Akai S612

The Akai S612 was an early polyphonic MIDI sampling unit released by Akai systems in 1985.

Tony Banks had an Akai S612 sampler, which he first used on the Invisible Touch record for the marimba hook on "Tonight, Tonight Tonight". He played the sample like a piano, and loved the sound of it that he treated it with a Yamaha SPX90 reverb setting; "there was so much atmosphere on that, it sounded like milk bottles breaking". However, when the song's key was lowered by one tone (so Phil could sing it more easily live), the marimba part was omitted as Tony felt it did not sound as good in the lower register. The Akai sampler did remain in his rig for the tour nonetheless.