A software sampler with an "INSTANT" gratification feeling

[Ramzy]

Hi,

I recently got a laptop with an E-mu 1616m and I'm going to be using it as an "instant gratification" workstation; meaning I'm going to focus on ENJOYING my music making instead of breaking my head trying to get everything perfect (as I usually do).

I currently have SampleTank on my desktop but I'm wondering if there are any other software samplers with sample libraries that you'd recommend for thier "instantly gratifying" sounds?

I will mainly be making Trip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Electronica and Glitch.

I'm currently thinking of getting the Emulator X2 with some of the libraries since I already got the e-mu hardware for it... Any experiences there?

Any advice? Or should I just stick to sampletank?




Bonus Question: I figured ableton live as a sequencer would be best, what do you guys think?

thanks for reading.

[thecontrolcentre]

Bonus Question: I figured ableton live as a sequencer would be best, what do you guys think?

If you're going to get Live, then why not get Sampler too ... it plays and imports multisample libraries in the formats: AKAI S1000, S3000, GigaStudio, EXS, SoundFont and Kontakt.

[lotus2035]

I'm wondering if there are any other software samplers with sample libraries that you'd recommend for their "instantly gratifying" sounds?

WusikStation V3??
I like it anyway...Itll cost you 99.00..they have a special offer on at the moment but itll run out fast..

http://www.wusik.com/w/purchase.html

[zvon]

Hi,

I'm currently thinking of getting the Emulator X2 with some of the libraries since I already got the e-mu hardware for it... Any experiences there?

I bought it a month ago and I love it. The libraries are all very good, there's one named Hip Hop Producer and the Proteus X Composer is excellent too. Even without its libraries, the Emulator X2 is an outstanding sampler.

My only regret is that having known about the upcoming release of the Platinum edition, I would have waited for it as its libraries will total 20 GB compared to the 3.7 GB included with the regular edition.

[justin3am]

+1 for Live with it's Sampler. It comes with a pretty comprehensive sample set and it's really easy to get into as far as resampling other instruments. It's one of the most intuitive software sample players I've ever used.

3am

[zircon]

I'm wondering if there are any other software samplers with sample libraries that you'd recommend for their "instantly gratifying" sounds?

WusikStation V3??
I like it anyway...Itll cost you 99.00..they have a special offer on at the moment but itll run out fast..

http://www.wusik.com/w/purchase.html

I really have to disagree. Wusik has very little instant gratification IMO. It requires extensive work, tweaking, and sorting through tons of mediocre patches to get a decent result. If this guy wants play and go, that really isn't the VST to choose, IMO.

[Ramzy]

Damn! 20 gigs, I'd spend my life going through them! Maybe it's better that you didn't get them? Great suggestions everybody!... I still don't know what to do though. I guess I was inclined towards the emu thing since my card's emu so I thought they'd work perfectly together. But now that I think about it Live would be a more all-in-one solution. Thing is, I remember the samples being kinda boring. But I only used it for about 1/2 hour, so i could be wrong.

[dougsyo]

Given what you've said so far, I'd say to install Sampletank since you already have it and are familiar with it.

Of the samplers/romplers I have (K2, DimPro, Wusik and ST2, each with third-party sounds), DimPro is my "go to rompler", with Sampletank being my first alternative. I consider DimPro and Sampletank to be complementary, although there's obviously some overlap. Both are RAM-based players (as opposed to Kontakt, Halion, and other streaming players). DimPro has more "synth-y capabilities" to put on top of the samples, but it can be used as a straight rompler.

Another choice is to install Sampletank, then pick up a crossgrade to Sonik Synth 2 for additional sounds (using either its own GUI, or ST2).

In my configuration neither Kontakt nor Wusik are "instant gratification" because I have to hook up an external drive to my laptop in order to use them. This is less onerous now that I have a USB-powered external 2.5" drive, rather than dragging out a 3.5" external drive with a wall wart like I used to.

Doug

[LOOPxDIGGA]

another sampler....well...not exactly a sampler as far as i know...but a rimpler...that sounds great as it stands, it the UVI Player stuff...i dont even own a full version of any of it..all i have is a demo that came with my Korg PadKontrol..and its awesome...aside from using it often, its the type of thing where, i dont even have to be designing a track or anything at all...ill just load it up and play around with it out of boredom...

[The Chase]

I've never come across any software/hardware in my life that is instant gratitude...

[olepro]

I've never come across any software/hardware in my life that is instant gratitude...

I did... way back when i got my Ensoniq SQ80.
And when i got Vaz 2010.

[Majken]

Emulator-X is an awesome sampler, however it's bloody awful to use as a plugin. I can't speak for X2 since I never upgraded from X1. But if I remember correctly it didn't handle virtual banks meaning you have to save entire samplesets all over your harddrive. You also had to load sample banks manually after loading a project. And it didn't support vst automation, instead you had to connect midi-knobs to various parameters.

I bought Emulator X Studio back in the day with the Emu 1820m soundcard. I still use the soundcard but I never reinstalled the sampler. I guess I had it on my machine for a couple of months. Damned shame really, had a great featureset and really nice filters. But was just a bloody mess to use in vst hosts.

[zvon]

Hi Majken,
I did a quick check of your main gripes with Emulator X1 to see if they have changed with X2.

...But if I remember correctly it didn't handle virtual banks meaning you have to save entire samplesets all over your harddrive...

Seems to be still like that.

...You also had to load sample banks manually after loading a project...

Changed, settings now saved by host and bank loads automatically with project.

...And it didn't support vst automation, instead you had to connect midi-knobs to various parameters.

Seems to still be the same but supports MIDI CC automation.

[mmichalski59]

Emulator-X is an awesome sampler, however it's bloody awful to use as a plugin. I can't speak for X2 since I never upgraded from X1. But if I remember correctly it didn't handle virtual banks meaning you have to save entire samplesets all over your harddrive. You also had to load sample banks manually after loading a project. And it didn't support vst automation, instead you had to connect midi-knobs to various parameters.

This is all true, However, based on your stated genres, I would think the Twistaloop feature would be worth its weight in gold.

As far as saving soundbanks all over, I simply created banks of my favorite sounds by genre and use those. If I need another sound, I add it to the appropriate bank and that does not happen often for me. There are so many sounds that come with X2, I will never use them all.

While I agree that this is not the optimum solution, I would not discard Emulator X2 as an option. Check out the Twistaloop stuff before you decide. It is just plain awesome.

[Ramzy]

so I'm guessing from the text descriptions I foudn that twistaloop is like Dr. Rex?

I think x2 is good, but I'm wondering if I'll have enough with live... I think live can do almost everything that x2 does, right? I'm more interested in easy of use and smooth/quick flow, not having to press to many keys, etc.
I think live will do, but if anybody else think otherwise shoot a line please