Showing posts with label sampler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sampler. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Native Instruments Maschine 1.6 Groove Production Studio Review

Native Instruments Maschine 1.6 Groove Production Studio
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is pretty much the coolest thing ever invented. Does more then stated on the box or the advertising material and is fairly easy to use. At the moment I have this and Traktor (NI's vinyl reproduction software) run through my studio. I create a beat or hook on Maschine upload to Traktor and I have custom vinyl. Seriously, a basic layout could take you 5-10 minutes with Maschine, and a full production could be done in as little as an hour or two (of course that is if you knew exactly what you wanted).
I did a tremendous amount of homework before I bought every piece in my studio and have been doing music (DJ, producing etc..) as a hobby for over twenty years (god I feel old saying that) and this is by far the best purchase I ever made next to my 1200s of course :p
The only "problem" I currently have with Maschine is that recording outside sources doesn't work. I have also never bothered to troubleshoot this, so it might be user error.

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Roland SP-404SX Portable Sampler with Effects Review

Roland SP-404SX Portable Sampler with Effects
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is a really cool effects device for the price. Although I was able to figure out the basic functions without reading the manual I eventually had to break it out in order to learn how to use this device for my purposes. For what I plan to use it for this is plenty powerful enough and at half the price of the SP-555 it is a great deal. Better yet, this model can run off 6-AA batteries and has a built in mic. Granted, I tested out the built in mic and it sucks compared to connecting a real microphone to the unit but at least it has one. Also, this can support up to a 32GB SD card vs. the 555 which only supports up to a 2GB CF card. Again, 2GB of storage for both of these devices will store a tremendous amount of samples but it is nice to know I have options. Have I mentioned that this is less than half the price of the SP-555? It really depends on what features you will be using the most. For a mobile and club DJ like myself, this has everything I need to make my DJ drops and add special effects to many of my samples.

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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Akai MPC1000 Music Production Center Review

Akai MPC1000 Music Production Center
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My first impressions on the newest and smallest MPC in Akais great lineup of sampler/beat machine was thatit just HAD to be a lesser equiped version of those higher numbered MPC. WRONG!!!. I've used all MPCs and can say that I am pretty skilled with the MPC-60, 60 II, 2000, 200xl, and 3000 and just begining to peak at what the MPC4000 can truly do (it is in a whole different level and not at all for the novice).
The MPC1000, in my opinion is the best of the lot (not including the MPC4000). It doesn't have the warm sound that the MPC-60/60 II has but overall it can do anything that you want it to do. It does everything that a 2000/2000xl can do. It may have a smaller number of outputs but that is not that big of a deal if you know what you are doing.
Armed with a computer (as most of us are) the MPC1000 is extremely capable of accomplising any task that its big brothers can. In fact it handles many things better than those costing much more.
The MPC1000 is set up more like an MPC4000 and will aid those who hope to step up to using the big boy. Starting with a 2000 or 3000 will hinder you, in that some of those things you will do on those machines you will have to re-learn how to do those same things on the 4000 (once you pay the big bucks to make that move).
Don't be put off by it's tiny size. Max out it's memory, get a big compact flash card (it canhandle up to a 2 gig card, WOW) and this little box will STOMP the 2000 and 3000, even the 60 (remember those aren't made anymore and are quit old).
This thing KICKS.

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Inheriting all the essential MPC series features, the Akai MPC1000 complements its larger siblings while also providing a powerful Music Production Center on its own. It features 32-voice stereo sampling, 64-track sequencing, and 16 velocity, and pressure-sensitive MPC pads--all in an affordable and compact package that weighs just 7.6 pounds. The MPC1000 is small, rugged and incredibly portable for an easy fit into a backpack or laptop bag for the traveling producer.
It comes with 16 MB of onboard memory (expandable up to 128 MB), and you can further enhance your storage with optional standard Compact Flash memory cards (up to 2 GB in size). A preloaded CF card with popular Akai Pro samples is included to get you going. When connected to a Mac or PC via its built-in USB port, you can simply drag and drop data between the computer and MPC1000's CF card.
Key Features
Pattern-based and linear 64-track sequencer with 32 MIDI channels
32-voice drum/phrase sampler with up to 128 MB RAM
Velocity and pressure-sensitive pads for expressive programming
16-level pad function maps one sound to all pads with varied level, tuning, attack, decay or filter per pad
Two Q-link sliders for real-time performance control
Built-in Compact Flash drive and USB port (Mass Storage Class)
Standard WAV files samples and MIDI-file sequences
Analog and digital I/Os, headphone output and two MIDI In/Out
Internal sounds in flash
Four-way sample layering and velocity switching per pad
Four-pole filters (two two-pole filters) filtering for each of the 32 voices
Two on-board effects processors plus main-output effect processor, all which can be used simultaneously
Outputs can be re-sampled

Specifications
Storage: Compact Flash: Type-II, support up to 2 GB card
Hard Drive (optional - req. HDM-10): any standard IDE 2.5-inch hard drive
Memory: 16 MB installed (Can be expanded to 128 MB with EXM-128)
Analog Input/Output:
(2) Balanced 1/4-inch Inputs
(6) Unbalanced 1/4-inch Outputs [Stereo L/R + 4 Assignable Outs]
(1) Headphone Output

