Finally got round to A/B'ing my Akai S3200XL and Emu E6400 Ultra, could always hear a difference instinctively but I've never done an actual test like this before.

Quite an eye (ear) opener....

Both were fed the exact same samples, via the same soundcard/patch bay inputs, etc. Both recorded at the same level (no clipping), in stereo, at their highest sampling rate. Both were normalised by pretty much the same amount.

The first sample to play is the Akai, each time this is followed by the Emu.

I love the sound of both of them, but after this I've got to admit I'm still just kind of into that hardness and punch of the Akai. Even the stereo imaging seems to be really quite different, depending on the pitch though - it's weird how one will sound 'better' at playing back a sound on certain key ranges, and then not so good at others.

Before tonight I had it in my head that I'd be using the Akai for drums/bass but as I get into the Emu - I admit I'm pretty much just starting to learn my way around it at the moment - I'd probably start using it for bass much more, along with pads/atmospheric stuff/vocal, etc. But from what I've learned tonight, I think I've got a better idea of what I will be wanting the Emu to do, and in what pitch ranges and so on.

The modulation options are crazy compared to the Akai, plus I like all that handy 'let me trim/normailse that for you' stuff, but there's a thing with the sound there where sometimes it's almost like a thickening, chorus-y kind of vibe.... I love the sound of it on certain things, it's really heavy on character, but it just seems to lack that bit of rawness that I think gets me working more quickly with the Akai.

Vocals and more natural sounding instruments and stuff will prob be the things I'm gonna be chucking into the Ultra, then go to town with the weirdness of the filters, pitch modulation and the scope of the LFO's in general.

But as for the breaks and 808's etc..... I think I'll stick with my old mate :)

AKAI VS EMU SAMPLERS TEST 1

Wicked Jungle Records welcomes drum & bass veteran, Acid Lab back to the fold with the 'Curse / Electrical Impulses' single destined to tear up sets in the forthcoming months.

'Curse' drops hard-stepping breaks and deep pulsating bass tones accented by brain-searing, mentasm flashes and oppressive atmospherics to deliver an essential slice of pitch-black drum & bass.

The darkness continues with 'Electrical Impulses', which expertly combines dystopian, sci-fi elements with frantic, filtered amen breaks and menacing bassline.

Acid Lab's 'Curse / Electrical Impulses' heralds a new era of dark and uncompromising D&B which evokes the golden age of late nineties tech-step. Ensure you have a copy of this in your set list.

Acid Lab - Electrical Impulses (preview)

Acid Lab - Curse (preview)

Satellite EP

Vortex

>> Buy on Bandcamp <<

Esc & Mineral - Vortex [SUBB015]

We are very happy to welcome The Brownsville Breakbeat Wizard Krugah to the ICD fold for his debut Inner City Dance release.

Krugah is a once in a generation, stand alone artist whose unique take on Jungle / Drum & Bass is completely his own. We are honored to be releasing some of his music on our catalog.

These are two very special, distinctly one of a kind futuristic numbers that sound nothing like what is going on in the “big rooms” and cookie cutter productions of so much of current Drum & Bass.

This one is for those of you who really know tune.

From Toronto To The 'Ville, Making The Blood Spill.

BROW-BROW-BROW-BROW-BROWNSVILLE!

Krugah - To The Future - ICD 046

Vinyl preorder: https://funback.bandcamp.com/album/funback-002-pre-order-ships-out-6th-may

John Rololdex steps up with some corkers for FUNBACK002, with an Amen cruncher laced with Krispy Krouton stabs and a thunderous sub bass. The flip takes things deeper and darker with a chunky cavernous stepper!

FUNBACK_002_AA_John Rolodex_Knife Drawer [vinyl preorder link in description]

Dope On Plastic Vol.01
Dope Plates [DOPE009]

A1. Sicknote & Dissect - The Law
A2. Chromatic - Freshly Squeezed
B1. Acid Lab & Alg0rh1tm - Insidious
B2. Dark Ops - Fly Away

Mastered and cut by Simon @ The Exchange

Bandcamp release date: 28th Feb 2020
General release: 13th March 2020

Available on digital and vinyl formats directly from www.losslessmusic.co.uk

Dope On Plastic Vol.01

Insidious

Acid Lab & Alg0rh1tm - Insidious [ Dope Plates 009 ]

Album artwork by Ilya Yasenkrasen Novikov using wood carving on stained plywood.

AKAI VS EMU SAMPLERS TEST 1

Programs In Memory