What stylus do you sample drums with?

I hear the needle makes a huge difference in the sound before it's eq'd and sent to the sample. Makes sense to me....Does anybody have any experience using different needles and seeing results? I know DJ Shadow spoke of using an expensive Audio Technica over the turntablist offerings (shure n44g/7 etc) for sampling vinyl.

i use the ortofon pro (grey) stylus

I use the shure m44-7 stylus.

all i can say is the 44g sounds pretty nice, the 447 sounds really 'loud' (extra lows and highs), and they both share the same cartridge.

so you can have both and pick what you want. but the 44g is not terrible, and the 447 is good in a totally-colors-your-sound way.

tapedeck wrote:all i can say is the 44g sounds pretty nice, the 447 sounds really 'loud' (extra lows and highs), and they both share the same cartridge.

so you can have both and pick what you want. but the 44g is not terrible, and the 447 is good in a totally-colors-your-sound way.

TagOne wrote:I use the shure m44-7 stylus.

it's worth the $15 for a new stylus if you have the 447 or the 44g to try the other needle - they are night and day.

also, in my experience (limited with the g), the 7's are rugged as hell. i mean they will not die. the g's i had started giving out pretty quickly though.

for sampling though, the g would be fine and give you that 'flat' response ... if that's what yer after. some rudimentary tests i did with it it sounded a lot like the way more expensive whitelabel.

on that note....

'that the g's will give you a flatness.. as opposed to the 7's giving you that fat bass, boosted hi curve and overal warmth...'

i here alot of ppl complaining about the filters on later model mpc's/ ie 1k, 2.5k....

i have never had a problem, i actually consider them **** amazing filters for how limited they are, except for the lack of a notch type filter, i mean a band cut...

ok, what im tryin to say here is that using the 44-7's, improves the filters in the mp as the curve on bass especially is wuite dramatic and potent..

and im sure every dj/turntablist turned beatmaker using an mpc and 44'7s to sample, will have never had a problem with getting a great bass sound using the filters, and or a combination of the filters. -as opposed to the beginner or intermediate mpc user and shitty needle setup....

you picking up what im putting down here?

while i don't think the filter in any mpc is particularly awesome, i tend to sample into the xl with the 447 just because of that extra punch it delivers.

i also have a theory that the ad converters on an xl cut the bass in the real sub-octaves... it's important to remember it's a combination of every piece going into the digital world that colours the sound.

I use Shure SC35s, just a step down from a M97xe and $20 bucks cheaper. Makes my vinyl sound like CDs but with warmth. I had a Audio-Technica AT92ECD stylus and that was butters. Everything comes out balanced, bass is heavy, highs are bright and the mids, crystal clear.

Sometimes I sample from a cheap GPX turntable I got for that dirt-poor cheap sound. Sound is real flat but bright at the same time.

Is there a BIG difference if I use 100 euro turntable with M44G for sampling vs. M44G on turntable like SL1200? Needle before turntable or turntable before needle on sampling.

if you got a good needle i think there is no difference between a technics sl1200 and another more cheap tt
if the platter is good and the motor works fine with constant speed youl'll be ok i guess...
of course if you got a thorens tt you'll have first class sound (way better than a 1200)
correct me if i'm wrong

This is some , good to know , stuff

the quality of the amp/preamp that you use to run the sound thru also is affecting the quality of the resulting sampled sound

I've been looking for studio monitors and I'm thinking about buying a pair of Behringer monitors, http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_b1030a.htm or http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_b1031a.htm they both have built in amplifier right? So I wouldn't need to buy it seperately because I'm low on cash.

Also would 5'' subwoofer be better for a small bedroom with bad acoustics than 8'', what's the difference?

godxbOmb wrote:I hear the needle makes a huge difference in the sound before it's eq'd and sent to the sample. Makes sense to me....Does anybody have any experience using different needles and seeing results? I know DJ Shadow spoke of using an expensive Audio Technica over the turntablist offerings (shure n44g/7 etc) for sampling vinyl.

Shure M44 series were originally made for juke boxes. It put out unusually high output ("hotter" signal than other phono cartridges.) It does NOT provide extra high and low ranges. While it is great for scratching, it really sticks to the groove (I used to own a pair of M44-Gs, so I know) it is not good sounding phono cartridge. I woundn't say it is bad sounding phono cartridge, but I think Stanton 680 sounds better.
But with about the same price range, you can buy brand new Shure M97 cartridge (around $50 on amazon, it used to be over 100 bucks), which is far better than M44 series in terms of sound quality. The stylus is fragile than M44 (don't even think of doing back-cueing on M97, it'll snap right away) but for sampling & listening purposes, this cart is great.

But, don't overlook turntable & phono preamp, as they are also as important as phono cart.
I recommend used consumer level audio gear that were made in 70s' and 80s'. They were make much more durable and have better parts.

I didn't know DJ Shadow was using Audio Technica cartridge, I wonder which one he's using. I have Audio Technica AT 92 cart (the cheapest cartridge that Audio Technica offers.), which I don't the sound it at all; Output level is too low, and sounds dull, and since it is designed for P-mount, you have to use P-mount adapter for regular shells (which adds other problem.) I know reviews on Internet is generally favorable on AT 92, but I don't recommend it. I'm sure he's not using AT 92.