Roland S770 Sampler - Is It The Best Hardware Sampler Ever Built? 

Still, have the original main riff sound from infectious. It's called Sound 5 :) The sound you're hearing starting at 21:40 is definitely in the same ballpark as Sound 5. About to create an introduction to sampling and patch creation in the S range. The video will be up soon.

@@MOOTANT1 Cool. There's a lesson in there about not being too pedantic naming samples lol. Would be cool to see you pump out Infectious from the S770 in a vid! The other sound I really liked was the Taylor - Slide remix, sort of a crunchy synth brass/boosted mid-range sound going on with mad digital sweeps in the background (FM synth accident?!) and filtering. Again really solid track with unique hard-edged sounds.

@@RaveyStabs I still have the sample data (Vocal) and the TX81Z which did the main bassline. Problem is I have no idea which Cubase/Atari floppy disk the song is on, and I have about 300 of them. Don't even know if they could still be read. A lot of my Zip disks cant be read now. I could always re-create it somewhat. ill think about it. Ahem, I think Slide uses the same sound, Sound 5 or Key3. I really put a lot of thought in to naming my sound.s..

Ah no worries, yep bit rot may have set in. Zip/jazz drives/disks werent that reliable even at the best of times, lost several drives/disks. Have just installed scsi2sd in a S3000xl, what a joy in comparison.

@@RaveyStabs I recently added the same SCSI you have to the S770. Glad to see the back of Zip and ext SCSI hard drives. totally unreliable for longterm use.

And not the 760 ?

Cool, I will check that out if you post a link when its done.

'He claims it's the only sampler where what you sample in sounds better coming out' I've never wanted to say that publicly - who would believe it.😏 But doesn't surprise me one bit. I used to use runner top loops in my tracks (still do occasionally). They were just drum loops with all the bottom end eqe'd out and 99% of the time pitched up to match the tempo of the track I was working on. Always sounded good, and always gave the track a vibey gear shifting energy. If I do the same process with any VST sampler, the vibe isn't there. Let's not forget chord hit samples & bass sounds etc. The S range playing back different pitches via one sample just has something about it. It's a cumulative effect also, One sound from an S range in a track won't make much of a difference, but half the sounds, or more coming from an S range in the track will have a vibe. If you have the link maybe you could post it.

@@MOOTANT1 That's awesome. I totally agree and it's my experience as well with other hardware samplers I've used. I'm still fairly new to the S760. There's a fun video on here by Junkie XL where he goes through his sampler collection and demonstrates the quality he gets from playing different units, same concept as here....playing different pitches of sampled notes or chords. It's the first vid that pops up if you search 'junkie XL samplers'. I'll see if I can find that article because it's a very interesting explanation.

@@Abruzzo333 Yes Im aware of the video 😉

The screen is a must-have, as is the mouse. Sure you can operate it without them and really its sort of a par with the S1000 in that respect. But the monitor and mouse transform the experience.

Haha, indeed. That would have been a mistake. What's your home address again?

@@alphanumeric1529 Hee-huu

@@alphanumeric1529 lol

They don't sound different on output but sampling into the S770 vs an S750 might produce slightly different (better?)results on account the S770 has pro end preamps/input stage. Playback though is identical. IMHO either of them. I used an S750 for the bulk of my records. Not sure about that bug you mention. I have never experienced it. The S770 I have responds super fast to midi, very accurate. S750 to but I think bcz this S770 has the timing chip added its timing might be a bit better. But all the Roland S range samplers have excellent mid response times. Your right that Roland didn't cut corners with the S770. Its some serious kit inside the unit.

@@MOOTANT1 Here is how to test the "bug" with S-770. Load a very short closed hihat sound or a beep in S-770 (has to be shorter that one 1/16th note). Start the DAW sequencer, set it to 140 bpm, set all notes to 1/16th (aka machinegun effect), make one 1 minute long bar full of 1/16th at fixed pitch and record the audio coming from S-770 into the same DAW 16bit/44k. Put it on google drive and i will have it analyzed for you. Cheers!

@@DonSolaris Which bug? Are you talking about the transient cut off?

