The Roland SP-303 is a great sampling machine for beginning or advanced DJ's. There are newer model's from Roland on the market (SP-404, SP-505) but the SP-303 is a simple to use touch and edit sampler. I have used the SP-303 for over two years now and have played and recorded in a studio with the sampler. I like the two banks of onboard memory and the SmartMedia card input with two banks of memory. The memory cards are hard to come by, but can be easily purchase over the internet. Sixteen samples can be set to any memory card. Eight trigger buttons make for easy sample playback. Switching between onboard and memory card banks are easy with simple light up buttons. The SP-303 has over 30 effects to overlay on sample playback or while recording. Effects range from echoes, phaser, eq isolator, pitch shifter, and even vinyl simulator. There is also tempo and beat per minute editing. The SP-303 uses 1/4" inputs on the front of the machine with RCA inputs and outputs on the back. The SP-303 uses a blunky power adapter that can only be attached at the bottom of any surge protecter or electrical outlet. The SP-303 also offers an external source playback. Easy to use recording, playback, and editing makes this a perfect sampling machine for anyone who has not used any type of electronics before. One main volume control, and three effects controls make this a very easy to use sampling machine. The price is very good for this quality of a sampling machine. Other comparable sampling machines will have less onboard memory or not have as many effects. The SP-303 can make a variety of sounds, anything the programmer wishes to produce. They are very good to use in conjunction with each other and I plan on buying multiple of these machines.

This is my second sampler, the other was the Yamaha SU200, whick was a disappointment. Im very happy with what this sampler is capable of doing. The sound quality is very good. Even low bass that is sampled shows very little dillusion. Great sound quality. The filters are good, some are really whack and pointless to use. The built in pattern sequencer is total garbage, in other words its pointless to use. The effects can be applied to any line in source even wothout recording so this box kinda doubles up as an effects processor, its fun to watch twisted anime movies with a strange echo effect provided from the 303. I would of liked the "chop" option found on the 505.

Price paid

$290.00

Sound quality is great, damn near CD quality. However, adjusting the BPM of a sample kills the quality big time. But adding effects to a sample with an altered BPM usually cancels out the decrease in sound quality.

Very useful piece of gear and for the cheap price you cannot go wrong with this one. A must for the low budget hip hop producer that doesnt like to use "fruity loops" software. The manual is very understandable and explains every aspect of the unit.

The unit is plastic and very light, feels like a "toy". The pads are great, I can bang the hell out of them and not worry about shortening the lifespan. The knobs are solid and slide very easily. Only having RCA inputs/outputs is a mjor turnoff to some beat makers and may suggest a lack of quality to some buyers, but im not Dr Dre, I dont care if it doesnt have 1/4" jacks.

I dont love to sample so I dont love this unit. Its all I need in a sampler at a cheap price, but not for everyone, especially Dr Dre and Dre wanna-b's.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 4-, 2002)

The features are really ill. the effects are super dope and theirs so many of them. i think it is missing a stronger sequencer . if it had a stronger sequencer it would be my main choice of equipment. The fact that it is portable, it has a grip of effects, the lo fi , stereo mono option, and that it has a sampler,sequencer,and editing options that it makes it ideal for someone on a minimal budget.

Price paid

255.00

Ah the sound quality is excellent! its clean but at the same time you are able to choose lo fi and really lo fi. haha

everything is easy to use. you just have to spend time with the manual. but as far as me learning how to use it. i was making beats the first day i happened to pick it up.

I havent really dropped it or anything. but as far as i can see everything was built well. i bang on the pads really hard and they dont break.

I think the number of features and the portablity is something that will make me never part with it.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: djobserv ( 6-, 2005)