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Description

Experience the legendary sampling prowess of the Roland S-330, a cornerstone in the realm of audio samplers that has captivated DJs and producers since its inception. Designed with a focus on versatility and precision, the S-330 provides a robust sampling platform that remains relevant for both vintage sound enthusiasts and modern music creators. This classic sampler is equipped with a powerful 12-bit sampling engine, delivering a warm and punchy sound that has become synonymous with Roland's legacy.

The S-330 offers a user-friendly interface, allowing musicians to easily navigate through its comprehensive features. With its real-time performance capabilities, you can manipulate and shape your sounds on the fly, making it ideal for live performances and studio sessions alike. The sampler includes multiple outputs for flexible routing, and supports external MIDI control, ensuring seamless integration with your existing gear.

Whether you're looking to recreate iconic sounds or forge new sonic territory, the Roland S-330 stands as a testament to the enduring quality and innovation of Roland's engineering. Its reliability and distinctive sound continue to inspire a new generation of music producers and DJs.

Key Features:

  • 12-bit sampling for warm, vintage sound
  • Real-time performance capabilities
  • User-friendly interface for easy navigation
  • Multiple outputs for flexible routing
  • Supports external MIDI control
  • Comprehensive editing tools for sound shaping
  • Compatible with various Roland expansion cards

Product specs

Brand Roland
Model S-330 Digital Sampler
Finish Black
Year 1987 - 1988
Made In Japan
Categories Rackmount Synths, Samplers
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony 16 Voices

FAQs

What type of connectivity does the Roland S-330 Digital Sampler offer?

The Roland S-330 provides MIDI Input, Output, and Through connections, making it easy to integrate into existing MIDI setups and control other MIDI-compatible devices.

How many voices of polyphony does the Roland S-330 support?

The Roland S-330 Digital Sampler supports 16 voices of polyphony, allowing you to layer multiple samples and create complex arrangements.

Is the Roland S-330 suitable for live DJ performances?

While the Roland S-330 is primarily a studio tool due to its rackmount design, its MIDI connectivity and sampling capabilities can be creatively used in live DJ setups with additional equipment.

What is the main use case for the Roland S-330 Digital Sampler?

The Roland S-330 is designed for sampling and sound manipulation, making it ideal for producers and musicians looking to create unique sounds and textures in a digital format.

Can the Roland S-330 be integrated with modern DAWs?

Yes, the Roland S-330 can be integrated with modern DAWs through its MIDI connections, allowing you to trigger samples and control the sampler from your digital audio workstation.

SynthMania

SynthMania

A few classic Roland S-330 sounds

Video thumbnail for A few classic Roland S-330 sounds by SynthMania

A few classic Roland S-330 sounds

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for Pete Cannon 12bit Jungle Techno made on Amiga/Abelton/Roland s330 by n4 records

Pete Cannon 12bit Jungle Techno made on Amiga/Abelton/Roland s330

n4 records

n4 records

Video thumbnail for Two 12 bit jungle and hardcore tracks made with Roland s330 - Pete Cannon by n4 records

Two 12 bit jungle and hardcore tracks made with Roland s330 - Pete Cannon

n4 records

n4 records

Video thumbnail for Roland S-330 dark and dirty on Twitch by gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Roland S-330 dark and dirty on Twitch

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Video thumbnail for Roland S-330 w. USB Floppy emulator (FlashFloppy HxC Compatible) *Poor man's CMI Fairlight* by D R

Roland S-330 w. USB Floppy emulator (FlashFloppy HxC Compatible) *Poor man's CMI Fairlight*

D R

D R

Video thumbnail for Roland S-330 dark and dirty jam by gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Roland S-330 dark and dirty jam

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Video thumbnail for Connecting a Roland S-330 Sampler To a HDMI TV or Monitor and display the Roland Menu in Colour. by Retro Computer Shack

Connecting a Roland S-330 Sampler To a HDMI TV or Monitor and display the Roland Menu in Colour.

Retro Computer Shack

Retro Computer Shack

Video thumbnail for LO-FI SlowTek 12 bit sampler Roland S-330 by Miami Nites

LO-FI SlowTek 12 bit sampler Roland S-330

Miami Nites

Miami Nites

Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roland S330

soundonsound.com

The Roland S-330 sampler, with its powerful resonant filter and modulation capabilities, offers a creative playground for musicians seeking a unique, vintage sound. Its eight polyphonic outputs and support for monitor and mouse enhance usability, making it a standout option for trip-hop, ambient, and techno. However, its limited sample memory and reliance on outdated hardware like specific monitors and mice can be cumbersome. Despite these caveats, the S-330 is a valuable second-hand find, praised for its reliability and distinctive audio character, offering great value compared to pricier alternatives like the Akai S950.

positive

Roland S330 (MT Aug 88)

muzines.co.uk

The Roland S-330 is a budget-friendly sampler that punches above its weight with excellent 16-bit sound quality and impressive flexibility for its price range. Its 12-bit sampling, paired with a 16-bit output, delivers rich audio without excessive filtering, maintaining the sonic integrity of your samples. The S-330’s intuitive interface and ease of use, especially when paired with a mouse, makes it a surprisingly efficient tool for sound creation and editing. However, it falls short with its reliance on a monitor for full functionality, a non-standard RGB output, and some minor construction issues like a fixed mains lead and phono outputs. Despite these quirks, its robust build and advanced features make it a standout choice for musicians seeking quality sampling without breaking the bank. Overall, the reviewer was impressed, even purchasing a unit for personal use.

positive

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Roni Size uses Roland S-330

Roni Size

Music Producer

...
Verified via Native Instruments Blog

"So we had the S330, a Tascam reel-to-reel, a Studiomaster desk, a Kawai sound module, Notator, and a set of NS10s. That was the sound."

See how Noriyuki Iwadare uses Roland S-330

Noriyuki Iwadare

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Twitter

"Oh~~,I had an S-330. "

See how Guy Sigsworth uses Roland S-330

Guy Sigsworth

Composer, Music Producer

Frou Frou

...
Verified via Soundonsound

"I first got a Roland sampler, an S330, and even when I did Seal's first album, a lot of the sounds people think were synths were samples that I was processing with filters and stuff." - from March 2001 issue of Sound On Sound magazine.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland S-330, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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compilerbau

compilerbau

Gear IQ 208

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