help me find a SAMPLER!

[snipejd]

Hey guys

so I need a sampler to go on my 'board' with my Microkorg (MK>PDS2700>PDS2020 for those curious) and it has to be able to do a few things:

- basically in the format/size of the SP-303
- send out MIDI clock for the MK, or at least accept MIDI clock so I can run a Molten Voltage Tempode>MK thru > Sampler
- interface with USB (easily) so I can load samples from ProTools that way

doesn't need to be foot triggered cause this board is on a table, anything come to mind??

[backwardsvoyager]

hmm the SP404sx ticks the midi clock and size/format boxes but not the USB interfacing. i find it easy to load samples via SD card but yeah.
i think the Akai MPX16 will do what you're looking for but it's horizontally orientated and i've heard mixed reviews regarding it among a lot of other new Akai stuff.

[D.o.S.]

I would think the SP404 would work for you?

[snipejd]

I would think the SP404 would work for you?

it doesn't have any USB option to load stuff, also while it does have TT it can't send that tempo out cause it only has a MIDI in.

[snipejd]

hmm the SP404sx ticks the midi clock and size/format boxes but not the USB interfacing. i find it easy to load samples via SD card but yeah.
i think the Akai MPX16 will do what you're looking for but it's horizontally orientated and i've heard mixed reviews regarding it among a lot of other new Akai stuff.

yoo so that MPX16 looks like exactly what I need (even the MPX8) - BUT, can it send MIDI clock out? I can't seem to figure this out. It also doesn't have a way to tap the tempo in which is trouble. Maybe I could run the MV Tempode>thru MPX16>Microkorg?
Is that possible? I need to be able to tap a tempo in that will keep the looping sample on the MPX and the Korg in time. I can tap in my guitar pedals after I know the MK board is synced.

I'm really not as wise on MIDI as I am the analog/digital pedal world, unforunately.

[lordgalvar]

Bastl MicroGranny 2.1? You could probably just get a midi clock/sequencer/something or a quadrua-thru 4. It's a little cheaper and you have more options (and around the same size).

[backwardsvoyager]

I think the microgranny can only load samples via micro sd if i'm not mistaken so if the USB thing is a must maybe that's a no-go too. They're neat little boxes though i've been meaning to try one out.

I'm not too good with MIDI as far as hardware goes but I think your best bet would be using the tempode to tap in a tempo and send it to the microkorg then thru the microkorg to the sampler.
The akai's manual is super vague it doesn't seem to mention anything about midi clock and if you hook up it to usb to load samples on the SD card it won't function normally or something? Confusing.

[snipejd]

I think the microgranny can only load samples via micro sd if i'm not mistaken so if the USB thing is a must maybe that's a no-go too. They're neat little boxes though i've been meaning to try one out.

I'm not too good with MIDI as far as hardware goes but I think your best bet would be using the tempode to tap in a tempo and send it to the microkorg then thru the microkorg to the sampler.
The akai's manual is super vague it doesn't seem to mention anything about midi clock and if you hook up it to usb to load samples on the SD card it won't function normally or something? Confusing.

I found a thing on the Akai forums saying that it can only accept midi for program changes and things like that and can't sync to a clock...so that one's out. We start from scratch, so something like the MPX16 or MPX8 can that synch or send a clock?

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

mpc500? 1000?

[lordgalvar]

Octatrack.

I was going to suggest the mpc 1000 too.

I just think it is going to be hard to find something that fits exactly due to the cheapness of computers. However, the microGranny is "hackable" and I am sure a midi thru and and usb support could be added, but it will probably add a ton of time and/or money to the project. I'd say that the mpc 1000 is going to be the closest fit.

[backwardsvoyager]

mmm i'm tempted to say look into using a tiny notebook/tablet, you could buy one with a usb to midi converter and it'd still be cheaper and smaller than an MPC1000 or octatrack.
I know that sounds kind of lame but it's definitely the most flexible option. Like, infinitely flexible, you could use ableton or a bunch of other programs and use keys to trigger samples, hook up a small rotary interface and assign specific functions for performance control. Something to consider anyway. Hardware samplers are kind of a weird market and unless you go the expensive route with an MPC or Octatrack they're gonna have a lot of limitations.
i don't suggest this a lot because these kinda things get shot down here more often than not but i mean samplers are computers anyway so if it's a cost vs feature set issue an actual computer is always gonna come out on top, if cost isn't as much of an issue then the aforementioned samplers would be a more instantaneous solution.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

octatrack seems like it would be way overkill for OP. the octa is sooo fucking deep and confusing at times. it has a high learning curve for all that it can really do. its amazing, but if u are just triggering samples and messing about in a more traditional sense, u could do get that w/ something else and still have like $700 extra in your pocket.

a small laptop, or even an ipad, i think is a great solution backwardsvoyager. especially if you already own some of the components to the puzzle, but if you don't, theres a lot of little pieces you need to get, and then its like 3-5 devices instead of just 1

[backwardsvoyager]

a small laptop, or even an ipad, i think is a great solution backwardsvoyager. especially if you already own some of the components to the puzzle, but if you don't, theres a lot of little pieces you need to get, and then its like 3-5 devices instead of just 1

you're right but there are still simple ways to do the laptop thing from scratch, i mean you could get like a little 10" laptop running a simple performance session on ableton, close the screen and sit a beatstep or nanopad or whatever on top then have a USB to midi cable to interface it with the MK thru clock. still 3 devices but fairly minimal preparation and still super cheap/portable altogether. the only thing i can think of there is possibly the computer sound card being kind of shit but i kind of wonder how that compares to most hardware samplers, i never notice much difference if just plug the line out from my laptop into a setup rather than using an external audio interface depending on the application.

edit: also i just remembered the new Electribe Sampler exists, pretty certain that one can send and receive MIDI clock and has a tap button so you probably wouldn't even need the tempode, and it has USB too. probably worth a look.

[lordgalvar]

a small laptop, or even an ipad, i think is a great solution backwardsvoyager. especially if you already own some of the components to the puzzle, but if you don't, theres a lot of little pieces you need to get, and then its like 3-5 devices instead of just 1

you're right but there are still simple ways to do the laptop thing from scratch, i mean you could get like a little 10" laptop running a simple performance session on ableton, close the screen and sit a beatstep or nanopad or whatever on top then have a USB to midi cable to interface it with the MK thru clock. still 3 devices but fairly minimal preparation and still super cheap/portable altogether. the only thing i can think of there is possibly the computer sound card being kind of shit but i kind of wonder how that compares to most hardware samplers, i never notice much difference if just plug the line out from my laptop into a setup rather than using an external audio interface depending on the application.

edit: also i just remembered the new Electribe Sampler exists, pretty certain that one can send and receive MIDI clock and has a tap button so you probably wouldn't even need the tempode, and it has USB too. probably worth a look.

I looked into the new Electribe sampler because of this thread (before I replied before)...I didn't look that hard, but information seemed kind of thin. It will be neat to see how it all turns out.

When I was saying that comupters are cheap in my earlier post, I was kind of hinting toward the computer answer too, but I (like many) don't like to bring a computer. But looking at just about everyband that had a keyboard (from underground to pop) at festivals/shows/concerts I have been to lately, there was a laptop right near their keyboard.

The octatrack and mpc I knew were a bit overkill for the application, but I think it was important to show that such specific needs aren't really availiable with usb loading. It's not practical for some companies to keep reviving what they consider "old" when they can market something that controlls a computer at the same price point (and do effectively more). BTW, fuck those new "MPC"'s.

I had actually written a really long reply before, but I deleted it because I thought it was kind of a "smart-ass" reply*. But if buying a SD reader (or other similar slight variation) is going to be the sticking point, a computer/tablet is going to be the only cost-effective option, like backwardsvoyager said.

There are other crazy ways to do it, but I doubt anyone would knowingly go that route (Yahama SU 700 (you can get for $170) with either a SCSI-to-USB converter or a replacement disk drive that reads SD cards or something but good luck with figuring all that out).

*: Basically, everything I delete has been said since then. haha.

[backwardsvoyager]

i think at the end of the day computers are generally unappealing to most musicians not coming from a DJing or production background but in all seriousness you can set one up to be an amazing piece of hardware gear with the right control interfacing and parameter routing, and while I completely understand how standalone hardware is generally more intuitive to learn and perform on, deliberately spending more money on more limited solutions is kind of silly in some regards. i'm interested to see where this heads over the coming years as control surfaces are evolving insanely quickly and MIDI might not be far off from being replaced with HD Protocol which will probably make a lot of existing digital hardware feel super outdated super quickly.

i don't really understand the USB loading thing too well so OP might wanna elaborate on that, i mean if you're not swapping around samples mid-performance with a computer in your rig then it's just an ease of preparation thing right? so unless there's something i'm missing i think maybe that requirement is something worth giving up on if a portable standalone hardware sampler for not too expensive is the goal here. I think it's understandable that SD cards are the main method of sample storage nowadays.

anyway the electribe looks promising for a number of reasons, it was mentioned here a bit when it was announced but nobody seems to have bought one around here.