You have to NOT look at it like any other sampler, but as a drum machine more than anything to appreciate the 2MB. The MKI MD's let you store up to 32 samples in that 2MB, and the MKII's let you store up to 48 I believe. Also, the MD only let's you use 12bit samples (the C6 app that transfers samples to the MD converts them for you), so that helps as well. So it's very easy to fit all 32 samples you might want in there IMO. For instance, in my MD I have 4 kicks, 4 snares, 4 open high hats, 4 closed high hats, a ride, crash, 3 bass samples, a couple chord samples, 6 synth samples, and a couple random samples in there, and I'm only using half the sample memory available.
You definitely can't compare it to something like EXS24 though, entirely different kinds of samplers. It's hard to explain because on paper 2MB looks tiny, but once you get it and start using it, you realize it's a lot actually. Provided of course you're not looking for an MPC replacement. You need to think of it more like an old school drum machine like the emu SP1200, which is inded where they got the idea for the 2MB from.
The other benefit of the UW option is the RAM machines. These let you record external audio, or the main outs of the MD internally, and then do all sorts of neat audio tricks with the audio. For instance I use my MD in my DJ sets as a loop sampler sometimes, capturing up to 2 bars of audio and then tweaking it, retriggering it, resampling it further, etc. RAM machines are LOADS of fun.
Here's a Tips and Tricks guide I made for the MD, it might give you an idea of how much depth this machine has:
http://tarekith.com/assets/machinedrum_ ... tricks.htm
It's really hard to try and tell someone why they should get the UW option when it seems so expensive, and yet 95% of Machinedrum users will say it's essential. Elektron has approached the idea of drum sampling from a really unique perspective, and once people start to play with it and 'get it', it'll really open up loads of new doors for your sounds.
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