I'm doing my head in here and need an outside opinion. Suggestions welcome.

I have about 1000 USD. Not more. Sitting on my desk is an Isla S2400 hardware sampler. It's on deep house duties (think 1998 to the underground stuff of today, like Sweely, Harrison BDP or Black Loops). There's also a Bug Brand PT Delay, an Owl pedal from Rebel Technologies, a Quadraverb and a Looptrotter compressor.

Note: the Owl Pedal is a PITA as there's no screen and it's complex enough that it can be confusing as the knob function depends on which effect is loaded. For that same reason the PT Delay is wonderful. What you see is what you get.

I already have a PC with Ableton plus Push 3 and enough VSTs. I'd like to just use that for the final touches. maybe some initial prep work.

CHOICE LVL 1

More effects or a Sound Module.

Looking for a bit of immediacy and wanting to avoid too much time on the PC. I can't play keys and have the Push so... you know, why pay for keys. I do have a small Alesis Q25 midi keyboard if I really wanted to embarrass myself.

CHOICE LVl 2:

If sound module: it would likely be analog as why bother with virtual blah blah considering the PC I already mentioned. I'm thinking the Novation Peak or maybe Sequential Take 5. No paraphonic or monophonic. Ok, maybe the Moog Grandmother.

Is there a hardware piece I'm sleeping on?

If effects: I want bang for my buck. I was thinking the SP 404 MK2 or the MPC One. Grates me that I would be replicating feature set the S2400 already has. Maybe I should be thinking of a multi-effects pedal? Zoia seems nice but the workflow seems off putting.

What would you do? I mean, besides giving up music plus all your worldly goods and just becoming a monk.

 

Elektron Digitakt II - 939 €
www.elektron.se/explore/digitakt-ii
www.thomann.de/de/elektron_digitakt_ii.htm

 

I run Cubase with Roland TR6S, SE02, Roland JU06A, Roland SH01A, going thru 14 und counting, boss geetar pedals, delay, distortion, modulation, etc into Mackie desk.

Simple, cheap, poweful, intuitive, quick results, mostly analogue, FM in TR6S etc, covers all current chart and dance stuff even Indie etc.

Similar and much less set ups have been making hits since 70's, so no excuses eh.

Buy sec hand on ebay, pedals aside little over a 1000 bucks, then you can sell at no loss or wait 25 years and they'll be twice the price or more.

Hands on gear wins hands down every time for me.

 

If it's not out of your ideological safe zone, have you examined the Behringer line?

 

Last edited: Apr 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM

A little white wine goes well...

 

Oops, almost forgot, und the full majestic might of The Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, absolutely stunning and amazing, no more synth strings for me, unless supporting maybe.

MANY MANY THANKS, to every one who supplied stuff, already made a huge difference to my sound, incredible really, just wanted to mention it cos this sites fundamental altruism has enabled a poor pleb like moi to sound like a full blown orchestra, really Gents, thanks a bundle, I am indebted to you all, take care, be good.

Er, where was I, oh yeah, so I'd def add the synchron suff too, the depth, breadth and clarity of tone is really something to admire, to make your music shine, come alive, stand out.

 

Make Noise Music Easel - if not all three, then at least a pair :

It's an extremely inspiring combo IME. Some of the stuff I recorded with these still blows my mind, as in "how the fuck did I manage to make this??" and I hadn't even properly read the manual for the 0-Ctrl.

The Strega by itself is such a deep, complex machine, one could record an entire album using nothing else and it would sound like nothing else (well, except the Strega lol).

 

Behringer Pro-800. 8 voice 2 osc users say "punchy sound" no keys $375 ish.

 

It's : $239 / 249 € on Thomann.

 

ASM Hydrasynth Desktop - 789 €
www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-desk
www.thomann.de/de/asm_hydrasynth_desktop.htm

 

I do not think you are going to find a Novation Peak (there is one on reverb.com for $1000) or a Take 5 for under $1000 exactly. Pretty close, though. I love the Grandmother, it is about as old school analog monosynth as it gets. You'll end up playing it, but I also send midi data out from Seqund; almost all filter changes etc have to be done manually, so it's a different animal than any other modern manufactured synth you will find. It's hard to say if that is for you or not.

Another personal preference thing, is if you like using the S2400 for your drums or not. I use my samplers for additional drum sounds, but usually not my core house drumkits. So with your setup, for house and some techno, I would put one of the modern Roland drum machines on your list of stuff to consider. I do not think I have ever heard someone complain about a house producer "always using the same drum sounds". Your analog compressor would be enough to create variations anyway.

 

Thumbs up for Elektron stuff.
I have a digitone and love it.

 

White wine goes with EVERYTHING!
Have you ever tried mixing it with cola 1:1?
Cola-White is a very common drink where I grew up, it is the perfect drink for dancing through the night