Sampler for a drumkat

[Morechips]

Akai Z4 or Z8, they both come up on ebay often enough at very reasonable prices. Why....up to 512mb ram (enough for the entire set!?), often have internal drives, USB x 2 (you can save to a stick via one port, so backing up the HD to a few USB sticks is easy) and super easy editing and saving to your computer via Aksys. Aksys is excellent BTW!

Also, for percussives the sound on the Z series is great, very clear and cuts through. Tons of weird modulation options as well.

[bitleyTM]

Korg Electribe ESX1. Very fun to work with. No velocity switching though...

[CRASHBOX]

I'd rethink the laptop. I don't think anything can match the ultimate flexibility. I run Logic, and it includes a great sampler (EXS) and massive sample library, AND offers endless plugs of convolution reverbs, compressors, etc... and an onboard mixer with monitor sends. You can preset rigs for individual songs, and could save eq settings for specific venues. It's upgradable and won't discontinue support(unlike hardware). Just saying.

[Reptil]

hmmm I use mine with my MPC-1000, this works fine, but the XT is hooked up mostly as a controller for software (BFD2 Kontakt)

if you're going to use it standalone I'd grab a large, capable sampler.

I've tried the laptop (MBP) route before, but if you're going there, also get a (very good) midi interface, and converters, since the stock i/o is unsuitable for serious production.
The advantage of updating it, contrary to disconinuation? That's for me exactly the ARGUMENT NOT TO GET A LAPTOP! Please let me explain: The turnover in production cycles (laptop models produced) is very high. After 4 years no one supports your laptop anymore. When you get it, grab all the software you need, since updating it 4 years along the road is NOT AN OPTION - you cannot expect the software 4 years from now to be compatible with present laptops.
Also a professional rack sampler (when cared for) will last a decade or more, laptops? Not so much. Built for consumers. (2-4 year lifespan) So?? For software and upgrades, IMO the hardware sampler and laptop are equal. Ease of use? It depends... a big screen is nice to edit on, laptop wins. But on stage or in a rack the sampler is a hell of a lot more usable than a finnicky laptop, with PSU, midi converters etc. hanging out, ppl. spilling drinks into it, it's vulnerable and the sampler in the rack is not - sampler wins. As for sound? Equal IMHO. Price/functions? Sampler wins: a good quality complete laptop setup will cost 4000$ at the very least (incl. converters, midi, software) but you can use it for production, website, artdesign, administration. So it has it's uses.

My first choice would be an Emu. (E4XT Ultra or simular Synthony Music's Synth & Midi Museum ) Add a BCR2000 for the CC controls and you got yourself a setup. Advantage of the MPC series is of course the built in sequencer. But the Z series Akai mentioned above, would be nice as well. There's a couple of Yamaha I'd also look at.

I'd advise against the iPad. getting midi into it is not timing accurate.
Also, I have an electribe ES-1. It's great, but there's no control over individual samples (envelope, trim etc.)

[bitleyTM]

I've got an e-mu ultra as well, but I'd get crazy if I'd actually have to use it. ESX brought back all the fun with hardware sampling for my taste.

[Reptil]

of course. but if you want to make a great drumkit, with velocity switching, polyphonic etc. ?????? GOOD LUCK WITH IT.
if it's just "some" controller, no problem. but the DrumKAT is a very capable, expensive control surface. Hooking up an electribe to it would be equal to buying a ferrari to go to the supermarket around the corner. nice shopping car!

[bitleyTM]

Hehe. Yes, but I think it could do lots of other things that could be midi controlled (the ESX, that is) but I've not studied its midi implementation though. Built in flash storage too which is handy anyway.

[CRASHBOX]

I hear where you're coming from. For the record, I would never bring a four grand Mac to a club gig. My Mac desktop runs 24 tracks heavy laden with waves plugs and virtual instruments day in and day out and it's seven years old.

People overestimate the processing needed to run a single iteration of a virtual sampler and maybe an effect or two. My wife has a 10 year old Mac laptop from school that would probably do fine, and it's probably not worth more than 200 or so. Yes, you would need a digital converter, but there are loads of one or two channel units out there used, many well under 100 dollars, even for FireWire. Bottom line is you could totally do it on the cheap, but I understand, you're more comfortable with hardware.

[Morechips]

A 'soft sampler' dedicated computer is also a great option, you just have to figure in a decent soundcard with midi. I recommend PCI for fast midi response and the RME multiface 1 or 2 fits the bill for both decent sound and great midi handling.

Re the Z4/8 - If hardware is your chosen route then these samplers really are the best choice for all round ease of use. My second choice would be the Akai S5000 or S6000, these also work with Aksys but they don't have USB as standard unlike the Z series. For approx 2 to 3 times the price of a Z4 you could also pick up an MPC4000 which has the same sampling engine as the Z4/8.

IMO durability/reliability is a mute point when choosing between a computer or hardware sampler for live triggering use, the choice should be based upon your preferred workflow. Care needs to be taken with either option