Samplers & Workstations
Classic hardware samplers and sampling workstations, from the MPC line to pocket samplers.
How to read the icons: The pad grid scales with how many trigger pads it has; a screen with no pads means it's a rack or keyboard-based sampler.
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Browse 40 samplers & workstations
- Akai16 pads
MPC60
1988 · Workstation
Producers wanting the exact swing and sampled-drum feel behind classic 80s/90s hip-hop.
$$$$Collector-GradeCompare - Akai16 pads
MPC3000
1994 · Workstation
Producers wanting the cleanest-sounding classic hardware MPC workflow available.
$$$$Collector-GradeCompare - Akai12-bit / 40kHz
S900
1986 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers layering gritty 12-bit multi-samples into an external sequencer-driven setup.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Ensoniq8-bit / ~30kHz
Mirage (DSK-8)
1984 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers chasing the distinctive crunchy 8-bit sampled-keyboard textures of early-80s records.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - E-mu Systems8-bit / 27.7-42kHz
Emulator II
1984 · Workstation
Composers and producers wanting the warm, filtered sampled-orchestral sound of 80s film scores.
$$$PremiumCompare - Akai16-bit / 44.1kHz
S1000
1988 · Rack / Module Sampler
Studios wanting a flexible, CD-quality rack sampler to anchor a MIDI-sequenced production rig.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Roland12 pads
SP-404
2005 · Groove Sampler
Beatmakers and live performers wanting a compact, battery-powered sampling and effects box.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Ensoniq16-bit / 44.1kHz
ASR-10
1992 · Workstation
Solo composers wanting an all-in-one sampling workstation with a built-in sequencer.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Yamaha16-bit / 32kHz
SU10
1994 · Rack / Module Sampler
Hobbyists wanting an ultra-portable pocket sampler for quick found-sound capture.
$BudgetCompare - Casio8-bit / ~9.38kHz
SK-1
1985 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers wanting an instantly recognizable, extremely lo-fi 8-bit sample texture for one-shots.
$BudgetCompare - Akai16 pads
MPC2000
1997 · Workstation
Producers wanting the classic MPC swing and sampling workflow at a more accessible price than the 3000.
$$$PremiumCompare - Korg12-bit / up to 48kHz
DSS-1
1986 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers wanting a hybrid sampler/synth with deep analog-style sound-shaping over samples.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Roland16-bit / 30-33kHz
W-30
1989 · Workstation
Composers wanting an all-in-one late-80s sampling workstation with a built-in sequencer.
$BudgetCompare - Ensoniq16-bit (Ensoniq internal format)
EPS
1988 · Workstation
Producers wanting an affordable late-80s sampling workstation with musical analog-style filtering.
$BudgetCompare - Akai16-bit / 44.1kHz
S3000
1994 · Rack / Module Sampler
Studios wanting a flexible mid-90s rack sampler with generous sample memory for its era.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Boss4 pads
SP-303 Dr. Sample
2001 · Groove Sampler
Lo-fi hip-hop and beat producers wanting the exact crunchy resampling character behind a huge amount of modern lo-fi production.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Akai16-bit / 44.1kHz
S2000
1994 · Rack / Module Sampler
Budget producers wanting genuine Akai S-series 16-bit sampling without paying S3000 prices.
$BudgetCompare - Ensoniq12 pads
ASR-X
1996 · Workstation
Budget beatmakers wanting a dedicated pad-based groove sampler as an alternative to the pricier Akai MPC line.
$BudgetCompare - Akai16 pads
MPC2000XL
2000 · Workstation
Producers wanting the classic MPC swing and workflow at a more attainable price than the MPC60 or MPC3000.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - Yamaha8 pads
SU700
1997 · Workstation
Producers wanting an overlooked, affordable 90s sampler-sequencer alternative to the more famous Akai MPC line.
$BudgetCompare - Kurzweil16-bit / 44.1kHz (sampling option)
K2000
1990 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers wanting to process and layer samples through a genuinely deep synthesis engine, not just play them back.
$$Mid-RangeCompare - E-mu16-bit / 44.1kHz
ESI-32
1994 · Rack / Module Sampler
Budget producers wanting genuine E-mu sampling character without paying for their flagship EIII-series units.
$BudgetCompare - Roland16-bit / 44.1kHz
S-760
1991 · Rack / Module Sampler
Producers wanting a genuinely capable, overlooked early-90s Roland sampler with real hard-drive support.
$BudgetCompare - Akai16-bit / 44.1kHz
S20
1993 · Rack / Module Sampler
Budget producers wanting genuine Akai S-series sampling in the smallest, cheapest package the line ever offered.
$BudgetCompare
