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unphaseable338
Guest
anybody out there got any personal use with the Roland/Boss SP-505? if so whats ur thoughts on the equipment.
Trusty
I use reason and logic.
I like it, but we use it for triggering samples during live performances while playing songs off a mastered CD and use it along side some turntables for sampling as well instead of taking the MV-8000 everywhere. But since the SP-606 is coming out we are dumping it off. I think the sequencer is a nice sketch pad, but it is mainly a live DJ tool and not a production piece of gear. If you were to use it for production, it should be an add-on piece and not your first piece.
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ManphetamineHD
New member
I disagree. The SP-505 was my first sampler. And while it is just a simple sample playback unit (no synth-type controls) it is extremely useful. The downside is the rendering load times. Trunciating a larger loop can take up to a half hour! (But I've been using some huge looping samples lately). The chop feature is very useful, just drop in a mono drum loop, and it chops it up into individual one-shot samples. The onboard effects are ok, but not great. Personally I think this is a great starter machine, at a low cost, with an easy learning curve. You should pick up one of these, learn how to use it, learn the insides and outs of smapling, then save up for an MPC or an MC-909 Groove sampler.
Manphet
Manphet
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Engram
New member
I don't recommend the 505 as your first piece of gear because the sequencer is limited. Great thing to use to supplement your setup but shouldn't be at the core of your sustem. The problem is that you'll have to resample you sounds if you want to change them. With a box that producers it's own sounds you'll make more progress over a shorter period of time. Everyone works differently but the 505 might discourage you.
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whimsicalpimp
New member
Yo, I just responded to a thread asking this same question, so I'll repost what I said:
I just received my SP-505 last week Friday. I am a brand-new producer and had no experience beat-making whatsoever. So, my verdict? I love my SP-505 and I feel like I made a really good choice. Of course I don't have any experience working with other samplers, so I can't compare it, but I can say that my experience beginning to make beats has left me in awe of the capabilities of this "entry-level" sampler, rather than frustrated by it.
When I purchased the SP-505 my basic criteria was this:
1. Hardware, not software
2. Ability to do phrase and single sound sampling
3. Ability to easily edit loop length and to loop phrases, beats
4. Ability to import WAV files
5. Sequencer built-in
6. Some preset sounds, if possible
7. Prices= <$400.00
I basically narrowed it down to the SP-505 or the Korg ES-1. I'm not going to say anything bad about the Korg, because for all I know it is an intuitive, easy to use box. But, what lead me to choose the 505 was two things:
1. The 505 sequences up to 4 patterns, while the ES-1 only does 2
2. The 505 actually has an LCD screen that supports wave-form editing and in general provides a lot of relevant information in a small screen.
Being another new producer, like yourself, recommendations I would make would be:
1. Buy a nice pair of headphones to monitor
2. Set up a stereo if possible to hear how your beats sound that way too. Plus you'll want to be able to sample from your cd player and a turntable and you can run both of those through your 505 and then have the output go directly to your stereo.
3. Buy a good sample cd or two, as I found this makes it very easy to get started making beats. I bought a disc of all hip-hop drum loops and $100 was a lot for it, but I found it is well worth it.
4. Read the manual... The first thing I did when I got my 505 was to start pushing buttons. I didn't actually get anywhere until I chilled out and started working through the manual and trying the stuff it said as it was presented.
Like I said, I am just beginning, so there is a ton more I have to learn about the 505. But, I am definitely happy with my purchase and for whatever it's worth I would recommend the 505 to other prospective producers.
Hope this helps.
I just received my SP-505 last week Friday. I am a brand-new producer and had no experience beat-making whatsoever. So, my verdict? I love my SP-505 and I feel like I made a really good choice. Of course I don't have any experience working with other samplers, so I can't compare it, but I can say that my experience beginning to make beats has left me in awe of the capabilities of this "entry-level" sampler, rather than frustrated by it.
When I purchased the SP-505 my basic criteria was this:
1. Hardware, not software
2. Ability to do phrase and single sound sampling
3. Ability to easily edit loop length and to loop phrases, beats
4. Ability to import WAV files
5. Sequencer built-in
6. Some preset sounds, if possible
7. Prices= <$400.00
I basically narrowed it down to the SP-505 or the Korg ES-1. I'm not going to say anything bad about the Korg, because for all I know it is an intuitive, easy to use box. But, what lead me to choose the 505 was two things:
1. The 505 sequences up to 4 patterns, while the ES-1 only does 2
2. The 505 actually has an LCD screen that supports wave-form editing and in general provides a lot of relevant information in a small screen.
Being another new producer, like yourself, recommendations I would make would be:
1. Buy a nice pair of headphones to monitor
2. Set up a stereo if possible to hear how your beats sound that way too. Plus you'll want to be able to sample from your cd player and a turntable and you can run both of those through your 505 and then have the output go directly to your stereo.
3. Buy a good sample cd or two, as I found this makes it very easy to get started making beats. I bought a disc of all hip-hop drum loops and $100 was a lot for it, but I found it is well worth it.
4. Read the manual... The first thing I did when I got my 505 was to start pushing buttons. I didn't actually get anywhere until I chilled out and started working through the manual and trying the stuff it said as it was presented.
Like I said, I am just beginning, so there is a ton more I have to learn about the 505. But, I am definitely happy with my purchase and for whatever it's worth I would recommend the 505 to other prospective producers.
Hope this helps.
W
whimsicalpimp
New member
So, let me add this...
One of the biggest drawbacks of the 505 IS that you only have four patterns in the sequencer. But, seemingly, this is simply the reality of sampler/sequencers priced below $500. So, in another sense having 4 sequencer tracks IS an advantage over similarly price products. [Huh?] Anyway, you can kind of mitigate the limitation by just purchasing an inexpensive software sequencer. I mean, you're probably going to be buying a software sequencer package anyway if you want to add vocal tracks, to mix-down, and to conveniently burn beats to cd. Something like Cubasis (what I just bought) will give you 48 tracks of audio, some soft synths, and a smattering of effects, but isn't quite geared to be the centerpiece of your actual beat creation (though, I suppose it's what you can make of it).
Plus, the SP-505 allows you to resample multiple samples to a single pad. This function really helps in making the most out of each of the 4 patterns that the sequencer provides.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the 505 IS that you only have four patterns in the sequencer. But, seemingly, this is simply the reality of sampler/sequencers priced below $500. So, in another sense having 4 sequencer tracks IS an advantage over similarly price products. [Huh?] Anyway, you can kind of mitigate the limitation by just purchasing an inexpensive software sequencer. I mean, you're probably going to be buying a software sequencer package anyway if you want to add vocal tracks, to mix-down, and to conveniently burn beats to cd. Something like Cubasis (what I just bought) will give you 48 tracks of audio, some soft synths, and a smattering of effects, but isn't quite geared to be the centerpiece of your actual beat creation (though, I suppose it's what you can make of it).
Plus, the SP-505 allows you to resample multiple samples to a single pad. This function really helps in making the most out of each of the 4 patterns that the sequencer provides.
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perfectprint
New member
i was determined to get a 505 after all the research i did on it and because of my limited budget, but after losing three auctions in a row on ebay i took it as divine intervention. and got an asr x instead. i get the impression from folk that the sp is too much of a toy, and i kinda found that too when playing on one at the store. all the proloads are kinda weak and i hate the way they put in preset beats. i mean what the hell are you gonna use them for.. so you can pretend to your friends that you made themyourself??
in the end its up to you. good luck whatever
in the end its up to you. good luck whatever