Samplers for Ambient and downtempo

[Winterbound]

Hey guys,

A question for my fellow Ambient producers about samplers. Does anyone know what would be the best one to use for Ambient music? I produce both dark and uplifting Ambient pieces and was wondering what would be the best sampler (software) for Ambient music and also for downtempo electronic?

Thanks in advance for all replies.


Darren.

[Winterbound]

The samples being my own of course that I have created for each new project.

[v-un-v]

Hello Darren

Any sampler can be used for 'ambient'. Remember, it's not the sampler that creates the music, it is YOU! A sampler is just a tool!

My old sampler was an E-mu e6400. Really great for pads and stuff (modular-like modulation matrix and powerful filter/ envelope options), not so great on timing, Akai and Roland are far, far better for that. These beasts also have better "weight" to their sound, than the crappier (but still very wonderful) Yamaha counterparts. The older Roland (and Emu Emax) samplers, especially the 12bit ones, have a lovely fuzzy sound- which almost creates new sounds when layered with other samples.

hope that helps

[Winterbound]

Cheers V-un-V that was helpful indeed dude. Many thank yous.

[BobTheDog]

If you are after software then Kontakt by NI is good, I think they have a demo available for download?

[frigidnoise]

Roland SP samplers are great. My favorite is the 555 because of the built in looper. The MPC100o is JUST FOR MAKING BEATS, it can't loop a sample to play on repeat unless you buy add on software for it that has no manual in real english. It's fantastic for beats but for non-beat based music, so far I'm finding it useless.

[terrapinsounds]

I really liked the Roland SP-404, but when I moved more into modular territory I went with the 1010 Bitbox, which is similar in my opinion.

[MusicMan11712]

It's too bad Creative Labs killed E-Mu, otherwise I suggest something like the Emulator X3 (based on the E-Mu Ultra Samplers).