In the early days of digital they were mostly used for sample editing in conjunction with Emulator and later with Akai samplers. Hence the software name - "Sound Designer".
SE and SE/30 were of limited expandability, so SA and AM versions for these were considered a "poor investment" by audio recording and editing folks - they needed more "power" (computers kept getting faster all the time) and extra NuBus slots for their other cards.
Also, one needed to be in the league of well earning independent engineers/composers or owner of a more or less successfull recording studio to justify the purchase of that gear. I know all this, besause I already was in the scene by the early '90s.
http://www.mikecollins.plus.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/Sound%20Tools.pdf
http://www.mikecollins.plus.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/Sound%20Tools%20Review.pdf
@CJ_Miller:
NuBus versions of SA and AM could be found - you just have to look harder and ask around. ;-)
I also suspect that many of AM II's are still in use these days and people aren't dumping them only besause they're "old".
SE and SE/30 were of limited expandability, so SA and AM versions for these were considered a "poor investment" by audio recording and editing folks - they needed more "power" (computers kept getting faster all the time) and extra NuBus slots for their other cards.
Also, one needed to be in the league of well earning independent engineers/composers or owner of a more or less successfull recording studio to justify the purchase of that gear. I know all this, besause I already was in the scene by the early '90s.
http://www.mikecollins.plus.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/Sound%20Tools.pdf
http://www.mikecollins.plus.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/Sound%20Tools%20Review.pdf
@CJ_Miller:
NuBus versions of SA and AM could be found - you just have to look harder and ask around. ;-)
I also suspect that many of AM II's are still in use these days and people aren't dumping them only besause they're "old".