All user reviews for the Boss SP-303 Dr. Sample

Sampler frequencies 44.1-22.05-11.025
Max Poly 8 Mono
2 banks up to 8 banks w/card
format wav/aiff
Sequencer
96 PQN resolution
Handles 99 measures
8 pads
26 onboard fx
Resampling
RCA I/0
Headphone ¼ in
Midi

I wish there were MAC/PC editing applications but there aren't and I don't feel they are needed

UTILIZATION

A lot of people use this unit as a looper. I personally use it to grunge up and process my sounds through. I do a lot of sound designing so this has become one of the key tools in my setup, It's small,light weight and easy to use. The manual is very easy to read and understand so any can get this piece up and running in 20 maybe 30 minutes after reading the documentation.

Sound editing is very easy to do on the unit, chopping however is another story it takes a bit a practice and requires you to use your ears but it's worth it.

SOUNDS

The affects on the unit are warm and not clean.. that's a good thing, actually it's a great thing especially for those who are looking to create warm thick sound music. This is the same little box Madlib and J Dilla used in their production it's like every producers dirty little secret next to their technique.

OVERALL OPINION

You can't find the Sp 303 new anymore you can only get it used and the prices range from 0-300 dollars. I don't think you should spend any more than $200 for this unit (just my opinion).

The quality is on point, what I like most about this unit is it's simplicity.

With a polyphony of 8 dj can do many things, unfortunately, the use of effects is divided by two.
16bits/44.1 kHz converters are the big plus of this phrase sampler (competition only 32 kHz), the quality is good, we can DGRAD sound samples for percussion or drums, the quality LoFi makes it good for hip hop.
With 26 effects one might say that we Roland is still a selling point, as is the case because they are pretty good overall, I use them also for external instruments from the microphone jack.
In a twelve o'clock and that's it, if you plug a keyboard so you can enjoy the VLOC.
Squenceur The pattern is a good innovation from the SP202, making it a little mini-sampler groovebox, unfortunately we can not combine the sounds of diffrent banks A, B, C and D. ..
The default is the major SP303 time-stretch terribly wrong. For example, if you go from 120 bpm 119 altration you hear a dj, gold n'tait not the case with the SP202 o one was receiving only sacadas run its course (70 bpm ) trs is a shame because for the synchronization of all samples must be bored to have the same tempo of departure. For me it is the weak point of the Roland SP303 could avoid.

UTILIZATION

The SP family of one of the easiest handle. any beginners get a snap about the results convincing. The buttons allow great expressiveness.
The edition is rudimentary sounds, the screen displays only three characters, we called all the ear with the button marking. The function of resampling is a bndiction not to lose its original prcieux samples.
The possibility of placing samples in WAV format same SmartMedia from your PC simplifies things. If you have an editor of his happiness is ensured.

SOUNDS

Converters taient the major weakness of the SP202, for me they are of good quality sound recording without apparent distortions or breath.
The effects and filters asceptiser far from the sound can give a little relief even dirty it in the right sense.
With the compressor, the dynamic is really good, the sound level should not SP303.

OVERALL OPINION

I have over the past year, honest if we look a phrase sampler, it fulfills its function and even a little more. What it lacks in order to be truly enjoyable it up a notch like the SP505 and timestretch worthy of the name. Nevertheless, Roland / Boss does not charge the SP303 too expensive (it's even the cheapest of all the phrase samplers on the market. For many people it's a toy, a To some extent this term is MRIT (it is far from professional samplers), but musically it allows many fantasies and is fully usable. When I sold my SP202 for Akai S2000 I really thought no longer need, but I'm back on my RULING and bought a SP303 for its spontaneous and amliorations significantly from the year. It seems to me that if I claim, I fail even when ...

