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Akai X-7000

Sampling Keyboard (1986)

keyboard picture

 
"The X7000 is a big sampler old school machine with 12 bits resolution and tiny memory, the first Akai Keyboard Sampler ever made."

 Main Data 

Akai X7000 made in Japan



Company: Akai
Model: X-7000
Class: Sampler keyboard
Keyboard: 61 keys
Dates: 1986
Country: Japan
Weight: 14 Kg
Dimensions: 1039 (w) x 110 (h) x 346 (d) mm
Price: 250€

Display:16 x 2 lines
Resolution: 12 bits
Sampling Freq: 4 - 40 kHz
SDS sample import: yes
Polyphony: 6 voices
Multitimbric: 6 parts
Memory: 256 kb
Filter: analog low pass
Envelope: 2 EGs
LFO: 1 modulator
Storage: quick disk media
Midi: IN / OUT / THRU
CPU: Z80
DAC: BA9221

OS: latest? single eprom TMM27128AD-20  - If you have the binaries you want to share, get in touch.


Main panel features a 16 x 2 lines backlit LCD, a data encoder, 30 push buttons, 1 slider for main volume and 2 wheels for pitch and LFO modulation.

Rear panel terminal connectors:
- main signal out + headphones
- LCD contrast trimmer
- switch for master keyboard function (no signal out)
- Midi interface
- sustain pedalswitch input
- program UP pedalswitch input
- record pedalswitch input (it can be used also to trigger a sample)
- special Akai voice connector
- line and Mic inputs (with gain trimmers).

- none

- No official VST plugin
- no known samples library

Have some X7000 sample set you want to share? CONTRIBUTE :) 

owner's manual download


NO SERVICE MANUAL, if you have it, contact us

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 In details 

sampler main CPU unit

 VOICE main core based on a 8-bits Zilog Z80 manages 6 channels polyphony, while DACs are based on BA9221.  
The X7000 is able to sample up to 6 sounds that can be assigned to a singles patch with assignable split points, useful to create drum kits or multisampled instruments. 

SAMPLE Sampled sounds are assigned to voices,  and each samples have some edit functions:
- transpose pitch + pitch tune
- backward play
- drum play (EG does not end at retrig).
NOTE: It is possible to import / export samples by Midi, but the process is not compliant to actual standard SDS sample DUMP. 

sample waveform edit

LFO / EG / FILTER

Filter

FILTER 

Non-resonant filter based on MF6CN a switched capacitor VCF a kind of an hybrid analog-digital offers -12dB/ Oct. slope.
Filter can be assigned to velocity and features a simple Keytrack function.


LFo

LFO

A single delayed triangle modulator with 99 scaled intensity/depth values.  The X7000 LFO modulates only the pitch as a classic vibrato.

Envelope

Envelope

EGs (only release segment) and 2 destinations:
- EG1 amplitude
- EG2 filter cutoff

sampler keyboard performance


PERFORMANCE 
System manages 6 indipendent parts with some functions:
- monophonic  (2 priority modes)
- LFO to aftertouch amount
- Midi channel assign
- volume gain amount.

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION control changes are limited to 3 standard parameters:

[ 7 volume ] [1 modulation] [64 sustain]

MEMORY:
 - 32 programs
- 256 kb sampling RAM (?)
- 2.8" quick disk storage (64 KB x 2 banks).
NOTE: memory (IC MN41464 ) is not dynamically allocated resulting in same amount of RAM for each sample


EXPANSION:
 2 optional boards available:
-SXM007X battery backup system for memory
-ASK-70 increases number samples to 16 and memory about 512 kb.

memory board
X7000 COMMON MAINTENANCE and REPAIR:
 
  1. QUICK DISK BELT - internal plastic  floppy disk may need replacement this is a quite common failure, also give a clean to the heads. Format a quick disk, save and read data.
  2. Cold solder joint - Also quite common, give a refresh to some point heating solder pad and re-heat the joint with new lead.

Our Verdict 

"Give it a try if you like grungy 12 bits compressed sound! if you don't have much room, you should maybe check out rack version S-700 or the previous S612 with real-times controls."

Sound 
quality

Interface

Build
 quality

Rarity

Quality / 
price

Overall

CONS

- edit interface
- bulky
- memory
- quick disk

PROS

- cheap now
- Lo fi 12 bits
- oldschool 

Are you a X7000 user? do you like it? You do not agree with our review?  Let us know in the comment field just below 

DISQUS COMMENTS WILL BE SHOWN ONLY WHEN YOUR SITE IS ONLINE

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70 out of 100 based on 1 user ratings
150 to 250 from 1 sellers Sellers: