I just realized what I want - A true hardware Maschine

[blavatsky]

Roland MV8800 - comes pre-loaded with a lot of kits , plus 120 gb hd to load in your own samples. Great effects.
Easy to buy sample packs and load if you are not big into making custom stuff.

Cheaper than most MPC, but with VGA out, mouse, etc.

[cram1960]

Okay, so I've given it some more thought, and
I think I'll just stick with Maschine and Kontakt and sequence them from my Cirklon.

I wanted to get the computer out of my music, but
I just couldn't pull the trigger on the MPC or the Roland MV .

Thanks for the chat. It was helpful.

[mp3]

Well an Ensoniq ASR-X would seem to fit the bill perfectly. Amazingly quick and intuitive sampler, rubbish sequencer. The downsides are a limited amount of memory (66 or 34mb depending on model) and no from-disk preview. It's a sampler that's way better suited to sampling

If you haven't completely ruled out mpc's, then may I suggest a JJ OS machine. It's a pleasure rolling your own kits from an internal hdd (IDE 2.5 up to 128gb), just copy all your samples to it. You can even load and automap a whole folder of samples. But most importantly, it's the only mpc capable of being addressed multitimbrally by an external sequencer.

If a rack sampler plus pad controller setup is an option, then the Yamaha AxK and Akai z4/z8 samplers are capable of mapping samples in a drum style layout without the encumbering keygroup paradigm of most other rack samplers.

[nogginj]

"But most importantly, it's the only mpc capable of being addressed multitimbrally by an external sequencer. "
A 2000XL can be used multi-timbrally - albeit only over 4 programs.

But its still possible.

It's in the manual on page 54 under "multiple track recording".

How many programs can JJ hold at a time?

[mp3]

Oh didn't know that about the 2000XL. Thanks for that.

The latest JJOS can hold 99 programs I believe, and you can have up to 16 of them assigned to MIDI channels for multitimbral use.

Forgot to mention that it also makes a decent single-cycle-wav synthesizer with INST (instrument multisample) programs... But really only if you have an analog filter to pass it thru. Not a fan of the MPC filter for synthesis.

... And also that you can use a PC/Mac editor for the 1k/2k5 (like bluebox or MPC Pad 187) to roll your own kits on the computer and then transfer to the MPC.

[samuraipizzacat29]

FWIW - I totally agree with you on the whole DAW clogs up the workflow thing. My counter to that is to grab a cheap but fully functioning laptop and use it ONLY to run maschine. software becomes hardware and your i/o is set by whatever pcm/cia card system you use (emu 1616m?).

there won't be anything like maschine unless it's built into one of these ridiculous workstations and that'd defeat your purpose.

[wiss]

http://www.akaiprompc.com

[samuraipizzacat29]

it doesn't say whether it's just a controller or not..... and the tagline says "music production controller". Therefore, it would appear it's maschine with audio i/o and will likely cost $2-300 more (at least).

[wiss]

I'm positive(positivly wishing) it's more than just a VST controller.

[samuraipizzacat29]

I don't think they'd disappoint the mpc crowd by making it not function on its own either, but I'm pointing out the way they've changed "Music Production Center" to be "Music Production Controller" and how there's nothing in the product features that shows memory or hard drive size.

If they gave it a semi-paltry but workable flash/solid state memory (say 256 ram and 16gb hd) it'd be the best thing on the market. But given akai and all their sister companies movement toward interfaces and more weak/cheap products, I'd bet this is a more glorified controller. Akai has just been trying to compete with everyone else and maintain market presence for years now, no?

[Stab Frenzy]

I'd be willing to bet that the new MPC won't work without a computer. It's just akai's version of maschine.

[wiss]

If it's just a controller I'm not interested in it at all. Unless I can unhook it from a computer and use as standalone piece of hardware and still sequence other instruments from it.......time will tell.

[wiss]

I'd be willing to bet that the new MPC won't work without a computer. It's just akai's version of maschine.

I hope not.....

[cram1960]

I don't think they'd disappoint the mpc crowd by making it not function on its own either, but I'm pointing out the way they've changed "Music Production Center" to be "Music Production Controller" and how there's nothing in the product features that shows memory or hard drive size.

If they gave it a semi-paltry but workable flash/solid state memory (say 256 ram and 16gb hd) it'd be the best thing on the market. But given akai and all their sister companies movement toward interfaces and more weak/cheap products, I'd bet this is a more glorified controller. Akai has just been trying to compete with everyone else and maintain market presence for years now, no?

I agree. I would buy it brand new from a big box music store for full price!!

[wiss]

It will be released 3rd quarter for a MSRP of $1000