Roland SP-303 vs. Ensoniq EPS 16+

Hi!

Another thread in which you can say something about those two machines.
The problem is I have the MPC 2500, S950 and EPS16+ atm, lately I've been watching a lot of beat making vids made with the SP303.

My question is which machine is better ? The EPS16+ or the SP303. I can have both but I could sell the EPS to buy the SP303.

Please help me with this one since I have no knowledge on Roland gear!


Thanks a lot

Considering your set up I would keep the EPS16+ if it is the keyboard version.
Which is better...well I have never used an SP303...but they are totally
different style of machines keys vs. pads.

I think you can be a big boy and decide this yourself...if you prefer using loops
as opposed to playing melodies the SP303 might work for you. But your 2500
has this covered.

You are simply suffering from a disease called gear lust

yo dont just buy because you can. rather think what would most help you express your compositions. all these samplers do the same thing in terms of the big picture...

Keep the EPS, no question. SP303 are fun to play around with but wont help you much since you already have an MPC.

Yeah if you have an MPC the SP-303 is gonna be pretty useless, besides effects.

Get the sp303 and let it work with your MPC side by side.

It's gonna be quite hard to adjust to the SP-303's sequencer. Think thoroughly about this, don't buy either of the machines on impulse, you might regret it.

There's no way I'd take the SP over the EPS 16+ unless portability was a major issue. The Ensoniq was of the first machines I used and is very intuitive and really easy to make tracks with.

The SP series definitely has its place and gets a lot of attention from links with Madlib, etc. Obviously scores over the EPS 16+ in terms of portability and there are some nice FX in the SP series too.

G4s

The only sampler I'd get rid of and EPS 16+ for would be an ASR-10!

The sequencer on the 303 is a multitrack one, kind of like setting one sequence on your MPC to 50 bars and layering samples as it loops just to create a song. I believe thats what Doglamp means, because the mpc can work with multiple sequences to make a song. But as an assistant to the MPC, the 303 provides effects and the multi-layering in the sequence brings out creativity as well as natural sounding music.

But thats just me.

kneebone77 wrote:The only sampler I'd get rid of and EPS 16+ for would be an ASR-10!

dogma

The 303 could be your effects processor and sampler, leave the sequencing to the MPC. This little sampler packs a punch but its features could be achieved with any d.a.w. Sampling with long on the 303 produces a nice dirty tone that could come in handy to dirty up your drums. Again you could do a lot of the 303 features with any D.A.W. I bought one because i want to challenge myself and see if i could make beats on such a limited machine. I believe that it is a standard for experimentalist hip hop beat makers. That is why many guys like Flying Lotus, Madlib, Ras G, MF DOOM, Panda Bear get down on them. The 404 looks cool too. Think hard before you buy gear don't let gear lust get to you.

yeah man you don't really need one

you could get one just for the tape sym compression, or to run any of your gear through it for the filter or any of the other effects...sometimes I make a beat all in the MPC and run it through the 404 for the compression to get it pumping and record from the 404 to the DAW...sounds good to me

but that's just if the money is burning a hole in your pocket or you have a lot of loot

kneebone77 wrote:The only sampler I'd get rid of and EPS 16+ for would be an ASR-10!

Me too. The EPS is a sampling workstation with a 5 octave keyboard & pretty dope mutitrack sequencer. Any working Ensoniq equipment should take rank over a looped based sampler. It's not a slag on the SP303. I've gear lusted the SP303 myself, but EPS... &16+?, no less.

Good luck.

There's no way I'd take the SP over the EPS 16+ unless portability was a major issue.

Hmm....IMO, the EPS will never leave the lab. You can load every beat from your mp into the sp and take it to live shows. The effects are dope....SP303 hands down.

But I would never sell the EPS to get a SP303. Id just buy the 303 and keep the EPS.

If you want to trade Ive got a 303.......Been looking for an asr but ive had no luck. Ive heard the EPS has MAJOR midi problems and I would def wnt to be midi'ing the EPS/ASR to the MP.......Maybe EPS16+ not for me?