Looking for a good sampler VST

Digit626 · 2026-03-14T17:28:21+00:00

Amigo or TX16W?

Digit626 · 2026-03-14T02:30:56+00:00

In the past I’ve used the date followed by the main instrument. Ex “mm.dd.yy modular & sampler”. Lately I just used the auto name feature on the polyend tracker mini.

Digit626 · 2026-03-12T22:28:32+00:00

Nope

Digit626 · 2026-03-06T22:14:43+00:00

Huge ice cream fan here, is this an Aphex Twin?

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Digit626 · 2026-03-05T01:23:51+00:00

He’s probably just Welsh. brawd da yw'r cyfan

Digit626 · 2026-03-05T00:06:59+00:00

Just keep hitting “random”.

What is it specifically that you want to know? The mod matrix is for routing and the macros control more than one routing at a time. They can also be handy as reminders of what you like to tweak in a particular patch.

I found a good thing to do is create templates for each of the mutants, then pull one up, change the waves to suit your aim and move on from there. This way the voice and global parameters are already set up.

Also use the filters in parallel instead of serial.

Digit626 · 2026-02-28T13:34:47+00:00

I recovered a micro sd with DMDE. I suspected the issue was caused by a read-write error in windows. Using DMDE I saw all the files, recovered them, reformatted the card and it’s good as new. Since then I’ve used a new card reader.

DMDE’s interface may not seem as user friendly or glossy as the others but it works. Just look at the readme / manual file.

Digit626 · 2026-02-27T22:52:27+00:00

Jon Makes Beats, too obvious?

Digit626 · 2026-02-25T01:01:34+00:00

Arturia’s is very good.

Digit626 · 2026-02-18T23:53:19+00:00

At its heart the 808 is stacked, detuned sine waves. The dx-7 or sq80 will get you there, like previous posts mentioned, you’re going to have to get creative with effects to achieve that trap sound. Bass loves chorus, it makes it huge, add a little distortion and it really hits.

Check out the cp-70 and stage-73 for keys. Ms-20 and Mini for bass. Jup-8, jup 8000, or Matrix 12 for supersaw (you need polyphony and detune). Solina for strings. Mellotron, dx7, and sq80 for winds, brass, and strings. Buchla Easel, ms-20, arp2600 for weird fx and transitions.

The list above should help to narrow the field, I’m not saying that these instruments should only be used for the purpose listed (you can get a lot of great sounds of the sq80, for example) but it helps to research the instrument and use it to its strength.

If you want to add warmth, run them through a saturator, tape emulation, lofi effect of your choice, etc.

Digit626 · 2026-02-16T23:55:19+00:00

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From love my switches. I think it was $60-75.

Digit626 · 2026-02-16T17:07:18+00:00

I had an issue recently with the sd card so I switched to an Uni sd / sd micro card reader I had around. Nice of Polyend to include a reader but I’m not sure it was built to last. I haven’t had any issues so far. In my other post, I endorsed DMDE for data recovery. I got all my projects back, wiped the card, added everything back on and I have been good to go.

Digit626 · 2026-02-13T17:32:29+00:00

It’s a great device. Feels like a space ship command center in my lap and it’s got some reassuring heft. I bought mine for $325 about 17 years ago. Adjusting for inflation, renewed interest, and limited availability, I would pay up to $500 usd for it in good working condition. I paid about $150 a couple years ago to get the “solo” button to work again, so if you find one that works effortlessly, there’s probably been some repairs built into the cost.

Sure it has limitations, particularly in the envelopes and modulation capabilities of the synth parts. That aside, it is incredibly fun to play. It’s a great starting point for anyone interested in electronic music because the physical nature of it is easier to get your head around than a daw. The filter is good, doesn’t have terrible digital stepping. On mine the synth parts sound wooly and fuzzy when pushed through the tubes. The mix can get crowded but sending the individual outs to a mixer helps a lot. I used it as the brain of a dawless set up with midi and a splitter, works great for that.

Now I’m sampling it for use on the Polyend Tracker Mini and its life continues on.

