On Sun, 29 Nov 1998, Ethan wrote:
quoted 7 lines also am on the lookout for a good sampler under $1000. Any suggestions?
>
> also am on the lookout for a good sampler under $1000. Any suggestions?
> I'm mainly interested in using it for live performance sans midi, so some
> sort of user friendly front panel interface is essential. SCSI would also
> be nice. we've been using an old roland MS-1, but its limitations are
> showing.
>
The Akai MPC2000 is the current king of the live setup -- one box, velocity
sensitive pads you can wail on, pattern based sequencing. Problem is,
to trick it out for maximum usability will run you nearly $2000.
http://www.akai.com/akaipro/products/MPC2000.html
The only other solutions involve buying a standalone sequencer, like
an Alesis MMT8, and a sampler that you drive from it. MMT8's are easy
to use, have track mute buttons, and are pattern based. Downside is
that they don't make them any more, and they're prone to mechanical problems
with their buttons. Nothing that Alesis won't fix if you pay them $100, but
still a pain in the ass.
If you go sequencer+sampler, there are very cool choices in the sub-$1K
range -- the stock Akai S2000 can be had for about $700, and the Emu ESI32
Turbo is in a similar price range. The ESI32 has been replaced by new models,
but I still see them at blowout prices on flyers from Guitar Center and places
like that.
http://www.emu.com/
http://www.akai.com/akaipro/products/S2000.html
Roland has that SP808 which is potentially cool, but there's something
really annoying to me about their user interfaces, and their slavish
devotion to what's currently "phat, fly and cool." Just build me an
instrument that has an open ended architecture and let ME decide what
sounds to make. Roland makes it easy to sound like records that came
out last year, which means they can sew up the wannabe market.
http://www.rolandus.com/PRODUCTS/MI/MI_GRP.HTM#SP-808
Along the same lines is the Ensoniq ASRX, but I have an intense
dislike for its internal sequencer. Your mileage may vary.
I have an Akai S20, which is as bare bones as they come -- floppy
only, crappy sequencer, no DSP. But the thing has a unique performance
setup that makes it playable as an instrument in ways that isn't possible
with many things. At $500 they're no bargain, but I got one at a pawn
for 1/2 that. If you find one cheap I'd go for it. The Remix16 is the
S20's big brother -- it comes in a metal box, has a scratch/bend slider
and SCSI option. But it's really an S20 in a different box, and they
cost over twice as much.
http://www.akai.com/akaipro/products/S20.html
http://www.akai.com/akaipro/products/REMIXspecs.html
And last, and perhaps least, the Boss SP-202 -- which is a little
sucker that takes smartcards for sample storage. Again this seems
a bit fly-weight as far as capabilities go, but it is portable and
sturdy.
http://www.rolandus.com/PRODUCTS/MI/BS_PS.HTM#SP-202