I am writing because I am struggling to find a device for the workflow I would like to try. Right now, I record synth, bass, guitar, drums, vocals, and drum machines into Ableton. However, I hate using the computer. I have pretty severe ADD and am always checking my work email, social media, etc while trying to work on music. I don’t need the best quality mixing/mastering since i am really just doing initial songwriting/demo recording.
I was wondering if I can use a sampler to record longer takes (maybe 8-32 bars at a time, can be mono) and piece together songs from the output of my mixer. Really just looking to string together clips to overdub and arrange songs. I am looking for a simple interface, with quick and easy sampling since this is pretty straightforward process and I’m not looking to do anything too fancy with editing. However, I commonly play quite a bit in odd meters like 5/4, 7/4 etc. Internal resampling would be a big plus for bouncing things around. I suppose I may chop things up a little to get creative if the option was there but that would be a bonus.
Move can’t do the unusual time sigs. Digitakt would be perfect, but I feel the sampling time may not be sufficient and may ultimately put me back into the computer if that is the case. Octatrack seems way complex for my needs and I would like to focus on songwriting as opposed to learning a relatively complex new device.
Is there a machine I may be overlooking? Thank you so much for any guidance
That’s fair haha. I live in a house with several others. I suppose I could just turn it off from my computer but would likely be convincing myself to flip it back on every time i get the desire to check something. Would also be nice to work away from the computer since I spend an obscene amount of time on it due to work and school often being virtual.
Also, my computer is driving me crazy because I am having issues with my interface not remembering routings/settings whenever I disconnect my laptop. This happens often as I need it for a bunch of crap. Sampler I could just leave set up at all times which would be nice.
Was searching the same and…yeah. not much out there.
Recorders like tascam and zoom don’t let you cut up and arrange takes. Odd time signatures are unusual in gear.
Op-1/f are maybe possible… But in the end the limited amount of projects and workaround for odd fine signatures is not great for that price.
Koala app or 404 MK2 could work in a way if sampling length is more important then arranging.
And… Yeah, 1010 music boxes probably, and if it can be bigger MPC one (already pretty “raw in a box” like but if it’s just the pc/internet that’s the problem worth a try.
SP-404 MKII weighs in close to what you’re possibly after. Only real limitation I run into is the short allotted loop time. Other than that it can record up 16 minutes per pad.
Keep in mind though that it is not a traditional multitrack recorder. It has the capability to do so but can be a bit cumbersome.
I just use that way since I really enjoy everything about it!
My first thought is something like a Tascam 8-track recorder as well. Can’t do sequencing or really anything a sampler does, but if your workflow is to record parts in real time and build up a song that way this is what it’s made for.
