The right way to load AKAI data

Post by **Sharp** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:45 pm

Hi all.

Just got a PM and I know from answering other questions around the forum that many people here don't seem to know how to load AKAI data into their keyboards or don't understand what all this means.

So.... just so you know there are 2 ways to load AKAI data.

***Method 1***
You insert the AKAI disk and you select the sounds you want to load to memory, and using the drop down menu in the top right you load the sounds. Ok, that's simply enough but you need to know that doing it this way means that the OASYS will not read any filter information from the AKAI programs and so it will do nothing other than load the sample data to memory and setup a multisample for you.

A disadvantage of using this method is that if there are 8 programs on the AKAI disks that share the same pool of samples. The OASYS will load the same sample data to memory 8 times which obviously results in you wasting memory. For example, a 650MB Symphony Of Voices CD will generate about 2.5GB of samples if you load it this way.

***Method 2***
Instead of loading selecting the sounds as in method 1, select the folder that all the sounds are in and using hte drop down menu select the Advanced AKAI loading option from the menu. This time the OASYS will read all the AKAI filter information from the programs and everything will load to memory. So this time around you will have your multisample and your programs and combi sounds all generated for you. Sort of like plug and play. Everything is setup for you exactly as if you had a real AKAI Sampler. In addition to that, loading the data this way allows the OASYS to see what samples are used in what programs, and so the same sample will never be loaded twice to memory. So a 650MB Symphony Of Voices CD this time around will use up exactly 650MB of sample RAM.

***What is an AKAI Disk***
It's a disk that contains data in AKAI format that was designed for an AKAI Sampler like the S- Series. This format was at one point the most popular sample format on the face of the planet and so there are thousands of Sample Libaries avaialbe in AKAI format from online stores everywhere. Your OASYS will load S1000 and S3000 disks which are the two most popular AKAI foramts there are.

So to recap, loading AKAI S1000 or S3000 disks using Method 2 posted above is in many ways like loading a dedicated KORG Library. Meaning that the sounds you load will be instantly ready to play and sitting in Prog mode as normal sounds. About the only thing the OASYS wont read is the Effect Information, so you will have to assign a basic reverb and no more.

Most AKAI disks don't contain effect settings anyway, so it makes little difference.

Regards.
Sharp.

vortex · Post by **vortex** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:48 pm

Any favourite sample sites?

Post by **Sharp** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:59 pm

Two of the best would be http://www.timespace.com for people in Europe, and http://www.ilio.com for people in America.

Regards.
Sharp.

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:10 am

Great post! Thanks!

SoulBe · Post by **SoulBe** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:59 am

Hi Sharp,

how can I convert Emu III/IV samples into Akai format? Are there any converting programs that are recommended? I have a large library of Emu Samples for my old EIV and would like to use them in the OASYS.

Thanks
SoulBe

Post by **Sharp** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:25 am

Hi SoulBe.

The only program I know of that should be able to do that is ChickenSys Translator. I can't recommend it though because I think their software is as bug riddled as an Ant Farm. All I can suggest is you try the demo version and see does that give you enough to go on to know if a purchase it worth while.

Regards.
Sharp.

fjs714 · Post by **fjs714** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:35 pm

Thanks again Sharp,
I know you had me in mind Frank

UCanDream · Post by **UCanDream** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:04 pm

Very useful info, Thanks Sharp! Good timing too...I have been sorting thru the vast sea of Akai samples out there. GOOD LORD there is a lotta stuff out there in this format! It's like having yet another synth inside the Oasys, at least for me it is. I appreciate the link.

Regards,

UCanDream

Post by **Sharp** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:27 am

fjs714 wrote:Thanks again Sharp,
I know you had me in mind Frank

No problem.
I just hope that more people realise that what I'm saying here is when you load an AKAI disk it will get Program sounds and COMBI sounds too with filters all setup for you.

This Advanced AKAI reading that KORG included is top quality all the way. The OASYS actually loads AKAI data just as good as my AKAI Sampler does.

It's a portal into a huge world of sounds everyone.....!!!!

Regards.
Sharp.

pandel · Post by **pandel** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:38 am

Hey SoulBe,

here's another converter which you might consider.

http://www.extranslator.com/

From the specs it seems to be able to import Emu files. You can get the manual from the page, so perhaps it is easy to find out.

EDIT: Hey Sharp, didn't you say you bought a V-Machine? There's some kind of free sample player/importer/whatever based on this. It's called SampleLord and is available through the same page. Perhaps it is of interest for you...

EDIT 2:

just read, you know the soft already...

Kevin Nolan · Post by **Kevin Nolan** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:05 am

Sharp wrote:
fjs714 wrote:Thanks again Sharp,
I know you had me in mind Frank
No problem.
I just hope that more people realise that what I'm saying here is when you load an AKAI disk it will get Program sounds and COMBI sounds too with filters all setup for you.

This Advanced AKAI reading that KORG included is top quality all the way. The OASYS actually loads AKAI data just as good as my AKAI Sampler does.

It's a portal into a huge world of sounds everyone.....!!!!

Regards.
Sharp.

Hi Sharp -

I've never been into sampling. But - on getting an EX5 and XV5080 some time back I decided if I could locate some AKAI samples to load into them. Alas numerous posts to numeroud forums on sources of the original AKAI libraries, and to other AKAI format libraries; yielded almost no results so I gave up.

Can you point to some useful (and cost effective / free ) libraries in AKAI format? Its all very well knowing that the OASYS loads AKAI samples, but its useless if you have none to load.

I haven't checked in recent years so perhaps such libraries are now more available on the Web, but your pointers to some useful libraries would be really appreciated. I have to admit to being essentially unaware of this capability in OASYS - it's great news - thanks!

Kevin.

Post by **Sharp** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:29 am

Hi Kevin.
You can use the links I posted above to order from the UK.

If you want recommendation for libraries, just tell me what your looking for and I'm sure I can help. I've got quite a library myself so chances are I will be able to give you first and advice on a library that might be of interest to you.

For example, for Choirs "this is as good as it gets.
http://www.timespace.com/product/SOV-70 ... ai%5D.html

Regards.
Sharp.

SoulBe · Post by **SoulBe** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:00 pm

pandel wrote:Hey SoulBe,

here's another converter which you might consider.

http://www.extranslator.com/

From the specs it seems to be able to import Emu files. You can get the manual from the page, so perhaps it is easy to find out.

EDIT: Hey Sharp, didn't you say you bought a V-Machine? There's some kind of free sample player/importer/whatever based on this. It's called SampleLord and is available through the same page. Perhaps it is of interest for you...

EDIT 2: just read, you know the soft already...

Thanks pandel

I´ll check it out
SoulBe

panzernik · Post by **panzernik** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:16 pm

i cant seem to find "the Advanced AKAI loading option" , can someone help please?
thanks

Post by **Sharp** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:34 pm

Insert the AKAI Disk.
Open one of the partitions and touch a folder (DON'T OPEN IT)
Touch the tab in the top right.
Touch "Load Selected"

The rest is obvious and you can see the Advanced AKAI loading options at this point.

Regards.
Shrp.