the Mac OS version running on a Powerbook G3 laptop.

[@atarirob]

Oh yes...more of these, please! Would love to see this turn into a series digging into the minutia of these old bits of gear and how you utilise them. Invaluable stuff!

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

That’s the plan. I want to go scripted instead of just talking off the top of my head so I can make sure I cover the topic properly.

[@Bittamin]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic I think maybe writing down a few bullet points but keeping the 1 take vibe could feel really genuine in this era where almost every guide is perfectly “cookie-cutter” editing and script work now. It has a vibe that just makes me feel like I’m in the studio with you and you’re showing a homie your stuff!! 🎉 special vibe to have, I would capture that lightning ⚡️

[@joonoonoo9643]

Yo your camera resolution and your voice is also like something back from the 90s. You are a magician..

[@joonoonoo9643]

Would you dive a little deeper about how you utilize one quarter chop increment more than transient chop? I kind of lost from where you were explaining about daw and midi notes.

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

@@joonoonoo9643 1/4 note chopping is easy to implement once your break is at the desired BPM. You can have a master chop template that will work with any break chopped this way. Transient chops are unique to the individual break you process, and requires more often than not the exact midi file generated from the chop. Otherwise it will not sound right. Transient chops are great when blending 2 different BPM breaks together.

[@LBe-gv3lr]

I thought the same

[@Gosha1992]

This is awesome, I didn't know about Akai Mesa at all. I might try it with my S3000XL.

[@djvaretta]

congratulations bro

[@bartleyrob]

oh yes i need to understand this more

[@sam-sn5pu]

Curious about the modern elements of your setup (Mac mini, monitor, speakers) and where you make the distinction with the older hardware

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

The Mac M1 Mini is the least used machine in my setup. Will cost a fortune to get the same level of use as my Mac Pro 5,1 and G4 MDD. The Dell U3417W can support 2x 1720x1440 resolution, enabling me to run Mac OS9 at 3440x1440 60hz on a Ti 4600 Mac card. My main sound interfaces do not talk directly with the M1. And for SCSI, Mac OS9 is the last operating system I can run on Mac for that support.

[@devondetroit2529]

The tower of power!! What type of rack is that!? Also do you have any roland samplers and do you use the roland mouse and software sequencer?

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

I have a Roland S760 with the CRT output and mouse. Don’t have the sequencer software

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

Rack is a Startech 42U rack I bought on Amazon

[@famousarmystudio]

can you dive into the Powerbook a bit more and how you have it setup? I've got a s3000xl and would love to use akai mesa with it.

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

I can do that. What specifically would you like to know?

[@borisnihom7985]

Thanks for keeping the hardware sampler workflow alive @architecture! I’d be curious too, as i have an akai s3200xl as well. Couple of questions: What version of the powerbook G3 do you have? Which SCSI adapter do you use? Which driver hacks did you need to use to install? Did you install an internal SSD? Do you use Recycle too on the machine?

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

@@borisnihom7985 with the PowerBook G3 PDQ 266mhz laptop, it has built in SCSI port on the laptop. This maintains high compatibility with older scsi based editors. The SSD is internally installed on the laptop ata bus. Recycle is another program I will make a video about, I absolutely use it as much if not more than Mesa. The driver hacks are for Windows 10, which I have a written guide for.

[@famousarmystudio]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic this is helpful! I've been looking at a few powerbooks on eBay but could never really guess what one to get. So are you running windows on a mac powerbook or is it the mac os and Recycle?

[@borisnihom7985]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic perfect! I’m going to try to find one

[@SteveEboy71]

I have both a win98 pc and and old mac i can use for mesa, any reason to pic one version over the other or do they function identically and is one more stable than the other ?

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

The Mac version can work with S3200 and S3000 samplers, while the PC version only supports the XL versions and the 2000

[@bartleyrob]

whats that sample playing ??

[@waynehubbard6651]

I have a s6000 and have recently acquired an s3200 (non xl). On the back of this vid I also got a PowerBook g3 and have MESA and recycle v2. I also have a Zip drive connected to the Akai. But when I have the Zip disk inserted the PowerBook wants to eject or initialise it and won’t let me continue unless I choose an option! Have you encountered this??

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

Best thing to do is disable Iomega drivers if you’re using it for the Akai. That’s how I get around the issue, either that or unmount it on the Mac. I’ll have to play around with it again since it’s been years since I had that issue

[@waynehubbard6651]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic It’s a bit of a weird bug - I’ve been asking around the forums and I have a couple of possible solutions. Apparently there is an “allow foreign disk” feature in MESA but I can’t it…

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

@@waynehubbard6651 might need to add that extension to your extension folder. I think I have that in mine.

[@waynehubbard6651]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic 👍

[@pauloespadinha2754]

Hi, Very interesting video.. Question .. does mesa works zlso on pc on xp under a virtual box ? Also in your opinipn which model in s3000 series is worth ? Thanks

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

Only if you have a USB to SCSI interface will the VM solution work in what we have figured out so far. I haven’t had much luck with a passthrough PCI setup

[@pauloespadinha2754]

So under windows which software is better to control all the sampler parameters as i do with my s6000 by usb ? As an advice what s3000 series model is better to buy ? Thanks

[@pauloespadinha2754]

I forget to mention have already translator 7 as software for my akai samplers..

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

@@pauloespadinha2754 windows Mesa compatible units would be S2000, S3000XL and S3200XL

[@r0tekz]

Do you know of a Windows 10 Patch librarian like Sound Diver?

[@amonster8mymother]

I have same b

[@sourcebeat6391]

Yo gang ! Can I download akai cd iso from MESA ??

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

You mean make Mesa programs from a CD ISO in Akai format? Haven’t figured that one out yet

[@sourcebeat6391]

@@Arc.hitectureMusic yes With ZULU SCSI I can download 6 images of AKAI ISO …if MESA can make program from AKAI CD ISO - it will be dope !

[@grosses_wassertier666]

found an akai s2000 in the dumpster

[@Arc.hitectureMusic]

Nice!