Yamaha A4000 / A5000
Very nice piece of vintage gear :) This is probably the most powerful and advanced hardware sampler. It has so many possible modulations, parameters to choose and it has great midi implementation. 24 bit DA, 20 bit AD, 128voices of polyphony, 6 powerful fx blocks + many different great filters, up to 128 MB of waveform memory (expandable by 72pinn simms). The little brother A4000 has 64voices and 3 fx blocks. You can use IDE or SCSI hard disks and drives. A5000/A4000 can read cd-roms or floppys from akai S-series, yamaha tx16w, E-mu EIIIx and Roland S-760. Imported data includes keymapping and looping only. You can import wavs or aiffs from fat32 (Windows) drives also. Unfortunately there is no software that converts different format programs to yamaha. But! you can use AWave or Chickensys Translator for reading or just load akai disks.
Very nice feature is that you can use a4000 as realtime FX processor, 3fx or 6fx (a5000) at once!
FX list is huge, very good and unique effects. You can route FXs to any output. For example You can send one FX to main out, second to digital out, and third to sub out :)
more info at savedbytechnology.com sonicstate.com homepage.mac.com soundonsound.com
Manuals, Docs:
01-quick_start.pdf
02-basics.pdf
03-easyedit.pdf
04-factory.pdf
05-import.pdf
06-remix.pdf
07-effects.pdf
08-beatchange.pdf
09-loopdiv.pdf
10-looping.pdf
11-resample.pdf
A3k_faq_2000-05-31.pdf (for A3000 but it may be helpful)
A4-5000manual.pdf
A5000 Guide to Accompanying Disks.pdf
AxK_poweruser.pdf
AxK_usersguide.pdf
a5kdrives.pdf
mastering_the_music_website_lifecycle.doc (found @ a4000 yahoo group)
yamaha_sampler_handbook.pdf
Latest A4000/A5000 OS 1.5:
a4k150up.hqx (for Mac)
a5k150up.hqx (for Mac)
a4k150up.zip
a5k150up.zip
A4K-5K-update.zip (update by midi files)
jomox sysex dumper – use it for midi os update | local copy: mac pc info
os_1.5_upgrade_proc.txt
Tools, Editors:
A4000-5000DemoDisk_1To4.zip
A5kExploreSetup.zip
A5kRemoteSetup.zip
Audition.zip
AxK2WAV.zip
DISKY_CDBONK.zip
HappyAxK_113.zip
NiceWave2-00.exe (soft for akai for scsi sample transfer, but useful for yamaha too)
C6 SMID sample dump utility free tool for uploading samples via midi (mac and windows) / local copy: mac windows
SMDIXferGUI004b.zip
SysExDumper_3.0.1.dmg (for Mac)
YamahaVoiceEditorA5K_MacOS9.sit (for Mac)
Yammy-A5000-1.zip
akbrowser.dmg (for Mac)
bZone1.00.exe
disky1_0_2.zip
disky1_0_3.zip
smdihvm.zip
smdixfer.zip
toolsCD.part1.rar
toolsCD.part2.rar
toolsCD.part3.rar
toolsCD.part4.rar
toolsCD.part5.rar
toolsCD.part6.rar
toolsCD.part7.rar
twe231w.zip
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28.10.20015 update:
I found some stupid limitations. For example. You can’t set panning by key.
Even Akai s1000 had this feature. There is control key to pan function, but it pans whole channel not individual notes.
Second limitation is filesystem blocks. Even if you have 8gigabytes hard drive you can have only 8 partition max.
Every partition has limit of volumes and files. You can’t use whole space for many samples, you will fill all available blocks very fast.
So you can’t use 8gigs of space. You can’t transfer all content from factory cd-roms to internal harddrive.
The best solution is to have scsi CF reader and few 1-2gb cards for all factory samples.
Loading samples from cd-rom is very slow so its much better to load it from harddrive or cf card.
IDE CF readers do not work in most cases because Yamaha is very picky about cf-cards connected to IDE port :)
But i found that industrial Wd Silicon Drive II 2GB works.
