I have an Octatrack and SP 404 Mk2 as my studio samplers but looking at good new sampler that has granular options and great for multisampling and polyphonic stuff as I have a Virus and Oberheim polyphonic synths. So far it looks like the Elektron Tonverk, MPC Live III, Torso S4, and 1010 Music Bento appear to be the hot new samplers of 2026. What one would you recommend and why? I cannot afford to buy all of them. I do have tons of FX pedals from Strymon and H90 Eventide so the bus routing features of the Tonverk look attractive. Also consider have the major bugs and glitches been worked out on these new devices?
Had bento and tonverk and everything the bento can do that Tonverk can’t is doable on octatrack while tonverk is better than bento at everything they can both do. (In my opinion).
That said, the synth engines and general sound and io on bento are great as are the pads, but it is very boring compared to tonverk when you start looking at things like effects and sequencing capabilities. Its loopers and some other features are nice but the sequencing is really underwhelming coming from Elektron, no serious parameter automation at all much less actual p locks.
It’s also probably going to take another year before it’s really ready for prime time and may never have proper usb multitrack audio. Despite what folks here like to gripe about, Tonverk is much closer to stage ready and will be fully overbridge capable in at most a month or two.
I think Tonverk and MPC Live III seem like what I need. Torso S4 looks cool and compact but very convoluted and seems limited in comparison. I mean yeah techno legend Surgeon uses it live but the Tonverk and MPC seem easier to use and vastly more powerful.
I would recommend you to not buy any new synth, and use what you already have, since i see you in many different synth threads and you are definitely gassing.
agree I will probably figure out how to sequence and sample my smaller synths with the new OP XY as next step. I avoided the expensive Waldorf synth purchase by using the cheap ipad Waldorf Microwave app and that works well plus I have the cheap tracker ipad apps versus buying an expensive tracker hardware.
Who knows, just like the TR-1000 popped up out of nowhere, maybe the Roland SP-1000 is just around the corner?
A mix between The MV-8000/8800 & SP-404/555/808EX.
I really do wonder what Roland could offer that would make such a sampling machine more attractive than the Akai MPC Live III, so I will not wait but probably get the Akai MPC Live III or maybe the upcoming Force G2.
Also, the Behringer SP-1200 clone might drop soon but the eSPi app (VST/AUv3) for iOS/Android/PC/Mac/Linux will soon get a major update (check the video ) and there will also be a standalone hardware device for the eSPi app!
I really enjoy using my 1010 Nano Tangerine. It’s got envelope, reverb, delay, LFO, and a few cc modulation options. It’s very basic, so I use it with my own FX. You can have 8 multi instruments on 8 different channels. It’s reliable and I’ve never had issues with it. I use it with a USB isolator.
I’ve multi-sampled my Summit, Digitone, Behringer Model 15, Roland JX-08. It’s not a groove box. I drive it from my Oxi One. It sits right next to it without taking much space.
Not everything has to be a groove box IMO. How many sequencers and groove boxes do you actually need?
the learning curve on the OS is steep if you’re new to MPC but an MPC One G2 really can’t be beat for the features/specs at the price point if you want a standalone unit.
Dont know if plans have changed but the hardware for eSPi was meant to be a controller?
MKSREC 1 is a SP-1200 clone that was released a year or so ago.
any recommendations for ipad granular synth apps? I am having fun with the Waldorf Microwave ipad app so far and saved me from spending over 2k on an actual Waldorf synth
) and there will also be a standalone hardware device for the eSPi app!
