just couple of things to highlight also: <BR> <BR>two big PROs for S3000xl: <BR>1. is really good (i'd say great for sampler) lcd display and functions layout, plus 8-keys buttons, which change their function depending on the page you are in. These keys (placed under the display) will have a signature/function on the display, so you can quickly do all the settings. <BR>It takes time thou to get around the machine, but if you put enough effort, soon you'll start appreciate it. Actually I figured it is so much faster to do everything right there on the front panel of the unit, maybe even more easy than using computer software-based editor, which also available for mac and pc if you really want one, but then get ready to be able to set it up so it all works, you'll need to figure out how to scsi-connect the unit to your computer, or use midi-connection (which is really slow and nearly useles). If you plan on using computer software for sample editing, then I'd advice you to get some sound-card with rca-digital in/out. <BR>2. is analog-8-in/out plus stereo in/out plus digital in/out . Man, this just speaks for itself. <BR> <BR>**** <BR>one "MINUS" for akai samplers is that they can only read/use akai-sample/programs format. This is somewhat limiting user if you plan/ or already have some other formats sample/program library/collection. Also you can not directly use windows wav-files format. But again, with digital in/out and if you have digital in/out soundcard in your computer, then this is not really a problem. Also if you have CD-player with digital out (which are now pretty cheap), then you can use sample-CD in audio-format, which I think are always the best, because you can quickly find samples you like by listening to the CD, instead of going through loading samples/programs process without knowing what are the samples. <BR>Well, if you are not going to ever use any sample-libraries-CD, but going to make your own samples, recording your own sounds etc... then all this is not an issue for you at all ;). <BR>****** <BR>Newer akai samplers are finally can 'deal' with windows/wav(s) ...., well, there are allots of other cool stuff about newer machines...<IMG SRC="
http://www.interruptor.ch/cgi-bin/discu ... /happy.gif" ALT=":)"> <BR>****** <BR>32 Meg of RAM is more than enough for the project/track, normally you use less than that, unless you are going to use a bunch of long stereo loops... <BR> <BR>Finally, I would advice you to get a separate Zip-Drive (external with SCSI), if you are getting s3000xl. I think zip is 'optimum' media for this sampler. It is very easy to format disc, and you have planty of space on removable disc to store/back-up all your samples/programs/progects. <BR>This may become very important from practical point. <BR>When you project becomes pretty complicated and you may have more than 1.4Meg data in the sampler, so you can not use regualr disc... Then you really will need to be able to back -up the project as WHOLE, especially when you need to pause working and come back to working on the track later, so you'll want to turn everything off, and next day to turn it on, and be ready to work. <BR>Here you need Zip drive. All you do is "hit store" button, then select 'drive' and 'partition(or so called driveA, driveB...), and select "store ENTIRE VOLUME", which will write/back-up all the samples, all the programs, all 'muli-settings and effect-settings(if you havre effect card installed), another words EVERYTHING as is. <BR>So next day all you will need to do is to turn on your sampler, hit 'LOAD' select drive, and load "ENTIRE VOLUME"... and you've got everything back as it was last night <IMG SRC="
http://www.interruptor.ch/cgi-bin/discu ... /happy.gif" ALT=":)"> <BR>As sampler does not have any HARD-data/memory... you really need to think ahead about how are you going to keep all your "stuff" organized. Really, it may look like no-big deal at first, but after some time, you will see how hard it is to work if you don't know what and where everything is with samples/programs ...he he he <BR> <BR>***** <BR>ok, man <BR> <BR>respects, <BR>/Mike Zee