Cheap hardware samplers

[Djberwick]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a portable hardware sampler (that doesnt cost a fortune) for processing field recording samples, e.g. nature, vocals, anything! so I can use to supplement my tracks in Cubase - 90% of my tracks are orchestral/acoustic VSTs so this would just be to add another layer to. I had in my the Bastl Microgranny as I like the fact it can do long samples, has a built-in mic, sounds like it does really interesting granular fx, and the lo-fi aspect adds to the charm. I was also looking at Volca Sample and Elektron Modal Samples....

Another option I guess would be to buy a decent portable mic like the Zoom H5 and do all the sample manipulation in my DAW, though I do really like the idea of getting away from software and having software portable (and a little bit unpredictable)...

Does anyone have any experience of these or any other thoughts and do they think they would fit the bill? Probably not looking to spend much more than £300.

Thanks in advance!

[resistorman]

Volca Sample 2?

[rockydennis]

Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO!

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/te ... o-35-speak

You can find it new for as low as £68.00.

[Djberwick]

Thanks, I checked out the Vocal and the Speak but they look like they are mostly just capable of sampling very short hits (looks like the Volca only has 8MB of memory!).

[tea for two]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a portable hardware sampler (that doesnt cost a fortune) for processing field recording samples, e.g. nature, vocals, anything!

Does anyone have any experience of these or any other thoughts and do they think they would fit the bill? Probably not looking to spend much more than £300.

Thanks in advance!

Hey DJ

I'm also looking into affordable portable hardware samplers.
So no experience as yet.

The Samplers I was looking into :
Zoom Sampletrak St224, Roland Sp404 first edition,
both these under around your £300 budget used market.

Also 1010 Music Blackbox a bit more bread new.
1010 Music Bitbox Micro is a bit less more bread new.
Sp404 mk2 a bit more bread new.
Korg Electribe Esx2 new in your budget.

If you have recentish ipad with plenty storage :
Beatmaker3 (£27 + in app purchases) has a brilliant sampler according to hiphop beat makers on youtube.
I think I will start with Beatmaker3 for my requirements.

[Djberwick]

Cheers guys, I've taken a look at these and not sure they will do what I need (or do extra stuff that I don't need) - I may just get a Zoom mic/recorder and do some field recordings, then manipulate the recordings in my DAW. Though that looks like a bit of a rabbit hole with wind shields etc!...

[Arpangel]

MicroGranny, a lot of fun, with great "mangling" potential.

[resistorman]

Cheers guys, I've taken a look at these and not sure they will do what I need (or do extra stuff that I don't need) - I may just get a Zoom mic/recorder and do some field recordings, then manipulate the recordings in my DAW. Though that looks like a bit of a rabbit hole with wind shields etc!...

I think for your budget (and for a whole lot more than that) you won't find a portable hardware sampler with the capabilities you want, they all seem to be beat oriented, which I gather is not what you're after. There are a lot of great sound mangling/ manipulation tools for little money in iOS, so if you have an iPhone or iPad it would work well to use it as a recorder/ processor... even the internal mics can get you decent results. Otherwise, a USB mic can be used, I believe.

[Arpangel]

There are a lot of great sound mangling/ manipulation tools for little money in iOS, so if you have an iPhone or iPad it would work well to use it as a recorder/ processor... even the internal mics can get you decent results. Otherwise, a USB mic can be used, I believe.

SSSssshhh! don’t tell him that!
We all know that, and I know that I could probably do what I do with just an i Pad, but that doesn’t stop me from accumulating loads of stuff with nice coloured knobs on and flashing lights, and recorders that use that stuff called tape, please, just calm down, please.

[Djberwick]

There's just something I love about the hands-on with tech, although my head tells me I could do it with a fraction of the price in software...The Microgranny does look interesting - I like that (at least I think) it isnt a groovebox. Seems more experimental.

[MOF]

Thanks, I checked out the Vocal and the Speak but they look like they are mostly just capable of sampling very short hits (looks like the Volca only has 8MB of memory!).

ONLY 8MB!!! How times have changed. My first sampler (S1000) had 1MB of memory and years later I swapped it for 8MB, second hand, in the late 1980s for the princely sum of £80.

[t-sun]

Cheers guys, I've taken a look at these and not sure they will do what I need (or do extra stuff that I don't need) - I may just get a Zoom mic/recorder and do some field recordings, then manipulate the recordings in my DAW. Though that looks like a bit of a rabbit hole with wind shields etc!...

