Hello...
I am able to get a good deal on the MC505 and the SP808, and am considering getting both machines. I've heard and checked both out, BUT they weren't connected together at the time....

Anyone know how well they work together ? Also, what's the diff between the SP808 and the SP808 PRO ?????

Your help would be greatly apreciated (as i hate to waste cash on useless gear

Hi,
SP-808 and MC-505 work together with MIDI CLK, and in this case, you'd better set sp-808 as Master.

The differences between SP-808 and SP-808 pro are mostly I/O option, such as paraout Digital I/O, SCSI.

It's much more fun to sync two groove gears.

Thanx

Thanks...

Hmm, im also considering the Yamaha RM1x have you (or anyone else here) tried this machine? I was told by the music tech that it's preety decent, but would like a second opinion..

PS: (Im considering the Yamaha RM1X instead of the 505, im probably also not getting the 808 seeing that it's stupidly expensive as the earlier deal fell through.) Guess i'll have to stick with a software sampler after all Cubase is decent.

Hey man, sorry to hear the SP808 fell through, it's an amazing machine. I use Gigasampler and cooledit to do PC sampling but the 808 gives you the ability to create tracks with a more 'performance' feel.
The 808 also has a new utility available to download that allows you to convert Wavs to Roland format and vise versa so now you can take tons of wav files and dump them to the sampler..or even a whole tune you have been working on. I would strongly reccomend saving.
As regards the 505...I've been doing a lot of homework on all the options and I think I'm going with the 505...in all I can some it up as the mags like to dump on the 505 but users love it. Let me know though if you bought the yamaha and how you found it..credit card hasn't been used yet.
Finally, if you're tight on cash and want the 808 you aren;t missing much by not getting the pro. I initially thought you could SCSI out to a CD Burner but it's only to add another Zip drive and as regards the other I\Os..no big loss. Hope this helps.
G

As for the yamaha, i've read some reviews on it. Everyone seems to be satisfied with it and it has tonnes of features also. Unfortunately i wasn't able to get a demo on it, but the music tech said it had a really good kick for its price. Also, im gona endup getting a software sampler, someone recomended cubase, but i read over the specs and it doesn't give enough info on the sampling side of it, any ideas on this ?

For some specs on the rm1x by yamaha:
http://www.yamaha.co.uk/synth/html/f_curent.htm tell me what you think.

Thanks
Jc

[This message has been edited by JazzChemist (edited 04-13-99).]

I have a lot or fun with the Sp 808 you can do a lot with the samples in terms of effects. The expansion is not that big of deal. The guitar center probably has the best price if your looking to save cash

I agree the SP-808 is awesome. You can do so much with the samples. Putting them on the song map to make customized phrases, and putting them back on the sample pads is a big plus. Resampling internally at will is also a very nice commodity to have.

My only gripe about the 808 is that it is completely useless without a disk in the drive. For instance, I was playing a party and my mixer fried out before I started playing, so I ran my MC-303 through my SP-808, and it sounded fine, but whenever I switched songs on the 808, the sound of the 303 would cut out for a couple seconds. THat's more then enough for the crowd to get pissed, but when I switched disks, the sound cut for almost half a minute. Other then that, and of course the polyphony issue, the 808 is the bomb!