The S1100EX is Akai's expansion unit for the legendary S1100 sampler. Linked to the host over MIDI and SCSI, it adds a second full set of voices and outputs, so you can run it two ways: as a second independent S1100 for extra multitimbral parts (Mode 1), or as a voice expander that doubles polyphony to 32 voices, 16 in stereo (Mode 2). For anyone running Akai's golden-era 16-bit samplers, it is the easy way to go from busy to limitless, and you can chain up to six of them.

FEATURES & PROS:

• Two Modes: Mode 1 acts as a second independent S1100; Mode 2 doubles polyphony to 32 voices (16 in stereo).
• MIDI + SCSI Link: note data over MIDI, sample and edit data over fast SCSI, all driven from the host S1100.
• Full Duplicate I/O: its own stereo output plus eight individual outputs for serious routing.
• Golden-Era Akai: that clean, punchy 16-bit Akai sampling sound.
• Expandable Further: chain up to six EX units for a huge multitimbral rig.

THE WORD: In Sound on Sound, David Mellor judged the S1100EX "an excellent option for any S1100 user" running out of voices or outputs, and reckoned it beats buying a second S1100 because the two units work as a team. Read the Sound on Sound review.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: sampler voice and multitimbral expander for the Akai S1100
• Host: Akai S1100 required (OS v1.30 or later); connects via MIDI and SCSI
• Modes: Mode 1 (second independent S1100) and Mode 2 (32-voice expansion, 16 in stereo)
• Outputs: stereo out plus eight individual outputs; headphone out
• Expansion: up to six S1100EX units per S1100 (112-voice maximum); best matched to the host's RAM
• Era: 1992
• Format: rack; condition used, functional