Auditioning Akai Samples on the Vintage 12-Bit X7000

Today I am exploring selected standard library samples on Akai X7000. The sounds came w/ my Gotek USB floppy emulator. Recorded direct on iPhone via EPM6 mixer via Go:Mixer:Pro-X. Industrial basses, strings, synths, plucky things, a couple of weird sound fx. This sampler, other gently pre-owned gear, and my hand-made eurorack modules are all currently available for sale in my Reverb store.

AKAI SOUND LIBRARY
0:00 Electric Bass
0:08 Hi String
0:23 Haunting Fifths
0:37 EMS
AKAI VARIOS
0:47 BBrass
0:54 Big Anna (+Eutopic glitched loading)
1:15 CMI Atmosphere
1:29 CMI Choir
1:37 CMI Sararr
1:42 D50 Fantasia
1:56 Depeche
2:05 DX7 Funk Bass
2:13 Eminent
2:23 Eutopic
2:35 Juno Max
2:45 Mega Bass
2:54 PPG Bass
LA STUDIO
3:03 Classical Guitar I
3:15 Double Bass
3:23 Armageddon

Akai VX600 Synthesizer Demo [no talking]

This is a six voice analog Akai VX600 synthesizer. Two oscillators per voice, and it takes minimum 30 minutes to stabilize tuning enough to play. Even so, it also wants 3 or 4 autotune sessions. Basses, pads, leads, arpeggios. Please enjoy. While this demo features my original patches, alas - there's no way to backup patches to computer or share them w/ others in that way. It only accepts Roland style Memory Cards. Be sure to check out my patches for other synths available at Gumroad. I also make Eurorack modules with mojo, available in my Reverb Store.

Recorded direct via EPM6 mixer to GO-Mixer Pro-X interface to iPhone, no added effects. The synth output is very hot, so any clipping you hear was overloading the input at the mixer.

So I Tried the Akai MPC 3.4 OS Update

The Akai MPC 3.4 software operating system. A simplification of the MPC workflow with a few new features. Why did I upgrade? Am I digging it? What still needs improvement? Am I going back to version 2? Just my honest opinions and experiences with my MPC One+.

0:00 | Intro
0:49 | Going into the MPC world from Cubase
1:52 | Why I upgraded to MPC 3
2:50 | Main Page
3:44 | Arranger and Grid Windows
6:20 | In Summary, and Will I Use MPC 3?

Be sure to check out my cool eurorack modules I make in my Reverb Store!

Mangling Audio w/ Akai S612 Audio Demo

Taking an Akai S612 lofi sampler for a spin, various audio sources. Manipulating sample start/end splice points in real time, very few instruments have this ability. Recorded direct via Roland GO:MIXER Pro-X to iPhone.

Be sure to check my cool Eurorack Modules in my Reverb Store.

E-MU ESI-32 for Pure Lofi Sampler Bliss [Demo]

Today I'm exploiting the ESI-32 rack sampler for lofi/crunchy/funky sound in multi-timbral mode. Drums were sampled at mono 22K then downsampled to 12K bandwidth, everything else down to 8K. All you're hearing is the ESI-32 sampler including built-in chorus, and internal LFO applied to autopan/vibrato. The audio was recorded direct to Tascam DR-05, no additional effects or mastering.

ESI-32: bit of an underdog, in that early 90s era when samplers started to overcome their limitations of memory, bandwidth, storage media, and processing capabilities. At a fraction of the current selling price for other vintage samplers of the late 80s that preceded it.

Granular Synthesis - Pulse Synthesizers Load Runner Module Demo

Today I am checking out the Load Runner Granular Synthesizer Module by Pulse Synthesizers.
Back in 2018, Youtube user John Crombie was uploading these prototype videos of a sampler in development.
It started out life as a 4-channel sampler
And evolved into the granular processor we now know
How does it differ from Mutable Clouds, Akai S612, and Erica Sample Drum?
Let's take it for a spin and see how it sounds.

Recorded direct, no other mastering or effects.