A portable recorder and then working on the samples on a DAW (or dedicated sampler at home, if you want to go hardware only) is what I'd recommend, honestly. Portable hardware samplers are more oriented to bin diving DJs and so on as far as I have ever seen, or for convenience at live performances.

That being said, 8mb is a lot of space if you use it frugally! I still miss my Casio FZ-1 with the 2mb upgrade. It totally outclassed the W30 I still have

[Arpangel]

There's just something I love about the hands-on with tech, although my head tells me I could do it with a fraction of the price in software...The Microgranny does look interesting - I like that (at least I think) it isnt a groovebox. Seems more experimental.

I didn’t get off to a good start with my MicroGranny, but it grew on me quickly, the more I just accepted it for what it is, and stopped wishing it was something else.
It’s easy to use, apart from the card being a pain to get out, and the memory system being a bit crazy, conversion rates for samples etc.
But all these things fade when you start to twiddle those knobs, and you realise this is very unique, and worth having.
I put it through a modular filter, add some effects, it gets used on every jam session now, it’s sort of become indispensable, and it goes with the sounds of my modular well.

[tea for two]

- I may just get a Zoom mic/recorder and do some field recordings, then manipulate the recordings in my DAW. Though that looks like a bit of a rabbit hole with wind shields etc!...

Hey DJ basically this:

what I'm looking is field recordings on a handheld recorder, been reading Mike Stranks reviews posts on SoS, also Mike's recommendations for wind shields as well ways to make most of hand held recorders,
bring it into Beatmaker3 on ipad pro11, thereafter chop it up for whatever.

If this doesn't cut it, then either it's me or I will look at dedicated hardware sampler.

Recently released Zoom R20 portable DAW, recorder, mixer caught my fancy, as I'm looking more towards portable battery operated hardware.

::

MicroGranny, a lot of fun, with great "mangling" potential.

I thought this was a Moog thingy given its name.
Never heard of it before.
Does sound fun on utube.
Had a project in mind since last year for which MicroGranny could be it.
Wonder if they will release a SuperGran lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VtymNiYlSD4

[Arpangel]

MicroGranny, a lot of fun, with great "mangling" potential.

I thought this was a Moog thingy given its name.
Never heard of it before.
Does sound fun on utube.
Had a project in mind since last year for which MicroGranny could be it.
Wonder if they will release a SuperGran lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VtymNiYlSD4

Yeah, I’d get one, it’s got something, believe me.
And you’re probably right, about a Super Granny, but I don’t know what they’d improve on it, it’s really bad already.

[tea for two]

MicroGranny, a lot of fun, with great "mangling" potential.

I thought this was a Moog thingy given its name.
Never heard of it before.
Does sound fun on utube.
Had a project in mind since last year for which MicroGranny could be it.
Wonder if they will release a SuperGran lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VtymNiYlSD4

Yeah, I’d get one, it’s got something, believe me.
And you’re probably right, about a Super Granny, but I don’t know what they’d improve on it, it’s really bad already.

I've just gotta make sure if I do get it , the stuff I do on it doesn't hurt my ears.
Arturia just released a Granular Fragments fx it's on SoS main page, I couldn't listen to the demo nor the examples on their site as it hurt my ears.

Similarly I can't listen to some of Fripp's stuff cause some of the sounds he chooses hurts my ears.

::

Returning to OP DJ.
If Zoom would combine one of their handheld recorders with a 2 track version of R20 (touchscreen DAW, recorder, mixer) adding sample mangling chopping, that would be fine for me.

[resistorman]

There are a lot of great sound mangling/ manipulation tools for little money in iOS, so if you have an iPhone or iPad it would work well to use it as a recorder/ processor... even the internal mics can get you decent results. Otherwise, a USB mic can be used, I believe.

SSSssshhh! don’t tell him that!
We all know that, and I know that I could probably do what I do with just an i Pad, but that doesn’t stop me from accumulating loads of stuff with nice coloured knobs on and flashing lights, and recorders that use that stuff called tape, please, just calm down, please.

it is true, I've used it for many things. Right now, I talked myself out of getting a Helix for my new guitar. I'm using my iPad for efx, and it's murderously good. I hooked up a Korg Nano Kontrol 2, and between the touchscreen, knobs and faders I have a lot of immediate control. But I also have plenty of gear bristling with knobs, I like to run my guitar into my modular too

[Arpangel]

There are a lot of great sound mangling/ manipulation tools for little money in iOS, so if you have an iPhone or iPad it would work well to use it as a recorder/ processor... even the internal mics can get you decent results. Otherwise, a USB mic can be used, I believe.

