Categories: Audio Samplers vs. Production and Groove

To me, the Audio Samplers category would encompass all rack samplers (Akai S Series, Emu E series, etc) and Production and Groove would be any drum machine primarily geared towards sampling or any sampling keyboard with a robust sequencer (Akai MPC Series, Emu SPs, Ensoniq ASRs, etc).

Right now, we've got MPCs in both categories, the Boss SP sample boxes under samplers, the Electron Samplers in both... it's a mess.

Does anyone object to dramatically thinning out the "Audio Samplers" category to only include samplers that don't also sequence?

OR... maybe these 2 categories and the drum machine category should get a re-think before any changes are made?

I think it should get a re-think. I hate that the Drum Machines category is under DJ gear, that makes zero sense.

I am up for merging and/or cleaning this up FOR SURE but let's discuss because if there are a lot of items to be moved over, it might be more efficient for us to whip up a little script to do it in bulk.

I agree with what you are saying.

The Audio Samplers category should just be standalone & rack samplers (Akai S Series, Emu E series, etc). Basically, anything that is just for sampling and does not have a sequencer.

Then Production and Groove would be Sampling Drum Machines, Sampling Keyboards, and Groove Boxes with built-in sequencing (Akai MPC Series, Emu SPs, Ensoniq ASRs, etc).

I think it should get a re-think. I hate that the Drum Machines category is under DJ gear, that makes zero sense.

I am up for merging and/or cleaning this up FOR SURE but let's discuss because if there are a lot of items to be moved over, it might be more efficient for us to whip up a little script to do it in bulk.

I am a DJ and I agree that Drum Machines and Groove Boxes are not DJ gear :P

I am up for merging and/or cleaning this up FOR SURE but let's discuss because if there are a lot of items to be moved over, it might be more efficient for us to whip up a little script to do it in bulk.

ok, great... because manually re-sorting everything was gonna be tedious, lol.

Per you and DJ_K9, I agree drum machines seem like an odd fit under DJ. All 3 categories should be under the same parent category.

Per you and DJ_K9, I agree drum machines seem like an odd fit under DJ. All 3 categories should be under the same parent category.

Can you lay out the new category tree you're envisioning in a "explain like I'm 5" kinda way? A visual might be easier just so we can get buy-in from as many people as possible.

I could, but what I was reacting to this morning was just "this is inconsistent, how could we make things more consistent?"... but if we're talking about reshuffling categories, I feel like we'd need your input/guidance from the business/site-traffic side first.

Is it to the site's advantage to have a multitude of sub-categories to keep individual category sizes manageable and allow more items to get a high category ranking?... or would merging categories have little impact on current traffic and SEO?

Why do I ask? Because both Reverb and Sweetwater just have a "Drum Machines and Samplers" category, with all pure drum machines. and all sampling drum machines smushed together. Then sampling keyboards and rack samplers are merged in with regular synths and rack synths, respectively. So samplers that aren't also drum machines/groove boxes don't even have a category.

The above would represent the fewest sub-categories possible. Site-wide, EB tends to favor more sub categories, not less... and if more sub-categories are best for the site, then I'll stick to that and just lay out a re-org without adding or shrinking the total number of sub categories.

Drum machines probably should go under studio equipment. I’d say merge production & groove into audio samplers, but production & groove devices often include sequencers, too…

a groove box might not sample or do drums... look at the circuit monostation, arguably a groovebox because one of its sequencers can be used to send your groove to any other device with the proper connections... or the korg electribe stuff...where's the line between 303 and groovebox? you can defintiely have a bass groove... not strictly a drum groove