Roland MS-1 Roland MV-8800 Roland MV-8000 Roland SP-808EX Roland SP-808 Roland SP-404 Roland SP-606 Roland SP-555 Roland W-30 Roland SPD-SX Boss Being a division of the Roland Corporation, Boss also contributed to the Groove Sampler/Groove Box concept with several samplers. Boss SP-202 Boss SP-303 Boss SP-505 Sample storage Most older samplers use SCSI as the protocol for getting sample data in and out of the machine. SCSI interfaces were either standard on the sampler or offered as an option. SCSI provides the ability to move large quantities of data in and out of a sampler in reasonable times. Hard drives, CDROM drives, Zip drives and removable cartridge drives such as Syquest and Iomega Jaz drives are the most popular SCSI devices used with samplers. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, with hard drives being the fastest devices. Modern (after 2000) samplers use solid-state memory cards (such as compact Flash or SmartMedia) for sample storage and transfer. Software samplers In the 1990s and 2000s the increases in computer power and memory capacity have made it possible to develop software applications that provide the same capabilities as hardware-based units. These are typically produced as plug-in instruments – for example, using the VST system. Some such samplers provide relatively simple sample playback facilities, requiring the user to turn to other software for such tasks as sample editing, sample recording, and DSP effects, while others provide features beyond those offered by rack-mounted units. Trackers In the 1980s, users on Home computers invented Trackers. Sequencers are software samplers as the real-time resampling is a required capability for the Tracker concept. Since the 1980s, Trackers were able to perform 4-channel resampling in realtime under usage of the Paula Chip on the Amiga. Since the early 1990s Trackers performed on PCs multi-track resampling in realtime as pure software solution. This was possible under the usage of highly optimized assembly code, an early example is the InertiaPlayer released in 1993. A recent PC Tracker with good sampler capabilities is for instance the Renoise Tracker. See also Concepts Sampling (music) Remix Rompler Synthesizers Sample-based synthesis Drum machine Historical Optophonic Piano Lichttonorgel (in German) Chamberlin Mellotron References External links History of early sampling instruments at '120 years of Electronic music' S-50 / S-550 / S-330 / W-30 – A Website Dedicated To The Original Roland Samplers Electronic musical instruments Hip hop production Sampling (music) Sound production