The Z4 Sampler

I plan on getting a mpc4000 and was wondering what is so great about the z4 sampler as i realize this isn't the same sampler in the 2000/xl. I understand it has 24bit sampling but since I will be doing hip hop music this is irrelevant. Also, does it have it's own sounds in it and if it does how do they sound?

With the Z4 you get 4 Qlink knobs and many of the same features on the 4K. The Z4 does not come with the FX board installed, it is considered an option upgrade, on the Z8 it is standard. The Z4 comes with the same Sound library as the MPC4000.

It`s a full sampler aka tuning, filters, amplifers, sample and hold, LFOs aka it can be a sample based synth if you learn how to use it. Keygroups and Drum programs to lay out your kits, and intruments. You can make your own loops from a sequence and resample it with effects. 960 ppq sequencer that goes up to 1/64 notes with larger, clearer layout and looping mode. Actually it is a Z8 but what the hell only 6 qlink controllers. I came from the 2kXL and the 4k is a extremely big jump up. I switch last year 03 and still learning alot of new shit. I can go on and on but there is a great fatass learning curve if you have no previous experience with full samplers. Download the manual from Akai and read for yourself.

P.S. the processor is much faster than the 2XL so you don`t have to wait all day if you want to resample to 12bit or 8bit.

Breathe

whats with everyone talking about 24bit aint good for hihop ect.. sample your vynil at 24/96 and it will be smacking your mix like a pimp on a cheap hore...

Being able to save all those old vinyl samples at 24/96 is the important thing. I think we all know that vinyl wears out over time.

[quote="glide"]whats with everyone talking about 24bit aint good for hihop ect.. sample your vynil at 24/96 and it will be smacking your mix like a pimp on a cheap hore... [/quote


I agree wtih you on this one glide...

Do they think their samples are going to sound worse at 24bit/96khz?
I know that their is plenty of debates in regards to it not necessarily sounding
better (it's up to your ears really), but I've never heard people say that the
higher sampling rates and bits making it sound worse.

Interesting... I sample all my stuff at the highest quality, and then convert down if I"m looking
to save space.

Cheers...
Dave

I screwed this message up, sorry.

whats with everyone talking about 24bit aint good for hihop ect..

Not Everyone who uses samplers are using it for Hip hop. That one armed drummer from Def Lepord could play that good without 2 Z4's.

It goes with the same argument that the MPC60 and 3000 users have (other than timing). When 16bit sampling was introduced, it was also slammed by the hip hop community for not sounding as "fat", or "gritty" as 12 bit. I personally think that all of the bit/sample rates have advantages and disadvantages.

12bit sounds nice and fat for old loops and drum breaks as in late 80's, early 90's hip hop.

16bit sounds nice for highs, crisp snares, clean loops, big(but clean) bass and kicks (and is pretty good for instrument samples)

24bit sounds great for all that the 16 bit did and even better for instrument samples, but the low noise floor, extreme cleanliness and low volume level makes it seem not as good for heavy hitting drum samples.

For hiphop producing, some people who are hip to this use a vintage machine (sp 1200, mpc 60/3000, etc.) for the sounds that they make best, along with a new current sampler for the instruments and some loops.

two good examples are:
1. the new beastie boys album which was half done using reason and the other half using a 1200 and various synths. All edited and mixed on pro tools.

2. Outkast who used a sp1200 and a mpc2000 for most early joints, and a few newer samplers now.

Sorry for dragging on.

what do you mean, the volume level isn't as hot in 24 bit as 12 bits?, I guess it has more to do with the outputs of the sampler itself right!? or is there a mathematik dynamic reason for that..

dunno but I sample all vinyl at 24/96, and sometimes I get a very lofi sound due to the condsission of the record old/noise/crackels and these elements keep the sounds lofi but yet dynamicly rich due to the high sample rate