Akai S612 Sound Library Archive Project.

[themilford]

Hey guys,

No Talky, Long Time.

I'm interested in acquiring the entire collection of Akai S612 sample library Quick Disks. I have a couple. I stupidly traded some away over the years... but because they are often mishandled and misidentified it's hard to source and purchase them. Sometimes a huge lot shows up and I don't have the funds to bid or purchase. But in the end my goal is to own and archive the entire collection and make all the samples available in different formats online.

Not sure where to start to involve this community, but I've considered a small crowdfunding page. The only selfish aspect would be that the funds would help me to acquire the physical collection; But after that any funds left over would go toward preservation and archiving and making it public. This would include any hardware, repair, software and doodads I might need to make this so. I would even be open to partnering or forming a collective in the case of not completing the collection myself.

Your guys' thoughts, criticisms and help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
DJ

[Rasputin]

Great idea, but I think you're just going to have to save up and do it yourself because generally people don't care about this stuff unless someone does the work and offers it for free.

I tried to organize a group buy for firmware, service manuals, and schematics and got no responses, yet people come on here every day and ask for <xyz>.

But hey, it's a fringe interest, I guess.

[blueknob]

Great idea, but I think you're just going to have to save up and do it yourself because generally people don't care about this stuff unless someone does the work and offers it for free....

- yeh ain't that the truth!

I see QDs pop up on eBay, even smallish collections of genuine AKAI library disks, but... prices are rising and everyone will want the wavs for free anyway. It amazes me when, should there be a disk missing from the entire freebie collection, someone will get all upset and become abusive. Life is too easy for some.

I agree, make your own collection, will take time, effort and money but then you get what you want. A big part of the fun with collecting is the hunt.

[madtheory]

Sign me up. When you have it together, I'll pay you for the WAVs.

[logix]

I had an X-7000 myself, which I sold years ago, but fondly remember several very nice samples I had from those Akai QD disks. I now have a different sampler, but it would be great to source those sounds again.

I think the OP's idea is great, and it would be a win-win for everybody. Have you had any progress so far?
I believe there was some software back in the day which allowed you to MIDI sysex-dump from those Akai samplers (S-612/S-700/X-7000) over to a computer (typically an Atari ST). Is that how you're going to build the library and convert the samples for other formats?

[themilford]

Have you had any progress so far?
I believe there was some software back in the day which allowed you to MIDI sysex-dump from those Akai samplers (S-612/S-700/X-7000) over to a computer (typically an Atari ST). Is that how you're going to build the library and convert the samples for other formats?

I have acquired a small batch. All new from europe, mostly percussion. I know this will be a slow endeavor but I will keep slogging away at it. I expect I will have to buy whole collections with samplers... so expect me to be refurbing/repairing MD280s and selling them here.

I'm actually looking for the Atari ST programs that can do this. I think it's the best way to archive. The program was called Soundfiler by Drumware. There was also a program called Genwave.

I also plan to do analog archives as well on master half-track. No s**t.

[soundarchive]

Hi David,
It's been a few months since people have posted on this thread, but I'd like to connect and see if I could help you with this project. I'm interested in archiving all the old Akai sample libraries, and the SL100/S612 library is of particular interest to me due to its rarity. I have a few SL100 disks in MPC format, and I'm working on an online archive of several other sampler and synthesizer patches. If you'd like to talk more, shoot me an email ([email protected]) and I'll be happy to send you what I have.

[Rob Ocelot]

I just recently replaced one of my MD-280 QD drives with a Gotek and dumped my entire collection of Akai Sample Library disks by hot swapping the drive plug (yes, this works and doesn't seem to cause any problems for the drive or the sampler hardware). A very tedious process but the end result is well worth it and superior to a MIDI sample dump because you retain all of the settings (and most importantly the start/end slider positions)

This is what I've dumped (roughly 50 disks):

*ASL Orchestral (Red label)
*ASL LA Studio 20 (Blue label)
*Grey label Akai disks with typewritten text
(These appear to be someone's homemade copies of the official disks, as I think the Akai branded blank QD disks had grey labels)

Anyone else doing the same thing as I am?

