noob sampler/sequencer question...

  • Thread starter Thread starter floatingworld
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floatingworld

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my experience with such things is very limited, so please pardon if this is an easy one... BUT.

let's assume that i was looking for a device that i could load existing samples into from my computer, then take to a live gig, plug in, and trigger those samples by hitting buttons (preferrably big, lit ones). would that device be a sampler? is there be a simpler device than a sampler that would do only that? how much memory does such a device need to store how much sound?

i don't need it to process those samples or anything. just playback different premade samples when i hit the buttons in a non-percussive way (think triggering grand sweeping intros and outros).

any recommendations?

thanks in advance for your consideration and insight.
 
The current such thing on the market is indeed a sampler, and is the Roland SP-404.

It's probably more than you're looking for though...

I would recommend you search used sources - ebay, craigs list, etc - for the older Roland SP505 which uses Smart Media cards to store samples and can take a card up to 128 megabytes.

Another alternative would be the Boss SP303 'Dr.Sample' --- (link to 2001 review) --- which has nice big buttons that light up as does the SP505 but is handicapped with a maximum memory card size of 64 megs


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Keep in mind though that while with most samplers you can use a wave editor program to send samples from your computer to the sampler, they will be gone as soon as you turn off the sampler because they usually get loaded in volatile RAM. So, it is best to either have them on a CD or some other media that your sampler can read, and load them up at the venue. Depending on the amount and size of the samples you're loading, you might want to give yourself enough time to make sure you've got everything loaded before the show.
 
noisewreck said:
Keep in mind though that while with most samplers you can use a wave editor program to send samples from your computer to the sampler, they will be gone as soon as you turn off the sampler because they usually get loaded in volatile RAM.
Click to expand...
True enough and a good point.

The three Roland/Boss machines I recommended get around that by using memory cards which are non-volatile. I guess the thinking was that you would be able to buy one card for the first set samples, then take it out and load the second set.


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Ah! Not being intimately familiar with those, I figured I'd cover all the bases :)
 
great info, guys... thanks!

the SP-505 seems to be a bit out of my price range for no more than i need to do with it... but i could probably get enough couch-change together for a SP-303 off ebay.
 
An mpc 1000 seems to be about perfect for what you describe. It is relatively small, portable, etc. You can upgrade the ram to 128mb which should give you plenty of sample time. Probably a bit out of your price range though.
 
the mpc1000 is pretty sweet, but that's far too much for no more than i'd be doing with it. great design, though.
 
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