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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

1928.0. "Hand-held sample player "toy"?" by FGVAXX::LAING (Soft-Core-Cuddler*Jim Laing*261-2194) Fri Mar 03 1989 15:02

Here I go again, asking for an unusual device that probably doesn't exist....

Is there such thing as a small, simple, hand-held-size "sample player"?
I envision such a thing created cheaply (8-bit?) for use as a toy or "joke"
item.  Have you seen those "zappers" ... they mount in cars, or look like
beepers, and have "Death Ray" and other sounds.  You press a button and
get a sound.  I believe these gizmos generate the sounds electronically.
What would be nice is the equivalent of this, with say 10 or 12 sampled
"real" sounds.  Another gadget that did this w/o sampling technology is
the old "laugh bag" - remember these?
                                        
One company, Wersi, makes a small, hand-held sample recorder AND player,
but it only records one, 4-second burst of sound.  Casio has a few small
keyboards that sample and playback cheaply.  For such a device, you wouldn't
need high fidelity sounds ... I'm sure 8 bits would be more than enough.

Any idea how one could make such a gadget?  OR modify an existing item to
make it small/handheld?  

	-Jim
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1928.1TALK::HARRIMANHiHats from HellFri Mar 03 1989 15:3712
	Casio SK-1. Also aliases as a radio shack somethingortother.

	Small (14"x5"x2"), runs on batteries, got a speaker, even has
	a miniplug for your stereo (why, I don't want to know).

	Even does looping. 8 bit. $80. Cute toy, that's about all.

	I think we reviewed it here even. I suppose you could gut it and put
	it in a smaller case.

	/pjh
1928.2rule #1, never sample you bossHJUXB::LEGABug Busters IncorporatedSun Mar 05 1989 19:263
	The Sharper Image yuppie toy catalog had a pocket memo device
    	the size of a communicator (star trek) that sounds like what
    	your looking for.
1928.3How much $$$?FGVAXZ::LAINGSoft-Core-Cuddler*Jim Laing*261-2194Mon Mar 06 1989 14:377
    Re .2
    
    Thanks, this could be what I'm looking for.  How long a sample will
    it hold?  Price?  I'll have to visit the place, as I don't have
    a catalog.  Only holds one sample, I'd assume, right?
    
    	-Jim
1928.4call dir infoHJUXB::LEGABug Busters IncorporatedTue Mar 07 1989 10:187
    
    Call 800-555-1212, ask for "the sharper image".
    I saw the device a while ago, so they may not still have it.
    They also have stores in major metro areas, ask them.
    
    good luck,
    pete
1928.5Tttiiimmmeee Ssttrreettcchh !!WAR750::KAYDDon't touch that smile !Thu Mar 16 1989 03:3215
Akai do a portable sampler which looks like a Walkman (a Sampleman ??),
and features time-stretch sampling (or whatever it's called), whereby
you can play back a sample more slowly without the pitch changing. I
think the thing was designed for people trying to work out Eddie Van Halen
solos :-)

Unfortunately I don't have a clue what it's model no. is, or how much it
costs - such is life :-)

Hope this helps. Sorry for the late reply, but I've been in Austria 
skiing (pose pose) :-)

Cheers,

Derek