Virtually all adj t CHARACTERISTICS said about the sp-303. Therefore rsum polyphony Reduces (only two samples simultaneously with a Stros effect), the converters are impeccable for live, but too much just for the studio (a luck: this sampler is just done to live!), and the effects are of the same barrel (the word "effect" takes on its meaning: no question of the shade).
The internal memory is limited (32s in Stereo 44kHz), and I t even surprised that there was no progress over the cot the old sp-202. Boss could make an effort, especially when we know the progrsralis in this area within five years ... dernires Fortunately, there smartmdia cards, and can be stored! I tried a 128 MB is Royal (see FAQ).
Regarding connectivity, the minimum is not the vritablement scne the ddi (CINCH), and it rvlateur this sampler is a bit on the fence, between the live and the home studio. Otherwise, we can not gure ask for more considering the price, but a MIDI THRU could be of service, and I rve every day I / O SPDIF ... and between a micro symtrise ... In addition, the headphones blows a lot ... but hey, to live ...
When the possibility of use in computer music, and it is unfortunately restricted btement. Indeed, the sp-303 offers an import function that allows you to convert samples. Wav or. Aif format as a landlord. Spo. Trs is good, but it does have a lot more sense to entrust the handling a soft, she would have t much faster, especially on p would grate the best of the capacity smartmdia card. Because after conversion by the sampler, the card contains the sample in duplicate in two formats DIFFERENT (original and. Spo). This idiocy limits the use of the card through the computer music-third of its capacity (the format. Spo format is a lossless compression). Hence my bad grade!

UTILIZATION

L also said t everything or almost. It's easy and intuitive ... apparently! Ds because we try to exploit all the possibilities "instrumental" in the SP-303 is complicated ... trs and becomes INTERESTED. We can play with effects, but also with the internal squenceur (if only one cut the mtronome!) By adding or removing samples in a "super loop". Anyway, from his ancestor sp-202, there is a great evolution in the direction of crativit. The edition of sounds is also a little ahead (the old silent close to the by no means absolute in this area ...) but there is still no basis to normalize the samples .. . damage.
The Manual: nothing wrong, except that it is unfortunate that it is not a good relay by the manufacturer's website ddi ...

SOUNDS

Again, this sampler is ddi to live, and has it "sounds" quite as it should have if only one not afraid to light continuously lit light saturation trstt by prcaution (the problem already exists with the sp-202, but the importing normaliss samples, it is obvious). The effects are impeccable for the "anecdote" and it has everything!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a little over 6 months, an APRS exprience one year with an sp-202. The passage of each other made me the effect of libration. Despite its few default, the main ones for me the lack of software for PC / Mac connectivity and "cheap" I think it offers a lot for that price. I love the storage card smartmdia standard, the quality of chantillonage and control with MIDI VLOC. I am a drummer, and I set in my Intgr by ordering a set of pads. But I use it also for that express eyeing the cot Electroacoustic music and improvisation, and has, I love his cot "instrument". I think that was not my last sampler, but first, I did not want to invest more, and I find it almost perfect for my work use of computer music live. It's not tomorrow that I carry around a computer on a scne. Moreover, from this point of view, the concept of "autonomous sampler with batteries and micro" the sp-202 I miss a little, and it's a shame he did not volumes to the removal of the micro benefit from a symtrise and to the possible addition of a rechargeable battery instead. For me, the more use is flexible, the better the tool, and be honnte I am happy with the plutt sp-303!

- What is polyphony?
8 mono samples, 4 Stereo

- What converters?
44.1 kHz 20-bit

- What effect?
26. Including time-stretch, pitch shifting, reverb, delay, chorus, flange .. INTERESTED: isolator (for transfer of frequencies and "isolate" an instrument).

- How much memory as standard? maximum?
4 banks of 8 samples. Not standard. The total time of sampling dpends Mono / Stereo, quality (11, 22 or 44.1 kHz) ... and SmartMedia adds.
With 4 minutes 8 MB standard (44.1), 25 minute lo-fi
With a 64 MB 33 min / 202 min
Note that I have had confirmation of Roland Roland France and US we can make good use of the cards 128 MB

- What connection (Audio, MIDI, numrique ...)?
<ul> An audio between two RCAUne MIC Input (with rglage 6.35 level) between a midiUne output Stereo (2 RCA) A headphone jack (6.35) </ul>

- Is there a utility edition of Mac / PC?
A priori, yet. Send mass e-Boos / roland they move to the c. ..

