Just reading the manual of Yamaha's SU700 (MPC-like sampler/sequencer from 1999), which has a ribbon controller which can output MIDI CCs and control many parameters in the effects etc. It also has a scratch function which as I understand it lets you move back and forth through a particular sample - presumably by moving through the sound "sample by sample" (in the narrower meaning of the word "sample", i.e. one of the 44,100 bits that make up a second of audio at 44.1khz), either backwards or forwards depending on whether you're moving up or down the ribbon. Yielding the effect of scratching vinyl.

This seems like a brilliant idea to me, if I've understood it correctly. Not sure I have though.

Does anyone know of any other piece of hardware that has a function like this that allows you to literally move through a sample at a rate and direction determined by a physical controller?

The more I think about this the more I can think of problems with it that make me suspect I've misunderstood what it is the SU700 is really doing, but still, I'll leave it here and await any responses/thoughts!

Cheers,
Tom

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