Previously:
Emax II (1992-1998) - lovely, regret selling it. The filters on the right sampled bassline could have enormous funk.
Yamaha A5000 (2001-2005) - can do some great things with the routing and fx, but the jumpy encoders killed any productivity with it.
Elektron Analog RYTM (2019-2019) - we had relational issues.
Currently:
Maschine Mk III (for sale)
Octatrack Mk 1 (2014-2021 - for sale)
MPC Live II (2021) - Not had it long, but am enjoying it.
Akai S6000 - not for sale.
I’ve learned not to ditch anything ever again that is:
Unique in sound and/or features.
Is already a classic or a potential classic.
Makes you feel a loss when you even consider selling it.
I have had and used so many different machines and keyboards and made some serious bad judgement calls in getting rid of units I immediately regretted. I also sold some pieces and never looked back. Here is my list of units I have owned, sold and regretted.
SP1200, ASR-10, S950, MPC60mk2, MPC3000, MPC2000xl (on the fence about this one) Technics SL-1200’s
Here is what I have now: MPC-X, MPC Live2, MPC2000xl, MPC60, MPC4000, MPC5000, MV8800, Akai Force, Maschine Studio/Jam, ASR-X, Yamaha Motif, S2400.
I also use several rack mount sound modules but use mostly software synths/sound libraries to create all kinds of loops, textures, glitchy fx with the MPC-X or Live2 now, which I bought during covid just to get the F out of the house and go make beats in the park or In my parked car but have used the MPC4000 for years in this same manner connecting to a midi time piece. People always ask why the Hell I have all of these MPC’s…Well I been Refurbishing them, customizing them and keeping 1 of each of the MPC’s I deem important enough to consider holding onto (notice I have no 1000, 2500,500 or Renaissance)
I have tried and owned all kinds of shit I literally loathed either for its buggy OS, ridiculous ass backwards navigation or because I felt like I was making beats on a tinker toy and I won’t mention any of them for the sake of not insulting anyone who may have and love them, to each his own and so long as what you use inspires you that’s all that matters and I can honestly say if I had to pick two units out of all of these I would choose the MPC-X/Live and the S2400 since the newer MPC’s are so fast, versatile being damn near full blown DAWS with more and more cool shit being added and no annoying uninspiring bullshit feelings I get when I open Maschine even though NI has some seriously dope sounds. The S2400 I will never get rid of because it is already way better than my SP1200 could have dreamed to be out of the box while sounding exactly the same as the old 12bit beast.
Not comparable to a hardware like an Oberheim DX, the Akais or the SP1200 at all, Ableton Simpler was my daily driver for many years. I have even created a Chinese traditional sample instrument with it. Coming from a software sampler, when the S2400 landed on my doorstep, it was a huge day and night difference. The hands-on and no-nonsense approach, the build quality, are all supreme to any audio gear I own. Ableton Simpler still holds a few tricks that a hardware sampler wont do, but the S2400 now is the daily driver of my composing and writing activity. And my workflow has changed from software based to more of a DAWless approach. Also, the lesser options mean higher productivity.
Im still figuering out how to create a sampler studio setup . Should I record the outputs of the S2400 and the synths into my DAW. Or get a recording digital mixer and use that? Theres lots of ways to do it. A tactile intuitive workflow is required for my situation. Coming from mouseclicking, the tactile hardware workflow, and the limitations have been a welcome change.
Started off my hardware sampler journey with a Boss RC 505, Korg KP3+ & a Korg Kaossilator Pro+. Back in 2012, I bought the MPC Renn. I tried for over a yr & 1/2 to learn the workflow/features but Akai’s MPC software was full of bugs at the time & a nightmare to use overall. Sold the Renn & bought a MV8800 in 2014.
Purchased the Pioneer DJS-1000 sampler in 2018. ABSOLUTELY LOVE how fast I can get ideas down & the super user friendly workflow!! While on vaca in Miami, I bought a Roland HandSonic HPD-20. There was a percussionist playing along side a DJ on the beach that inspired me to make the purchase. Sold off the MV8800 due to lack of use & how slow the CPU is. Everything else I still have/use. Im DEF excited to add the S2400 to my lab!
akai s5000. still got it, still use it, although i think the s2400 might have something to say about that when i get mine.
compared to most of my other kit the s5000 is quite recent!
