I've been fruity loopin' it for four years now, and soon, I hope to have the money to upgrade to a hardware sampler. I've done some research, and for the cash I anticipate having for this (around $1000), the most logical options seem to be used MPC 2000XL's and ASR 10's, neither of which I have much experience on, but I've got ppl who can help. So ppl who've got experience with both, which do you prefer, and why?

If there's something else great in that price range that I've missed, plz let me know. Also, samplers in this price range seem to have about what I need, but if you think it makes way more sense for me to save for something more expensive, plz tell me why.

Poll result (5 votes) MPC (2 votes) Vote ASR (3 votes) Vote Other ($1G price range) (0 votes) Vote Other (Save More $$$$) (0 votes) Vote

if you know how to play keys, get the asr if you plan to use synths and other instruments with your beats
you can bang out good drums with the keys..i used to
the sequencer is a bit stiff, but you can freak it still..i use to go in and edit every note in the asr

but my production took off when i got the mpc and added it to usin' the asr
it easy to program and loop and add more sounds then the asr
the asr is limited to recordin' tracks and you got to bounce down shit
but if you're only gonna sample, and drums is real important, then get the mpc

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As far as overall sound, do you find one particularly better than the other?

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i mean the asr has better filters if you filterin' baselines and stuff
i think if you got an ear, you can equalize and whatever on the mixin' board, so i wouldn't get caught up in which sound is thicker or whatever cuz you can always layer them
the asr does have more editin' features than the mpc, but it's trade off is sequencin' and rhythm
while the mpc is a bonafied rhythm machine and has an excellent sequencer, or at least you can do some tricks to get more fluidity out of it

...a child is born with no state of mind, blind to the ways of mankind, god is smilin' on you and frownin' too, because only god knows what you gonna do...©melle mel

  

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see Dilla's interview about the Pharcyde album...

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Out of the 2, the ASR is what you can call a 'true sampler'=meaning it was meant to sample sounds of all types, not just low end frequencies (even though you can get some low end on the ASR, other machines are better for that) but more i line of mid-to-high end sounds and synths.
While an MPC is a sampler as well, it was meant to be used for drums and sequening specifically.
You can use it as a primary sampler-I do and so do most Hip Hop producers-but it is a very versatile machine, as is the ASR, whith which you don't really need another piece of equipment if you're savvy enough and get the sound you're looking for.
But the MPC is probably the best machine on the market for drums and programming, so if that's your thing then I'd go with that.
But if you're not really concerned with the low end as much and it's all about different sounds and you just happen to have a little know-how on playing keys and shords, then the ASR is your best bet.

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Which is a possibility, I suppose, but that would probably cost more than a G. But I'm interested to hear why you think that might be a better option.

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it was a friend of mine's. i bought an MPC2000 a couple of years later, i would never go back to any of that after using logic, ableton live, reason, and recycle. it would be a huge step backward in terms of power and ease of usage, not to mention increased workflow productivity. it seems like younger or newer cats assume that since software is cheaper or pirated, that hardware must be better. there are alot of cats like me who came up on hardware but would never go back.

for me, software plus the right midi controllers > hardware

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>for me, software plus the right midi controllers > hardware

this is about it.

all I really miss about the ASR are the effects. most of them can be recreated in reason/ableton though. plus, I think it makes mixing & mastering easier with the software setup + the portability issue.

if the hardware fails, such as on an asr-10, you'll be crying.


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You Know What Love Is.