Let's assume that the people who reply here already know the benefits of software sampling - I say this so no one will come here and preach why hardware samplers are so obsolete.

Does anyone here use their hardware samplers anyomre. Do you people scan the bins at your local music shop for new sample CDs? I'm not a loop guru, but I am understanding how important audio CDs and loops are considering that if your format is longer supported, you build kits through audio.

I have a Roland S760, which used to be the king of all samplers. I recently purchased a few sample CDs in Roland format, however, most of them are dated.

I'm just curious to know which samplers you all use, what you use them for, and if you guys buy or have sample CDs. Which ones do you own?

This should be a good discussion.

The Infamous Epu.

I use an Akai S3200XL and swear by it. BTW do you know where I can get some FLASH ROM for it? I'm in england.

I can't believe you're still using those stone-age hardware samples!!!

Hasn't anyone ever told you about the benifits of today's latest new range of software samplers??????????

Oh man, you are sooooooooooooooooo out of touch! I thought everyone knew by now that those hardware samplers are ancient relics. You must be a member of a Human League tribute band or something like that.

Don't worry- I'll come back in a few hours when I've got a little more time and give you an in-depth lecture on the implications of obsolescence for post 90's musical equipment.

I agree with Equalizer . Hardware samplers are obsolete in every way . I still do have my original Emulator though , it's number 478 of the 500 made . It's just a museum piece though . Back in the 80s I used the Akai S-612 , Roland S-50 , Emulator , Emulator II . Today , software samplers are far superior in every way .

Yes indeed!

I was just wondering, do any of you guys know where I can download some schematics so that I can post them on here to help illustrate some of the differences between hard and soft samplers?

Do voice recorders count? I'm about to order the iRiver 256MB mp3-player. Anyway, the iRiver has a voice recording function.

-tek

While I agree that software samplers are better than hardware samplers, I wouldn't exactly call hardware samplers "obsolete." Certain models still offer something desirable for the electronic musician. For example, even though I have Logic's EXS24 plug-in and Reaktor, I still can't bring myself to part with my old Ensoniq ASR-10 because of it's unique sound and it's loop point modulation capability. Any sample I make on the computer will have a heavier, fatter sound coming out of my ASR-10 than it will coming out of any computer soundcard, no matter how much filtering and EQ tweaking I do. It also has the unique (to Ensoniq gear) feature where I can assign various controllers to either the start point, end point, loop length, or loop position. Essentially, this is granular synthesis, but the sound of it is completely unique. I have yet to hear it reproduced even in a program as versitile as Reaktor, which can perform the same operation with it's grain cloud module, yet not produce the same sound I'm looking for.

Now, if I didn't have my ASR-10 before going soft, would I necessarily hunt one down? No. But I still keep it even though I could probably get between $600 and $1000 for it. It is by no means my primary sampler these days, but it far from useless to me.

I could've sworn that I started off this thread saying that we should assume that we all know the benefits of software samplers so people wouldn't come in here preaching about why hardware samplers are obsolete.

I know the benefits that come with Software Samplers and could care less at the momment. I created this thread so those who have hardware samplers could communicate.

As usual, people don't follow directions or requests.

The Infamous Epu.

Cloakboy,
I've be very interested to hear some of your music- perhaps something that includes examples of the kind of things you were talking about.

Is there anywhere online where I can have a listen to some samples?

Unfortuneatly no, I used to have an mp3.com page, but that's now so whored up with ads and you can't even ****ing stream or download without giving them all sorts of stupid information... IT MAKES ME SO MAD I CRUSH THINGS.

Aside from that, the only ASR-10 loop point mod track I ever recorded to computer was a joke thing I did. I was in a band with a guy who wanted to cover Edie Breckell's one hit song... the "shove me in the shallow water, before I get too deep" one... god i ****ing hate that song... anyway, so I sampled 2 bars of that, mangled it, and ****ed with it for 4 mins. It's a bit lenghty for the lack of content, but if you want a good example of what Ensoniq's loop point/transwave thingy sounds like, I'd be happy to share it with you if you can point me in the direction of a free host that allows mp3 files. I'd e-mail it to ya', but I have nothing but free e-mail accounts (2 yahoos, one university) which cap the filesize i can attach. so yeah.

and if that seems rambly, I am deliriously tired, it's 5am and i have yet to go to bed on a school night. boo ****ing hoo.

