Today’s samplers are immensely powerful, sophisticated devices capable of accurately recreating almost any sound. But if you’re craving a total change and want to experience the gritty sound and nostalgic vibe of early 8-bit sampling, the Amigo Sampler is a super fun plugin that’s definitely worth checking out.

The Birth of Home Sampling

Sampling has become second nature in modern music production, but back in the late ’80s, it was nothing short of revolutionary. At the time, most sampling devices were prohibitively expensive for home producers. However, advances in home computing offered a more accessible option.

As the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 gave way to a new wave of computers—namely the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga—music production at home became increasingly viable. The Atari ST gained popularity for its integration with Steinberg’s Cubase, while the Commodore Amiga introduced a groundbreaking 8-bit sampler and sequencer called OctaMED. This sampler, embraced by early jungle producers, is the inspiration behind the Amigo Sampler—a fantastic tribute to that iconic era.

The original Amiga computer

Amigo Overview

One glance at the Amigo plugin, and you’re transported straight to the early ’90s. Its blocky, bold retro styling screams nostalgia, but don’t let its dated appearance fool you—this plugin is packed with some neat, highly usable features.

Sample sound

At the heart of the Amigo Sampler is its accurate recreation of the OctaMED sound. It even lets you reduce the sampling rates to acquire just the right levels of lo-fi goodness—or, decreased levels of fi. Note that altering the sample rate isn’t done in real-time and requires processing, but it’s worth the wait.

An Interpolation button allows you to smooth out harsh distortion and aliasing typically associated with lower sample rates. This feature can then be automated, letting you use it creatively within your arrangements.

Old skool timestretch

One standout feature of the Amigo is its recreation of the early Akai time-stretch effect. Unlike today’s smooth, refined time-stretching, this granular-style effect produces wonderfully gritty results—think Fatboy Slim’s iconic “Funk Soul Brother” vocal stretches.

For additional glitchy goodness, the Amigo includes a real-time phase effect that creates similar time-stretching style phased artifacts, adding to its retro appeal.

Sample Chopping/Editing

The Amigo makes chopping samples a breeze. You can either double-click to set slices manually or use the auto slice mode, which detects transients for precision slicing. After chopping, you can choose between two playback modes:

  • Trigger Mode: Each slice stops playing when the next one begins.
  • Thru Mode: Each slice continues playing through to the end of the original sample.

This flexibility is especially handy for programming breakbeats. The wave editor also includes a “show selection” button for quickly selecting and zooming in on specific sections for fine editing—a small but thoughtful touch.

Another neat feature is pong looping, where the sample reverses direction at the loop point. This creates seamless, sweeping pad sounds perfect for atmospheric effects and textures.

Cool Chord feature

For true ’90s rave vibes, the Amigo packs a fantastic resampling feature. You can record yourself holding down a chord made up of single notes, and the sampler saves it as a new chord sample to replay in your track. This re-pitched chord technique was a cornerstone of early jungle and rave music.

Add in the Amigo’s glide function, and you can slide these chord samples around for even more creative possibilities. It even supports poly-gliding, which opens the door to some truly unique sound design.

More to Explore

The Amigo Sampler isn’t just about its retro charm. It also includes all the standard features you’d expect from a software sampler: envelopes, velocity control, reverse playback, and more. However, the real magic lies in its simplicity. All of its retro-inspired features are instantly accessible via the intuitive user interface, making it a joy to use.

For a full demo of the Amigo Sampler, check out the video below:

video courtesy of Groovin in G

Summary

At just £10, the Amigo Sampler is an absolute steal. If you’re itching to dive into the gritty, raw sound of early ’90s jungle and rave music, this plugin is a dream come true. Just load up some Amen or Think drum breaks, and you’re halfway there.

That said, its appeal isn’t limited to jungle or rave. The Amigo’s unique sound also works brilliantly in genres like hip-hop, lo-fi, and breakbeat—essentially any style that thrives on a raw, hard-hitting edge.

So, what are you waiting for? Step back in time and experience the magic of the Amigo Sampler.

The Amiga Sampler can be purchased here: https://potenzadsp.com/plugins/amigo/

Remember – RouteNote Create subscriptions start from as little as $2.99. You also get 10 FREE credits to spend on samples along with access to our FREE sample pack bundle when you sign-up!

try freE