mmm programming a sampler is a pain when you're used to computers which now can stand for about every sampler... maybe you'd better buy a midi controller (knobs rules!) and a good soundcard for your comp... IMHO
Yer I dont see the point in samplers when you've been using software, you can have a decent live and production setup with a laptop and a midi controller...
well laptop is a little expensive for his budget...
@_0
Anonymous
Posted: 01.01.2005, 13:23
Unregistered User
hmmm, maybe you could pick up a second hand Akai MPC (2000/ 2000xl or a newer model maybe?), im not sure of how much they go for, the magazine Future Music has a good for sale section.
for the budget, i'd say second hand is the go.
but there is also the Boss doctor sample, sp303, which is pretty good, and not too hard to use, and it will also run on batteries...
so yeah, what you want is a self contained unit so there is less fucking around with cords and shit, and most samplers have a mic/line in that you can use to plug in other gear to use the effects and save mixer space, if that is an issue.
even if you bought 2 small samplers it would still be better than carting a fuckload of gear around, and it makes it easier to play at the dodgy parties and stuff
Most samplers have >some< way to import audio... even if it's shit like floppies or (come back next week!) MIDI File Tansfer.
A laptop is only a budget breaker if you need to do audio DSP on it. Even an old laptop can handle a DOS tracker or MIDI sequencing. I made a PowerBook 1400, since it runs my fave software, for about $200 in parts - and I probably could have done it for less. I've got 90% of the parts to a second 1400, or for repairs. The thing is solid, and easy to fix/ find parts for. But sure, it's old. My deal is that I like to use a computer because I think almost all hardware sequencers bite. Timing is good, but that's because they are stuck on a grid, so it's easy. I like to really fuck with patterns on the fly, so a computer is a must for me. I do like analog sequencers, but of course they are huge and usually not so programmable.
SO... what Akai samplers? Depends what you want to do! First - the disclaimer - I do not like sampling very much. I like to make and tweak sounds in real time. Samplers usually just have a filter and effects, so there is no way to change the basic sound except covering or distorting it. Soft samplers like Kontakt are less limited, but still have a long way to go. I have used the Akai S2000, probably one of their most reputable, though its old. Basically, the main differences of all their samplers are going to come down to two things: resolution and RAM. Older samplers might be 8, 10, or 12 bits - recent ones 16 or 24 bits. So obviously older units are grungier, but the extreme sample compression contributes to the "punchy" quality. Newer ones will be clear, but might sound more flat. Then there's RAM, AKA sampling time. On an old sampler, you will need to juggle all of the bits you want into less than a minute of sampling time, sometimes even only a few seconds! The best thing about a modern sampler is that there is less hassle in importing audio (SCSI, USB, CDs), and there is enough memory to have your sounds loaded and ready.
My deal is figuring out whether you want your sampler to be a real instrument that you can play, or just a handy piece of studio gear which will help you put your tracks together. Most samplers can belch out a clip of sound on time, but not many more can do interesting stuff with it. My fave Akai sampler is quite unlike the others, it's their first one, the 612. First off, the sampler was engineered by the guy who made most of the old Electro-Harmonix effects! So you know it must be cool. It has shit sampling time, which depends on how many kHz your audio is - like one second of decent 12-bit audio, or quite a bit longer time of lo-res audio. Less kHz of course means less hi frequencies, your treble might suffer. Unlike practically every sampler in the world, it has buttons and knobs and sliders for fucking around with the sound - no digital menu. There are knobs for filter and LFO, and SLIDERS for the loop beginning and end points! You are not "supposed" to move them while the sound is playing, because you might, like (shudder), DISTORT it or something! It sounds insane, and is incredibly fun. It is asspain to import/ export samples, using some stupid 2" floppies, but you can also dump your samples over MIDI if you have time. Or even just re-record the output for easier transfer and scary degrading loops, very noisy shit.
The only other samplers which come close are my Casios, but I've needed to do a lot of work on them to get them this way. My Casios are bent for frequency mangling, crazy looping, and actually (sometimes) do the thickest sounding flange I have ever heard. No MIDI on my Casios yet, though I am working on it (slowly, the garage is too cold now). Other than what I have mentioned so far, for traditional sampling, I recommend you try to score an old Dynacord sampler. Those things were build like tanks, sounded great, and tend towards the cheep since not so many people know about them.
Enough of my pretentious gearwhore ramblings!
Anonymous
Posted: 25.01.2005, 23:11
Unregistered User
that last post was a bit boring wasnt it readers? :casstet:
I guess that was too much information for Anony-moose. Don't ask questions that you don't want answered! OK, no info, we'll do this the easy way - buy the one I tell you to! )*( The Musician's Friend catalog is now your master! Bow to Musician's Friend! Wa Ha Ha Haa!!!!!
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