Akai S3000XL/3200XL questions

[vinyl_junkie]

Hello every one, back in the day I used to have a S-3000 now I want to buy a S-3200XL that I also want to use with MESA this time and have a few questions.

What type of SCSI card do I need for a windows PC, I heard Adaptec are good but what model number do I need and what type of SCSI cable do I require with it?

Is it possible to get a compatible SCSI card interface in PCMCIA format for me to use on a laptop or does it have to be a PCI card slot only? If so was there ever a compact computer that would run windows 98 lol?

I have an MPC-2000XL which I have fitted an internal Iomega IDE ZIP250 drive to instead of the floppy, can I also do this with the S-3200XL?

Is there any where that still sells sample libraries for these samplers? I'm looking for some workstation sounds/early romplers like the Roland D-50/JD
Hollow Sun do some great sample CD's but they are for the S-5000/6000

Can MESA load up akai CD's and send them to my sampler via SCSI or do I need a SCSI CD drive for the sampler?

Many thanks,

Martin

[Scope]

Adaptec 2906.
PCi with 25pin D-sub connector.
Perfect with Win 98 / Messa

If you want a compact computer, buy a Mac Mini.
There is nothing that I know in the Windows world
Your IDE Zip should just drop in to the floppy slot, although you may need a different cable and an IDE card fitted.
( I can't remember if it is a standard fit - it isn't in the S5/6000 )

There is a lot of library available for free on the net and plenty of CDs appear on auction sites.

A SCSI CD is the best way to get disks into your sampler,
but I seem to remember MESA doing the same job in 3 times the time.....

hope this helps !

[Reiknir]

Any SCSI card will do that your version of Windows or Mac will recognise, Personally I use LSI/Symbios/NCR 8xx series cards since they are available new, are cheap and are mature technology. The type is immaterial although anything more than a SCSI 2 (50 pin) card would be a overkill for using with old musical instruments, but with the right cable any version of SCSI connector will work.

The connector on the 3200xl is a Mac style 25 pin SCSI 2 connector, get a cable that has that on one end and whatever you have on the other and you will be fine

[Reiknir]

If you want a compact computer, buy a Mac Mini.

Which Mac mini has a SCSI connector or a PCI slot ?

[vinyl_junkie]

Many thanks for all the replies so far

So would some thing like this do from the PCI card to the sampler? > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-CN-50-Pin-to-DB-25-Pin-External-SCSI-Cable-M-M-6FT_W0QQitemZ120379826463QQihZ002QQcategoryZ90716QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122

As to sample libraries can any one point me in a direction?
The Hollow Sun ones are realy good but S-5000/6000 as I said I just want some nice pad/work station sounds like from the D-50 or Yamaha FS-1R.
This is not the main reason I want the sampler but I dont have a multy-timbral synth so that is all gravy if it can do that...plus I'll spend time making my own sounds/samples

[Reiknir]

Nope that is a full size SCSI 1 50 pin Centronics style cable, you need a SCSI 2 (Fast SCSI is the current semi official moniker) mini 50 pin male to 2 pin male cable like this :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-Ft-25-Pin-DB25-50-Pin-HD50-External-SCSI-Cable-STSI_W0QQitemZ370130037785QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item370130037785

or if you get an Ultra SCSI card (SCSI 3) with a 68 pin socket you will need a cable like this :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCSI-III-3-HD68-to-25-Pin-DB25-SCSI-Cable-2M-NEW_W0QQitemZ350163802948QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item350163802948&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

[hollowsun]

As to sample libraries can any one point me in a direction?

Google 'Akai sound library CD-ROMS' - there's still stuff out there (and cheap now).

The Hollow Sun ones are realy good but S-5000/6000 as I said

CD-Xtract allows you to convert S5/6000 into 'MESA' format which would allow you (via MESA) to use it.

Problem is, however, memory - my stuff (while VERY small compared with most of the stuff around these days) is likely to tax your S3200 unless its memory has been expanded to the maximum 32MB. That would cope with most things other than the Yamaha CP70.