I sold my sp1200 to fund s2400 cause using the sp with an external sequencer (cirklon) was a pain in terms of pitching sounds. Changing pitch of one sound would mess up the pitches of other sounds as they all share the same midi channel.
Never thought I’d sell it but it’s time to get with the times. I’m a believer in workflow. Hope s2400 will cover the same territory.
Sold 2000xl also cause it’s limitations when sequencing externally and sound was nothing special. Was fun to use.
Keeping mirage cause it was a bargain and unique sounding. Not worth selling.
Phonogene is a keeper for granular stuff. Doesn’t track 1v/Oct though. Some settings get you close.
Sold a yamaha su700 a long time back cause I hated the sequencing. Looked cool though.
Not sure what the lay of the land will be after I get the S2400 but I suspect it won’t shuffle too much except for it taking over some duties the SP16 currently reigns in (fast drum writing/programming).
The Digitakt is the one that’s being squeezed most by the S2400 since it arrived, mainly just by virtue of both in theory being 8 voice drum samplers. But probably these are all staying, the Digi is a totally different proposition to the Isla and it’s got a bunch of advanced sequencing for other gear as well as a crispy hi-fi sound that I really like.
I have idly considered letting the S3000XL go seeing as it’s now seemingly selling for €450-500 and I only paid €100 for it a couple of years back and I don’t use it all that much, but I really like what it does to hats and how it generally cuts through the mix, so it’s also probably safe enough.
If anyone is selling an ASR-10 keyboard in good condition, I am looking for one to accompany my S2400. So…if anybody is getting rid of one, lemme know.
Samplers I currently have and use:
Akai Remix 16 which does things that I love (why do I see so little mention of this unit?)
Roland MC-707 which also does things that I love
and I’m waiting on an S2400, which I’m guessing will do things that I’ll love!
(Kontakt is my sound design sampler of choice since it was first released, but I don’t think it counts since it’s not hardware! )
The bulk of my history of sampling has actually been in the form of live loops on delays (Lexicon PCM42, Digitech RDS-8000 and a boatload of delay and looper pedals).
I’ve currently got the S2400 (about 3 weeks), Pioneer SP16 and a Digitakt.
Just sold my MPC 4000 as it wasn’t getting much use and it was the biggest thing in the studio (pretty awesome machine though).
Had a DJS1000 as i picked it up cheap purely to see if I liked it better than the SP16. It does a few things better but I liked the SP16 better so sold the 1000 on. As most owners will undoubtably agree, the SP16 could be the ultimate king but Pioneer sold it short on development… If only we could talk to pioneer like we can to the Isla crew.
S2400 sounds great, quite an odd way of working but I’m getting used to it. For me I would really like some features added to aid sample manipulation (lfo, portamento, 16 polyphony) I’m not bothered that it keeps similar limitations to the SP1200.
Agreed 100% on the SP16. Honestly, I think it’s already a beast… Not an Elektron-style machine with heaps of features, but solid, simple, and fast, like a vintage machine.
I keep hoping that they’ll release a 1.7 or even 2.0 firmware but oy, doesn’t look likely… It’s too bad that they didn’t keep up with the Toraiz line. All three products are interesting and cool (I also have a SQUID and will likely pick up an AS1).
Great list.
Studio 440 Reminds me of Mantronix. Always wanted one but remember the discussions on its stability as it was a bit buggy. Went MPC instead at the time.
The 440 isn’t buggy at all and I’ve never had mine crash.
It’s a great machine with some advanced features for the time …
I’ve got lots of SCI gear and there is a similar sonic quality between Prophet VS , Prophet 2000 and 440.
Biggest shame amount 440 is that the filters are not resonant. (The CENs have resonance control but not connected)
Some people mod the PAN control to the resonance … but I really like the panning so left mine stock.
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