SU200

Back in 2000, this compact powerhouse hit the scene as Yamaha's go-to for DJs and live performers craving instant groove remixing, with a ribbon controller that lets you scratch samples like a turntable right on your desktop.

At its core, it's a digital sampler with 896KB memory holding up to 24 samples across 8 velocity-sensitive silicone pads in 3 banks, delivering 6-voice polyphony for layering loops and hits. Sample stereo or mono via mic or line inputs at rates from pristine 44.1kHz (42 seconds mono) down to gritty 5.5125kHz (333 seconds mono), with auto BPM sync to match tempos perfectly—no pitch shift needed. Twist the two real-time knobs for hands-on control over effects like resonant low-pass filter, tempo-synced Delay, nasty Distortion/Lo-Fi, rhythmic Slice patterns, LFO-style Tech Mod, and Loop Remix for fresh variations; resample your tweaks on the fly. The backlit LCD keeps everything clear, and it's portable at 257x210x62mm and just 830g, runnable on batteries or AC with SmartMedia card storage for WAV export.

Over the years, players have praised its speedy workflow for live sampling and solid audio quality on drums or vocals, though some note the filter isn't the deepest and there's no step sequencer for complex beats.