I wouldn't be bothering with an old 3200 now, though, I have to say. Great instruments and everything and absolutely staggering in their day but they are so 'shut off' from the modern world with proprietary sample and disk formats, SCSI, etc.. An S5000 with the USB board is a MUCH better proposition these days. More expensive, of course, but so much better in terms of, well... everything: computer hookup, sample compatibility (WAVs, AIFFs and Emu and Roland and, of course, 'old' Akai library), polyphony, outputs, digi I/O, better facilities, better sample editing, more filters, more 'synth', easier to use, ak.Sys editor (for Mac and windows ... but needs the USB board), etc.. just in terms of WAV compatibility, there (literally) a whole world of sounds out there for plundering.

There's one on eBay.uk at the moment with a USB board ... along with a few others.

Alternatively, a Z4.

My 2¢ FWIW!

[vinyl_junkie]

Many thanks for your reply Hollowsun (And all the others )

S-5000 I couldnt just cos I would end up buying the 6000, thats my dream machine...the removable front panel is a dream.
Well I just scored the Akai on ebay and well to me it was worth it.. £90 for a fully loaded S-3200XL seems good to me, the FX board is worth about that alone and could be of use in my MPC-2000XL if anything.
I just got an extra 16mb ram chip for it so it will be loaded with 32mb of ram, a SCSI card and lead and just about to buy a IDE ZIP drive for it so I can replace the floppy drive like I did in my MPC.
Once I have it all here I will most likely buy some of your sample packs mate! They are quality!! The Korg M series and Yamaha FS1R ones is what I want but have to wait and see how I do with the cash flow.
I will use MESA and the old Recycle which had hardware sampler support

Many Thanks again

[vinyl_junkie]

Oh also I have lying about an old IDE 40GB hard drive, can this be fitted into the samper? I know it has hard disk support but 40gb is too big right and it wont recognise the drive?

[hollowsun]

Oh also I have lying about an old IDE 40GB hard drive, can this be fitted into the samper? I know it has hard disk support but 40gb is too big right and it wont recognise the drive?

You'll need a ID > SCSI convertor.

Assuming you can get one and it works, you will - unfortunately - waste 99.6% of it because the S3200XL will only read 520MB of it!!!

[Scope]

If you want a compact computer, buy a Mac Mini.

Which Mac mini has a SCSI connector or a PCI slot ?

He specified a compact computer only, not its connectors.

But if you really want to know, Belkin make a USB to SCSI
Magma make ( made ) a USB to ( single ) PCI card device, which can also connect to a PCMCIA slot, depending on the cable.

Strange how the Mac mini case has not been copied, it must be the only one that has not been.....

[necromunger]

hi

can i install 256mb of ram in a 5000 or is it only the 6000 that will see 4 64mb sticks.

also whats the biggest size hdd you can get for a 5000

necro

[vinyl_junkie]

Oh also I have lying about an old IDE 40GB hard drive, can this be fitted into the samper? I know it has hard disk support but 40gb is too big right and it wont recognise the drive?

You'll need a ID > SCSI convertor.

Assuming you can get one and it works, you will - unfortunately - waste 99.6% of it because the S3200XL will only read 520MB of it!!!

Oh so doesnt the 3200XL have an IDE connector on the mainboard?
In that case the ZIP drive might not fit.
In the MPC you have a floppy connecotr, IDE and SCSI internaly, I stupidly presumed that the 3200XL would be the same.

[vinyl_junkie]

Ok honestly dont think the 3200 has an IDE connecotr in there.
So my question is this now..Can I connect the PC via SCSI and at the same time an external SCSI zip drive?
I dont know much about SCSI but I know there is a thru thing which lets you connect multiple devices right?
Also would this work internaly ? > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Iomega-ZIP-100-Internal-ZIP-Drive-SCSI-card-cable_W0QQitemZ260368299804QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3757QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would go with a internal hard drive like this > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUN-540-2730-370-2040-ST32550WC-2-1GB-SCA-SCSI-DRIVE_W0QQitemZ260355865217QQihZ016QQcategoryZ16178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem but the noise would do my head in

Had a further read of the manual and man I didnt realise the 3200XL doesnt have folder support! That seems stupid that they didn't adress that!! I mean MPC-2000 had no folder support and not wav compatible, later OS made it wav compatible but the MPC-2000XL has folder support...so I presumed you know lol ah well
If only some one would re-work the OS this all could be done

Basicaly I need to run Messa via scsi and but still have a good storage solution for saving patches....If only it came with the MO drive, any one got one they want to sell me? lol

[Richie Royale]

You should be able to chain the SCSI cable through the Zip to the computer, without a problem.

