The Akai S1100 represents the evolution of the hugely successful S1000, which had established itself as the industry standard professional sampler. Released approximately two years after the S1000, the S1100 maintains the same operational interface and functionality that made its predecessor so popular while introducing significant improvements in audio quality, connectivity, and professional features that respond to developments in the competitive sampling market.

Operational Familiarity

Anyone familiar with the S1000 will feel immediately at home with the S1100. The front panel layout is identical, with the same buttons in the same positions, and all existing S1000 features are programmed in exactly the same manner. The only visible differences are additional menu screens for controlling the new features. This continuity in design ensures a smooth transition for existing users.

One of the most valuable aspects of the S1100 is its backward compatibility - it loads S1000 and S900 disks directly without requiring any sample conversion or program rebuilding, preserving users' investments in sound libraries.

Audio Quality Improvements

The S1100 features significant upgrades in its audio chain:

• Improved analog-to-digital conversion using Crystal converters (replacing the dual Burr-Brown chips in the S1000), resulting in cleaner, quieter sampling with approximately 6dB higher dynamic range at the input stage
• Dedicated 20-bit digital-to-analog converters for each output (compared to the S1000's multiplexed approach), ensuring consistent audio quality regardless of voice count or output routing
• Overall superior sound quality both when recording samples and during playback

Built-in Digital Effects

A major addition to the S1100 is a dedicated DSP chip that enables 24-bit effects processing. The system offers:

• 50 effect patch memory locations
• 10 DSP algorithms including Large, Medium and Small Halls; Large and Small Rooms; two Plates; Chorus/Flange; Pitch Shift (±50 semitones/cents); and Echo (with three delay voices of up to 60 milliseconds each)
• 24-bit floating point calculations for clean, professional-quality effects
• Individual effect send control for each program
• Effect output available from dedicated audio outputs (7 and 8)

Professional Digital Connectivity

The S1100 significantly improves upon the digital connectivity of the S1000:

• AES/EBU digital I/O comes standard (unlike the optional IB104 card for the S1000)
• True real-time digital output capability - the system can transmit all active voices over the digital connection during playback (the S1000's digital output was limited to memory/hard disk backup functions)
• Direct digital connection to professional DAT recorders, digital multitrack recorders, and digital reverb units

Enhanced Professional Features

Several professional features have been added or made standard:

• Built-in SCSI interface (which was optional on the S1000), enabling immediate connection to external storage devices
• Optional internal 80MB hard disk (the HD84)
• SMPTE timecode input and output for synchronization with video systems
• Cue Play feature - a cue sheet system that allows samples to be triggered at specified SMPTE timecode points, particularly useful for sound effects work for film and video

Redesigned Interface Elements

While maintaining continuity with the S1000, some interface improvements were made:

• The confusing Response page has been replaced with two more logical pages - Mix and MIDI
• The Mix page shows Level, Output, Stereo Volume, Pan, and FX Send parameters
• The MIDI page displays Channel, Key Range, Polyphony, Priority, and Octave Shift settings
• Multiple programs can be viewed simultaneously, making multi-timbral sequencing work substantially easier

Future Expandability

Akai planned significant future enhancements for the S1100:

• Version 2.0 software (projected for release in Summer 1991) would add stereo direct-to-disk recording capability and external monitor programming
• The announced S1100EX expansion unit would add 16 additional voices and up to 32MB more memory, creating a potential 32-voice, 64MB system when used with the S1100

Memory and Polyphony

Like the S1000, the S1100 offers:

• 16-voice polyphony (with voice-stealing when exceeding this limit)
• Memory expandable to 32MB using 8MB expansion boards
• Stereo samples require two voices, effectively halving available polyphony when using stereo samples extensively

Market Position

The S1100 was designed to maintain Akai's market dominance in the face of increased competition from:

• Roland S770 (with 24 voices, superior filters, and real-time digital output)
• E-mu Systems Emax II (with same quality as Emulator III at S1000 price point)
• Ensoniq EPS16 Plus (with built-in effects and improved sample quality)
• Dynacord ADS (with superior audio quality but lacking filters)

The S1100's combination of professional features, improved sound quality, and continuity with the successful S1000 platform positioned it as a formidable option for professional studios and musicians, addressing the few areas where competitors had gained advantages.

