The Akai S-Series Sample Libraries: A Slice of 90s Authenticity

Throughout the years, certain pieces of hardware have left an undeniable mark on the music scene, and the Akai S-Series samplers are among them. These machines played a fundamental role in shaping the sound of electronic music, influencing everything from House and Techno to Hip-Hop and beyond.

My first experience with the series was the legendary Akai S950. At the time, we weren’t overly concerned with the sonic characteristics of the machine-we were just thrilled with the 11-second sample time. We started building our own sample library by grabbing kicks, snares, and stabs from the records we were buying and spinning. This process of digging, sampling, and creating became second nature, but we weren’t yet fully aware of how the hardware itself coloured the sound.

Following the S950, we moved on to the Akai S1000, which introduced us to the official S1000 sample library. Later, I went on to own the S3200XL and the S5000. Further expanding my experience with Akai’s evolving samplers and their libraries.

At the time, however, we didn’t use the libraries much, as we were still more inclined to sample directly from vinyl. When we did load sounds from the library, they never quite hit the spot. Looking back, I now realise this was less about the samples themselves and more about our lack of experience in producing and mixing. Compared to the records we admired, these sounds felt like they needed something extra.

Akai S1000 CD-ROM

Akai S1000 Sample Library

📀 Akai S1000 CD-ROM

Over the years, I’ve accumulated sample libraries from all the Akai releases, including the MPC range. Listening to them now, I can clearly hear how these collections helped shape the sound of the 90s. There’s a real sonic thread running through them-a unique quality, a diverse selection of sampled equipment, and a character that became integral to the evolution of electronic music. These sounds were crucial in defining the textures of House and Techno, and their influence extended well beyond the decade.

Even today, I find myself going back to my Akai S1000 library for chord stabs, basses, and drums. They work so well for achieving that authentic House and Techno sound. There’s an extensive range of sounds to explore, and with the right combination of compression, saturation, and manipulation, they can seamlessly fit into modern productions. The richness and warmth these libraries offer make them just as relevant today as they were decades ago.

For those looking to capture an authentic 90s electronic music vibe, acquiring these libraries is a great investment. They continue to be in demand, with prices on eBay ranging between £75 and £100. Additionally, some of these libraries are available on the Internet Archive, such as Akai CD-ROM Sound Library Volume 1.

These libraries are in Akai format, meaning you’ll need to convert them to WAV for use in modern DAWs. The best way to do this is by mounting the images with Daemon Tools and then converting to WAV using Awave Studio.

To make it easier, I’ve already converted some of these samples into WAV format, ready to use in modern setups. You can download a few of them at the end of this blog, and the full set is available exclusively on my Patreon page. 🎛️

Whether you’re making House, Techno, or any genre influenced by the golden era of sampling, these libraries hold a treasure trove of sounds waiting to be rediscovered. Find yourself an Akai library, start experimenting, and bring a piece of history into your productions.

Akai Samples [Sampler].zip

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