Akai Introduces 24-bit/96kHz Z-Series Samplers
 |
Z4
(Click for a close-up) |
 |
| Z4 Rear Panel |
 |
Z8
(Click for a close-up) |
 |
| Z8 Rear Panel
|
October 2, 2001
Akai Professional has
introduced their newest leap forward in the art of sampling. Designed for professional audio production at a
reasonable cost, the Z-Series samplers offer all of the advantages of dedicated hardware, plus the interface
power of ak.Sys PC/Mac Control and Networking System Software. The Akai Professional Z4 and Z8 are a
completely new generation that eclipses the legacy of the legendary S-Series samplers and surpasses the
requirements of a new generation of studio and live sampling applications.
The heart of the new Z-series is the Akai custom Z-96 LSI sampling engine coupled with a high-performance
Intel CPU. This combination provides ultra-fast audio processing with up to eight realtime controllers and
24bit audio resolution with sample rates up to 96kHz.
Many features grace the newly designed Z-Series of Akai samplers, including:
Q-Link knobs for realtime modulation control, automated sampling using the new IntelliSample feature,
Quick FX for macro sound munching, capacity for 512MB SDRAM, a new 24bit/96kHz 4-channel effects
processor, 192 filters/26 resonant filter types/up to 3 simultaneous filters per voice, and dual independent
LFOs with internal/external modulation control. Also included are an internal 20GB IDE hard drive (standard),
balanced I/O providing full 24bit/96kHz A/D/A conversion, built-in sample rate converter on the digital input to
eliminate rate-matching problems, and a USB host/slave connection with ak.Sys Control and Networking
System software.
The Z4's four Q-Link knobs, and the Z8's eight Q-Link knobs can be separately assigned to allow flexible
realtime modulation of a wide variety of assignable parameters, including amplitude, filter cut-off and
resonance, start offset, effect send, sample tune, and more. It is even possible to control an entire program or
sound assigned to a single keygroup.
The primary difference between the Z4 and Z8 is a removable remote panel, which is also home to its
eight-realtime Q-Link knobs, to allow convenient control away from the sampler.
The Z4 and Z8 employ powerful waveform editing features such
as "Resample", "Insert Sample", "Delete Section", "Silence Zone", "Reverse Zone", "Pitch Shift", "Fade
Up/Down", "Normalize", "Rescale" (user defined normalize), "TimeStretch", "BPM Matching", "Cross-Fade",
"Sound Slicing", and many more.
IntelliSample makes it much easier to create custom sounds by eliminating complete steps in the sound
creation process. For example, using IntelliSample is a convenient way to continually record from an audio
CD, normalize, name, and assign the samples to a program automatically.
IntelliSample uses an audio trigger to begin the recording process. The recording starts when the input level
exceeds the adjustable threshold level, and the recording stops when the level drops below the threshold
level, putting the Z4 or Z8 into record-standby to wait for the next sample. The recorded samples are
automatically named and assigned to a new program, or any specified program.
The Quick FX utility allows sounds to be easily resampled and simultaneously processed with the optional
internal 24bit/96kHz 4-channel effects processor. A variety of presets are available that describe the final result
and further simplify the effects assign and programming process. Presets such as "Dirty", "Swell", "Squash",
"Stretch", "Distant", and "Fat" will provide immediate results for most effects applications while retaining the
original sample.
Both the Z4 and Z8 offer 6-pole digital dynamic filters (3x2-pole filters) that allow realtime control of filter cut-off
frequency and resonance from the Q-Link knobs, or via MIDI control change messages. The new design not
only supports all filter types found in the powerful Akai S5000 and S6000 samplers, but also allows new
variations such as the TRIPLE Filter, consisting of three independent 2-pole filter blocks providing up to three
simultaneous filters per voice.
While the Z4 and Z8 sport a 248x60 graphic LCD, power users will love the comprehensive PC/MAC interface
provided by Akai ak.Sys Control and Networking System software. The award winning ak.Sys software
provides complete Program editing, Multi editing, and file management. Connection to the computer is made
via the on-board USB Host/Slave port. Software control through ak.Sys allows the new Akai Z-Series samplers
to provide the advantages of both dedicated hardware and complete software control. The intuitive nature of a
computer-based interface makes the Z4 and Z8 easy to manage, and since all DSP processing takes place
outside of the computer system, it won't overtax your computer. The result is a much more stable system with
fewer computer related crashes and the ability to run efficiently while simultaneously using other audio
applications.
For more information, visit their web site at www.akaipro.com. |
