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If this can be programmed to work as an MSX mouse I could finally attach a mouse to the Roland S-330 sampler I bought used 25 years ago. I really, really wante

by Lio 6y ago

If this can be programmed to work as an MSX mouse I could finally attach a mouse to the Roland S-330 sampler I bought used 25 years ago. I really, really wanted one back in the day but could never find one for a sensible price. At the time they were like rocking horse crap. EDIT: Doh! Just looked on ebay for the price of a real MSX mouse and the first result is a USB-to-MSX converter specifically mentioning Roland samplers. I guess I can't have been that desperate for one. The company making these also has Amiga/ST versions too. http://www.kmtech.co.uk/ http://www.kmtech.co.uk/ Might be a cheaper option than MouSTer but not as neat and pretty.

jojobas 6y ago
Other than for nostalgic value, is an S-330 better at anything than your garden variety tablet?
- deleted 6y ago
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- Lio 6y ago
  Well strictly speaking it's probably worse than a virtual sampler on a tablet as it's a 12-bit sampler with just 30 seconds of sample time available at the highest quality. Mine also only has floppy discs to load it's OS and samples from. I believe you can retro fit an SD card reader in place of the disc drive. On the plus side, it does have 8 outputs, which is handy for drums as you can send different samples to different channels and effects. It has a distinctive sound due to being 12 bit and having good filters that you can tweak over midi. It's somewhat similar to a W30 keyboard but in a rack mount and without the sequencer or SCSI. You can "cheat" with the sample time by making multiple virtual copies of sounds and having them automatically play forward and then reverse in a loop. There's no time stretch as such but it's possible to split a drum break in that way, assign a virtual sample to each beat and push and pull the tempo. Not sure I'd recommend anyone buy one over just getting software these days but I have it, and it's fun to use occasionally in a retro way.
tyingq 6y ago
There's a DIY page to adapt a PS/2 mouse to a Roland Sampler. Uses a PIC16, and the wiring looks straightforward. http://synpro.heimat.eu/mousecon.htm http://synpro.heimat.eu/mousecon.htm

by Lio 6y ago

jojobas 6y ago

Other than for nostalgic value, is an S-330 better at anything than your garden variety tablet?

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
Lio 6y ago
Well strictly speaking it's probably worse than a virtual sampler on a tablet as it's a 12-bit sampler with just 30 seconds of sample time available at the highest quality. Mine also only has floppy discs to load it's OS and samples from. I believe you can retro fit an SD card reader in place of the disc drive. On the plus side, it does have 8 outputs, which is handy for drums as you can send different samples to different channels and effects. It has a distinctive sound due to being 12 bit and having good filters that you can tweak over midi. It's somewhat similar to a W30 keyboard but in a rack mount and without the sequencer or SCSI. You can "cheat" with the sample time by making multiple virtual copies of sounds and having them automatically play forward and then reverse in a loop. There's no time stretch as such but it's possible to split a drum break in that way, assign a virtual sample to each beat and push and pull the tempo. Not sure I'd recommend anyone buy one over just getting software these days but I have it, and it's fun to use occasionally in a retro way.

tyingq 6y ago

There's a DIY page to adapt a PS/2 mouse to a Roland Sampler. Uses a PIC16, and the wiring looks straightforward. http://synpro.heimat.eu/mousecon.htm http://synpro.heimat.eu/mousecon.htm