About Author
Thank you!!! :smile:
hello,
great resource for my “new” yamaha sampler.
keep up the good work.
kind regards
keep it up, MANY THANKS
Thanks :razz:
this sampler was really great but i sold mine a few years ago. but when i have it it was very musical intrument.
top of the page there is:
“You can import wavs or aiffs from fat32 (Windows) drives also.”
???
i read elsewhere that it is NOT compatible fat32
this is true, 100%
you can import wavs from dos/windows fat32 disks – floppys, zips, cdroms
yamaha a4k/5k uses fat32 too, but samples are stored in custom format
and you can read it on pc, there are some tools for audition or convert yamaha format to wav
ohh interesting !!
=)
How do you get FAT32 to work ? Does not work for me on internal zip drive.
Only works with FAT. Manual also says FAT32 does not work..
Very confused
I have an internal scsi zip drive in my A4000 and i can only read from a zip disk that is formatted FAT. If i format the same disk as FAT32, it simply does not work.
Also, the manual clearly states that FAT32 does not work.
Can you explain how you get it to work with FAT32 ?
Nice one Martin! Just dusting off my maxxed out A4000 and in the process of organizing and transferring 2500+ tuned jungle bass samples via SCSI :-0 It’s turned into a 3 day slog but I’m sure it will be worth it once they’re all done :) This place is a treasure trove. My AxK s/w picks: A5000 Remote which I found here is fantastic, especially the macro function – looking forward to re-installing it on a touch screen PC. Zero-X Beat Creator rocks for batch SCSI transfers. Thanks again Sir!!
Thank you VERY much for taking the time to collect these files and your generosity in hosting and posting them. Also, a huge thank you for posting all the sample libraries!!!
Much respect.
Can’t find these (the original CD’s) here on the page – were they deleted? Would appreciate a link very much.
i never posted here original sample cdrom images
reason is simple, they are copyrighted and take huge space (few gigabytes)
you can download only tools cd and floppy images with few demos and samples
Makes sense, sorry about the misunderstanding.
Great resource page! Keep up the good work.
Thank You very much
Thanks for supporting this wonderful orphaned sampler Martin. = ] I just picked up an A5000, maxed out the ram and installed an AIEB1 ( and am in the process of upgrading the internal HD to CF and the floppy to an emulator for usb) Time to roll up my sleeves and get busy and you’ve provided so much great info, really appreciate your efforts here. Regards
please post/mail details concerning CF upgrade since i want to do it too & have some trouble using the IDE bus…
I installed http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000T9QQP0
and this cf card works
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-1x2GB-WD-SiliconDrive-II-Compact-Flash-CF-card-for-digital-camera-Calrec-/291599672799?hash=item43e4b1e5df:g:DqEAAOSwgQ9VzH1s
the most problematic is cf card
most cf cards do not work
but WD silicon drive II 2gb works for sure!
great, thx for swift reply – how about the wiring ?
IDE – use standard cable?
current – normal or switch some wires?
you need standard ide cable from old dos pc
ide2cf adapter box from amazon contains power cable
if you have cable for harddisk inside a-sampler it will fit
I just posted some images of my maxed a4000 :)
128mb of ram
36gigs 80pin scsi drive (scsi drives are very loud, but this one is almost quiet ;))
ide cf reader
and digital outputs board
I have second maxed a5000, so this one will be for sale soon (i will include 10 yamaha cd-rom disks + cd-r yamaha recorder)
Hi, first of all, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
then, just ordered both items in this link, if they ll works it will be SO nice…!
I ll update this upgrade! Cheers.
Great resource mate, thanks so much!
Hi Martin, thank you so much for sharing your excellent work and resources on the Yamaha A-series samppler. I just purchased an A5000 and the IDE card reader you recommended. My sampler came without an internal hard drive cable so I am trying to figure out how to hook up the Molex of the CF card reader to the PSU which seems to be using proprietary 4-pin power connectors. Do you have an idea what these connectors might be and if there is an adapter available? It is larger than a floppy connector and smaller than a common 4-pin molex. Many thanks!
Hello !
would be very grateful for some answeres to a person whi just bought the
Yamaha A5000.
My goal is to trasfer WAV-files from a PC to the A5000 and I gues the best
way is to connect anCF-Cardreader instead of the Floppy-drive.
I already have an Internal IDE-CF-Reader.
