Vintage Digital
My Effects Rack

Samplers

Samplers are electronic devices used to record, edit, and play back audio samples, allowing users to manipulate sounds, create unique sequences, and build complex textures. Popular in music production, samplers are essential for everything from hip-hop beats to experimental soundscapes. When samplers first emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they revolutionised music production. Big players like Fairlight and E-mu led the way, with the Fairlight CMI introducing digital sampling to high-end studios and E-mu’s Emulator series making sampling more accessible. Akai soon joined, dominating the market with its iconic MPC series, beloved in hip-hop and electronic music for its intuitive interface and rhythm-focused sampling. These pioneering brands paved the way for modern digital sampling, shaping genres and influencing production techniques that remain central today.

Released in 1992

Ensoniq ASR-10R Advanced Sampling Recorder

The Ensoniq ASR-10R Advanced Sampling Recorder is a groundbreaking digital sampling rack unit that sets a new standard in workstation integration. With its revolutionary 24-bit dynamic effects processing and the ability to monitor, sample, and resample through onboard effects, the ASR-10R transforms sampling into an expressive and musical experience.
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Ensoniq ASR-10R
Made In U.S.A.
Released in 1995

Akai S2000 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

The Akai S2000 Stereo Digital Sampler delivered the core power of the S3000 series in a compact, affordable rack unit. With 32-voice polyphony, expandable memory, powerful DSP features, and deep modulation options, it offered both sampling and synthesis capabilities. Compatible with Akai’s extensive sound library and featuring optional effects, digital I/O, and Mac editor software.
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Akai S2000
Made In Japan
Released in 1996

Akai CD3000XL Stereo CD-ROM Sampler

The Akai CD3000XL is a powerful 32-voice sampler with advanced synthesis features, multi-mode sequencing, built-in effects, and a quad-speed CD-ROM drive. It supports a wide range of Akai and third-party libraries, offers software integration with Macintosh systems, and provides flexible expansion options for professional studio use.
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Akai CD3000XL
Made In Japan
Released in 1997

Yamaha A3000 Professional Sampler

The Yamaha A3000 Professional Sampler is a powerful tool for break-beat and phrase sampling, featuring a triple-block effects system, user-friendly interface, and expandable options such as digital I/O and up to 128 MB of additional RAM. Ideal for both studio and live performance, it offers extensive sound-shaping capabilities and intuitive control.
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Yamaha A3000
Made In Japan
Released in 1998

E-MU E6400 Ultra Emulator 4 Sampler

The E-MU E6400 Ultra was a cost-effective sampler with pro-level features, offering 64-voice polyphony, EOS 4.0, and deep synthesis tools. Fully upgradeable, it delivered serious power and flexibility in a studio-friendly format.
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E-MU E6400
Made In U.S.A.
Released in 1999

Akai S5000 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler

The Akai S5000 is a professional 16-bit stereo sampler featuring 64-voice polyphony (expandable to 128), up to 256MB RAM, and support for .WAV and DOS disk formats. It offers virtual sampling from disk, extensive filtering, modulation, and optional multi-effects via the EB20 board.
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Akai S5000
Made In Japan
Released in 1999

Akai Z4 Performance Sampler

The Akai Z4 Sampler is a 24-bit/96kHz hardware sampler combining high-end audio quality with powerful real-time control, advanced filtering, and deep synthesis capabilities. Featuring four assignable Q-Link knobs, over 40 onboard effects, and seamless integration with Akai’s ak.Sys software, it offered studio-grade performance and live flexibility without taxing your computer. Built on Akai’s sampling legacy, the Z4 delivered a new standard for professional hardware samplers.
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Akai Z4
Made In Japan
Released in 1999

E-MU ESI-4000 Digital Sampler

The E-MU ESI-4000 is a 64-voice digital sampler with up to 128 MB of RAM, offering powerful sampling, editing, and filtering features in an affordable, user-friendly unit. It includes expandable analogue and digital outputs, a SCSI interface for easy connectivity, and access to a large sound library from E-MU, Ensoniq, and third-party sources.
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E-MU ESI-4000
Made In U.S.A.
Released in 2000

Roland VP-9000 Variphrase Processor

The Roland VP-9000 VariPhrase Processor is an innovative audio processor that allows real-time manipulation of a sampled phrase’s pitch, time, and formant via MIDI while preserving exceptional sound quality. It enables instant loop matching to a common key and tempo, creates natural-sounding vocal harmonies, allows real-time note bending without altering phrase length, and offers a range of creative possibilities.
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Roland VP-9000
Made In Japan
Released in 2000

Akai S6000 Professional Stereo Digital Sampler

The Akai S6000 is a professional 64-voice sampler with advanced editing, virtual disk streaming, and up to 256MB memory, featuring a removable front panel, WAV compatibility, and powerful modulation and effects options for deep sample manipulation.
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Akai S6000
Made In Japan
Released in 2000

Yamaha A4000 Professional Sampler

The Yamaha A4000 Professional Sampler is a powerful tool for sound creation, featuring 16 filters, 96 effects, Loop Divide/Remix functions, and real-time controls. With expandable RAM, broad sample format compatibility, and Direct-to-CD burning, it’s ideal for advanced music production and live performance.
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Yamaha A4000
Made In Japan
Released in 2000

Yamaha A5000 Professional Sampler

The Yamaha A5000 goes beyond traditional sampling with 16 filters, 96 effects, and advanced resampling. It offers real-time control, a user-friendly interface, and compatibility with formats like AIFF and WAV. Expandable up to 128 MB RAM and featuring Loop Divide/Remix and direct-to-CD burning, it’s perfect for music production and live use.
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Yamaha A5000
Made In Japan
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