5 of the Best Samplers with Analog Filters
Samplers with analog filters from Groove Synthesis, Arturia, Elektron and more!
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Pairing digital samples with analog filters can yield some creamy and delicious results. Here are the top hardware samplers and sample players with analog filters available on the market today.
The Best Samplers with Analog Filters
Samplers with Analog Filters
One of my favorite pairings in the world of music production is the sampler and analog filter. There’s just something about the combination of digital sound and analog tone shaping. More common in the early days of sampling, it’s made something of a comeback in recent years – although it isn’t nearly as prevalent as I would like.
Before we get into it, I’d like to address some nomenclature. A sampler is by definition an instrument that can record audio and turn it into a sample for playback. Many of the instruments on this list – particularly the modern ones – are not samplers in the strictest sense but sample players. I’ll be sure to identify which one a product is..
The History of Samplers with Analog Filters
Analog filters were common in samplers almost from the start. Along with envelopes, a filter helped shape the sound. It also took some of the edge off the originally low-bit results.
The Fairlight CMI, the first commercially available polyphonic sampler, had an analog filter. You could find them in the E-mu Emulator II and III and the first Emax. Ensoniq put one in the Mirage. Sequential was fond of them too, using them in its Prophet 2000 and Studio 440. Akai’s early S-series machines had them, including the S612, S900, S950 and the keyboard-equipped X7000.
However, as digital technology improved, companies began equipping their samplers with digital rather than analog filters. While these could certainly be impressive (one of my all-time favorites is the digital filter in the Casio FZ-1), there’s still something to be said for tempering a digital audio file with an analog filter circuit.
Thankfully, manufacturers are coming back around to analog filters, with a number of them appearing in modern samplers and sample players.
Here are five of the best samplers with analog filters on the market today. (And before anyone gives me grief about not mentioning Sequential’s Prophet X, it’s sadly no longer available.)
Samplers with Analog Filters: Roland Fantom EX
The Fantom EX keyboards are very capable machines. Along with all of the different things they can do, there is also sampling. This is not just import (it can do that too) but true sampling from an external source. And, although the Fantoms are primarily digital, they also have a separate routable analog filter on board.
If all you want is sampling, the Fantoms may be overkill. But if you’re in the market for something that can do it all – including sampling and analog filtering – then check out a Fantom EX.
The Roland Fantom EX instruments are available at our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
- Roland Fantom EX Series product page
Samplers with Analog Filters: Arturia MicroFreak & MiniFreak
The Arturia MicroFreak is the little digital synth that could. It’s had a number of firmware updates over the years, including one (firmware 5.0) that added sample and granular engines. It can’t sample like the Fantom EX but it can play imported samples, with editing of start, end and loop points available. It sounds wonderfully gritty and pairs perfectly with the MicroFreak’s smooth analog SEM filter.
The more capable MiniFreak also has the sample update, meaning you can play samples through the analog filters – and polyphonically!
Arturia MicroFreak is available at our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
- Arturia MicroFreak product page
- Arturia MiniFreak product page
Samplers with Analog Filters: Elektron Analog Rytm MKII
The Digitakt MKII from Elektron still gets the lion’s share of Elektron attention. (Even I called it one of the best standalone beat makers you can get.) However, it doesn’t have an analog filter. For that, you’ll need an Analog Rytm MKII.
Twinning an analog synth with true sampling, Analog Rytm MKII lets you smush it all through an analog filter and overdrive. It sounds amazing and truly is the best of both worlds.
Elektron Analog Rytm MKII is available at our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
- Elektron Analog Rytm MKII product page
Samplers with Analog Filters: Suonobuono Polyvera
Another fantastic sampler with analog filters is Polyvera from Swedish manufacturer Suonobuono. Inspired by the sounds of the 1980s, the desktop sampling synth combines samples, wavetables and analog filters into one meaty and beautiful instrument.
The six-voice synth gives you two oscillators per voice, one for wavetables and the other capable of wavetables or samples. This is a true sampler too, with an audio input for capturing your own audio. Throw in FM, sync, ring modulation and noise and you’ve got some serious sound design possibilities happening. And then there’s the analog filter section, which offers an incredible eight filter types. Along with overdrive, filter FM and distortion.
Suonobuono Polyvera is available at our affiliate partner Thomann*.
- Suonobuono Polyvera product page
Samplers with Analog Filters: Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
One of my favorite synths of recent years has to be the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave. With its combination of Wave-style wavetables, virtual analog oscillators and Dave Rossum-designed analog lowpass filter, it’s an incredibly capable and beautiful-sounding instrument.
But that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. This piece is all about sampling and, thanks to a firmware update, the 3rd Wave also does sampling. And that’s true sampling with audio capture from external sources possible. You can also import sounds via USB. You can then play these back as new oscillator types. Excellent.
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is available at our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
- Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave product page
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One response to “5 of the Best Samplers with Analog Filters”
this list is missing the Pioneer Toraiz SP-16 with DSI filters! i have one and it sounds great:)