I want an SP 1200 but damn!!

The SP12/1200 has a 1 track sequencer; that I didnt know. Much like a type 0 midi file where the entire performance is merged into a single track. Sequencing (internal and external) is one area where the MPC60 is far superior to the SP12/1200. Having no metronome count-in is well...different.

Just posting this as there are small details about the SP that dont seem to be mentioned much amidst all the hype, but you will quickly find out once you get the machine. So far everthing else is as expected.

Has anybody actually documented the specifics of the various filters in terms of frequency, knee/slope, cutoff etc???

Couldn't find anything on the SP forums which is dope but I dont want to join, not much activity over there. There is a SP1200 group on Yahoo which has to be seen to be believed (NSFW) lol.

I once send an white noise wavefile to a guy with a SP1200 and ask him to send it thru the different outs. He send it back to me and here is the frequency analysis of the outs. Out 1/2 is not shown here because as you will know for sure its a dynamic filter. If you want I can do a frequency-analysis of the filter 1/2 too (how fast the envelope is and the cutoff frequency where it ends)




peace

clint246clint wrote:The SP12/1200 has a 1 track sequencer; that I didnt know. Much like a type 0 midi file where the entire performance is merged into a single track. Sequencing (internal and external) is one area where the MPC60 is far superior to the SP12/1200. Having no metronome count-in is well...different.

Personally i love this about the SP. If you get familiar with the step editor and the erase button... the workflow is sooo fast and super easy!

I highly recommend using the MPC60 slaved to the SP to control your synths.

Another good tip... get familiar with the Edit-23 special functions page (23-20 will let you change the pitch of a sample much beyond what you can do in the tune/decay section for example)

Another tip if you sample stuff with the SP1200... Because it uses 4 memory chips with 2.5s each... make a disk with only the OS, and 4 "empty pads" (sample silence). Now when you start a new beat... go to Edit-20 and delete one of the 4 empty pads... so now you have 2.5s free on one memory chip. Sample to this memory chip until its full. Once its full, delete the next empty pad (Edit-20) and continue... this way you can avoid to fill up the memory all over the 4 chips and clutter up things.

Peace.

Peterpiper, that is what I was looking for.
Jibber, been checking your beat thread. Keep those tips coming!

I thought outputs 7-8 were unfiltered, need to scope that graph properly, on this iPhone can't make out the details clearly.

Thanks guys.

Welcome!

I have one more for you guys which technically gives you unlimited sampling time (never used this one myself)...

If you think 10 seconds is not enough sampling time. For example if you have some chops from a record, your drums, some bass notes... and you want more chops from the record but ran out of sampling time...

1. Save your work to a disk and think of it as "Sequence 01"

2. In the SP1200, delete all the chops you don't need from "Sequence 01", keep the drums. Sample more chops from the record, record them, take a new disk, save as "Sequence 02".

3. Repeat the above for as many sequences and chops as you need.

4. Record all sequences / disks into your DAW of choice and put them together.

That's dope.

It will be interesting to see what can be done with the SP12 Turbo and the SP1200 midied together. Need an interface and monitors before I can really get into beats again. Have a book to write which is my main thing ATM. Having these SPs has made me want to rebuild a little studio space after calling it a day.

clint246clint wrote:
I thought outputs 7-8 were unfiltered, need to scope that graph properly, on this iPhone can't make out the details clearly.

My interpretation of that frequency analysis is that the filter cutoff is fixed around 6khz with the output pairs having decreasing amounts of roll-off as you move up thru the numbers, with a slight notch (boost) around 13khz.

The dynamic filtering on outputs 1&2 interest me. Some say these are no good for kicks, while others disagree. As ever I'll have to play around with it using different types of sample and see.

clint246clint wrote:The dynamic filtering on outputs 1&2 interest me. Some say these are no good for kicks, while others disagree. As ever I'll have to play around with it using different types of sample and see.

I use output 1&2 for kicks and snares. I started off different, but a friend of mine who's using the SP for his drumwork since 10 years advised me to do so. I guess it simply comes down to individual tastes...

I have 2 emu sp1200s im looking to sell..much less then the ebay prices..

1 og black with the fuse in back...all works 100 percent but needs faders and buttons cleaned...has clean face plate

1 reissue works needs button replaced start stop button wich i will ad as well

can send pics to serious buyers 727 514 3642



why am i selling them??i had an opportunity to get a mint tr808 and i have old grey boy sp1200..so gotta recoup before wife finds out

Price? Intl shipping? Pics?

Maybe drop a PM to PSR, cos he started this looking for an SP1200.

jibber wrote:

clint246clint wrote:The dynamic filtering on outputs 1&2 interest me. Some say these are no good for kicks, while others disagree. As ever I'll have to play around with it using different types of sample and see.

I use output 1&2 for kicks and snares. I started off different, but a friend of mine who's using the SP for his drumwork since 10 years advised me to do so. I guess it simply comes down to individual tastes...

Remember that you can adjust how steep the filters for output 1 and 2 internally right? hope im using the right words for this.. but anyway i love out put # 2 for 90% of my kicks. I always use output 1 for bass notes, filters or that heavy 808 that knocks down buildings because of how i adjusted these two in my sp

I think its trimmer rt4 and rt5 inside the sp right behind the floppy drive. i close the trimmer for output 1 all the way counter clock wise. and the trimmer for out put 2 around 10 / 11 o clock position. So snares would not sound good coming out of 1 and 2 on my sp

Jus remeber to cut the highs just right on your kicks when sampling in to kill that slope" sound of the beginng of the filter kickng in on your kicks when u play back on # 2 or # 1


Yo I love this damn machine

Posted the contact info on the for sale section..im keeping my grey one ..it gets hot but i love the sound..especially a rhodes coming out of it..

DJ Supreme wrote:

jibber wrote:

clint246clint wrote:The dynamic filtering on outputs 1&2 interest me. Some say these are no good for kicks, while others disagree. As ever I'll have to play around with it using different types of sample and see.

I use output 1&2 for kicks and snares. I started off different, but a friend of mine who's using the SP for his drumwork since 10 years advised me to do so. I guess it simply comes down to individual tastes...

Remember that you can adjust how steep the filters for output 1 and 2 internally right? hope im using the right words for this.. but anyway i love out put # 2 for 90% of my kicks. I always use output 1 for bass notes, filters or that heavy 808 that knocks down buildings because of how i adjusted these two in my sp

I think its trimmer rt4 and rt5 inside the sp right behind the floppy drive. i close the trimmer for output 1 all the way counter clock wise. and the trimmer for out put 2 around 10 / 11 o clock position. So snares would not sound good coming out of 1 and 2 on my sp

Jus remeber to cut the highs just right on your kicks when sampling in to kill that slope" sound of the beginng of the filter kickng in on your kicks when u play back on # 2 or # 1


Yo I love this damn machine

I am a little scared to open up mine... but it's really tempting to try this!

Imagine you would somehow modify the trimmers for these filters so they would be accessible externally on the SP, like two little adjustment knobs on the exterior of the machine... that would be dope!

Nah dont be afraid. its sounds alot asier than it sounds. just be carful u dont touch the screw driver on any hing else but the trimmers!! asign your sound to the output so u hear it and adjust to your liking.

DJ Supreme wrote:
Remember that you can adjust how steep the filters for output 1 and 2 internally right?

Never heard about this, even after scanning most of the SP1200 forum (much respect to DXA for that goldmine). Shame the DXA crew don't post here no more now we got a decent SP1200 thread going.

http://sp1200.myfastforum.org/