Well, why not try angelfire.com? They give you free webspace and the facility to add files to your site without the need for any other software.

Anglefire, Tripod, and Geocities also ban mp3 files.

I would say besonic, but they are not treating the non payer so well. www.songramp.com is the way to go. Also www.iuma.com and www.soundclick.com

[This message has been edited by kaboombahchuck (edited 12-04-2002).]

Sorry Cloakboy, but I think you're wrong.

I have a site at angelfire that I used a while back when I was trying to start up a band. If you take a look you'll see that it has MP3 files and they are all working just fine.
www.angelfire.com/music4/glasgow

I use an Ensoiq EPSm alongside it's virtual cousins. They get along fine

PLACEHOLDER

i have a friend hooking me up with hosting.

Tripod has deleted mp3's on me, and i've had friends who've lost them on angelfire and geocities. This was during the time when Napster was big, so maybe they've cooled off a bit, but people still get 'em erased if enough people download them.

[edit]
EDIEBREC.mp3
This is what I was talking about in my post in regards to the ASR-10. If you can't stand it, forward it to the 2:00 mark before you shut it off.


Ode to the Olsen Twins
This is just me and an acoustic guitar. My first attempt at singing in 20 years, be gentle. Btw, ask the kids to leave the room before you play this.


End of the World
The stuff in the beginning and the choir thingy towards the end were contributed by another guy, the rest is all me. It was for an informal collaboration contest where the criteria was that the song be about the end of the world.

[This message has been edited by Cloakboy (edited 12-08-2002).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by epu:
[B]Let's assume that the people who reply here already know the benefits of software sampling - I say this so no one will come here and preach why hardware samplers are so obsolete.

Does anyone here use their hardware samplers anyomre. Do you people scan the bins at your local music shop for new sample CDs? I'm not a loop guru, but I am understanding how important audio CDs and loops are considering that if your format is longer supported, you build kits through audio.

hey yeah i got a bunch of samplers.
akai s612 , akai s950 , roland s330 , roland s550 , korg triton and korg electribe es1.

i do not sample vynal or sample cds. i get my sounds from the world around me, a borrowed sound makeing device ,rented drum ,movies on tv ,internet, nature, and more than a few mad scientist style sound design sessions resampling between different samplers (includeing software samplers) trying to make something out of nothing.
i feel much beter satisfaction manipulating a chunk of audio and setting up crazy expiriments to get a good sample than takeing a cd of someone elses and saying ok good enuff i didnt want to be original anyway.
all my best samples i made myself.

of course this dosn't include piano and other recognizable insturments and i dont really do drum loops at all. i have one song thats made from drum loops but those were sampled from a parts of a movie were they wern't ment to be a song just some reocurring ambiance during some suspensfull sceens

the s612 has hardware sliders for loop points there fun to play with on a vocal sample. spining it around backwards and forwards and cuting it up on a whim (and i say a sample cause it only holds one sample at a time). the 612 and 950 both have interfaces for connecting to my akai ax60 so can run my samples thru the ax60's analoge filters fun fun fun.
the s330 is for sale, replaced by the triton.
and the s550 and electribe are badass samplers. one day i will have a roland s760

i would say theres no way they are obsolete.

times the hardwere samplers have crashed - 0
times my computer has crashed - countless

...and how many number one albums have you had mister?

ill never have a #1 , but neither do most of the bands i listen to. . .too far off the mainstreem , but if ya want an example of my stuff its on the bands web page in my profile

No instrument is obsolete unless it stops functioning. And even then you can bang on or throw it off the roof and sample that.

I prefer my hardware samplers still but because I use kurzweils, mostly for the synth engine attached as just playing back audio aint that tuff so for playback if realtime performance is not a critical issue I will use a softsampler. Mostly I use softsamplers these days for quick auditions of sample work I do prior to moving to some hardware format.

No number 1's but at least my name is on the back of funcrusher+

I don't think hardware will ever get redundant. Using computers live is asking for trouble. Also, there's something about using a nice Emu E4 or Kurzweil K2600, that software will never be able to beat.

-tek

I use lots of hardware samplers and absolutely love them. I've got AKAI's (S1000, S3000's), a Sequential Studio 440, and three Fairlight CMI's and wouldn't think of replacing them with any software sampler since nothing sounds as good. There's something about the sound quality of the CMI that can't be duplicated. I used to have several Kurzweil and Emulator samplers as well but have since parted with them although I wish I had kept my Emulator II+.