Samplers / Sampling

The M3 workstation, already a powerful beast, has gained impressive new features and an Xpanded name tag. Is it now top of its class?

Akai's MPC has been with us for 20 years now — an incredibly long time in music production. So is the latest addition to this venerable range, the MPC5000, a worthy bearer of its standard?

As they celebrate 20 years in the business, sample library pioneers EastWest are on the verge of relaunching LA's legendary United-Western studio complex. They've also developed an innovative sample-playback engine to power their next generation of virtual instruments.

Using someone else's recording in your music without permission can lead to disaster. We explain the ins and outs of copyright law, and guide you through the process of clearing your samples.

The world is not short of sampling sequencers at the moment, so what does the Roland SP555 have to make it worthy of your attention?

It's over five years since Native Instruments released the original version of their flagship soft sampler, and its third incarnation takes the Kontakt concept even further, with a streamlined user interface, a new waveform editor and a massive sample library.

If you're stuck in a creative rut with sample libraries, why not look for inspiration in your own home?

Have Roland finally outgunned Akai's renowned MPC series in the battle for the hip-hop market?

The latest utility from Redmatica is targeted at Logic users wanting to get the most from the programs built-in soft sampler.

Keyboard workstations have always been something of a Korg speciality, ever since they created the concept almost 20 years ago with the M1. Does their latest offering, the M3, live up to its pedigree?

Combining multitimbral sample playback, loop tempo matching, synthesis, multi-effects and an 8GB sound library, is Plug Sound Pro the only software sound source you need alongside your DAW?

Akai's famed Music Production Centre goes mini...

Roland take their MC concept further with new features, flying faders and computer integration. Let's explore...

Korg's tactile effects processor benefits from a major overhaul - so is the third generation the Kaoss Pad you always wanted?

Akai have updated the classic sampling sequencer concept last embodied in the MPC2000XL, but have they managed to preserve the magic formula that made the series a success?

Not content with adding a huge raft of improvements to their already comprehensive Emulator X soft sampler, Emu have also removed the need to use it with their own soundcards, so now everyone can get in on the fun.

I've been thinking about using the DAT backup/restore function to back up my Akai 3200XL sample library...

Building on their modular software instruments, Yellow Tools' Independence is a combined software sampler and workstation synth. But it faces a lot of competition. What makes it stand out from the rest?

Cakewalk have taken the workhorse soft synth that was bundled with their Project 5 loop sequencer, put the sound library on steroids and made it available as a separate product on both Mac and PC.

Add high-capacity Compact Flash storage and USB transfer to a real-time looper's facilities and you've got a host of new potential applications. What could the Jam Man do for you?

Like the idea of having all your hardware synth sounds in a software sampler, but can't be bothered to do the necessary programming? Fear not, Sample Robot will do it for you...