SPD-S type software/hardware solution?

[iancl]

Sorry, didn't know where to post, since there's not GENERAL software forum.
It's not really even the right website, since this isn't for recording, but I know there are many knowledgable people here, so I'll give it a shot!

I'm looking for a program which can save performance files, and in a file, there would be a bunch of samples loaded, I'd then want some sort of hardware which has buttons that each sample can be assigned to (shouldn't be too hard at all, it would work just like a keyboard or game controller really, with assignable buttons to that program).

I can't be the first person to want to do this. Anything out there before I have to write a program myself?!

[iancl]

Now looking into the Roland trigger to midi converter.
http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/default.aspx?prd=376

Anyone got any comments on this?

Still looking for the program to trigger from though? I'd need a MIDI-USB cable, but that should work right?

[TimOBrien]

Any midi sequencer (Cubase, Sonar, Reaper, NTrack, etc) can record the performance on the pads.

Then you just need a sampler vsti to put sounds to the midi performance.

basic article here:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/software_samplers.htm