Akai S1000 / S1100 samplers

Hi all,

Franky from Belgium here. I recently bought a S1100. I'm still looking 
at the possibilities, they are enormous and I don't have a manual :( 
(yes, I downloaded the S1000 manual from this group)
Maybe someone would care to respond to my, maybe, premature questions.

The guy I bought the S1100 from also threw in a SCSI hard drive of 500 
MB to build in and I would very much like to build it in (or have it 
done).
Does anyone have experience with this? I also picked up that the unit 
runs hot and that the power supply isn't very strong (to support an 
extra internal drive). Are there ways to overcome this? 
(ventilation/juice up the power)
I also was wondering if it is possible to automatically load samples 
directly from hard disk when you switch the S1100 on, or if a Sysex is 
required. (the device wil be used for playing live and will be "midi-
driven", so a minimum of manual interventions is desired)
Any advise is welcome. Please note that I'm not extremely technical, so 
small words please ;)

On another note, the LCD display isn't very clear anymore. Is changing 
the backlight particularily troublesome and should I wait until it's 
comletely unreadable, or should I go ahead with ordering one and let it 
be replaced right away? Incidentally, in the links section, the address 
of the uk site that delivers backlights seems to have disappeared and 
the American site isn't very clear. If I understood right, you should 
send them your old backlight (apprehensive to do that). What's the best 
way to obtain one?

I hope I haven't spoken to soon, and that someone can put me on the 
right track.

Regards,
Franky

--- wederniet <wederniet@...> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> Franky from Belgium here. I recently bought a S1100.
> I'm still looking 
> at the possibilities, they are enormous and I don't
> have a manual :( 
> (yes, I downloaded the S1000 manual from this group)
> Maybe someone would care to respond to my, maybe,
> premature questions.
> 
> The guy I bought the S1100 from also threw in a SCSI
> hard drive of 500 
> MB to build in and I would very much like to build
> it in (or have it 
> done).
> Does anyone have experience with this? I also picked
> up that the unit 
> runs hot and that the power supply isn't very strong
> (to support an 
> extra internal drive). Are there ways to overcome
> this? 
> (ventilation/juice up the power)
> I also was wondering if it is possible to
> automatically load samples 
> directly from hard disk when you switch the S1100
> on, or if a Sysex is 
> required. (the device wil be used for playing live
> and will be "midi-
> driven", so a minimum of manual interventions is
> desired)
> Any advise is welcome. Please note that I'm not
> extremely technical, so 
> small words please ;)
> 
> On another note, the LCD display isn't very clear
> anymore. Is changing 
> the backlight particularily troublesome and should I
> wait until it's 
> comletely unreadable, or should I go ahead with
> ordering one and let it 
> be replaced right away? Incidentally, in the links
> section, the address 
> of the uk site that delivers backlights seems to
> have disappeared and 
> the American site isn't very clear. If I understood
> right, you should 
> send them your old backlight (apprehensive to do
> that). What's the best 
> way to obtain one?
> 
> I hope I haven't spoken to soon, and that someone
> can put me on the 
> right track.
> 
> Regards,
> Franky
> 
> 
> 
> 
HELLO FRANKY.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS THIS:
BUY A 100 MEG ZIP DRIVE ON E-BAY.
SCSI THAT TO YOUR 1100.
HOPE YOUR 1100 IS LOADED WITH 32MEGS.
THE CARDS ARE ALOT OF MONEY IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.
THE POWER TRANFORMER DOES GET VERY HOT SO GIVE IT
SPACE IN YOUR RACK AND BLOW A FAN ON THE TOP LID .YOUR
DISPLAY I WOULD LEAVE ALONE IF YOU CAN READ IT.IF YOU
WANT MORE MEMORY FOR YOUR 1100 CHECK OUT REAL WORLD
INTERFACES.DO A SEARCH FOR THE AKAI S1100 AND YOU WILL
SEE IT.THE BOARD YOU NEED IS #M32S1.IF YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN NEW YORK CITY HIS # IS
1-212-685-7900. HE IS AN AKAI TECH WHO HAS PUT MY 1100
AND EXPANDER IN PERFECT SHAPE.THIS GUY IS GREAT. HIS
NAME IS PETER LANZILOTTA.HOPE I HAVE BEEN SOME HELP TO
YOU.  GOOD LUCK!!

DAVID CASTLE  N.Y.C 


		
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Thanks for the input David.
But I actually want to have a SCSI hard disk built inside and see if anyone has any experience with that. 
And I wanted to know that, if this is done, if it is possible to automatically load samples from this drive on startup (just as it loads a floppy when it's in the floppy drive at start-up). People with an external hard disk probably know the answer to this too.
 
Everything has to be compact and as much "plug-and-play" as possible, so I don't want to have external storage devices attached to the S1100, and I want to perform as little manual operations as possible in a live situation.
 
Wouldn't it be feasible to build in a fan on the power-transformer?
BTW, my S1100 is loaded with 32Mb (or so they told me, I'll have to check that).
 
