Before th MPCz, anyone remember the Roland SP-808?

lol...

the sp808 was an EX model, i copped it just to trade for the mixer

Well let's not be shallow about the subject at hand fellaz. An MPC is what it is and a SP-808 is what it is. They serve 2 different purpose in the life of a producer. For what it does, I think it's great. I hook it up to a MC-307 and I already have turntables and a Laptop; so it works out better than a MPC for me. However, it's hard to compare the 2. It's like putting a workstation against a synthisizer or something. The SP-808 packs more memory but it's RAM does suck. I would never get to deep into vocals on it. I would use it for my final mix or something. For Hip-Hop though here is my list:
2 Turntables and a mic
Roland SP-808
Roland MC-307
Cubase
FLStudio
Phat Farm Wear
Sprite Remix
Scratch Magazine(s)
Fight for NY (PS2)
Mix Tapes from local DJz
I still got love for the MPCs though so it's also on my list

do u have that thing yet? or u are planning on getting it?

Nope, but I played with it, got comments from you all, went to another forum and it's what I want. I dont do vocals, I just do samples and add a hook or so before I sale it. I gave away my last setup, which was a Boss Br-8, MC-303, and a SP-202. I did 4 CDs off of that setup. But now I am in CA and I have different contacts and so forth I have to setup shop a little different. Trust me though, I would never use a SP-808 and MC-307 as a studio setup. Only for pre-production. You can't do hooks and stuff on the MPC, only beats(unless you buy another card)..I sale songs not just beats. Holla,
CEO/Executive Producer, Tru4Life Entertainment, DeNiro O'Neal Sr.
P.S. I will have the MC-307 on 1NOV04 and the SP-808 on 15NOV04, Special Ordered.//(I am not a Roland Fan either)

well good luck. i would have just gotten a mpc 1000 and a 4 track if thats what ur trying to do, but to each his own.

Well, Binger0, you still need some sounds right? I know you can sample them into the MPC, but that's always an option. I also may get a little more sample time than you. All of this for less than $800, talk to me man!! I must be missing a major feature on the MPC...Sp-808 also has a 4 track on it too.. Thanks though and your right , to everyone his OWN.

That thing was a plastic toy... may be good for something... what? I DUNNO...

that is some bullsh*t, sayin u can't do hooks on an mpc.
ur just not tryin hard enuff.
i still have that 808.
it is crap.
the 4 track is worthless.
it says disk too busy when u have a couple of tracks playin.
it was pretty poorly put together, i think from what i read it was put out
in a hurry to capitalize on the electronic boom in the mid 90's.

it is only used for loops, no editing really at all. that will suck later on. U cant chop with it and u cant play more then four pads at a time. and it is a 4 track sequncer which is horrible. the mpc stomps that lil loop groovebox cause it is a dedicated sequncer and a sampler. That thing is a cheap phrase sampling groovebox. u would be better off with an electribe es1 if that is what u are lookin for. Or u can just get mad sample cds and loop up records which will get old real soon.

Well it really depends on what you're trying to do.. I write Hip-Hop songs, so all I do is make a beat on the Roland MC-307, then write the hook and record it on the Roland SP-808.. and sell it to rappin' Joe around the block(unless it's supa-Hott, then I save it for 50 Cent or Jay-Z). I come out with a 10 song beat tape every 2 weeks. $50 a beat will keep new equipemnt rollin' in with this big rap population in San Diego.. It also saves time when I'm composing a song. However, I would never try to do a complete song or make a defined beat on it. That's what the recording studio is for.. I'm talking just songwriting in the Hip-Hop realm. I might sample a bass drum or snare here and there but no MPC level biz. Feel me? I think everyone has thier own production style and what comes along with that is a unique setup that only fits YOU and noone else. But for beat making only, MPC fits everyone!!

Tru4LifeRecords wrote:Well it really depends on what you're trying to do.. I write Hip-Hop songs, so all I do is make a beat on the Roland MC-307, then write the hook and record it on the Roland SP-808.. and sell it to rappin' Joe around the block(unless it's supa-Hott, then I save it for 50 Cent or Jay-Z). I come out with a 10 song beat tape every 2 weeks. $50 a beat will keep new equipemnt rollin' in with this big rap population in San Diego.. It also saves time when I'm composing a song. However, I would never try to do a complete song or make a defined beat on it. That's what the recording studio is for.. I'm talking just songwriting in the Hip-Hop realm. I might sample a bass drum or snare here and there but no MPC level biz. Feel me? I think everyone has thier own production style and what comes along with that is a unique setup that only fits YOU and noone else. But for beat making only, MPC fits everyone!!

then thats wassup. as long as it werks for what u do thats all that matters

Dude, I had my MPC for about 8 months before I realized that you could record entire phrases by pressing play and synching to that over the record screen.
I'm making an album where I play every single instrument and record it onto the MPC with just a K200S, a beat library, some guitars, egg shakers, and vocals. I'll have ridiculous amounts of intstrumentation and 4-8 part harmonies all recorded and sequenced directly onto the MPC for less than 70mb a song. It's not like all the MPC can do is sequence whatever beats you can shove out. It's a music production station, not a $1,000-$4,000 dollar drum machine.

MSCK