UTILIZATION

- The configuration gnrale Is it easy?
YES
- The edition sound effects or is it easy?
YES
- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
YES
The simplicity and ease are the major advantages of this machine. I must say that it is made for DJs [Ae, not type!]

SOUNDS

- The A / D converters and D / A are transparent?
Good converters. Before treatment (effect), the diffrence between the original (CD or instrument) and on my sample is inaudible sound (indeed, the collgues who smoke their cigarette in the hallway door open studio asked me if I finished the guitar sampler while being j&#39;tais rgler my good loop from 5 minutes)!

- Effects and filters are effective?
Yes, but lack finesse. It&#39;s a bit Bourin. There are not too intrt multiply the effects of a same sample failing to obtain the slurry. I work in my samples fine on the computer before you save the bug.
For cons, I use many effects on Live or on sample or on an external signal.

- The dynamic is meet? ...
Apparently.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
Since a year or so. In intensive. Especially the effects section.

- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
Plus, for me is the microphone input and the possibility to use as bte effects processor in real time. I really started to use this feature and the fact. I also branch from the Stereo on a subset of my console and send to 303 and the portion that I want to go through a sampler or effect, while continuing to use the microphone . So for example, I go to the flange of the triangle percussionist and add voice effects "flange." Cooooool!
Least, it is only 4x8 samples in memory. There may be more juggling SmartMedia cards, but takes a little time and can be on scne Gnant.
Another less is the lack of momentum on the pads. This gives a dynamic external keyboard matre. But live, it&#39;s cool to trigger these large touch pads enjoyable. Too bad so they are not dynamic.

- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
Nope, but I have booty on the net and sollicit advice in all forums of the plan-net-te!

- How do you report qualitprix?
Usually I n&#39;achte my gear with super sales (like a 1500 F-505 MC!). The 270 euros for a machine of 6 months with 32 MB card, seems a decent (I&#39;m told).
In any case, I am satisfied with this dpense trs.

- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
YES. Here&#39;s what I did with:
<ul> Intgration samples of sound "natural" reworked in my music (the gate of my garden, for example, did a great noise) Intgration of sentences from political speeches or films.Sampling in real time parts played by members of my group for intgration IMMEDIATE scne on in the song (eg, rhythm guitarist who will type a solo on his rhythmic sample, itself pass e by filters in real time). Processor effect in real time, especially for my voix.Utilisation of samples taken from discs (ch&#39;tite a sentence of Miles Davis&#39; trumpet or sax of Marsalis by Brandfort example, or percussion breaks to give a little "life" to the rhythm of my groovebox) </ul>

To beginners, the lgret and profusion of plastic made me fear a ct toy. Especially since my other Roland equipment (MC-505 and small keyboard matre PC-160A) had accustomed me a greater sense of "tough". In practice, nothing seems to have a toy and the machine creates a beautiful crativit particular thanks simplicime use and intuitive trs.

Even go up to say that the SP-303 can come in complment a "big sampler pro" to couraging things simple and intuitive, and the trs live ct .

For cons, I start having bad contacts and crackle on output. SAV is likely to return :-(

- What is polyphony?
8 note, but you can read in a same time pad banks A, B, C and D

- What converter?
20-bit, 44.1 htz

- What effect?
26 plutt nice

- How much memory as standard? maximum?
factory on the banks, not trs long, but I will, because the bank I put A and B sounds like bells, gun, crash, short of short jingles, but it is effective on Banks C and D plutt I put phrases or personal mix design (intro for example). The minimum memory of the smart MDIA, no ide I bought a card with 16 MB, for against a 128 MB, I russi enrgistrer a mix of more than 60 minutes Stereo and high quality in this rpond expectancy at exactly my.

- What connection (Audio, MIDI, numrique ...)?
Audio conection, gnial, the input from microphone, this allows to use the SP 303 as a live voice changer. Between RCA Stereo, exit Idem. Midi in, ds I find a good keyboard (I have a yamaha but it has had its day) it becomes a practical and polyphony, 32 instead of 8. Its adjustable headphone jack is a little option, but can have its very important to me is the case

- Is there a utility edition of Mac / PC?
No, the famous file SPO, then there are two ways to save, or use the famous "magntophones" on your PC, but hlas, hard work, it is also a good sound card, and the quality is not at the top. Second solution, you are a writer living in time, and the turn is played.

