Depending on which Boss unit you're getting, you can do a lot of things.
The SP series can have samples imported via memory card. An easy way to transfer .wav files to them might be to get a card reader/writer that you can hook up to your computer. I think they are about 30-50 bucks. That way you can load a cat fart, a car horn, a piano getting hit by a truck, a donkey getting slapped by a herring, etc. onto the card and just plug it into the machine.

You can also use the built in mic or a real mic plugged in though an input jack to go straight into the machine.
It's tough to alter beginning, end and splice points that way but it's not impossible.
The Boss units give you 4 banks of 8 samples. You can trigger them by the push of a button - one push equal one play of the sample - or you can turn a sample on and it will stay on, in a continuous loop until you turn it off. Your choice, per sample.

My beef with these machines (unless they have fixed it) is that you can not trigger the sample via MIDI and it will not synch up to a master clock. I think the idea was to keep it simple, but I consider letting a clock keep things in tempo the simplest way to do things.

In short, you will probably like it. I have used an old SP202 with pretty good results. It can be fun for live work. But when I need something more professional, I load samples into Reason and trigger them that way. That way everything synchs up.

alex maiolo wrote: But when I need something more professional, I load samples into Reason and trigger them that way. That way everything synchs up.

A simple look at the back of one of these things would answer my question, but I am lazy to do a google image search and have not a Dr. Sample lying around.

Does the machine have MIDI out so that you can use it in Reason? or do you use another midi controller?

Musique Concrete, anyone?

thebookofkevin wrote:Does the machine have MIDI out so that you can use it in Reason? or do you use another midi controller?

Unfortunately, no.

I received one of these last christmas, and have already sold it. 3 reasons:

1) Horrible, horrible sequencer. I used mine midi-synched to the boss dr. groove, just for the sequencer. But that created a host of other problems.

2) It's a dated machine. Between 4-5 years old. And it just doesn't do what a lot of the newer samplers do. It can only apply one effect at a time, doesn't have piano roll or any kind of intelligent shifting, and has a very small internal memory.

Now, these first two reasons have workarounds....you can buy an external sequencer, you can re-sample to add new effects, you can buy a memory card - but the one thing you cannot get around...

3) This sampler is noisy, and as such makes it almost completely worthless for recording.

If I were in your place, I would look into the newer sp-404 or perhaps 505. I saw one used the other day at a sam ash for $285. I would even look for a used korg electribe if possible.

Sorry if this sounds bad, because I don't want to doom your christmas present before you get it - but I do want to help you out so that you don't waste too much time on this if another sampler would be better for you!

My beef with these machines (unless they have fixed it) is that you can not trigger the sample via MIDI

I had the sp-303 & dr-202, and you could trigger samples with the dr-202. However, there were detailed instructions on how to set this up, as this was an advertising point of the sampler. YMMV with other midi triggers.

unarmedman wrote:

My beef with these machines (unless they have fixed it) is that you can not trigger the sample via MIDI

I had the sp-303 & dr-202, and you could trigger samples with the dr-202. However, there were detailed instructions on how to set this up, as this was an advertising point of the sampler. YMMV with other midi triggers.

I meant the SP202. As far as I know, you have very little MIDI control.
It's a great fun trick noise maker, but if you want pro sound or more control, use Reason and a Laptop.
I agree that the Korg Elecribe samplers are good. In fact, the Electribe drum machine is awesome and the sequencer is acceptable.

the Hi-Fi have 2 of those... Dr Aka is really good with that machine (Dr Sample), if you have any questions I would ask him, I don't think he checks this form though

i used to use the sp-303. they just updated it and released the sp-404 (with 24 bit a/d and d/a converters, a step up from the 16-bit ones on the 303).

the 303 is a very useful sampler, it can double as an fx processor for external audio. the fx are really cool, probably the biggest strength of the sampler.

the sequencing is really bad, and the pads are not velocity-sensitive. you can get around this by sequencing externally (the machine will respond to velocity transmitted over midi).

the workflow is really cool and fun. i was using reason/recycle/acid before i got the 303, so the 303 was a step down in functionality, but i was making better stuff right away just cuz of the workflow.... better, albeit a lot less intricate. dont expect to be programming drum-n-bass type sequences on this.

a suggestion though.... look into the ensoniq eps-16+. its old, it can only sample in mono, it has limited memory even with a memory expander, but its still a beast. its the reason i gave up the sp-303.... absolutely a killer sampler. it works much better than the mpc series if musicianship is your thing (if user-friendliness is your thing, try the mpcs)


i read some earlier post, some dude saying he has a problem with sampling. just so you know, thats an ethical criticism of an aesthetic entity... in other words, if dj premier makes better music than you, it doesnt really matter that your music has so much ethical integrity by being sample-free.

instant_zen wrote:Okay:

i'm getting a sampler for Christmas. the Boss "Dr. Sample," to be exact. and while i know theoretically what it does and what i can do with it, i don't have the slightest idea how to actually use the damn thing (well... maybe the slightest idea, but not much beyond that).

how do you import samples? how do you edit samples once they're in the machine? how do you arrange it so it can switch patterns in mid-song? etc?

i realize these are some rather machine-specific questions, so any information regarding general sampler use (especially working it into non-rap-song arrangements) would be appreciated. thanks.

As you may have guessed from the responses the Dr. Sample is a pretty limited sampler...but not to be underestimated...it should have a smart media card slot for saving .wav files to for use in the sampler...and you should be able to record live into it.

Thats about it...I think you can have up to 8 looped phrases playing simultaneously.

What are you using it for?

it's been plenty so far. i've barely touched it since i got it a month ago. just haven't had time, and my band's sound system isn't quite thorough enough to handle it in additon to the other stuff we pu through it.

i'll post an update here when i get a media card and really start playing with it. but it certainly hasn't been "limiting" so far.