S-20 Floppy Disks

[AfxTwn]

Hello, I am new to sampling and have been given an Akai S-20 but I only have disk number 3 with it so I was wondering where I can get the other disks? I live in the UK and have checked ebay but there aren't any on there.

Does anyone know of any websites where the samples can be downloaded and then converted to an Akai-friendly format? I have a floppy drive on my PC and plenty of spare disks so I could make them up myself.

I have also read that the internal memory can be upgraded from 1 to 17mb via a DIMM card, where can I get one of these and is it difficult to do?

Sorry for all the questions but as I said, I am new to this. I have been given quite a bit of old equipment and want to get into making electronic music. So far I have amassed the Akai S-20, a Novation Bass Station keyboard, a Roland MC-303 Groovebox, a Boss DR-550 MK2 drum machine, a Boss SE-50 stereo effects processor, a Korg Kaosillator and the Korg DS-10 cartridge for my Nintendo DS which I know isn't technically a proper synth but it behaves very similarly and is great for making music with.

I'm hoping with that long list of equipment I will be able to make some interesting music but first I have to learn it all so I'm starting with the S-20 as that seems one of the less complicated to use.

Thanks very much for your help.

[bedouin]

Wow, you got a lot of cool stuff.

It can be done.. I'm tired though so hopefully someone can tell you the details. There are a lot of programs out there that let you convert between different classic sampler formats. Some support more formats than others.

[Seasinz]

I only have disk number 3 with it so I was wondering where I can get the other disks? I live in the UK and have checked ebay but there aren't any on there.

Does anyone know of any websites where the samples can be downloaded and then converted to an Akai-friendly format? I have a floppy drive on my PC and plenty of spare disks so I could make them up myself.

http://iwanlavanant.tripod.com/s20.htm
you can find the entire set there, but they arent really necessary as its just a sample library AFAIK.

I have also read that the internal memory can be upgraded from 1 to 17mb via a DIMM card, where can I get one of these and is it difficult to do?

this is usually a very easy process and just a matter of opening it up and plugging the chip into the slot, but it is possible to damage the unit and/or ram if you arent familiar with installing ram.
check ebay for cheap ram.

from the manual

• Memory Expansion

The S20 comes with 1-megabyte memory soldered on the main PC board and one memory expansion slot to install an additional 72-pin SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module).

You can expand memory using a 4-megabyte or 16-megabyte SIMM with access time 70 ns (nanosecond) or faster. Please note that the S20 does not accept other types.

At 32 kHz mono sampling, the S20 records up to 14 seconds with standard I -megabyte memory, up to 79.5 seconds with 4-megabyte memory expansion, and up to 262.1 seconds with 16-megabyte memory expansion.

The S20, when it is turned on, checks memory installation and indicates no memory expansion as r 0, 4-megabyte expansion as r 4, or 16-megabyte expansion as r 16. This lets you know whether memory expansion has been properly installed.

Sorry for all the questions but as I said, I am new to this. I have been given quite a bit of old equipment and want to get into making electronic music. So far I have amassed the Akai S-20, a Novation Bass Station keyboard, a Roland MC-303 Groovebox, a Boss DR-550 MK2 drum machine, a Boss SE-50 stereo effects processor, a Korg Kaosillator and the Korg DS-10 cartridge for my Nintendo DS which I know isn't technically a proper synth but it behaves very similarly and is great for making music with.

I'm hoping with that long list of equipment I will be able to make some interesting music but first I have to learn it all so I'm starting with the S-20 as that seems one of the less complicated to use.

Thanks very much for your help.

sounds like you got some cool stuff together, hopefully it works out for ya.

[AfxTwn]

Thanks very much for the help guys. Seasinz, I have been to the site you linked to before but all the downloads there are down. I tried emailing the site admin but my email was returned so it must be an old site that is no longer active. I have managed to download the manual now for my S20 so I will print it off and have a good read through it.

I know that I don't actually need the floppy disks as such, it was just something to get me started with. I think I will use my own blank disks and format them with the S20 and then just plug something into it to record from. I think I might try connecting my Boss DR550 drum machine so I can get some basic drum patterns on the sampler and then maybe either my Bass Station or Nintendo DS for some synth lines etc.

Eventually I'm hoping to get a Korg Kaos Pad 3 as I know that can act as a sampler as well as a synth and effects processor of sorts so that would be ideal.

As far as the memory expansion is concerned, I checked ebay and there are quite a few SIMM sticks but they all look like the same kind of memory you stick in a PC so I hope that is the right kind. I will make sure first before I go ahead and buy any though.

I'll keep everyone informed in the other sections of the forum of my progress and hopefully will be able to post links to the music I have made.

[Seasinz]

Thanks very much for the help guys. Seasinz, I have been to the site you linked to before but all the downloads there are down. I tried emailing the site admin but my email was returned so it must be an old site that is no longer active. I have managed to download the manual now for my S20 so I will print it off and have a good read through it.

Ahh damn sorry about that.
Where Ive had the most success finding old files is the yahoo user groups.
Unfortunately a quick google search didnt reveal alot but they've gotta be around somewhere.
Taking a look through the manual is always a good idea.

I know that I don't actually need the floppy disks as such, it was just something to get me started with. I think I will use my own blank disks and format them with the S20 and then just plug something into it to record from. I think I might try connecting my Boss DR550 drum machine so I can get some basic drum patterns on the sampler and then maybe either my Bass Station or Nintendo DS for some synth lines etc.

Well one of the great things about having a sampler is that you can put just about anything through it.
If you've got some old records kicking around they're perfect for sample fodder.
I personally would try and get some midi going between the devices so you can just sequence them instead of sampling everything into the s-20, but that might be jumping the gun a bit.
But I'm sure you could get some great results running random things through the kaosillator and boss unit.

As far as the memory expansion is concerned, I checked ebay and there are quite a few SIMM sticks but they all look like the same kind of memory you stick in a PC so I hope that is the right kind. I will make sure first before I go ahead and buy any though.

I'll keep everyone informed in the other sections of the forum of my progress and hopefully will be able to post links to the music I have made.

I took a quick look and the only thing I'm not sure about is whether EDO matters and if you need a single SIMM or are able to use 2x8MBs.
Surprisingly the manual doesnt say alot about it.
Most samplers Ive seen just use PC memory so dont be too worried about that.

Have fun, I look forward to hearing the progress.

[plusssztomtom]

hi mates!
I'm also new akai s20 user:)... maybe someone can give me a working link to 4 akai s20 disks - sound lib, please.

please find below a link to my another post:

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=125895

cheers

message to: AfxTwn can U send me a data from disk 3 please
plusssz@interia.eu

cheers mate