Can you use a drum machine (with midi out of course) like the boss dr. rhythm series to sequence the sp303 or sp404? More specifically, I'm wondering if you can mix and match the internal sounds on the drum machine and the samples on the sp303/sp404 samplers on the same pattern in the drum machine.

Has anyone done this?

yes, this can be done

route the MIDI cord between the boxes, and use the SP's EXT Source to hear the audio from the drum machine. then you can sample the patterns from the drum machine, or just let them both play along in time

Thanks. I'm only interested in triggering the samples on the SP with a programmed pattern on the drum machine. These patterns should be able to use both the internal drum machine sounds as well as SP's samples at the same time. I was just confused because while I know more advanced machines like MPCs are designed to do this, the portable drum machines I'm looking at are very limited. I guess it should work as long as the midi channel and note numbers correspond, right? The only hassle I would guess is that for each sample I want to trigger on the SP with a pad on the drum machine, I would need to mute the internal sound of that pad...

exactly

i don't think you'll have a problem

nice name, btw

caduceus say: "I want to trigger on the SP with a pad on the drum machine, I would need to mute the internal sound of that pad..."

or...you can router the internal sounds in the drum machine to other output
f.e. in mc-808 to "direct output"

hop i understand your question...