1. Is it possible to use two (2) IDE-Units on Yamaha A5000 at the same time ?
2. Is there som USB-SCASI-solutions I could use instead of
the Floppy disk drive ?
3. How can I see what OS my unit have ?
Kind Regards Peter from Sweden
You can use SCSI to CF or SCSI to SD converters, search on ebay.
As i know you can have only one IDE device.
and you can have few SCSI Devices (Hard Disk, cd-rom or internal reader)
for checking os version read here: http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/music-production/tone-generators/2157/1610/Downloading_and_Installing_the_Latest_OS_Update_for_the_A4000/?current_page_id=1
I was wondering about the same thing. The manual says you can have an IDE HD and a Zip on the same bus. I might just buy a second IDE to CF converter and see.
Hi –
Has anyone tried using one of these 2.5 IDE SSD drives in the A4000?
http://a.co/eOqaJVJ
It should work, right? 8GB is the maximum that will work, isn’t it?
How many pins are the drives the A4000 uses, so I can get the right cable?
Thanks, all!
Which sample cds exist in A3000/a4000/a5000 format?
Also, could anyone upload the original sample libraries please.
Thanks.
Can anyone help me with this one …. I have bought an A5000 and it works fine but it boots from the IDE hard drive which is noisy. It also has a zip drive installed, and no floppy drive. I want to disconnect the hard drive and boot from the zip but I can’t figure out how to do it. I’ve successfully upgraded the OS using the zip, so it’s recognised and working, but I can find how to make it bootable. Help!
The A5000 OS is installed in Flash ROM and the sampler will boot even if there is.no storage attached to it. You can disconnect the IDE drive but you may have to set the Zip Drive to Master as having it on the wrong sett8ng c9Ulf prevent the Yamaha from booting.
Hi – i believe that the A5000 has its system embedded in its internal rom, so you don’t need to boot from a specific volume. I opened and disconnected the internal HD (just remove the power supply, which is the 4 wire-colored connector of it) and the fan (a small connector that goes from near the psu to the main board). I just use an internal ZIP to store and retrieve the sounds, so it is totally silent and works very well.
Has anybody managed to use CF cards larger than 2GB? I would love to try an 8GB one to transfer the factory content. Might have to bite the bullet and get a SCSI2SD which works great in my other samplers.
Martin, your website is gold. Great information and downloads, very well explained and a clean presentation, a pleasure to read. Just wanted to say thank you for sharing all this valuable knowledge. My army of samplers are Akai S6000, Roland S-750, Emu Ultra and Yamaha A4000 – very happy with them. I am at the moment getting to know better the A4000, and your website already helped a lot. Best wishes from Berlin!
Its 2020, i’m learning this machine, love it. I’m currently working with an A4000 and SCSI disc drive. I’m hoping to install a hard drive. If anyone wants to link up, IG: lalux99
can anyone tell me what software there is For the A4000 to make programs on the computer, like happy axk. It seems that happy axk software on this site is a BETA version. Can anyone give me any advise to achieve the possibility to configure programs on the computer and then send them to the sampler.
For the A4000 i like to make programs on the computer, like happy axk. It seems that happy axk software on this site is a BETA version, or maybe not. Can anyone give me advise to achieve the possibility to configure programs on the computer and then send them to the sampler.
I lost the Yamaha a4000 CDs, sounds and samples in a move. Where can I get them back? Is there any place where I can buy the Yamaka A4000 library?
Cheers
still out here, trying to figure this thing out, idk why
Has anyone actually gotten a FAT32 formatted CF card to import/load wav/aiff files via a front loading ide/CF adaptor?
It says here that this is possible but even when using the WD CF card recommended here (in all the m/s configs I could think of) it didn’t set the card up as IDE S (or M) the card. The A5k can see the card is there in the disk: disk mount menu but can’t read from it.
Would very much like for this to work. I’ve searched for a definite answer and instructions on ‘how to’ but to no avail.
I’ve gotten the internal ide/CF set up working with an 8gb SanDisk CF but would really like a front load FAT32 CF to import samples. Is it the stuff of dreams where the A5000 is concerned?
Hello,
which model of CF ide reader did you use?
Regards,
Thank you for all this information!!
Great stuff.
BG
Sean
Very useful and well done!
Big thanks.