@@MOOTANT1 MIDI response issue. Here i detailed what happens: www.gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php?p=11145024&postcount=141

​@@DonSolaris I used an S750 on all my record releases and never noticed such a bug.I made many records with an S750 and S760 but never an S770. I would use them for hi hats in every release, percussion and sometimes kicks. But the transient bug would prevent me using some kick samples. Can't say I noticed the timing bug The S770 is quite a recent addition to my studio and its only seen limited use so far. You're probably right about the bug though - but I wonder if its universal across S770's?

I use an SCSI card thing I bought from Chicken Systems. Works great highly recommended. I can't say if you would be able to do what your thinking. SCSI is a bit hmmmm. But if your tech-savvy Ill bet you could construct a SCSI box with an SSD drive inside. Do not go for Zip drives or an old SCSI drive. Chances are they won't last five minutes.

Frfr

TAL-Sampler is worth a look. Great plug-in

I had an E6400 Ultra. Didn't gel with it. Not used at all.

@@MOOTANT1 thx for answering :-) got besides my S-750 an E5000Ultra recently and this thing feels more like an synthesizer^^

@@MOOTANT1 I am offerred a Roland S330 I love, a 550, A760 and a rare 770, which one should I have? Also an Emu E5000 ultra for 250e, it might have the best filters right? Why you don´t like the E6400? thanks

@@falangistavaleroso9689 I might be biased, but I would say the S770. The S330 is excellent as a 12-bit sampler but I would say it should be an addition rather than your main sampler because it does have a number of limitations, sample time being one of them. The S770 can produce music/sounds today that's on par with any modern production but at the same time has its own vibe (especially when using the filters). I personally didn't gel with the EMU E6400 but that doesn't mean it's not a great sampler. For me, the sound in comparison to the S770 wasn't as vibey and I think it was down to the filters. I wouldn't buy into internet mythology about Emus filters too much and the same goes for any old hardware samplers. Many say the Akai S612 LPF is incredible - but to me, it's a basic LPF dulling knob and in fact, the S range LPF is much better/vibey PS Don't forget the S7760. Sounds exactly the same as the S750 and S770

@@MOOTANT1 I will get an S760 then, is cheaper, 1 rack unit, and cute and since I do techno and is used for drums, the midi timing said of the S770 scares me. S770 looks a dated Betamax video. I missed an Akai S612 for 200 euros today, the add lasted 1 hour and I missed it, I offered him 300 but was already picked up. 300euros for an S760 is too much. Should I pass on the E-mu series E, 5000 and 64? thanks for answering. My fav sampler is Ensoniq EPS16+ in terms of sound, ideal for techno. My old Akai S3000xl was awful for kicks, it robbed all the low end. Was great for hi hats since it enhaces mid-high frequencies.

Cualquier monitor sirve.

Sample into the thing. Forget about multi-samples and all that business. Just sample one sound per patch. Go to town with it - don't be shy sampling sounds with long verb tails or even delays. Play those much lower and behold the beauty of what's going on. I think I'm going to do a video about this. Hardware sampling is all about sampling your own stuff - v important :) The Dj70 is a bit limited in some areas though. However it's a decent machine and of course, reads S range sampler format. If you gel with it consider picking up an S760. Cheap, lots of memory and as good as the S770/S750

@@MOOTANT1 I've been fooling around with just uploading some synth samples and sounds from casette tapes and it does sound marvelous. If I could find a rackmount unit from the 700 series I would totally consider upgrading, mostly because I don't need another keyboard in my studio. Unfortunately they seem to be pretty rare. But I'm alittle confused. Besides the opportunity to have a nicer display and some expanded memory, what exactly am I missing out on?

@@questatesta The S760 is exactly the same as the S770/S750 except it has double the memory and the operating system has a few enhancements which are very useful. It's also smaller 1 U rack. It's not a cut-down version in any way. I would recommend it over the Dj 70 which has quite a bit missing. Ps Im def going to do a video v soon on what happens when we sample into almost all hardware samplers Vs software samplers. Of course the S range gas an added bonus compared to 12 and 8 bit samplers which I will explain in the video.

@Muso Snoop this is why I have a EHX mainframe for that crush and an EHX operation overlord to process on the way in ;) I can't get my head around buying a vintage sampler today just for "vibe". If I already had one and learned my chops on such gear - I could see the appeal of keeping it old school.

They all do but I think the S760 refers to it as quick sampling

I can't recall exactly - it's one of the F function keys. Do them all and you will eventually get it.

