Elektron-Users

Hello everybody,

I've already an MPC1000 sampler to go with my MnM, but I'm not quite satisfied with the way it integrates with my Elektron gear.

The MPC1K is monotimbral, and I find it very hard to sequence it with the MnM (mainly cause it's a pain in the ass to tweak samples with the MnM locks).

What kind of (hardware would be a plus) sampler do you use with your MnM?
I've heard of old samplers like the ASR-10 from Ensoniq, but having to deal with floppy disks sounds weird to me now...
Moreover, the lo-fi sound is not a priority to me.

Any suggestions?

The ASR-10 is fantastic, with great sound quality. Also, you can get a SCSI upgrade for it that means you don't have to deal with floppies. Try to find the rack version - I think they were better built. Alternatively, the ASR-X or ASR-X Pro is an ASR made in an MPC style. Loads of Autechre's good stuff has the ASR all over it.

How about a rack sampler? If you are not using the sequencer on your MPC...you are wasting your cash. The pads and the sequencer on the MPC are the only things that make it worth paying the money for.

jsrockit wrote:
How about a rack sampler? If you are not using the sequencer on your MPC...you are wasting your cash. The pads and the sequencer on the MPC are the only things that make it worth paying the money for.

You are terribly right!

The MPC1000 was my first piece of gear after several years of laptop experiment.
At this time, I wasn't sure of my feelings toward the MPC way of composing and wanted to give a try.
Now that I've tasted the MnM, I realise that pad composing in real-time is not my cup of tea.

So it's true, that a MPC without pads is a bad sampler and the worst step-sequencer I've ever touched (although I agree with you on the whole sequencing unit).

So! A rack sampler?
Should I stick to AKAI or other brands?
I've got a mac and floppy or SCSI aren't a good things for me.

Anyway, thanx for the advice.

Man, I'm not sure of any rack samplers with HDs or CF Card slots.

Maybe I am missing something, but the 1000 is NOT monotimbral, and no sampler that I am aware of will allow you to use the Mono's parameter locks any differently than you do with the 1000 (you are using MIDI machines to sequence the 1000, right?). Please correct me if this statement is wrong. The obvious solution is the UW, but I'm not sure you have an extra $1600 sitting around.


I would also disagree that the 1000 is a "bad" sampler. Not quite as fully featured as say the S5000 or a software sampler (or the UW), but still a great sampler. If you must use hardware and need more features, I would probably say the S5000 or S6000. Personally I would stick it out with the 1000 though, or go with software.

Personally, I get great results from using MPC's with Elektron gear. I slave the Elektron gear to an MPC2000 and trigger MD and/or MM pattern playback from the pads on the MPC which lends itself well to taking advantage of the param locks feature and tempo mapping. I can't remember if the MM have different trigger modes like the MD does, but I like the fact that you can change the pattern trig behavior on the MD. This makes for all kinds of pattern variation and fills at your fingertips just by programmming simple patterns on the MPC that in turn trigger patterns on the Elektrons (i.e. gated pattern playback). Muting/unmuting patterns on the MPC is may favorite way to change patterns remotely on the Elektrons. Of course you can further the integration of the two by sampling MM/MD patterns onto the MPC and manipulate from there as well.

A hardware sampler? In this day and age? Why, oh why? I suppose if you're playing live, it makes a little sense, but wouldn't a cheap laptop with FLStudio work? Software samplers are so flexbile and it's so easy to setup programs/instruments/drum maps.
I wouldn't recommend a hardware sampler (aside from the UW) unless you want to waste half your life setting up key mappings.

-d

glitched wrote:
A hardware sampler? In this day and age? Why, oh why? I suppose if you're playing live, it makes a little sense, but wouldn't a cheap laptop with FLStudio work? Software samplers are so flexbile and it's so easy to setup programs/instruments/drum maps.
I wouldn't recommend a hardware sampler (aside from the UW) unless you want to waste half your life setting up key mappings.

-d

hmm..a cheap laptop with flstudio, or an mpc1000 ..... decisions decisions....

software samplers are as good as your ad/da's in my opinion, and your controllers. Well...if you prefer tactile interaction like I do

I love my MPCs with my MnM and MD. I also have an SP-404 but don't really rely on that much for use with other gear (other than turntables) but it's a fun little box and could be really useful with the elektron gear...