Sampler Newbie Question

Gregor Samsa · Post by **Gregor Samsa** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:40 am

What would a sampler add to my setup that isn't covered by synthesizers? The EMU ESI 2000 looks interesting to me as an entry level type deal, and from the reviews the results are quite good working with it, but I don't want to buy one and find out that I can't manipulate sounds. Also, it looks like a pain in the arse to save and load stuff from my unexperienced eye.

Architecture · Post by **Architecture** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:07 am

A sampler would basically for one provide you with more realistic sounds, if thats what your aiming for. With some samplers, the mangling abilities are worth the price themselves.

If your looking for convincing sounds of real instruments, Hardware has become obsolite for that purpose.

Good samplers I would check out

The Yamaha A Series
Any Emu Sampler

Id stay away from Akai, since they do not have that great of sample mangling abilities. Theyre better playback machines than anything else.

Gregor Samsa · Post by **Gregor Samsa** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:04 am

I use very little in the way of real acoustic instrument sounds. Samplers look like an interesting avenue though.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JMPSynth · Post by **JMP** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:24 am

The EMU ESI range are dirt cheap, particularly the ESI32 which can take up to 32MB (also cheap on Ebay). Very easy to use interface on these.

I have the ESI4000 and you can get very good samples for it. Just pick up a SCSI CD and Zip drive and loading/saving isn't too much of a pain. Forget the floppy.

Gregor Samsa · Post by **Gregor Samsa** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:30 pm

are you able to hook up both of those drives at the same time, or would I need to interchange them when needed?

There's an EMU esi 2000, 72 mb of internal RAM, for $225.00 now. Is that about the going price?

yek · Post by **yek** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:01 pm

from experience i would learn how different hardware works in a virtual environment like software, you won't be wasting money on stuff you think you need, which will no doubt happen.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JMPSynth · Post by **JMP** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:51 pm

Gregor Samsa wrote:are you able to hook up both of those drives at the same time, or would I need to interchange them when needed?

Yes, you can have both connected on a SCSI chain so long as the ID's of the drives and the Emu are different (usually changed by hand on the hardware and within the menu setup of the EMU). I have a CD drive and Zip 100 drive both connected with no problems. However, not all drives are recognised by the EMU, you'll need to check compatibility, normally indicated on Ebay auctions for example.

There's an EMU esi 2000, 72 mb of internal RAM, for $225.00 now. Is that about the going price?

No, that's expensive. The 2000 lies between the 32 & 4000. An ESI32 even with a turbo board installed should be no more than £60 or so $120 approx.

Look at the end prices of these Ebay UK auctions for ESI32's:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Emu-Emulator-ESI- ... .m14.l1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EMU-ESI-32-Sample ... 0268798914

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Emu-ESI-32-Digita ... .m14.l1318

Hugo76 · Post by **Hugo76** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:22 am

If you really want a hardware sampler, and mainly for mangling sounds in a creative way, I'd have to second Architecture's recommendation of either a Yamaha Ax000, or E-mu. Regarding the latter, I think you would be wise to look for some of the newer models, such as the E5000 Ultra.

When it comes to Yamaha, get the A4000 or A5000, as they have a larger display than the A3000 (plus more effects). A neat tip is to turn off the fan to get completely silent operation (unless you are installing a harddrive inside of it, then the fan is needed).

Gregor Samsa · Post by **Gregor Samsa** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:30 pm

great info- thanks, all. This one has a bunch of the stock Emu discs and some others, but I am suspecting that I could probably locate those anyway.