The Best Budget Samplers for Music Production
Affordable instruments for creating sample-based beats.
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Creating beats from your own sample sets remains one of the most effective music production methods. We’ve selected some of the best budget samplers to get you started.
Whether you synthesize your own drums, cut samples from vinyl, or use pre-created sample packs, a sampler is a powerful tool for manipulating these sounds and building drum patterns and loops that have character and personality.
Choosing the Best Budget Samplers
Some samplers have great sound engines with precise tools for working with digital audio, and may even have features inspired by classic samplers from the 1980s or 1990s.
Meanwhile, others have more groovebox-orientated features with effects and powerful sequencers for building complex arrangements on the fly.
Best Budget Samplers: Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
An instrument by Teenage Engineering is somewhat unexpected on the list of the best budget samplers. After all, the Swedish manufacturer is best known for high-priced gadgets such as the OP-1 Field and OP-XY. But Teenage Engineering has also made the affordable and fun Pocket Operator line for many years, and the EP-133 K.O. II is a direct descendant of the tiny, pocket-sized PO-33 K.O.
Featuring six stereo or twelve mono voices, 64 MB of memory, a powerful built-in sequencer, and pad-controlled punch-in effects, the EP-133 K.O. II is an inspiring sample playground that makes it easy to make your own beats (read our review here). It can sample via the built-in microphone or line input, or you can import samples via the Sample Tool application.
Teenage Engineering also makes the EP-1320 Medieval, a variant of the K.O. II loaded to the brim with medieval sounds. Now you don’t see that every day!
Both versions are available at Thomann*.
Best Budget Samplers: Roland P-6
A member of the AIRA Compact family, the Roland P-6 is a pocket-sized sampler with six tracks and 16 voices of polyphony. Samples can be played polyphonically and chromatically, so you’re not limited to one-shot drum hits. You can sample via the line input or built-in microphone, or import samples via the P-6 desktop app. The built-in sequencer offers 64 patterns with up to 64 steps.
In addition, the P-6 offers a range of performance effects such as a looper, filter, scatter, and vinyl simulator, as well as master delay and reverb effects. It even has a granular mode for serious sample mangling. A resampling feature lets you turn the results into new samples. The P-6 runs on a built-in rechargeable battery, so it’s perfect for sampling on the go.
The Roland P-6 is available at Thomann*.
Best Budget Samplers: Sonicware LIVEN LoFi-12
Here’s one for all fans of that punchy vintage sampler sound! The Sonicware LIVEN LoFi-12 offers a 12-bit mode inspired by the sonic aesthetics of early samplers like the E-mu SP1200 and AKAI S900. That said, it can also sample at high quality.
The onboard 4-track sequencer offers parameter and sound locking, so it’s surprisingly flexible for just four tracks. You also get 11 track effects and eight master effects, including cassette tape, and vinyl simulators. If you’re after that lo-fi sound, the LIVEN LoFi-12 is one of the best budget samplers for you.
The Sonicware LIVEN LoFi-12 is available at Thomann*.
Best Budget Samplers: Elektron model:samples
Strictly speaking, the Elektron model:samples isn’t a sampler, as it cannot sample on its own. But the groovebox is the most affordable way to perform and produce with samples using the Elektron workflow, so we decided to include it. The model:samples offers six tracks, all of which can be used for internal samples or MIDI. It’s also got the famous Elektron sequencer with parameter locks, micro timing, trig conditions, and real-time or grid recording.
The Elektron model:samples offers 64 MB of sample memory and 1 GB of internal storage. It comes loaded with lots of high-quality sounds, but you can also import your own samples via USB. A generous array of knobs and buttons provides instant real-time control.
The Elektron model:samples is available at Thomann*.
Best Budget Samplers: 1010music nanobox tangerine
Calling the 1010music nanobox tangerine a “budget sampler” might be stretching it a little. After all, the smallest sampler on this list is also the most expensive. But if you’re looking for a pocket sampler that you can take anywhere, the nanobox tangerine is hard to beat.
Inside the tiny orange housing is a fully featured high-quality sampler with 24 stereo voices. It samples via the line input at 48 kHz / 24 bit and can stream samples of up to 4 GB straight from a microSD card. The maximum recording time is over 4 hours! The nanobox tangerine also supports multisamples with over 500 samples and lets you resample the audio output without patching. Everything is controlled via a 2” touchscreen, two rotary controls, and four buttons. A surprisingly powerful sampler that fits in your shirt pocket!
The 1010music nanobox tangerine is available at Thomann*.
More about the Best Budget Samplers:
- All about samplers
- Thoman’s guide to Grooveboxes
Videos:
*Note: This article about the best budget samplers contains affiliate links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
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One response to “The Best Budget Samplers for Music Production”
The Yamaha SeqTrak is another good option for budget ‘on-the-move’ sampling, sequencing and synth-ing.