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

[Tim Parkhurst]

 Agreed, I bought an Emu ESI 2000 recently for under $200, and it's maxed on
memory (128MB I think). It has great digital filters, and the envelopes are
incredible (going from .01 to about 160 seconds per segment). Yes, the
filters are digital, but they are a great COMPLIMENT TO (rather than a
replacement for) analog VCFs. This thing is not just a playback box, but
something that can tweak and modify the sound. It's almost (dare I say
it...) a synthesizer (with very versatile VCOs). This thing is really cool
for making polyphonic sounds from Odyssey samples. Sampling squeaking doors
and the hydraulic rams on the garbage truck is really cool too. 

Cheers!

Tim (out on the street recoring the garbage truck at 6AM) Servo

********

-----Original Message-----
From: WeAreAs1 at aol.com
To: rude66 at xs4all.nl; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Sent: 12/26/04 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: Buggy Whips [was]Re: [sdiy] Should I repair my Fostex, or
should I go HD recording?


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



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