SP 303/404/505

yeah, another SP 303/404/505 thread

i am using a XL and looking for some effects. i've had the 303 for a long time, but its rca-outs are **** up now. my plan is to buy 2 sp's and use them for the 8 outs (lets say out 1/2-->sp 303, out 3/4-->sp 505). now i would mainly use one sp for compression and the other for filters, eq, ...
my question is: i liked the 303's vinyl sim but they getting expensive on ebay, how is that effect on the 505 or 404?

keep in mind that the xl is a little inflexible when it comes to 8 outs and stereo/mono samples.

so if you have a mono sample, you can send it out 1 OR 2, not both. so unless you are somehow summing to mono inside the sp, your mono sounds will only come out one side.

maybe they work different, but just something to think about for sure.

The Vinyl Sim on the 303 and 505 are the same but the 505's outputs are much quieter than the 303. I think the 404 doesn't even have vinyl sim, it was replaced with a dj effect.

You are better off with the 505, its basically the 303 but with more flexible features like Chop and Pitch, a screen, MIDI In and Out, 4 track sequencer and same 303 grime factor. In fact, it was once advertised by Boss that the 505 is a home/studio sampler and the 303 was for live gigs. You can even swap the smart media card from the 505 to the 303 without a hassle. They made it so you can chop and get technical with the 505 at home, then pull out the card and stick it in the 303 for shows.

Ill-Green wrote:The Vinyl Sim on the 303 and 505 are the same but the 505's outputs are much quieter than the 303. I think the 404 doesn't even have vinyl sim, it was replaced with a dj effect.

You are better off with the 505, its basically the 303 but with more flexible features like Chop and Pitch, a screen, MIDI In and Out, 4 track sequencer and same 303 grime factor. In fact, it was once advertised by Boss that the 505 is a home/studio sampler and the 303 was for live gigs. You can even swap the smart media card from the 505 to the 303 without a hassle. They made it so you can chop and get technical with the 505 at home, then pull out the card and stick it in the 303 for shows.

ok, thanks!

kaba wrote:

Ill-Green wrote:The Vinyl Sim on the 303 and 505 are the same but the 505's outputs are much quieter than the 303. I think the 404 doesn't even have vinyl sim, it was replaced with a dj effect.

You are better off with the 505, its basically the 303 but with more flexible features like Chop and Pitch, a screen, MIDI In and Out, 4 track sequencer and same 303 grime factor. In fact, it was once advertised by Boss that the 505 is a home/studio sampler and the 303 was for live gigs. You can even swap the smart media card from the 505 to the 303 without a hassle. They made it so you can chop and get technical with the 505 at home, then pull out the card and stick it in the 303 for shows.

ok, thanks!

Just a little remark: 404 has got Vinyl Sim and it works ALMOST in the same way it does on the 303/505 just a bit less emphatic.

More, the 505 it's advertised as having a Nominal Output of -10 dBu exactly as the 303. Anecdotically, though, the 505 is said to be a little less raw. So it could be that the frequency response is somehow different. That's hard to say without proper comparison over the same sample material and after proper volume staging. As well said above they share the same DSP, the same sample engine (minus the editing features) and the same AD/DA converters.

PEACE

I used to have the 808 and then the 303 and now i got a 404.Its a great unit and the vinyl fx works well.BUT why oh why does it not reverse and edit the mark/unmark function in real time?????it basically returns the sample to the start when you press reverse and also when you deactivate the mark loop feature.They fixed this back with the sx apparently.Apart from that its a good box i use a lot.

Don't know if you're dead set on the SP series, but if you want effects, check out the Ensoniq ASR-X.
My favorite sampler ever.....

dryad-66 wrote:I used to have the 808 and then the 303 and now i got a 404.Its a great unit and the vinyl fx works well.BUT why oh why does it not reverse and edit the mark/unmark function in real time?????it basically returns the sample to the start when you press reverse and also when you deactivate the mark loop feature.They fixed this back with the sx apparently.Apart from that its a good box i use a lot.

oh so you cant do the juggle pushing the reverse button repeatedly on the non sx version?

mr_debauch wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:I used to have the 808 and then the 303 and now i got a 404.Its a great unit and the vinyl fx works well.BUT why oh why does it not reverse and edit the mark/unmark function in real time?????it basically returns the sample to the start when you press reverse and also when you deactivate the mark loop feature.They fixed this back with the sx apparently.Apart from that its a good box i use a lot.

oh so you cant do the juggle pushing the reverse button repeatedly on the non sx version?

No.Real bummer.One of the best features as well......

Roland loves to cripple features, instead of evolutionizing a product. Why can't they just expand on features instead of cut and add. In fact, they should expand AND add features.

I await for the SP-333 though. . .

Hi All,
After a certain point, feature wise, it makes sense to get a MC909 instead of messing about with the Boss/ Roland SP series. Unless the size is an important factor.
The SP functions are in the MV8000/8800 and is the pad section on the roland Fantom S, X as well. You get so much more if you buy one of these other units instead of the SP. At the moment used MC909's can be had for $300. Used MV's for $200. Some of the SP's only have rca outs.
Unless you are getting the SP for less than $100 I don't really get why you would seek it out, considering what I have mentioned above.

Explain.

Cheers,
Ian

Ian Canefire wrote:Hi All,
After a certain point, feature wise, it makes sense to get a MC909 instead of messing about with the Boss/ Roland SP series. Unless the size is an important factor.
The SP functions are in the MV8000/8800 and is the pad section on the roland Fantom S, X as well. You get so much more if you buy one of these other units instead of the SP. At the moment used MC909's can be had for $300. Used MV's for $200. Some of the SP's only have rca outs.
Unless you are getting the SP for less tan $100 I don't really get why you would seek it out, considering what I have mentioned about.

Explain.

Cheers,
Ian

I have to agree, the MC909 is that SP that SP heads dream about. It has all the features you wish the 505 had like real pitch and listenable timestretch.

anyone on here make any hip hop beats with their mc 808 or 909? they have the same effects huh? i dont know why i never really checked these out. i guess cause they looked like step sequencers. can you link sequences or patterns together to make songs on these? gonna check out some videos on youtube.

ok guys, so i scored an sp 303 + sp 505 for less than 250 €
i would like to use them with my mpc 2000xl only for effects. also i've got an soundcraft efx 12 mixer http://www.performanceaudio.com/images/ ... 2723_2.jpg
previously i used a 303 via the stereo outs of the mp. now i wonder how i can integrate those two units in my setup most effectly. one possibility i think is it to route them via the 8 outs (channel 1/2 sp 303, channel 3/4 sp 505). but is there an option where i can intergate them in my sampling process?(i sample from PC)
how would you use them if you had my setup? just looking for some opinions......thanks!

Sample thru the boxes.
Lay out a couple effects, mess them live during sampling.
Sample into one box then re-sample inside ab lib, playing with the lo-fi setting.
Bounce your samples back and forth between the SPs for crazy double FX modulations.

Leave part of your samples into the SPs and sequence them thru midi... you could still be able to use them as effects boxes for your separated outs.

Or get all the sample material back into the MPC and contemplate the idea of using them ALSO as mastering devices, say use the 303 as main compression and the 505 as main EQ.

Buy some RCA_to_Jack more and don't be afraid to re-patch your boxes continuously, write down some line or take a pic with your phone for any project.

Possibilities are endless now.