EMU ESI-32 vs. Akai S2000

[Lauri Ora]

I'm thinking of buying my first sampler, and now I've basically come up
with two options. Either I buy a ESI-32 or then I buy Akai S2000.

So could someone who has knowledge on these (or either one) send me mail
about the pros / cons of both samplers.

Thanks in advance.

--
Lauri Ora
lau...@opal.utu.fi

[HUGUES PEETERS]

> I'm thinking of buying my first sampler, and now I've basically come up
> with two options. Either I buy a ESI-32 or then I buy Akai S2000.
> So could someone who has knowledge on these (or either one) send me mail
> about the pros / cons of both samplers.

Future Music (february '96) compared the Emu ESI-32, the Akai S-2000 and
the Roland S-760. They conclued that the choice was very difficult. The
Akai is the cheapest and the easiest to use but it does lacks some of the
bells and whistles to be found on the ESI-32. The E-mu has more features,
including somme of the flashy edits and squelshy filters, but it may be
difficult to use at first (awkward interface).

Finally for them, the overall best buy has to be the Akai because of more
power per pounds and a lot of expand possibilities. They recommanded to
choose the E-mu just if you are into creative sampling and special
effects. My point of view is that you must absolutely choose the same
mark as people around us. It's easier to exchange sounds and to built
quickly a good library.

Hugues Peeters
Pee...@reco.ucl.ac.be

[AJ Wells]

Lauri Ora wrote:
>
> I'm thinking of buying my first sampler, and now I've basically come up
> with two options. Either I buy a ESI-32 or then I buy Akai S2000.
>
> So could someone who has knowledge on these (or either one) send me mail
> about the pros / cons of both samplers.
>

> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Lauri Ora
> lau...@opal.utu.fi

Check the most recent Keyboard magazine for an ESI horror story... I'm
an EmaxII owner and I can tell you that Akai's manuals, support and
industry prominence would guide me in that direction... I do know users
of the ESI that are happy, but have heard more negative stories than
with Akai... check Akai's website for starters... they answer almost
every question that a numbskull beginner (like I was awhile ago) has
about sampling in their FAQ's... Emu can be more cryptic and their
support of old equipment is spotty...

Having said all of the above, I think the best choice for a first
sampler is a used S1000 or S1100 or a used S3000 if you can find one...
having the big screen and all those outs are major advantages in my
book...

Andrew

--

"Between here and there is better than here or there" S. Malkmus

[Klippe-Kongen]

HUGUES PEETERS wrote:
>
> > I'm thinking of buying my first sampler, and now I've basically come up
> > with two options. Either I buy a ESI-32 or then I buy Akai S2000.
> > So could someone who has knowledge on these (or either one) send me mail
> > about the pros / cons of both samplers.
>

> Future Music (february '96) compared the Emu ESI-32, the Akai S-2000 and
> the Roland S-760. They conclued that the choice was very difficult. The
> Akai is the cheapest and the easiest to use but it does lacks some of the
> bells and whistles to be found on the ESI-32. The E-mu has more features,
> including somme of the flashy edits and squelshy filters, but it may be
> difficult to use at first (awkward interface).
>
> Finally for them, the overall best buy has to be the Akai because of more
> power per pounds and a lot of expand possibilities. They recommanded to
> choose the E-mu just if you are into creative sampling and special
> effects. My point of view is that you must absolutely choose the same
> mark as people around us. It's easier to exchange sounds and to built
> quickly a good library.
>
> Hugues Peeters
> Pee...@reco.ucl.ac.be

We have an Akai S2000 and we're not satisfied. First: It has a lousy
display, it has a lousy jog-wheel and very user-hostile menu-system.
Second: It is broken for the second time since we bought it in June!!!
(First the diskdrive now the fucking' wheel).
Third: I don't like it's sounding. Filters almost unusable, even as
simple tone controllers. Fourth: Expansions (effects + I/O) are a must,
which places the cheapy S2000 in the same price-league as the S3000,
which features a better user-interface and Hard disk recording. I do not
know the esi32 but it can't be worse than the S2000.
Thanks for letting me loose my breath...