0:00 | Intro
1:41 | Audio demos

My demos of the Erica Synths Sample Drum
Part 1
Part 2

Akai S612 FPA Front Panel Animator upgrade
Demo Contact hideaway studio, see About page
I make the JP6-VCF and other cool analog eurorack modules...
Check my Reverb store for availability

G-Storm Electro Synthesizer Studio/Lab Tour 2021

Let's kick 2021 off w/ a proper bang.
Today I am giving you a tour of my Studio/Lab.
It's where I make the music and build the eurorack modules.
background music: Oberheim Matrix-12 + Digitakt
Be sure to check out my STUDIO TOUR PART 2 only on my FB page!

Erica Synths Sample Drum USER REVIEW Eurorack [Pt. 2/2]

Today I am continuing my user review of the Erica Synths Sample Drum. I will be covering the On-Board Effects, CV Mapping, Performance Mode, Saving Projects, and global settings. Along the way I'll try a couple of interesting experiments using the features covered. Be sure to hang around for the end of the video where I'll share my final thoughts.

Audio samples were recorded and processed in ocenaudio.

0:00 Opening Intro
0:52 On Board Effects
1:35 CV Mapping
3:18 Sample Drum as an Oscillator?
4:44 Performance Mode
5:26 Saving Projects
6:21 Mult-sampled Instrument Project
7:45 Global Settings
9:04 Final Thoughts

Recorded direct to Tascam DR-05.
No outboard effects nor processing of any kind.

Erica Synths Sample Drum USER REVIEW Eurorack [Pt. 1/2]

Today I am giving another new product user review, this time the Erica Synths Sample Drum Eurorack Module. The Sample Drum is described as an easy-to-use, two voice, modular sample player designed with percussion and loops in mind. So how does the Sample Drum perform as a loop playback sampler? Can it be as crunchy as your Akais or Emus? Let's see.

Recorded direct to Tascam DR-05. No outboard effects nor processing of any kind.

Akai S900 Sampler Floppy Disk Drive Cleaning [No Soldering]

Floppy Drive on your S900 not working?
Does it take a while to warm up before the floppy starts working right?

You may be able to bring your disk drive back to life and/or improve its performance with a little cleaning and maintenance. In this video I show how the S900 floppy drive can be removed and cleaned with some simple tips.

Why would anyone want to mess w/ archaic floppy disk drives? While USB drive emulators are available which greatly increase the convenience and storage capacity of sample banks...
For me it's nostalgia. I just like floppies, you can still find boxes of blank floppies at thrift stores and garage sales. I also still use cassette tapes, some vinyl, and still buy CDs as well.

These tips may not guarantee results in every situation. The S950 and other samplers may differ in design/construction. However, these tips may possibly help you with other devices like E-mu, Ensoniq, Kawai, etc.

Beware! If you're not confident or experienced in electronic disassembly or repair, there's no shame in taking your sampler to a qualified technician. Floppy drives are delicate and have easily broken parts and bezels. You MUST unplug your sampler before attempting any service inside. Take all necessary precautions regarding static electricity discharge so as to not damage any sensitive electronics inside.

ARP Solina String Synthesizer On Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus [2/2]

This is a quick follow up to the last Ensoniq EPS 16+ Sampler demo. In my previous EPS 16 Plus demo it was suggested I use a phaser to help give the sound some movement. After all it worked for Jean Michel Jarre on his Eminent. I'm in luck! I happen to have a Boss PH-2 Super Phaser. I also use my delay trick from my previous PH-2 demo to help widen the stereo image a bit.

Sampling ARP Solina String Synthesizer On Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus

Today I am messing around with a vintage Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus sampler. These were made around 1990 (27 years ago!) and are an excellent crunchy sampler alternative to Akai S-900 and E-mu Emulator. For this video I sampled an ARP Solina String Ensemble. This is less of a tutorial and more of a comparison. Does the sampler do the Solina any justice? Check it out and see. Be sure to click 'LIKE' and thanks for watching.

Update From the Music Studio

Haven't posted any recent studio pics, here's my revised music setup. Left to right: Korg MS-02 MK-I, Oberheim Matrix-12 (still out of commission, power supply), Roland TR-8, Eurorack, Beatstep Pro, Akai S900, Mackie 802-VLZ3, pair KRK Rockit 6SE, E-Mu 1616 audio interface, Roland Alpha Juno-1, Strymon Big Sky, Eventide TimeFactor, Roland VP-03. 19" desk rack: DBX 160A, 166A, Behringer patchbay, 2x Yamaha TX81Z, 2x power conditioners.