SSSssshhh! don’t tell him that!
We all know that, and I know that I could probably do what I do with just an i Pad, but that doesn’t stop me from accumulating loads of stuff with nice coloured knobs on and flashing lights, and recorders that use that stuff called tape, please, just calm down, please.

it is true, I've used it for many things. Right now, I talked myself out of getting a Helix for my new guitar. I'm using my iPad for efx, and it's murderously good. I hooked up a Korg Nano Kontrol 2, and between the touchscreen, knobs and faders I have a lot of immediate control. But I also have plenty of gear bristling with knobs, I like to run my guitar into my modular too

The thing that stops me investing in my iPad, musically, is the built in obsolescence, same with computers, the merry go round, I just like to feel I own something, and when it goes wrong maybe it can be repaired, I’m moving away from computers more and more, I’m not a professional, and my music is a minority interest, so I don’t need compatibility, or certain sounds.

I've just gotta make sure if I do get it , the stuff I do on it doesn't hurt my ears.
Arturia just released a Granular Fragments fx it's on SoS main page, I couldn't listen to the demo nor the examples on their site as it hurt my ears.

Similarly I can't listen to some of Fripp's stuff cause some of the sounds he chooses hurts my ears.

::

Returning to OP DJ.
If Zoom would combine one of their handheld recorders with a 2 track version of R20 (touchscreen DAW, recorder, mixer) adding sample mangling chopping, that would be fine for me.

Taste agin, balance between bitter/sweet, I find some of Fripps stuff a bit too syrupy, sweet, some of the soundscapes, but on the whole, I think he gets it right, most of the time.
The MicroGranny has a lovely lo-fi sound, that you can take further if you like, it’s up to you, it’s got a lot of rabbit holes, you can go down, some sublime, some disturbing, but at least they are there, you’ve got the choice.

[Djberwick]

Cheers guys for the info, a few things for me to mull-over

[Arpangel]

Cheers guys for the info, a few things for me to mull-over

If you get a MG, don’t run it on batteries, they last no time at all.
Be very careful how you handle it, it’s not built like a tank.
Be very careful how you remove the memory card, and how you put it back in.
It does freeze sometimes, but not often, a restart cures it.

[Djberwick]

Cheers guys for the info, a few things for me to mull-over

If you get a MG, don’t run it on batteries, they last no time at all.
Be very careful how you handle it, it’s not built like a tank.
Be very careful how you remove the memory card, and how you put it back in.
It does freeze sometimes, but not often, a restart cures it.

Oh no! Being able to run on batteries would be have the attraction to me! Does it run longer on a power-pack?...

[Arpangel]

Cheers guys for the info, a few things for me to mull-over

If you get a MG, don’t run it on batteries, they last no time at all.
Be very careful how you handle it, it’s not built like a tank.
Be very careful how you remove the memory card, and how you put it back in.
It does freeze sometimes, but not often, a restart cures it.

Oh no! Being able to run on batteries would be have the attraction to me! Does it run longer on a power-pack?...

It lasts long enough to do a short gig, on batteries, I haven’t tried it on my power pack, it has a standard guitar pedal type power input, I just bought a 9v PSU, and use that most of the time.

[Djberwick]

Great, thanks

[Arpangel]

Signs of battery failure.
Samples won't load, or load sometimes, and keep cutting out.
Memory goes crazy, but all goes back to normal as soon as you put a new battery, or connect a PSU!

[tea for two]

I've just gotta make sure if I do get it , the stuff I do on it doesn't hurt my ears.
Arturia just released a Granular Fragments fx it's on SoS main page, I couldn't listen to the demo nor the examples on their site as it hurt my ears.

The MicroGranny has a lovely lo-fi sound, that you can take further if you like, it’s up to you, it’s got a lot of rabbit holes, you can go down, some sublime, some disturbing, but at least they are there, you’ve got the choice.

Alrighty. I'm fairly shurely guessing MicroGranny was released to latch onto LofiHiphop ChillHop genre of early to mid 2010s.
Here's one LofiHiphop mix from several
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ldUT4FLxql4

Sensei of this style was Nujabes (Jun Seba) starting with his first album released in 2005.
Here's a compilation from Nujabes
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Gp3KcUbIg

For me some of the interesting sonic explorations are in genres as LofiHipHop,
Progressive Dubstep as Burial from South London.
Here is Burial's second album from 2007 Untrue.
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj ... 2HgLACFfiW