Re: [microsound] sampler vs. laptop....qu'est-ce que la differance?

[Jeremy Tolsma <ccws@xxxxxxxx>]

> Are laptops and available software making samplers
> elite?  Sorry I don't know more about this, but I'd be
> interested in perspectives on this.  Isn't there
> plenty of shareware/freeware and other software that
> can basically turn a laptop into a fully-functional
> sampler and then some?  Is there something more
> versatile, flexible about a sampler, maybe related to
> its dedicated function and interface?  Are inexpensive
> samplers (e.g., not the Akai MPC2k/3k) really capable
> of things a modest laptop is not capable of?
>

every peice of software and hardware has its own charactaristics.  Some
implimentations are better than others and there will be limitations in
anything.  I usually judge functionality based on how quickly I can get the
results I'm looking for.  I am finding that I am getting deeper and deeper
into non-linear harddisk-based editing.  I'm using software for this but
there is hardware available to do the same job.  It seems like you can do
almost anything with a non-linear editing system.  But since a recording is
essentially linear I do use samplers to generate linear data to work with.
Also, in a live setting I can't really use the magic of non-linear editing
properly so I just bring the samplers.  But if you want my opinion, a
computer is far more versatile.  I like my samplers because they are like
guitars, they have their own charactaristics and I can count on them to
provide a certain vibe.  When I started my computer only did midi, so things
were different then.  If I had to start now I probably wouldnt waste any
money on samplers.  But I still like them.  If you can get one for cheap and
you have the cash, go for it, they're a blast to screw around with.  Or just
use a computer, these days they can get you from start to finish, there is
enough software around to do just about anything.