UTILIZATION

- The configuration gnrale Is it easy?
Well, I had no trouble, I think that is the case of all homeowners in the sp 303

- The edition of sounds and effects is it easy?
ditto

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
yes, great, even when I needed to importaion the computer file on the smart card MDIA, but not to erase a sound, but the banks several times, in short I dj found it not bad, but with the manual, jai find options and more

SOUNDS

- The A / D and D / A are transparent?
- Effects and filters are effective?
- The dynamic is it respect? ...

YES

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
4 months

- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
Check-in SPO, the default ros sp 303

- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
yes a synth sampler, a DX7, and (not see) the Gmini 1224

- How do you report qualitprix?
I got it for 160 euros, no power, but I found one on the same day. No manual, but it is on the net, and there was a 16 MB card with SM, it is super state.

- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
Done everything I should have possder before, the SP 404 is better (more polyphony, and recording on the card wave) but the price levbr /> In any case if I a second is not too expensive, I take it, and I do not claim that I possde dj.

Converter rather neutral, with 8-voice polyphony, 26 effects all connect through an in / out RCA (stereo) plus a facade between jack and a headphone jack: very well for me. damage which is not Pitche ny ale that changes the length of the sample could be practical ca'll have to reset a loop c is the only thing that I really miss.

UTILIZATION

C is very easy to use sampled sound and c is parti.on unfortunately can not use that one effect has faith but we quickly bypass this deficiency resample. I use the most of a box fx / sampler pair to my dj nuo3 and my cdj 800 c is great and I did not get any better for the time being j have no love here I am ici.en kaosspad dc is my technique is simple: breaks and to make some kind of "remix" live j sampled at half tempo as the loop and I make one shot (ac the sample) in the loop with DCAL and I cut the cross to make it although net. and it also possible to make loops with the delay and make big rolling bass drum or snare drum with but it takes some time to training for many maitriser.je council to remove the sp 303 on a slice of your mixer to d have precoute. nuo 3 on my sp is the center channel so I can use the cross and filters it.

I also do a lot of sample edition of it as well st fx old school as they say: a ring mod, an option lo fi.le tape echo is great as well to my level.

SOUNDS

Sound very good but we must first of all, aprendre was sampled at the right volume on pain of having one's disgusting if you record too loud: ca saturates and yes if we nag too much, but once they acquired paramettre and respect c sampler is really good live.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been three years since I have the find and I've never had a box fx "dj" that suited me more than the sp 303 j I tested the Mini KAOSS PAD that I did not like, something from home with the laser manual alesis I not convinced that too. j have also not find the interest of the chopper 404 sp innovations have not brought on n t asser strong for me to take the new model but can be that the SP 555 will change my opinion but ca m tonnerai saw the direction the sp take X0X I see more ca a box fx live rather that a production style MPC.donc up a proven otherwise I am sp 303 because the price is quite correct for the quality of manufacturing and the sound reproduction through the use asser intuitive. we can also say that the sp 303 train sometimes but I really do not help ca ar not too put all the effects will be muted because finally my dc I'm fait.je probably remake this choice because I quite simply c is really the friend of the DJ (my style: abstract hip hop) with n = B flat against one who is drunk c ny ale that he not pitch that changes the length of sample ca ca m can make a shit right there Desj a lot of stuff over canon dc c is not serious and worse means Eskiv this gap and c is because of this that he did not note a maximum.

Previously treated so ...

UTILIZATION

Simple configuration, quick access to various functions rather easy to remember when it is turned frequently.

editing sounds simple: two buttons to turn, data on screen to press the pads where almost everything is written.

Manuel EASY: No mystical technique, as with all pads is marked on it, you can read you know use them as

SOUNDS

Already treated before.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a little less than a year

I love everything in this sampler effect, small size, its not really typed (clear) clear
Its effects are nice (although it is always best but not the point)
Other models, for what? When you love to do loops in the punch clock or to pile on the throne (each with its delusions) is a perfect tool that meets its functions, for those who want more there are other machines more chéres.Le sp 303 is effective and it is a good machine!

