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In terms of flexibility, quality and portability what other sequencer/sampler would you say is next in line to the number one Octatrack? Excluding all keyboards please (like Kronos)

If you need a built in sequencer, then there's really not a lot of options. The original ESX obviously is going to have a lot of love here, as is the new Volca Sample if the limitations fit your workflow. I'd also suggest the Roland SP404 or even the SP808ex if you can find one that works well.

Another option I just remembered would be the Akai MPC series, there's a whole range to pick from based on your price range too.

Good point, I suppose I don't really need a sequencer I just thought they would be good for "keeping within a time" for those times sat in front of a computer trying to figure out how long a loop is gonna be, or when playing on a loop pedal with guitar, using similar amounts of bars per song

Everything Tarekith listed has a sequencer. The Akai MPC series have amazing sequencers.. legendary even.

If you don't need a sequencer, than you get some amazing deals on used rack mount samplers. Things like the Akai S5000/6000 or an Emu E4 Platinum.

I would take a close look at the MPC-1000, if I were you.
But not before you have evaluated the soon to come Electribe2 Sampler, of course

My problems with the MPC1000 (and I own one) are

* 128mb RAM
* Compact Flash
* stock OS is pants, JJOS is really difficult to use
* no battery option

The pads are nice, it has six outputs and it's a powerful beast though.

If 128 MB of ram is a problem, then the ESX, new electribe sampler, volca sample aren't going to cut it either. The roland/boss sp series samplers are one of the only ones that stream from cards like the octatrack. Some rack samplers have upwards of 512 mb of ram, akai z4/8, and I assume the mpc4000 also since it's the same sample engine. Thing is those don't do realtime time stretch or realtime loop sampling like the octatrack. Basically the octatrack is pretty much out there on a pedestal by itself for certain features. I won't call it the ultimate sampler, but if you want to do what it does, not much else comes close.

I don't own an octa, but I have an es1, ESX, yamaha RS7000, and akai z4. They all have strengths and weakness, but none of them is an octatrack.

The question that remains I suppose is what is it then the octatrack does that you want to do, and why not just get an octatrack? I'll assume the cost, that's probably the main reason I don't own one.

If you do go rack sampler let me suggest emu, wish I'd gone that way myself. Though honestly I think rack samplers are about as far from an octatrack as you can get in the sampler world. All of this as always is just my opinion.

Just realized I wasn't replying to the OP, but I guess Theres enough relevant info in the post anyway.

I'd really like an RS7000, almost landed one with the IO board the other month. It looks great, despite being a bit aged. The RM1X's work flow suited me so I think it would work for me.

There just don't seem to be beefy products like that anymore, we're lumbered with old tech or newer, really limited products.

sohatyi wrote:I'd really like an RS7000, almost landed one with the IO board the other month. It looks great, despite being a bit aged. The RM1X's work flow suited me so I think it would work for me.

There just don't seem to be beefy products like that anymore, we're lumbered with old tech or newer, really limited products.

It's all done on them computers nowadays.

sohatyi wrote:My problems with the MPC1000 (and I own one) are

* 128mb RAM

You realise that's like about 4 times the RAM the new electribe will have yes?

I also have an mpc1000 too and I love it though it could do with a better quality reverb & delay, apart form that I really love using it.

sohatyi wrote:I'd really like an RS7000, almost landed one with the IO board the other month. It looks great, despite being a bit aged. The RM1X's work flow suited me so I think it would work for me.

There just don't seem to be beefy products like that anymore, we're lumbered with old tech or newer, really limited products.

I guess there's no money in it anymore. Like adapop said, most people use computers nowadays and many of them steal the software to make it even worse.

I personally know plenty of hardware heads that would love an updated rs7000 type of sampler/sequencer, and would be willing to pay for it, but the big companies are less likely to make something like that anymore. Now elektron makes some expensive hardware devices and people buy them too, but the companies like yamaha would rather sell millions of units of digital pianos and workstations, than a couple thousand new groove boxes. So like you said, we are stuck with powerful, but old machines that become less reliable everyday, mechanically that is. The ones back then were usually solid when released and any updates just made things better. Very different than what goes on today.

We currently use two ESX chained together and it's even better than an Octatrack in my book.
I'm not gonna go into all the details, you can make the maths... just double everything, memory, sample limit, outputs, drum tracks, synth parts... ooooh is it hot around here or is it me?? ^ ^

Next step is to bypass the tubes, to completely remove the noise.

blackmental wrote:Next step is to bypass the tubes, to completely remove the noise.

Have you seen this link:

http://midierror.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09 ... d-emx.html