i've been using the 303 for quite some time, but i literally spend WAY TOO long just chopping a sample up, and when i do get the chops using the mark button, it seems im never able to get the start points correct and i always get that "pop/click" sound at the beginning of all my chops.

like if i use soundforge for example, to get my chop points exactly right, i still have to record them onto the sp 303 and i would still have to adjust the start points, so is there any easy ways to perfect the start points on the 303?

why don't you just put them in the smartmedia? do you have one?

do your knob 1 fine-trimming with the sample in GATE mode. while turning the knob, quickly keep tapping the pad and letting go extra quickly, so you're only hearing the sample's initial attack. when done correctly the pad will not even light up even though you're hearing the attack. you'll know its right when you get a bit of transient while tapping. if you're just hearing "air" its not tight enough.

another step to get extra close is to go too far and trim the transient off, then slowly bring the knob back to the left until you hear the full attack.

now your chops will be nice and easy to trigger and play in time together.
sorry for saying transient so much...!

if i remember correctly you can set the start points while the sequencer is running if the notes are already programmed. .

you can also play your sample along to the sequencer while setting the start points, like set your sample to trigger, play your beat, and then set the start point to make shure its on time before you record them in.

mark chop , fine tune should be good enough though, but not all music is roboticly timed out, so chopping on a computer by eye isnt always reliable, because you may need some time to the left a bit, which has been chopped out.

its very easy for me doing it this way...

just get ready to play your sample and then hit record and a pad on the 303 and then when the 303 is ready to record to tap 'record' and hit play on whatever your sample source is, almost hitting them simultaneously, but making sure you hit record on the 303 first and for the end point, let your sample play out a little bit longer than it should, so that you can go back and fine adjust the end point.

this allows you to completely bypass having to use the "Mark" button, which i always hated and you just hit "start/end/level" button and just fine adjust your start / end points.

and if you use this method, there really shouldnt be that much to chop out especially in the beginning.

Use your earball.