Value for money: Beware of the premium, to try absolutely, otherwise the value is sure tough.

With the experience I resign now, beginner or not, after reading the manual and tips taken here and there on the net was fun with ... Personal sampler like that's all!

See all the way down ..... : D

UTILIZATION

the SP-303 is truly accessible. This is my first sampler, configuration and access to functions is simple, although requiring a bit of practice and / or a low memory ... But no secret is made on a particular function; for a beginner, the manual is very detailed and very "pedagogik.

All functions are accessible from the front, the fact that each key lights switched on is really handy, whether "on stage" or replay a song. each pad flashes involved in a pattern and allows easy identification.

Editing samples, awesome and very flexible. The automatic assignment of tempo is very well seen, the micro-editing samples is really nice and effective.

Mode pattern: easy as pie, the quanticize *** is able to groovy. the deletion event is well thought out, it really helps to erase the stuff that fair, without need for any step edit ...
MIDI: Sync only a slave, and the possibility of piloting the pads of the machine by an external sequencer. Point bar. And it's really at this point that the machine is disappointing.
Indeed, in pattern mode, no ability to sequence it via an external sequencer (and beatings, as there is no Mode song ...)... Thus, it is impossible to use the SP-303 as an instrument flown, or he must stay in front of his machine and change its patterns live according to the evolution of the song.
So it is more a process than in live production. According to its aspirations, it can be a problem, which remains circumvented (resampling patterns using a large sampler or DAW).

but I think more and more I tell myself it is part of the charms of the machine ...


SOUNDS

I am not a specialist sound, my sytstêmes listening are the best amateur stuff candlelit. However, it seems as if the 303 hair colors a sound, fishing is the rendezvous. and time.
I have a MPC 1000 and it seems that although different in reproduction, the SP 303 has a tab PLEASANT

Regarding effects, I must admit that many are very interesting.
The "Filter + drive" is really excellent. The "slicer", very creative, and "vinyl sim offers a miraculous compression on the beats.
In short, use, testing!

However ....

One effect is directly used for more, we must resample the sound.

A big disadvantage, that for once there is a vector of creativity: no "pitch shifter" as function. but it exists as an effect. Rather special, if you want such a note of low pitch for you to create a panel notes that you organize into a pattern, we must resample the note through the pitch shifter. and preferably always starting from the original note, if we obtain the slurry.

Brief.

All that to say that the stuff is limited, but with a little trick ... it does.



OVERALL OPINION

I LOVE THIS MACHINE.

I have a certain amount of accumulated stuff, this little sampler of milk is really the machine that I used most.
Many limitations, but also a lot of tricks to circumvent them. So suddenly, very very creative product, see a musical instrument in itself.

I love his mouth, his sound, his hacks.

And obviously I'm not alone, given the renewed interest that expresses its coast.
Madlib's fault and Panda Bear who claimed their attachment to this machine.

"Madvillainy" was actually carried out entirely on this machine, and a tape recorder. result for a very "SP 303-esque" (you can hear during the transitions of patterns, which are not always in place, but it really has its charm.

Briefly, the ifyou found less than 100 euros, you cast it. More than 100 euros, after all, weigh out the pros and cons (format smartmedia, no song mode, almost indispensable resampling ...)

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&quot; 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 &quot;chop&quot; 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 &quot;fruity loops&quot; software. The manual is very understandable and explains every aspect of the unit.

The unit is plastic and very light, feels like a &quot;toy&quot;. 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&quot; 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)

The features are all there, everything you need. The pith adjustment, just dont touch it. sometimes it will sound &quot;Decent&quot; or it will sound like hell. this thing has it all other than that.

Price paid

250

perfect sound quality. sounds just like you sampled it. its a great machine and always gets the job done. Sometimes the thing will freeze up, and sometimes it will do that during sampling somethin long..then it's all lost. DO NOT unplug it while sampling or anything like that, i have lost an entire bank before doing that.

this thing is a piece of cake, it was my first ever sampler and after looking through the manual once, i never needed to again.

ive taken this thing everywhere, never had a problem with it, its the size of an oversized gameboy

this thing is my baby, i love it. i could easily sell it for something better but id rather save up for something than get rid of this. I just wish i got program drums on it!