Digital Input/Output:
(1) Coaxial S/PDIF Input [RCA]
(1) Coaxial S/PDIF Output [RCA]

MIDI Input/Output:
(2) MIDI Input [5-pin DIN]
(2) MIDI Output [5-pin DIN]

Other Input/Output:
(2) 1/4-inch Footswitch
(1) USB [Slave only]

Levels:
Analog Input = +10dBu
Analog Output = +17dBu [Stereo & Assignable Outs]

Sampler Resolution: 16bit/44.1kHz
Sampler Recording Time:
136 seconds [16 MB/MONO]
24 minutes 28 seconds [128 MB/MONO]

Sequencer Details:
100,000 notes resolving at 96ppq
99 Sequences with total 64 tracks per seq
20 Songs with total 250 steps per song

Pad Details:
16 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
4 Pad Banks [A, B, C, D]

Synchronization: MIDI Clock only
Power Options:
100v - 240v
50/60Hz
19W

Dimensions: 13 x 2.97 x 8.98 inches (WxHxD)
Weight (net): 7.6 pounds
Data Compatibility:
MPC1000 -- SEQ, WAV, PGM
MPC2000/2000XL -- SEQ (saved as MID file only), WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be loaded.)
MPC2500 -- SEQ, WAV, PGM
MPC4000 -- SEQ (saved as MID file only), WAV, AKP (DRUM program only...No Keygroups. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
MPC3000 -- SND (THRU Computer)
Z4/Z8 -- WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
S5000/6000 -- WAV only (THRU Computer)
S1000/3000 -- No compatibility



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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Native Instruments BATTERY 3 Drum Sampling Software Review

Native Instruments BATTERY 3 Drum Sampling Software
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Windows Vista 64 Bit OS users:
As previous reviews have stated. Program will not work as boxed.
You have to upgrade. But first, install the program.
Next: Go to the Native Instruments website. Go to the free downloads
section and download the latest update of 'service center'. Don't use the
Service Center installed with the program or it's update function. It doesn't
work. It just pretends for a while and then crashes/goes off-line. Download
'Service Center' fresh from the website.
Install the service center update and activate your software - worked for me.
Now you're registered and the Service Center should automatically show you
the update(s) available. Download the Battery update (the program will not
work until you do).
Install the update. Shows on desktop as a Battery Setup icon. Please note, it took a long
time after clicking the next button for the 'Battery configuration' to complete.
Now everything's fine. Product works. No issues except for some occasional background noise
which quite frankly is probably Windows related - sounds like a system process is running
in the background which messes with the audio - 'great' - :{ - Windows - My primary DAW's on Mac
but too old to upgrade and too expensive to replace - hence Windows.
Four Stars because as incredible as this program is I feel like I just loaded a monster version of
'keyboard drums' on my computer. Don't get me wrong ... It's still great. And some of the
Battery 3 kits sound quite incredible. But not quite what I expected. I was expecting a little
bit more of dynamic realism from the program.
Hence 4 stars.
Compatibility with Windows Seven? Contact Native Instruments before purchasing.
The above review only applies to 64 Bit Vista.

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Roland SP-555 Creative Sampler Workstation Review

Roland SP-555 Creative Sampler Workstation
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
to everyone out there this product is so cool and so nice and it does everything it says it will but... the memory on the device is very very limited and the 2gb compactflash card type I that it supports is very hard to find, due because they don't make em no more, there are only 4gb, 8 gb and so on...
Be smart and not dumb (like me) and wait till it can support other types of memory cards, or if you already own one then just go ahead

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Electro-Harmonix 2880 Super Multi-track Looper Review

Electro-Harmonix 2880 Super Multi-track Looper
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The 2880 wants to be so much, but misses the mark at times and as such--arguably must take a second chair to the RC-50.
To consider it in a world where no other looper was available, it has some great features (i.e. big switches and loads of time for the four tracks it does offer); but in a world where having the option to select a different bank for a fresh series of loops on the fly exists, the 2880 has no such option. This means you must save the four tracks you just recorded (without any easily visible 'undo' or 'clear' option for each individual track) prior to creating a new set of loops OR lose what you've recorded so far in the process.
The reverse and octave features are nice for mixing layering effects and such you wish to accomplish using only the looper. The addition of a 5th mix-down track is unique, but oddly out of place given the initial limitations on recording. Quantize and Clix features should showcase some of the lofty goals the designers had for this pedal, but instead they highlight the flaws and limitations (no visible BPM, slider to change value, single sound).
If you consider yourself a pedal collector or an organic-loop purist (although this model eschews that analog philosophy for a digital stab at recreating analog action) you might want to add and keep this in your arsenal for its rich history and on-board, on-the-fly mixing and layering options.
If you are looking for a looper with on-board versatility, a deep rhythm section, multiple track recording with multiple storage banks--look elsewhere.

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