Akai S1100 Technical Specifications

Audio Specifications

• Sample Resolution: 16-bit linear
• Digital Processing: 24-bit for effects
• Audio Configuration: Stereo
• Polyphony: 16 voices
• A/D Conversion: Crystal converter (improved over S1000's Burr-Brown chips)
• D/A Conversion: Dedicated 20-bit D/A converters for each output
• Dynamic Range: Approximately 6dB higher at input stage compared to S1000

Memory & Storage

• Standard Memory: 2Mb factory (EXM002), 32Mb max (EXM008)
• Memory Expansion: Up to 32MB using 8MB expansion boards
• Internal Storage: Optional HD84 80MB internal hard disk
• Disk Support: High-density 3.5" floppy disks (1.6MB capacity)
• Sample Capacity: Up to 200 samples in internal memory
• Program Capacity: Up to 100 programs in internal memory

Sample Organization

• Keygroups: Up to 99 per program
• Samples per Keygroup: Up to 4
• Velocity Layers: Programmable per sample with optional crossfading
• Keygroup Functionality: Overlapping areas possible for layering or positional crossfading

Digital Effects

• DSP Resolution: 24-bit floating point processing
• Effect Memory: 50 effect patches
• DSP Algorithms: 10 total, including:
  • Large, Medium and Small Halls
  • Large and Small Rooms
  • Two Plate reverbs
  • Chorus/Flange
  • Pitch Shift (±50 semitones/cents)
  • Echo (three delay voices of up to 60ms each)
• Effect Control: Individual send level per program
• Effect Output: Available on audio outputs 7 and 8

Inputs & Outputs

• Audio Inputs: Not specified (likely balanced XLR and jack inputs as on S1000)
• Audio Outputs:
  • Stereo main outputs
  • 8 individual polyphonic outputs
  • Each output with dedicated 20-bit D/A converter
• Digital I/O: AES/EBU format (standard)
• Synchronization: SMPTE timecode input and output
• MIDI: In, Out, Thru (inferred)
• Computer Interface: SCSI (standard)
• Headphones: Yes (inferred from S1000)

Synchronization & Triggering

• SMPTE: Input and output
• Cue Play: Trigger samples at specified SMPTE timecode points
• Cue List Format: Hours, minutes, seconds, frames, and tenths of frames

MIDI Implementation

• MIDI Modes: Multi-timbral (up to 16 channels)
• Voice Priority: Programmable per program
• Polyphony Limits: Programmable per program

Backward Compatibility

• S1000 Compatibility: Direct loading of S1000 disks without conversion
• S900 Compatibility: Direct loading of S900 disks without conversion

Sample Editing

• Visual Editing: Waveform display for sample editing and loop creation
• Pre-Record Buffer: Yes, to capture audio before trigger threshold
• Sample Modification: Trimming, looping, keyboard assignment

Physical Specifications

• Form Factor: Rack mount (likely 3U as with S1000)
• Display: LCD display (likely 320-character/8x40 as with S1000)
• User Interface: Function buttons, parameter knobs, soft keys

Expansions

• Version 2.0 Software Features:
  • Stereo direct-to-disk recording
  • External monitor programming
• S1100EX Expansion Unit:
  • Additional 16 voices
  • Up to 32MB additional memory
  • Connection via SCSI

The Akai S1100 represented a significant evolution of the highly successful S1000 professional sampler that had established itself as the industry standard. Released approximately two years after the S1000, the S1100 maintained the same user interface and operational design while incorporating several important improvements in audio quality and professional features.

Users familiar with the S1000 would feel immediately at home with the S1100, as the button layout and programming procedures remained identical, with new features accessible through additional menu screens. A key advantage was the S1100's direct compatibility with S1000 and S900 sample disks, eliminating the need for conversion or program rebuilding.

The S1100 featured substantial audio quality improvements, using Crystal A/D converters instead of the S1000's Burr-Brown chips, resulting in cleaner sampling with approximately 6dB higher dynamic range. More impressively, each output received its own dedicated 20-bit D/A converter (replacing the S1000's multiplexed approach), ensuring consistent quality regardless of voice count or output routing.

A major addition was the inclusion of built-in digital effects, powered by a 24-bit DSP chip. The system offered 50 effect memory locations with 10 algorithms including various reverb halls and rooms, plates, chorus/flange, pitch shifting, and echo effects. Each program could send individually to the effects section, with processed audio available from dedicated outputs.

The S1100 significantly improved upon the S1000's digital connectivity. While the S1000 offered optional digital I/O (via the IB104 card) that was primarily useful for sample transfer, the S1100 included standard AES/EBU connectivity capable of transmitting all active voices over the digital connection during real-time playback.