Anyone have any opinions or reviews on this great piece of hardware? It's tax refund time and I'm looking to get myself a new toy.

Thanks
Chris

sp-808 is one of the dopest phrase samplers
i have ever had the honor to use! reason
one because of its simplicity! its so easy to
use and get the same results as the big boys
its only drawback to me is its track recording functions. your limited to 100m zip
wich only holds about 6 minutes of track time

Hey Chris,
The sp808 is one heck of an instrument for making loop based music. I don't think anything else in one box compares for the price.Just to clear up something real quick, Jhon said that it only holds 6 min track time, but thats only with 4 tracks going at once BEFORE resampling. When you bounce them down to 1, you actually have 24 minutes of stereo 44khz sampling or 48 minutes of mono 44khz, which is WAY more than the competition. Theres way too many features to describe here, so if you haven't already check out these reviews. http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/pastiss/aug98/articles/Roland_SP808/RolandSP808.html
http://www.rolandus.com/USERS/RUG/WIN_98/DEPT16_2/SP808.HTM
Also, Keyboard magazine did a review in OCT '98 issue (shortened version available online). Hey- Be careful not to get a speeding ticket heading to the music store after reading these. peace

Dude, I've made several songs with the 808. If you are doing track-based recording, you will get less time. When I first started using the tracks, I'd use the real-time method and it was fine and dandy. It uses alot of time doing it in real time. However, when I started using step-time using the samples, It uses the same waveform, therefore taking up no`time at all. I've made songs that are over 9 minutes long without using any new sample memory at all. It's also ALOT easier to get the tracks to sound correctly in step-time. THe 808 has a nifty little function that allows you to` make your own phrases out of the samples drum-machine style. Not really like a drum machine,but you can 'trick' it into acting like one. It's very fun.

also, check out my review on the "MC505 and SP808" thread on this board.


[This message has been edited by the chief (edited 05-24-99).]

Well, I finally decided on the 505. After about a month of playing, I have to say that it's the best $1000.00 I've spent in a while. I've made several original spins so far. It's hard to make something that sounds crap on the thing.

The thing I really love about it is it's portability. One power cord and a pair of good headphones and you're in business. I do alot of my building in bed, with the 505 on my lap.

My initial success has spurred me onward and I'm now buying all sorts of gear.

The 505 is an excellent piece of hardware.

Relax
Chris