MOOTANT It needs to be switched on while pressing the mode button 🗣

MOOTANT Are you still planning in releasing a part 3 video? I’d luv to see how you sequence the performances and how you set everything up. I’m currently experiencing a latency issue where the sounds i’m triggering (from Maschine MK3) don’t play bang on time with the rest of the sounds in my project. It’s very frustrating. Does that happen to you too?

@@dxtrs_mnpltr yes this does happen to me but I have generally overcome the issue. I do plan to create a video where all musical parts coming from the S770 are in real-time along with some VST generated sound and how I overcome latency issues. The latency issue is your sound card buffer settings and even with a low buffer setting of 64 or 128 you will still have latency. But I'm quite certain Maschine doesn't offer any individual track delays to overcome this issue.? If you could delay the midi sent out you would be able to fix it. TIP If you have another Daw: Midi record individual sounds/patches using only the hardware sampler. (Don't record the parts to audio) Add in a VST synth/drum machine or audio sources playing from your DAW at the same time the midi is being sent to the hardware sampler. Then delay the audio/VSTpart so that it plays back in time with the sampler parts. Or you can delay the midi/sampler parts so they play in time with the Daw parts. I will create a video on this but it's quite complex and likely wouldn't be universal for everyone's systems. I'm thinking about the best way to approach it

MOOTANT Hey thanks a lot, that was very helpful! Maschine just has a general midi delay but not for individual tracks. I have Live too tho so I will try delaying the tracks and see how it behaves. I was thinking about getting an ERM Multiclock, although it’s quite an expensive solution..more than the actual sampler itself! I’ll have a look out for your next video 👍🏼cheers mate

I think you are referring to the samples from Raw Cutz Library. You can get it at Loopmasters

@@MOOTANT1 I would be keen to know this too, specially the chord samples used in the dp4 video. Is it part of there super pack?

Ooh I didn't realise that. Just assumed they used Akai S series like most jungle guys

Nah 4Hero only used the S950. Lots of other Roland gear though

The 760 is 18bit

the Emu EII is 12bit (8bit data format with 4 extra bits via companding) but has dynamic range equivalent to CD quality because of clever gain-staging and use of switched capacitor filter on outputs. The Kurzweil k250 again 8 bit with 4 bits companding but crazy dynamic range 105db (above CD 16bit quality, before CD) via logarithmic based Curtis voice chips. Not everything is in the 'bits', for example casio were notorious for stating 16bit but never delivered 16bit performance out of the analog outputs. So forget about the 'bits' and listen to the sound. Same applies to lots of CD players and todays DACs which promise things in stats but do not present under real-world tests. @@saren6538

Yes generally that is true and playing back samples on any of those machines will sound the same.

Not personally but I have heard it does vibe

@@MOOTANT1 I got one, but the operating system is like hell. Hard to understand. Onboard FX are very good though from what i saw on RU-vid.

The S760 can do everything the S770 can and a bit more. The library im referring to is my own but you can get old Roland libraries which were sold commercially. However, IMO these old samplers are better suited for sampling your own stuff. Your Ensoniq has a built-in DP2. The S760 cannot connect to your Akai. Totally different machines.

I'm sure that one's long gone now and it's a matter of opinion, but the ones from that family might be more fun if you're looking at old school machines. Once the 7xx era hit, things were getting hi-fi enough that the sonic personalities were starting to blur. I guess if you're looking for realistic instrument sounds (and the RAM/polyphony required), they'd kick a 550 up its tail. FWIW, I have both (550/750), but I grew up on a 550 back in its day, so I'm a bit biased. 😉

True...because I had both.

Keep in mind It's from the mid 80's so it can't really compete with modern day hardware operating systems and connectivity. But in terms of sound, its A+ and you do get the mouse/screen operation which compared to other hardware samplers of the '80s feels a lot less archaic to work with. I probably should have said best sampler from the 80's. Of course that's only my opinion, I am biased with this machine :)

Haha the 404 can't even do a proper pitch change on a sample

@@prufrockrenegade Yes but the 404A can. Haha !

The 404 is a toy. A good sounding one but a toy!!!! Stick to RCA connectors hahahahahahahaha

@@donpoulos No - You will find it is a linear wave sampler. Get back to your teddy bears and stop annoying the grown ups !