Samplers / Sampling

The MPC has always been about its fast, hands-on interface — can a touchscreen make it even better?

Boss’s latest desktop looper might be small, but it’s no lightweight in terms of features.

The MicroGranny 2 is a miniature granular sampler, and you won’t have to sell any of your elderly relations to get one.

Will Alesis’s affordable sample–triggering percussion pad prove hard to beat?

The Electribe Sampler may well be Korg’s best Electribe yet...

Loaded with more of everything, iMPC Pro offers 64 tracks, a built-in piano roll editor, superior effects implementation and a choice of friendly sample-fixing tools.

Akai’s MPX16 has more pads and functions than its MPX8 predecessor, but remains just as reasonably priced.

The hardware sampler market might be dwindling, but it’s not dead yet! Here’s our pick of the currently available options.

The latest addition to Korg’s cut-price Volca range takes a hands-on approach to sampling.

There are some stunningly good Libraries for Acustica Audio's Nebula dynamic convolution plug-in, but you can also create your own. We invited one of the best Nebula developers to tell you how.

Competition for the accolade of best software sampler is fierce, despite some contenders having fallen away in recent years. Has MOTU's MachFive 3 got what it takes to come out on top?

Akai’s slimline follow-up to their Renaissance hybrid MPC aims to claim some territory from a certain competing machine...

The legendary MPC brand is reborn in a form that aims to marry its famous hands-on ethos with the unlimited possibilities of the software world. Does the combination work?

Samplr is a modestly-named app for sample and loop manipulation, notable for making superb use of the iPad's multi-touch surface to stretch, transpose, play and twist up to six samples.

Looking for a no-fuss looper for live performance? Look no further...

This “portable production system” certainly looks the part, but does its performance measure up to its dramatic styling?

Roland’s popular SPDS sampling drum pad gains an ‘X’, and a whole lot more besides, in the SPDSX.

Dynamic convolution can be used to ‘sample’ any piece of audio gear. Have Acustica succeeded in giving this advanced technology a friendly face?

Native Instruments’ flagship soft sampler continues to improve with age. We look at what’s new in version 5.

Swedish synthesists Elektron have turned their attention to sampling — and, with characteristic individuality, have created something quite unique.

Put down your bells, books and candles — this a ghost you do want in your machine...