[madtheory]

Probably not. Sounds like a lot of work. You could probably sell those, seeing as the S612 is definitely a newly popular machine with all the mods now available for it. Take a look at Hideawaystudios thread on Gearslutz.

[CurriculumCrasher]

I just recently replaced one of my MD-280 QD drives with a Gotek and dumped my entire collection of Akai Sample Library disks by hot swapping the drive plug (yes, this works and doesn't seem to cause any problems for the drive or the sampler hardware). A very tedious process but the end result is well worth it and superior to a MIDI sample dump because you retain all of the settings (and most importantly the start/end slider positions)

This is what I've dumped (roughly 50 disks):

*ASL Orchestral (Red label)
*ASL LA Studio 20 (Blue label)
*Grey label Akai disks with typewritten text
(These appear to be someone's homemade copies of the official disks, as I think the Akai branded blank QD disks had grey labels)

Anyone else doing the same thing as I am?

I have some Akai Factory Sample Disks and would like to contribute to this project if I can be any help. The following disks I have will load the samples correctly:

SL-203 Chorus & Ensemble (yellow): Disk #27 (A/B), #28 (B only), #30 (A only)
SL-207 L.A. Studio 20 (blue): Disk #61 (A/B), #62 (A/B), #63 (A/B), #64 (A/B), #65 (A/B), #66 (A/B), #67 (A/B), #68 (A/B), #69 (A/B)

I have some additional disks in the SL-203 and SL-204 sets that will load without error, but there's distortion in the sample playback.

What is the best way to dump these? I have a Sysex Library Manager, but not sure if that will be sufficient and if I need something running on a vintage PC.

[madtheory]

From what I can gather, you can probalby do it by running an Atari emulator/ VM on your PC, and run this inside it:
http://www.florian-anwander.de/akai_s612//

[j0ris]

From what I can gather, you can probalby do it by running an Atari emulator/ VM on your PC, and run this inside it:
http://www.florian-anwander.de/akai_s612//

That's indeed what I did, before I got the Dani Wilson MD280 Gotek replacement. It was a bit of a hassle to set up an Atari emulator, but it was the only way (to my knowledge) to successfully transfer samples along with the loop points and other settings.

Are the library disks any good / interesting?

[madtheory]

Are the library disks any good / interesting?

That's what I would like to know!

[walkathon]

Hello all,

I purchased the XD-280 from Dani, and am really enjoying it so far. I also own a fairly healthy S612 QD library, but am having a dilly of a time trying to digitize these. I've tried wineskinning both Sampler Dumper and Sample Wrench, and neither have been able to fully suck in a sample over MIDI. Using the SYSEX info courtesy here http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/s-612/s-612.htm, it's curious that Sampler Dumper is able to at least get further in the process than Wrench. Been using the mac app Pocket MIDI for MIDI data logging. Having been chatting w/ Dani, one theory we hold is that Wine itself is possibly messing w/ the buffering and throwing off the S612. (S612's OS is 1.1a, FWIW). Absolute worst case, I have a second S612 here I can try (won't know OS until I can open it up), but highly doubt swapping that one out will make a difference.

This entire process has been a pretty frustrating affair, so I'm nearly ready to mothball everything. Figured I'd post here for any / all help, thx.

Are the library disks any good / interesting?

That's what I would like to know!

Yes, surprisingly good / fun for once shot, stretched across the keyboard samples.


P.S., does anyone have the SL-209 library 10-disc set, by chance?

[FadGadget]

Hi guys,

I found this thread while searching for any info at all about the S612/S700/X7000 libraries. I have a X7000 with a barely working disk drive and I plan to install a Gotek instead. I also have an old Mac Quadra 700 with a MIDI interface and Sound Designer 1.5. Sample dumping back and forth works perfectly. If I can do anything to help with this project, count me in!

However I have none of the Akai factory disks and I am very happy to see the progress you guys have made in archiving them so far. Rob, if you would like to share your converted disks I would be extremely happy! Of course I don't expect you to simply give them away to a random guy like me. Contact me and I'm sure we can work something out.

Best regards,
Johan in Sweden