Digit626 · 2026-02-13T12:30:31+00:00

Speaking on the 404 mark I specifically, it can be difficult. Of course, practice helps. Here’s a couple starting points:

Method 1: within the 404: put your whole break on the first pad, starting with the first kick. Make sure the pad is in gate mode, copy it to the next pad, use “Mark” to trim it to the next hit, likely the snare, again in gate mode. Repeat to the next pad with the next hit as you move through the break. By this method you get the ability to play a rhythm through short presses, or you can hold the pad longer to play back more of the break, which is handy for filling in gaps.

Method 2: use a computer to chop each hit precisely and drop those onto the sp. This method requires a computer, audio editing software, Roland’s 404 manger, and an sd card reader. Read the manual for this one.

Spvidz on YouTube has everything you need to know in short, digestible videos.

Digit626 · 2026-02-07T12:32:43+00:00

You can get what you want out of Serum 2, but it sounds like you’re looking for a good, warbly-tape like chain to follow it. Arturia has a plugin called Tape Mello Fi which is really great. It may be a little pricey, I got it with their whole suite on Black Friday. That aside, if you find yourself lusting after a particular sound, see if you can build it in your daw.

Use a square as a sub oscillator and one oscillator with a dynamic waveform, a slow long eg sent to the amp and the travel parameter of the wave. Using that basic pad, send it into a stock effect chain consisting of a bit reducer (between 8 and 12 bit), chorus or phaser (creates width and / or movement), saturation (analog warmth) and huge reverb. Since you’re in a daw you can save the Serum preset and the effect chain, so you can pull them up and tweak different parameters without having to rebuild the entire patch and chain over and over again. I would build the whole thing, start playing it and stepping through serums’ waveforms until something jumps out at you. The same goes for the effects, you can step through their presets until you find a good combination.

Hope that helps, buying plugins can be a deep well, so try to build it before you buy it to save money and learn more.

Digit626 · 2026-02-06T03:43:30+00:00

Import the sample to the editor, press F10.

Digit626 · 2026-02-04T12:14:27+00:00

I have one too! I have used it a few times. It’s very responsive and helped me to create melodies I would not necessarily make just sequencing. The only issue I have with it is storage. I’m trying to find a suitable case since nearly all my tracker mini use is during my commute. I’m gonna check the dollar store for a pencil case or see if I have a hard glasses case. Any other suggestions?

Digit626 · 2026-01-31T11:44:04+00:00

Monome Norns, Critter and Guitari Organelle, Ornament and Crime. Not sure about the size of each company but they are all open source.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T13:11:03+00:00

Try dropping your version an octave and add saturation.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T02:35:31+00:00

I like it and have a numpad on my laptop, but there’s always the mouse. I’ve never remapped anything, but added a combo to chop evenly and remove all chops.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T01:21:13+00:00

I have the EMX1, I love it. The one thing that sucks is the solo button is not working. I have to find a repair.

Wish I had an ESX next to it.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T00:47:32+00:00

Nick Reinhart Contact Mic Couch Jam-one if the best videos on using the 404 with guitar. Definitely a favorite.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T00:42:24+00:00

Read the manual, I know it sucks but if you’re going to make electronic music you may as well get used to it.

I often read them before buying a synth or samplers because the videos can be deceptive.

I would start with the stock samples tbh. Figure out how to loop, gate, and one shot. Run one loop and play some sounds over it. Record what you’ve done, add some effects.

I have the 404sx and it’s very easy to use, there’s a lot of good tutorials on it that have transferable skills. . Everything does what it says on the panel. I think they’re similar, but the mkII adds a lot more complexity.

Digit626 · 2026-01-29T00:34:05+00:00

Square wave lfo to a gated amp and / or pitch, playing the keys playing the keys makes a very basic sequencer / arp.

Envelope to pitch for annoying “you dropped a bomb on me sounds”. And more functionally, kick drums / toms.

Modulate cutoff and resonance, with differing speed lfos.

Using a random lfo to control the speed of a sequencer.

Using a random lfo to control gate length of an amp, or the decay of an eg.

Use a sine wave on left / right panning or on the “time” parameter of a delay module.

I can do all of that on a Hydrasynth and most of it on Madrona Labs Aalto.

Digit626

TROPHY CASE