S950 vs ASR-10

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zobi
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Zobi

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Any of you guys who have worked with these samplers, how would you say they compare? I know ASR comes in 2 versions, rackmount and a keyboard, but I'm interested in how they compare SOUNDWISE.

Do they give you similar editing options?

Thanks for your input.
 
Thanks guys. Sounds like the ASR would let me tweak samples a little more....

Jameey, how would you compare their sound?
 
Hmmm, well the S950 has a grittier dirtier sound that a lot of old school hip hop purists favor. The ASR has a more cleaner sound and also has more extensive editing capabilities. I've had my ASR for close to 10 years and its was a real workhorse for me until I became almost completely computer based. My partner still uses his ASR every day and is very happy with it.

Also the effects are really good. There have been a few occasions where I have routed audio through its inputs to use it as an effects processor.

Jam
www.JamMusicDevelopments.com
 
asr-10, if you want a gritty sound, convert the sample rate.
 
Like someone said above the ASR-10 is far superior than the 950. I have never messed with a 950, but I'm sure I can get close to the same sound with my asr. The asr have varible sampleing rates, It has hands down one of the best samplers ever made. and the effects are crazy. ASR all the way
 
well since nobody here has used an S950, I thought I'd speak up. I have been making hip-hop for a while now and I just got an S950 about a month ago. damn my sound got so much sicker and it brings me back to a day when hip-hop was awesome. the asr is dope too, you cant really go wrong with either, but the S950 is hands-down the creation machine
 
Hey checkonetwo thanks for bringing a point in favor of the S950 that was needed but what Zobi asked for was a comparison or the two machines. Please provide more details. Thanks

Jam
www.JamMusicDevelopments.com
 
Comparing the S950 to the ASR10 is a difficult thing because they are completely different machines and actually occupy completely different price points.

If you had to have just one machine to make music, then the S950 CAN'T be considered. There is no sequencer, and no pads or keys. That makes the S950 an ADD-ON machine. You must have
at least a sequencer and drum machine/keyboard to start. The ASR has everything; sampler, keyboard, and basic ****ty sequencing. However, if you get the ASR rack (no keys), you get closer to what the S950 is.

Let's suppose I have an MPC2000 already so I can make beats but I want another machine that gives me more flexibility, ie. better overall sound, or grit, or processing power.

The ASR will give you:

1. a grip of effects with modulation possibilities
2. an "ok" sound on strictly sampling (it's not an S950, SP1200 or MPC3000)
3. an excellent keyboard (really the feel of the keyboard is extremely good)
OR 8 outs + SCSI standard with the rack.
4. lowpass, highpass and basic bandpass filters.
5. extensive envelopes for sound shaping, and time-based filtering, LFO.
6. some good "digital" tools, like bit-reducing, record scratch removal,
resampling etc... but you have to master it.

The S950 will give you:

1. a great all around full sound, with possible grit if you need it
2. one lowpass filter that is really chunky (to me, it sounds better than the ASR10) but no other filters
3. a really good timestretch: it's fast and pretty good. The ASR has one, but it's basically useless.
4. 8 individual outs standard but you'll never find the SCSI update.
5. 13-pin voice out that can be processed by Akai's analog synths (i use the VX90 rack).

If you buy an ASR10 OR an S950+VX90 or +AX73, you're at about the same price point. And you''ll have keys and a sampler... so would still need a good sequencer...

Overall, an S950 alone with your MPC2000 would give you the best sounding sampler attached
the MPC.

If you had an SP1200 though, perhaps the ASR10 would be a better upgrade given that you have some heavy sounds coming from the SP1200 already.

Bottom line, first decide if it's to be your only piece for awhile.
If that's the case, you have to get the ASR10 keys.

As a rule of thumb:
If you are adding a rack to an already 16-bit setup, I'd go for the S950.
If you are adding a rack to an already 12-bit setup, I'd go for the ASR10.
 
Once again, all your posts are much appreciated.

Jameey, good lookin' out!

Tbiggz, thanks for breaking it down like that. It was great!!! Exactly what I wanted........a comparison of the two samplers. I wasn't trying to find out which one is "better".

I already have an MPC 60 and S950. I'd like to add a keyboard and am trying to figure out what to get. The reason why I started this thread was to find out if adding an ASR-10 to my existing set-up would make sense, as far as the sound of the ASR go. If I had been told that S950 and ASR-10 sound similar, I probably wouldn't consider it anymore and would look for some keyboard/synth. After reading your post, it sounds like it might be an interesting addition. At the same time, I didn't give up on the idea of getting some synth (instead of the ASR-10) yet.

I plan on taking some keyboard lessons soon, which is why I'm thinking some synth might also be a good option. Maybe even better than ASR-10? I'm not really into synth style production sound, but if can find something with a few useable bass, string or whatever sounds, I might consider getting it. I heard about Roland W-30, Juno and Yamaha S03. If you guys have any suggestions, please let me know.....

Thanks everyone!
 
I think if you want a keyboard synth with good/realistic sounds and are also contemplating another sampler, you could look at the K2000S or W-30.

The K2000S is basically pound-for-pound equal to the ASR10 (it has massive filters versus the ASR's massive effects), and comes with sounds too. It's less intuitive compared to the ASR though. It's around $500USD used.

The W-30 has sounds and a sampler too, just less filtering options. usu. around $300USD.

OR... scrap the sampling, and get a real analog Akai AX73 synth (73 keys!), that can plug into the S950 and warp samples. It also has 100 sounds but they are all analog. These are around the same as the W-30 or less.
The AX60 and AX80 etc.. are the same idea too.
 
I looked up those Akai analog synths and I am very interested. Did you personally use any of them? Which one would you suggest (AX60, AX73, AX80)? Do you think they would give me "fatter" sound than W-30 or Juno?

Thanks a lot for your time. I really appreciate all the advice.
 
I have an Akai VX90 connected to my S950. It's basically a rack version of the AX73. It's the only Akai rack synth so my choice was easy.

I'm not sure how to choose between the 4 Akai keyboard synths (AX60, AX80, AX73 and VX600). I guess you just read the reviews and jump in.

I can't compare the Akai synths to a W-30 (never used one) but I think it's comparable to a Juno, just a bit more sharp or "precise" sounding. Certainly no less fat on the sound though.
 
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