[ainternational]

I've got a couple of Adaptec USB Xchange cables - USB to SCSI cables - have so far failed to make it work with my OSX G5 and 3200XL. but they make work with a windows set up...

[hollowsun]

can i install 256mb of ram in a 5000 or is it only the 6000 that will see 4 64mb sticks.

The S5000 and S6000 are identical in almost every way and the 5000 can be expanded to exactly the same spec as the 6000 except for, obviously, the removable front panel. If you have the USB board, ak.Sys provides a virtual S6000 remote panel (amongst all the other stuff).

also whats the biggest size hdd you can get for a 5000

Whatever the largest hard drive is for a PC I think. BIG anyway.

[hollowsun]

Had a further read of the manual and man I didnt realise the 3200XL doesnt have folder support! That seems stupid that they didn't adress that!!

Well - it does and it doesn't. It has 'volumes' which almost amount to the same thing ... sort of.

Don't forget that this was 17 years ago!!

[hollowsun]

You should be able to chain the SCSI cable through the Zip to the computer, without a problem.

Hmmmm! You could have a problem in that the sampler and the PC are both SCSI 'initiators' and will be vying for the Zip drive's attention so you could have some problems if you're not careful.

[vinyl_junkie]

Got the sampler on Monday, the person came round with it and it turns out it was Slakers > this guy http://www.discogs.com/artist/Slacker
Which is very cool as I own some of his records, we had a chat played some vinyl etc all cool.
Had a play with the sampler last night and I wish I didnt buy the extra ram as it was already expanded to 32mb..(just listed wrong)
Took me about an hour to get used with it again, man they are great pieces of gear!! Sounds absolutely fantastic, miles better than my MPC-2000XL imo and better than the S-3000 I had ages ago. Managed to quickly sample my Juno, key-map it with in a few minutes and loop it and it's all good.
Screen backlight is ok but not like new..most annoyiing thing is backlight invertor...man that makes an annoying squeel, my old 3000 had this also.
I'm still waiting for my SCSI card in the post but I think I will get an internal hard drive (SCSI) save to that when I'm sticking samplers from the PC then disconect the PC with the sampler off and back it all up on ZIP disks via external drive.
One question....which power out do I use on the power board on the sampler to power the SCSI drive? There are a few connections on there..some for fans and floppy I can see and there are two bigger ones from what I can remember...Think I will do what I did on the MPC and make a custom power lead.

[Adam Inglis]

Screen backlight is ok but not like new..most annoyiing thing is backlight invertor...man that makes an annoying squeel, my old 3000 had this also.

My 3000XL is pretty quiet really. Is the inverter something likely to deteriorate noisily?

[vinyl_junkie]

Yeah this is something that gets worse with time from what I know...mine is annoying mind you some peoples hearing dont hear such high frequency buzzing.

Yo' Hollow Sun you should make a download section for your sample CD's on your web page where people can download the CD iso file then burn them at home.
I'll get one once I get my SCSI card and make sure it all works ok with mesa

[vinyl_junkie]

Ok got the SCSI card and everything and MESA wotrks like a dream with the 3200XL, Recycle 2.0 is a little sketchy but ok..to be honest I find using the sampler quicker than MESA but it's good for sending the samples into the 3200.
I'm just waiting for my 50pin internal SCSI lead now to connect my internal hard drive I got for it, also need to make up a custom power lead for the drive.

[hollowsun]

Sounds like it's all going well there (except the whining screen - I am sure there's someone who can fix that ... Synthesizer Repair Centre for example)

Yo' Hollow Sun you should make a download section for your sample CD's on your web page where people can download the CD iso file then burn them at home.
I'll get one once I get my SCSI card and make sure it all works ok with mesa

Downloads can be arranged.

[vinyl_junkie]

Downloads can be arranged.

Ok that sounds cool, I would first like to get your Yamaha FS1R sounds. Is paypal ok to pay with?
Also once converted to MESA will they copy to my 3200 ok with all the loop points, programs etc?
And sorry last question a bit cheeky I know but is there any way you can covert the CD to mesa format for me so I dont have to buy CD Extract?