You're right, It's probably best to leave the display alone (if it isn't broken, don't fix it)

Regards,
Franky

David Castle <dgc21music@...> wrote:
HELLO FRANKY.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS THIS:
BUY A 100 MEG ZIP DRIVE ON E-BAY.
SCSI THAT TO YOUR 1100.
HOPE YOUR 1100 IS LOADED WITH 32MEGS.
THE CARDS ARE ALOT OF MONEY IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.
THE POWER TRANFORMER DOES GET VERY HOT SO GIVE IT
SPACE IN YOUR RACK AND BLOW A FAN ON THE TOP LID .YOUR
DISPLAY I WOULD LEAVE ALONE IF YOU CAN READ IT.IF YOU
WANT MORE MEMORY FOR YOUR 1100 CHECK OUT REAL WORLD
INTERFACES.DO A SEARCH FOR THE AKAI S1100 AND YOU WILL
SEE IT.THE BOARD YOU NEED IS #M32S1.IF YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN NEW YORK CITY HIS # IS
1-212-685-7900. HE IS AN AKAI TECH WHO HAS PUT MY 1100
AND EXPANDER IN PERFECT SHAPE.THIS GUY IS GREAT. HIS
NAME IS PETER LANZILOTTA.HOPE I HAVE BEEN SOME HELP TO
YOU. GOOD LUCK!!

DAVID CASTLE N.Y.C 


		
---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
 Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new Resources site!

Hi,

1. You can try to put a hard drive into your S1100. First check the
several other messages about that topic in this group. Not all scsi
cards have an internal connector. If they do, not all of them are
still working. Another solution is to have a flat cable with on one
side an internal scsi connector and on the other side an external one.
That way you can connect the HD on the external scsi connector in case
its needed. DO NOT make the mistake of (un)plugging the cable while
the sampler is still powered on. That damages your scsi card.
Also, there is no ready place to mount the HD on. So you must be a bit
technical.

2. There is no easy way of loading all samples on power on. Maybe
someone can write a clever midi file that sends all necessary sysex. 

3. No problem to add a fan to the S1100. Best place is the top lid.
But then you'll need to dril a big hole in that thick metal plate.

4. Backlight is easy to replace if youre a bit technical. ALl
instructions are on the website of backlights.co.uk
Just make sure that you specify akai S1100 when you order one. It will
save your eyes !

5. In case youre not so technical, find a technical friend before you
start with screwing and soldering.

Greetings,

Frank


--- In akaiS1000S1100Samplers@yahoogroups.com, wederniet
<wederniet@y...> wrote:
> Thanks for the input David.
> But I actually want to have a SCSI hard disk built inside and see if
anyone has any experience with that. 
> And I wanted to know that, if this is done, if it is possible to
automatically load samples from this drive on startup (just as it
loads a floppy when it's in the floppy drive at start-up). People with
an external hard disk probably know the answer to this too.
>  
> Everything has to be compact and as much "plug-and-play" as
possible, so I don't want to have external storage devices attached to
the S1100, and I want to perform as little manual operations as
possible in a live situation.
>  
> Wouldn't it be feasible to build in a fan on the power-transformer?
> BTW, my S1100 is loaded with 32Mb (or so they told me, I'll have to
check that).
>  
> You're right, It's probably best to leave the display alone (if it
isn't broken, don't fix it)

> 
> Regards,
> Franky
> 
> David Castle <dgc21music@y...> wrote:
> HELLO FRANKY.
> WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS THIS:
> BUY A 100 MEG ZIP DRIVE ON E-BAY.
> SCSI THAT TO YOUR 1100.
> HOPE YOUR 1100 IS LOADED WITH 32MEGS.
> THE CARDS ARE ALOT OF MONEY IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.
> THE POWER TRANFORMER DOES GET VERY HOT SO GIVE IT
> SPACE IN YOUR RACK AND BLOW A FAN ON THE TOP LID .YOUR
> DISPLAY I WOULD LEAVE ALONE IF YOU CAN READ IT.IF YOU
> WANT MORE MEMORY FOR YOUR 1100 CHECK OUT REAL WORLD
> INTERFACES.DO A SEARCH FOR THE AKAI S1100 AND YOU WILL
> SEE IT.THE BOARD YOU NEED IS #M32S1.IF YOU WANT TO
> SPEAK TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN NEW YORK CITY HIS # IS
> 1-212-685-7900. HE IS AN AKAI TECH WHO HAS PUT MY 1100
> AND EXPANDER IN PERFECT SHAPE.THIS GUY IS GREAT. HIS
> NAME IS PETER LANZILOTTA.HOPE I HAVE BEEN SOME HELP TO
> YOU. GOOD LUCK!!
> 
> DAVID CASTLE N.Y.C 
> 
> 
> 		
> ---------------------------------
> Do You Yahoo!?
>  Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new Resources site!

Thanks,
That's good info there. I wasn't planning to do this myself, I just wanted to know if it could be done. My scsi card has an internal connector, so let's hope it works.
I will probably have some trouble in writing the sysex messages, but we'll see. If I succeed, I will post it. Is there anyone who has written such sysex already maybe? That could help.
 
backlights.co.uk seems to have gone :(
 
I'll keep you posted on my results, but it won't be for the very near future.

Franky

formals777 <wafwaf@...> wrote:
Hi,

1. You can try to put a hard drive into your S1100. First check the
several other messages about that topic in this group. Not all scsi
cards have an internal connector. If they do, not all of them are
still working. Another solution is to have a flat cable with on one
side an internal scsi connector and on the other side an external one.
That way you can connect the HD on the external scsi connector in case
its needed. DO NOT make the mistake of (un)plugging the cable while
the sampler is still powered on. That damages your scsi card.
Also, there is no ready place to mount the HD on. So you must be a bit
technical.

2. There is no easy way of loading all samples on power on. Maybe
someone can write a clever midi file that sends all necessary sysex. 

3. No problem to add a fan to the S1100. Best place is the top lid.
But then you'll need to dril a big hole in that thick metal plate.

4. Backlight is easy to replace if youre a bit technical. ALl
instructions are on the website of backlights.co.uk
Just make sure that you specify akai S1100 when you order one. It will
save your eyes !

5. In case youre not so technical, find a technical friend before you
start with screwing and soldering.

Greetings,

Frank

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