Need help choosing a hardware sampler

[Undrig]

Just wanted to throw this out and see who has suggestions. I need a hardware sampler with a semi decent amount of space. Not a pain in the ass to program and would be a huge plus if it can move files back n forth from a pc with a usb cable. Under $500 preferably. I don't need anything with a sequencer or fancy fx or anything.

[wormcode]

Very slim pickings for those features, and even slimmer for under 500. Gonna have to go for used gear. All hardware samplers are fairly painful to program though.

If you can sacrifice the USB connection then check the EMU line of samplers like EMU Ultra which can be fitted with actual PC hard drives. I'd suggest something like an MPC1000 but they are really known for being sequencers more than samplers though they do both. Space is a concern in samplers like that, they use annoying Compact Flash cards up to 2GB for the 1000 or 128MB for the MPC500 which is more in your price range.

Other considerations: Roland MV-8000, Roland SP-606, and depending on what you want to do the Electribe ESX1, but again - storage space.

[fragments]

What do you want it for? Honestly, I've owned a few samplers and unless you are looking at something like an MPC or an Electribe there really isn't much reason to own one these days...and this is coming from a hardware guy ;p

[bezzodempz]

Agree with fragments that it depends what you want it for, but disagree that there isn't much reason to own one.
If you got an e-mu ultra you basically also have a very flexible hardware VA synth with better sounding filters than most if not all VA synths IMO. Plus up to 131gb of hard drive space (overkill). You would have to remove the HD and connect to your computer with a caddy or adapter to do wav transfers but its do-able. As wormcide says all hardware samplers are painfull to program initially but once you get the hang of it your rockin.
MV-8000 is another good option and has loads of features, it also sound good to, I never really liked the akai sound but many do.
You could always pick up a maschine mk1 cheap and go the software/hardware route. But again it all depends what you want it for, theres no point buying a hardware sampler to just take a few samples and play them back

[Sharmaji]

sampling is one of those things that plugins do infinitely better than a dedicated unit. even the exs24 or ableton's sampler blows any hardware unit i've ever worked with out of the water.

[fragments]

There are a very few samples w desireable filters yes. But thats about it as far as reasons to own a hardware one. Unless you want a groovebox like the electribe sx or an MPC ...if you want a nice hardware filter just buy a hardware filter.

[3rdeye]

E-MU for the z-plane filters and a whole bunch of other sick filters. TBH i mostly use the EXS24 but love E-MUs for creative mangling and sound design

[fragments]

E-MU for the z-plane filters and a whole bunch of other sick filters. TBH i mostly use the EXS24 but love E-MUs for creative mangling and sound design

Those are digital filters, yes? Are there no software equivalents? As I said, I'm a fan of hardware over software for many things, but the E-MU's I've owned didn't seem worth the trouble even if the filters were "sooooo awesome"

[3rdeye]

E-MU for the z-plane filters and a whole bunch of other sick filters. TBH i mostly use the EXS24 but love E-MUs for creative mangling and sound design

Those are digital filters, yes? Are there no software equivalents?"

Yes they are, but they sound great, certainly better than the EXS24's or Kontakt's or whatever. he Z-plane filters are rather unique and the only software equivalent is made by E-MU and PC only. Google them for more info. The first sampler I ever learned to use was an E-MU E6400, so I don't mind using them at all.

[AxeD]

Crazy how something that looks like this




Is so popular.
Never understood why so many plugin/vst developer insist on making awful gui's.

[fragments]

E-MU for the z-plane filters and a whole bunch of other sick filters. TBH i mostly use the EXS24 but love E-MUs for creative mangling and sound design

Those are digital filters, yes? Are there no software equivalents?"

Yes they are, but they sound great, certainly better than the EXS24's or Kontakt's or whatever. he Z-plane filters are rather unique and the only software equivalent is made by E-MU and PC only. Google them for more info. The first sampler I ever learned to use was an E-MU E6400, so I don't mind using them at all.

Thanks for the info. Luckily I'm one of those Windows guys so I'll check it out. After my experience with a couple E-MUs I never bothered up grading to the E6400.

[Genevieve]

What's the software emulation? I love the sound of Fracture's bass ;0

[fragments]

http://www.creative.com/emu/products/pr ... &pid=17681

I only clicked around a little, but looks like they might only offer upgrades and you can't purchase the software anymore? Upgrades start at 299 USD so fuck that noise anyway...If I'm spending that kind of cash, I'll buy another piece of hardware...like another analog filter and just chain some filters OTB ;p

[Genevieve]

Yeah I'll just be getting a second hand emu. Been wanting to have one for a while.

[fragments]

There is an EMU E6400 for less than 150USD right now.

[Genevieve]

Found one for 125 euros but I can't afford it now. Also an E64 for 140.

At least I know I can find them in that price range.

I can't believe I'm looking at hardware. While I promised myself to stick to software. I will NOT catch the fucking bug. I swear on my mutha's grave.

[fragments]

Found one for 125 euros but I can't afford it now. Also an E64 for 140.

At least I know I can find them in that price range.

I can't believe I'm looking at hardware. While I promised myself to stick to software. I will NOT catch the fucking bug. I swear on my mutha's grave.

Don't buy that fucking sampler then, man. It's all down hill after that. I bought an Electribe ESX just to jam on...within 6 months I'd spent like 1K I didn't really have, LOL.

[wormcode]

The Emulator software is the only software with the zplane algorithms because EMU/Creative has got patents all over the place. Some might have run out, some might have been renewed I'm not sure... but they are essentially morphing filters. There's diagrams and a lot of info on them, so the effect can be replicated in other software, but it will take some interesting routing/automation/programming. Billain has emulated the effect using FL studio by automating X/Y controllers with EQs ad filters, but the filters don't sound the same, it's only a similar effect.

The Emulator is great but also buggy, and you can get a real one for cheaper probably as already mentioned. Otherwise, you can get pretty close using software, Kontakt and Shortcircuit can do it as they have more than enough modulation options. Up until recently it also required an EMU DSP card, but they removed that I guess to try to sell more of the software. It all seems dead in the water now though unfortunately.

[fragments]

^Yea, I've read quite a bit on DOA about emulating them. Always seemed like more work than it was worth TBH...I'm pretty happy with the tricks I've learned over the years for reese basses....between that and my experience using other E-MU samplers...no way...I'm not looking to be the next Neurofunk superstar anyway...

Do love me some Fracture choons tho...

[lloydy]

Spend the money on kontakt and spend some time to learn it inside out,you will realise that it is seriously feature packed.Also there are tons and tons of sample packs geared at making the most of the sampler,check big fish audio to see where i'm coming from.I owned a akai z8 and a mpc 2500 but sold both as i just found hardware can be a bit fiddly and slow down the work flow.Kontakt 5 for me is feature packed and very very easy to use + plenty of tutorials online for anyone from beginner to advanced.
Really if you look at it you will always find better tutorials for software as its affordable for the "bedroom producer".I have a access virus and that was a bitch to find decent beginner tutorials compared to say massive,fm8 or absynth.