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: wasteman ( 7-, 2005)

A lot of people underestimate this little box. It has everything I need. Most people don't like the sequencer but I think its quite fun. I love to sit there and bang everything out myself. It has quantize, but I dont use it. Smartmedia cards are a plus.

$250 USD

Sound quality is awesome. I love the effects. Changing the Time/BPM of a sample makes it sound odd, but thats just the 303 flava, son. sounds RAW.

I figured out how to freak it pretty quick, and been having a blast ever since. If you have patience, and a brain, you should be able to make hot beats on this machine!!!

Seems like its well built. Its plastic with some metal. The pads seem like they can take a beating.

I ABSOLUTELY love this machine. I've been having so much fun with it since I got it and if it ever went missing I'd be horribly depressed to the point of no return. Until I bought another...which I would. the 303 is sort of primitive, but i think that's part of its appeal. Sometimes you'll make a mistake on the 303 and you'll come out with something completely unique that you wouldn't have even thought of if you were using the cut-and-paste blah-ness of software samplers.(IMHO) If you're considering buying one, I say DO IT.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: alwaysfresh ( 2-, 2006)

This unit has 8 Polyphony. It has a 20 bit conversion rate for both A/D and D/A. As for effects is has 26 all together (Delay, reverb, vinyl sim, overdrive, isolation, etc...) and has the ability to resample with the effects (pretty sweet). You have three options of sampling, Normal, Long and Lo-Fi. The standard sampling time is as follows: Norman=31 secs, Long=63 secs and Lo-fi=3 mins. 10secs. With a 64 mb smart media card (max) you get: Normal =33 mins., Long=64 mins. and Lo-fi= 202 mins. As for connections it has RCA stereo in/out, 1/4&quot; mic/line input, midi in, 1/4&quot; headphone jack and of course the Smart Media card slot. You cannot edit this with a computer, but really there is no need to, everything you need is right in front of you. I should also mention that it has a step sequencer built in which is great for programing multiple samples to play in specific patterns.

UTILIZATION

The general setup/config is a little confusing. I definitely needed to read the manual to learn how to do just about everything. They do have little &quot;hints&quot; printed next to some of the labels of the buttons, but they don't always make sense. Again, the editing on this unit is a little tricky, but after reading the manual, you should get the hang of it. Once you get that knowledge, you can pretty much do everything you need to do without having to flip back through the manual. This was one of the best Roland Manuals I have ever used (I have had bad experiences before). I had no trouble figuring out what I needed to know.

SOUNDS

The convertors sound fine. The samples retain almost all of there genuine tone when using the normal sampling rate. You obviously lose a lot of quality as you step down the sampling ladder (Long, Lo-Fi). The effects are good as well. I particularly like the isolation and the filters. They are great for electronica type tones. I am not sure what it means when asked if the dynamics are respected, but I think this unit sounds great and I also have seen some of my favorite bands (Benevento Russo Dou uses the sp202 model, and Lymbyc System uses this model) use this unit live.

OVERALL OPINION

I had this unit for 2 years. The best thing about this unit is the ability to resample as many times as you want with the internal effects. What I didn't like about this unit has to do with the resampling funny enough. You cannot set it up to automatically resample the whole original sample. You have to do it manually which can be difficult if you already set up the tempo just right. I noticed that my resamples would be slightly off sometimes so I would have to delete that resample and try again. Kind of frustrating. Also, smart media cards are hard to find nowadays and can be expensive, so that sucks too. I also have the RC-50 floor pedal sampling unit. They label it a guitar effect but I use this thing for all my instruments. It doesn't have internal effects but it does have way better options in my opinion. You can find these for around $150 on ebay, an overall, thats a great deal for musicians who want sampling capability but can't afford computer based samplers. I would probably buy this unit again if I was on a tight budget, but if I wasn't, a mac laptop will do way more.