the Sampling Factory — is here. This bad boy ($1495.00 list) is a sampler, a sequencer, mixer, and an effects processor all rolled into one killer package! And the coolest thing about it is that you don’t need a degree in astrophysics to use it.
Sampling is a breeze with the SU700. Simply press the large Sample button, select the Rate and whether you want to sample in stereo or mono. Then press one of the Track Pads to which you want to assign the sample, set the level, and press the large Sample button again to actually begin sampling. When you’re done, press the button one more time to stop sampling. Simple.
The unit ships with 4MB of RAM which gives you 44.6 seconds of mono sampling at 44.1kHz or 22.3 seconds of stereo sampling. If grunge is what you are shooting for, you can record up to an astounding 357.2 seconds (that’s almost six full minutes!) of 11.025kHz, 8-bit mono samples. For your “big” projects (like that taking over the world thing), the SU700 will hold up to 68 megabytes of samples with optional SIMMs installed. I can’t even do the math to figure out how much sampling time that would be . . . hey, where’s that guy with the astrophysics degree? I’d be willing to bet he’ll know.
The SU700 gives you a total of 40 sample tracks (four banks of 10), which is more than enough to create wild and complex songs. There are three different types of Sample Track Pads, plus two special Track Pads to choose from. Assign a sample to a Loop Pad and you will instantly have a looping rhythm that automatically matches any tempo you select in realtime — no kidding!
You can use the velocity-sensitive Composed Loop Pads like a rhythm machine to build your own repeating synth or percussion patterns. Then use the eight velocity-sensitive Free Pads to add sample fills or effect type sounds to your mix. With the Audio In Pad you can control external audio sources such as a microphone or CD player in realtime. And with the Master Pad you can control the levels, mute settings, and effects of your entire mix.
Once you have sampled all your sounds, well, then the real fun begins. Each sample track can have its own filter. Four types are available on the SU700: Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass and Band Eliminate. Each sample track has its own assignable control knob directly above it, allowing you to control any sound element on the fly. Want to control the filter’s cutoff frequency? Easy, just press the cutoff button and then tweak the control knob for the sample track you want to adjust. Or maybe you want to totally twist the loop’s rhythmic feel? Again, just press the timing button and turn the control knob — it’s that easy. Just in case that’s not enough control for you, then there’s even a Ribbon controller which you can use to scratch a sample just like a on a turntable. The Ribbon controller can also be used for realtime control of any parameter you care to assign to it.
The SU700 also comes with a built-in Yamaha-quality (that is to say, totally pro level all the way) Multi-Effects Processor which allows you to use up to three effects at any given time. You can select from 43 superb-sounding effects ranging from spacious Reverbs, whooshing Phasers, and mind-crushing Distortions, to MIDI-synced Delays, guitar amp simulators and a totally over-the-top Auto Wah. Plus there’s a wild selection of deliciously bizarre effects such as Auto Synth, Techmod, and Digital Turntable. Want your groove to sound like it’s playing on the radio? Man, that effect is built right in, along with dozens of others that you’ve only dreamed about in the past. It’s absolutely everything you need to create a cutting-edge mix.
All of the knob movements, Pad hits, Scene buttons, Ribbon controller information and mute settings can be recorded with the SU700’s 42-track onboard sequencer. The Eight Scene Memory buttons allow you to store current knob settings, mute settings, and effect settings, all of which can be recalled with just one touch of a button. Eight Marker Memory locations offer a convenient way to instantly jump to different verses or breaks within a song. The SU700 even comes standard with a BPM counter which you can tap to set the sequencer to your desired tempo.
And did I mention the bright, four-color fluorescent display that makes working even in dim light a pleasure? To save your songs the SU700 comes with an internal floppy disk drive, or you can purchase the optional SCSI board to save your files to an external hard drive or Zip disk (which are now almost ridiculously inexpensive — you probably already own one or more). The Sampling Factory will even import AIFF files and any samples created in Akai format, giving you access to a fantastic range of sounds and effects before you even begin doing your own thing.
With all these features and a full 64 notes of polyphony (this is really important because some other rhythm machines limit you to just 8 or 16 notes of polyphony, so you can run out of voices awfully fast), you’re really only limited by your own imagination. No longer is the hardware standing in your way on the path of rhythmic overload as it once did.
Today, with the Ya-maha SU700, you can create any style groove within a matter of minutes. And what’s more, this machine can be used as a stand alone remixing workstation: Sample verses, choruses and breaks from material you’ve already written, then arrange them any way you like. If the sampled phrases have different tempos — get this — the SU700 will automatically adjust them to match any tempo you choose. Is that mind-blowing enough for you? It is for me!
Want some additional information? Better still, want an SU700 of your own? Well — dumb question — who wouldn’t? My guess is that even guys with astrophysics degrees can make some awesome music with this beast. So why wait? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more info (there’s lots more I haven’t even gotten into here) plus special low pricing on this ultra-creative, supremely inspirational workhorse. — Gary Phillips