Buggy Whips [was]Re: [sdiy] Should I repair my Fostex, or should I go HD recording?

[WeAreAs1 at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/26/04 3:12:19 PM, rude66 at xs4all.nl writes:

<< but it's funny jhow quick the sampler as a hardware box hasd become

obsolete. are they even still being made, apart from things like the MPC's? >>

Right now is the best time ever to buy a hardware sampler.  People are 
literally giving them away.  It reminds me of 1985, when everyone was selling their 
Minimoogs, Prophet V's, Jupiter 8's, CS-80's, and Oberheim Four-Voices for 
next to nothing so they could buy a DX7 and make that annoyingly painful "Crystal 
Rhodes" sound.  

An Akai S6000, Roland S760, or a comparable Emu (e5000, etc) is far superior 
to even the best software samplers, for several reasons.  

First, they sound better.  Oh yes they do, and it's not because of the 
computer's sound card or D/A converters.  

Second, zero latency (well, maybe not exactly zero, but a damn sight better 
than the best soft samplers).  

Third, no crashing (use a soft sampler in a live gig situation?  What, are 
you nuts???).  

Fourth, they do not use up your computer's DSP or processor resources, 
allowing it to better do what it does best (ummm... that would be email, right?).  

Fifth, most of them will still be just as useful and reliable ten years from 
now, long after the various software companies have closed up shop and stopped 
supporting their already flaky products.  Let's see... How many OS revisions 
will we see from Apple and MS in the next ten years?  Every time the monoliths 
"upgrade" their systems, all the software developers wind up having to 
scramble to update their product to remain compatible with the latest OS.  It is an 
endless, and very frustrating cycle.

Sixth, they actually work.  Just a cursory look at the support group archives 
for any of the soft samplers will let you know just how buggy and unreliable 
they all are.

Seventh... Oh, come on.  You really need more reasons?  OK, they look cooler 
in your rack, too.

You can pick up a loaded, incredible sounding Roland S-760 for about $200 
today -- even less for an Akai S3000xl, and the prices are still going even lower 
every month.  For me, this is a no-brainer.

MB