Released in 1995, the Akai S2000 is a 2U rack-mount digital sampler positioned as an affordable, professional-grade alternative to the higher-end S3000 series.  It features a 16-bit stereo sampling engine with selectable 22.05kHz or 44.1kHz sampling rates and supports 16- or 8-bit resolution. 

Key specifications and features include:

• Polyphony and Multitimbrality: Offers 32 voices of polyphony and 16-part multitimbral operation. 
• Memory: Ships with 2MB of RAM, expandable to 32MB using 72-pin SIMMs, providing approximately six minutes of mono sampling time at 44.1kHz. 
• Sound Design: Includes a 12 dB resonant low-pass filter, two envelope generators, two LFOs, and a flexible Assignable Program Modulation (APM) matrix. 
• Editing Tools: Features comprehensive DSP functions such as time compression/expansion, pitch shifting, crossfade looping, and timestretching. 
• Connectivity: Equipped with standard MIDI I/O and SCSI interfaces, with optional upgrades for digital I/O, eight individual outputs, and multi-effects processing. 
• Storage: Relies on a built-in floppy disk drive for OS booting and data storage, though it can be modified to use hard drives or MO disks. 

Despite its small 2x16 character LCD display, which requires a "page-driven" navigation system, the S2000 is praised for its expandability and sonic character, making it a popular choice for producers seeking the classic "Akai MPC sound" at a lower price point.  Notable users include Moby, Underworld, and The Avalanches.