MPC or EsX

mrbeats · Post by **mrbeats** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:45 pm

I want a hardware sampler but i am stuck as to which one to buy.
I have the emx and like how it works.
I am wondering how the esx works.
If i load a drum loop can i just slice it quickly?
How quickly can i assign it and save and start creating with it?
I know there is software out there but i need ''at the touch of a button always ready without fail''
I then go off and polish my ideas in a DAW after I have caught the creative juices.
Im not looking for arguments just facts why one is better than the other for my needs.
I especially want to sample my kaossilator ideas and take them further ''and be able to save them lol''
Everyone i have spoke has said ''if only you could save on the kaossilator to a memory card or something''
thanks for your time?

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:12 am

Slicing is very quick and easy once you get used to it. It was implemented in a very intuitive way IMO. The main issue really with the ESX is the SmartCard and the relatively low 256 (or thereabouts) sec sample memory. If you plan to load up a lot of loops, you will runout quickly. It's more of a one shot/ short sample sampler if you want to maximize it's memory.

I know nothing about MPC's. You may also want to consider sp404. I've heard some and they sound pretty darned good with a ton of memory (just not as much fun to play with as an ESX).

Milhouse · Post by **Milhouse** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:18 am

It depends on which MPC you want. There is alot of pro's and con's to both esx and MPC.

robosardine · Post by **robosardine** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:59 pm

Watch out on the SP 404's. There is no track mute- from what I understand it is not a multi-track sequencer, but a single track sequencer. There are apparently workarounds but it sounds a bit of a pain to me.

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:58 pm

I think it's basically a sample trigger sequencer, not track sequencer. Once you fire a sample, it plays till the end, but you can "mute it" before the next loop. If you like playing some long samples/phrases, I think this is the machine to get. ESX is for short samples and heavy manipulations.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:56 pm

[quote="Milhouse"]It depends on which MPC you want. There is alot of pro's and con's to both esx and MPC.[/quote]

Gee Milhouse,
you have the same set up i had in the 90's (close to it)
kewl stuff

robosardine · Post by **robosardine** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:16 pm

I am totally confused- can you help Yatmandu? There are reviews of the Sp 404 on Harmony Central that mention the track mute issue and there are folk on youtube deonstrating the workaround- by using the effects in some particular way- yet there also seems to be people on youtube muting away quite happily like you say. What exactly is this 'can't mute' complaint about????

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:23 pm

robosardine wrote:I am totally confused- can you help Yatmandu? There are reviews of the Sp 404 on Harmony Central that mention the track mute issue and there are folk on youtube deonstrating the workaround- by using the effects in some particular way- yet there also seems to be people on youtube muting away quite happily like you say. What exactly is this 'can't mute' complaint about????

Everything I know about sp-404 is from youtube when I was searching for a phrase sampler to go with the rest of my gear. But it's been a while since I looked. The easiest answer, of course, is to simply download the manual and have a quick read.

robosardine · Post by **robosardine** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:08 pm

Right- sorry, I misread your earlier post-I thought it had said they are not much fun to play with an ESX.... I missed the as much bit- I thought you had one. Anyway good call. I'll check the manual. Cheers

robosardine · Post by **robosardine** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:07 am

OK I think I have it. On the SP 404 you can record up to twelve different samples on different pads to play on your patterns. You cannot continue to play the same pattern and mute one of the samples/tracks- if you want one of these sounds to drop out you will have to select a new pattern recorded without that part in it. I think this is right?. Much as Yatmandu was saying. Imagine buying one without knowing this after being used to the Electribes... nasty surprise or what!

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:50 am

robosardine wrote:Right- sorry, I misread your earlier post-I thought it had said they are not much fun to play with an ESX.... I missed the as much bit- I thought you had one. Anyway good call. I'll check the manual. Cheers

lol, np. one little word changes the whole meaning! seems like what you're finding out about the 404 is what I remember finding out a while back.

it really boiled down to: was I going to have a lot of long samples (vocals or ambient soundscapes or similar stuff like that) that needed to be fired alongside my other gear, and I realized that I could do that with my laptop. I did hear some 404's playing in person, and the effects were pretty cool, and it sounded very good IMO.

But the type of control we're used to with the Tribes just isn't there with the 404.

Dj Pound · Post by **Dj Pound** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:23 am

Ive been critical about the MPC's before in the past, but if i had to pick up one of their newer models i would have to go with either a 1000 or 2500.
The 500 doesnt look bad either. But neither of the three has the ESX's extensive sample editing/effects capabilities. And the pads in the newer MPC's are of an inferior build quality and will eventually DIE on you!
Customer support also isnt that great either.

Dont know much about the 404.

jerseykorg · Post by **jerseykorg** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:21 am

If you already have a DAW as you say I'm not really sure what the ESX is going to bring to the table...I'm still trying to figure out what an ESX can do that Fruity Loops can't other than wasting an hour loading samples via 128 meg flash card...I just can't get into it. Maybe it can be useful as a midi controller for some other device but as a stand alone sampler I just can't find a compelling reason to use it.

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:06 am

I'd say that that is at least part of the reason to have an esx, it's a stand alone sampler sequencer very useable and no need for a computer, no computer latencies or distractions imho thats' very appealing for the creative process.

but dj pound would you go into some depth on those editing abilities the esx has over the mpcs I'm really intrested in learning as much as I can about this area as i just got mine.

TrondC · Post by **TrondC** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:40 am

you're comparing the esx to fruityloops?

anything any hardware gear (mostly all anyway) ca be replicated and strengthened 10 times in software for the same cost, we all know that. the esx is a great live tool, it's quick and fun, and you're not bound to use a computer.
I'd choose the ESX over any software program, any day (yes, I'm including stuff like Live, Battery, NI stuff etc), simply because of ease to use, and not having to stare at a screen all day.

oh and loading samples doesn't take forever. load them onto the card using the ESX organizer, and load the whole thing in 2 minutes. the first time I did this (took me 10 minutes alltogether) I didn't need to import new samples for a year.

anyway, back on topic, just get a cheap esx, if you don't like it, you can sell it again at the same price. electribes sell quickly