Do you want to get the sound of those classic samplers in your DAW? The Sampler Crunch Impulse Response library turns Logic’s Space Designer (and other convolution plug-ins that can import WAV files) into lo-fi sound generators. I’ve captured the sound of 14 classic old-school hardware samplers at different sample rates and input levels. The effects range from very lo-fi 8-bit/9 kHz and 12-bit/6 kHz sampling frequencies to more or less clean 16-bit/48 kHz stereo hi-fi. Reverbs from samplers with built-in FX processors (Akai S1100, E-mu E4XT Ultra and Ensoniq EPS16+) have been captured too.
New samplers in the 2025 update are:
Akai MPC60
Korg DSS-1
Roland S-10
Casio SK-1
Akai S950 through the analog filters of the Akai AX73 synthesizer
The MPC60 has also been recorded through classic recording gear: the Neve 1073DPX and Rupert Neve Designs Shelford channel strips, API 3124V pre-amp and the Tascam M-312B mojo mixer, captured at different EQ settings (over 500 IR’s!).
The Korg DSS-1 synth/sampler hybrid has a fantastic sounding analog filter and a built-in digital delay. Filter captured at different settings (LP cutoff and resonance) and delay at different BPM’s and rhythmic variations.
The Akai S950 can be connected to the Akai AX73 analog synth, so samples can run through its analog filters. I made a big collection of IR’s of this combo with different settings (LP cutoff and resonance) and multiple sample rates on the S950.
The 8-bit Casio SK series (SK-1, SK-200 and SK-2100) collection has been renewed and the SK-1 has been added (old SK-200 and SK-2100 are still included). In addition to the new line in and built-in mic IR’s I added IR’s using other dynamic mics (Shure SM57, Sennheiser MD421 and MD441 mics).
The Roland S-10 sampling keyboard is also new to the collection, captured at different levels and sample rates (15K, 7K and downsampled 3,5K).
Last addition in the 2025 update: in the Ensoniq EPS16+ collection I’ve replaced some of the lower sample rate IR’s (now with better filter settings).
|
Sampler model
|
Number of IRs
|
|---|---|
|
Akai MPC60
|
528
|
|
Akai S950
|
48
|
|
Akai S950 > AX73
|
204
|
|
Akai S1000
|
12
|
|
Akai S1100
|
46 (including reverbs)
|
|
Casio SK-1
|
6
|
|
Casio SK-200
|
8
|
|
Casio SK-2100
|
8
|
|
E-mu E4XT Ultra
|
52 (including reverbs)
|
|
Ensoniq EPS16+
|
27 (including reverbs)
|
|
Korg DSS-1
|
242
|
|
Roland S-10
|
12
|
|
Roland S-550
|
6
|
|
Roland S-750
|
16
|
|
Yamaha TX16W
|
18
|
Total 1,203 IR’s!
The Sampler Crunch library also contains all the impulse responses as WAV files for other convolution plug-ins.
If you haven’t got Logic Pro and want to use the Sampler Crunch in another DAW and you haven’t got a convolution plug-in, take a look at the Impulse Record Convology XT plug-in. The basic version is freeware. It recognizes the wave IR’s directly without need for importing them first.
User reviews:
‘I still own several of these older samplers and your IR’s are dead on. I can confirm that they sound so close as to be identical with the original outputs.’ – DJBuddhaBear on KVR Forum
‘quite an effective method to get very close to that classic sound’ – Sound Signals Youtube user review
Preset Walkthrough
Examples:
The IR’s work great on almost all tracks/ instruments, but they excel on drum loops! It’s very easy to get that classic, golden area of hiphop sound (esp. with the S950 lower rate settings). Here are some examples:
Acoustic drumloop
808 drumloop
Real S950 vs IR S950
Real MPC60 vs IR MPC60
Here’s a customer review by ‘Sound Signals’ of the Sampler Crunch library:
Other Legacy Sound products:
Roland Juno-60 sample pack for Logic Pro
Roland RD-1000 sample pack for Logic Pro and Steinberg HALion
