basics, that you are overlooking, the sampler is just a computer that samples your audio and plays back, if you would like to keep your samples you must save them to a hard drive or such... just like your computer.. if you are typing a word document and half way through typing you just reach and push the power button, you lose everything right? becuase you havent save it to any hard drive or floppy disk.. same rules apply here..

there is a connnector on the back of the js-30 called a scsi connector .scsi is ideal for transfer large size file (like audio) back and forth between machines..

You may need a Zip drive, one that is a scsi type..

ON the back on my js-30 I have three separate drives connected: 1) One Iomega SCSI zip drive 2) One 650 Meg Hard Drive (scsi of course) 3) and finally a SCSI CD-rom drive so i can load and use AKAI and Roland sampling CDs

as you can see you can have alot of drives connected to just that one connector on the back..it is real powerful shit.. once everything is figured out..

I have three samplers Akai S2000, the Roland js30 and a ROland S-550

each one has strengths and weaknesses. So it is only fair to tell you that the js-30 isnt going to do everything for you.. if you are looking to buy a sampler that does everything... prepare to spend 2 or 3 grand easily.

but what the JS-30 (In my opinion) does better than any other sampler I have used recently is this:

Sampling loops on the fly.. two buttons to push, and you can sample anything from the radio to a CD, to your dog farting.

i have two vinyl turntables routed through my js30 so i can mix samples over top a record playing..and i can lift samples fromthe music instantaneously.

There was a problem with the original line of js30... the operating system had a problem recognizing Zip drives when connected to the back, which isn't surprising, since Zip drive didnt even exist when the js30 came out.

there is a operating system upgrade that was available as a chip you installed.. which fixed this problem..i bought mine with the chip already installed .. so mine works with Zips fine..

also, there was a memory upgrade that was available.. if you have the fulll maxed out memory (about 4megs) thenyou can sample up to 45 seconds at high resolution, I dont know how much experience you have with bit rates.. so i will save not saying things you might not understand and just say if you have memory upgrade already, you can sample for 45 seconds in high quality,, and 90 secs in low quality mode.. but i wouldnt use the low quality mode because the sound is really really bad,

if you DONT have the memory upgrade (meaning the stock model) then you can sample I believe 13 seconds in high quality mode and 26 in low mode..

as i said it isnt the sampler that does everything.. but once you discover what it can do... well it is my favorite sampler because it is easily the easiest and fastest smapler to use.. once you use it live in front of a crowd...and you dont have time to screw around with settings, you learn how cool adn powerful this thing is..

what i feel are the strongest points of the sampler: -it can sample drum loops fast and simple requiring minimal adjustments -it is perfect for vocal snippets into music, "lemme see ya, lemma see ya, sha-sha-shake-shake them t-t-tities-tities" and vocal effects like that..

I used to hook it up to my radio, and sample hip hop breaks right from the radio and them use that to build a song from.

i know that i rambled some here.. i just wanted to tell you that i think that this sampler is cool as shit.. if you have a hard time getting into new equipment then it does seem like a pain.. but I found this sampler to be easier to use and setting up than most.

just get yourself or barrrow from a friend a SCSI zip drive.. and check to see if it works first.. because if it DOESNT work than you know that you dont have teh latest operating system which fixes the zip bug..

if it doesnt work then you may want to take it back.. becuase finding that upgrade is probably close to nil...

but if it does work.. than check to see how long your sample time is.. push the button that says 'time remaining' if it says 45 secs..then your memory is maxxed out.. if it is not maxed out.. you can find the memory upgrade.. but it may not be easy..

if those two things i mentioned are fine..then keep it.. becuase the box is sweet.. once you can get used to it..

hope that helps you out

jonathan

the kids are getting freaky at http://www.junofish.com