I have a damn near mint 303 with 7 SM cards (64mb - 8 mb.) I could trade it straight up for an SP-555. I don't use a computer at all for my beats, so I'm not sure if the 555's extras really are worth it to me. I've been in love with my 303 since I first got it, but the 555 intrigues me.

I also own an OG404 that would be the odd man out in a heartbeat between the 3, but I use the battery option way too much. I bring the 404 with me everywhere and I've made a lot of work I wouldn't have been able to without the battery option.

I'm leaning towards just sticking with the 303/404 over the 404/555, unless the 555 is just that crazy good. Not going to own 3 samplers again, because there's always one that gets no love. I once had the 202/303/404. Owned a 505 but didn't feel the screen / waveform editing at all. Same reason I ditched my MPC2kXL. I work much better with the 202/303/404 style machine by ear with no screen. The 555 is the only one I haven't owned yet and I'm just curious about it.

You can get a battery to run any or all of the SP fam at once (besides 505 and 808 or whatever)
I have it works great- info is on forums if you need.

I feel like if you are loving the 303 you should try a 555 before letting go of the 303.

I use 404SX- own 202, 505, 555 and have owned OG404.
So far 202 never gets used, 404SX all the time, love the 505 but does not work w battery pack as I mentioned which sucks for me.
I did one track on the 555 and I enjoyed it- the XLR allowed me to easily add real bass- looper is cool and useful- it is a good box for sure. Size sucks for me bc I like to go out a lot w like messenger bag size not backpack.

The velocity on the 555 is cool but not deal breaker-
You have a 404 so really I feel like you have same box just imagine more/diff effects and loop feature which is nice.

You cannot resample with external input at same time on newer units as you know with 404. I think that sets 303 apart.

Anyway- hope you get more info and let us know how you get on-

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I've read about the battery option on the 303, but I'm not the greatest technical mind in the world. I didn't want to butcher my 303 and make a mistake. Maybe if I find another one for dirt cheap on craigslist, I'll experiment. I have no reason to give the 303 a battery option as long as I have the 404. I have a lot of love for both machines (303 & 404.) I really wish Roland would have made just 1 perfect SP.. Combine the best features of the 202/303/404/555 but keep it smaller/portable and battery powered.

I usually only run a 8 MB SM card with my 303 just for the speed. It runs just as fast as my 404 when I work with the 8 MB card. Obviously my sample time is only like 3 minutes, but in someway I think it helps creativity. The SP-12 and SP-1200 only had a couple seconds and look at the classic work that was done with those machines. When I work on the 404 I sprawl out tons of ideas and go in many directions because I have so much sample time/pads/banks. With the 303 I pick one direction and just go with it because I have to.

I think you convinced me to stay with my 303. I love the sound and the 555 can't replace that. The 555 would have a sound more inline with 404, which is a sound I already have covered. EXT Source / resample is a plus. Long / Lo-Fi mode / Vinyl Sim Comp / MFX12. A lot of these things are unique or at their best on the 303.

If I ever find a 555 for dirt cheap, I'll buy it up just to try it out. I'll always be curious until I try out that machine.

no modding for battery- just battery pack and an adapter cable to reverse polarity (green cable) and you can use daisy chain cords to power many things- all covered in this thread.- viewtopic.php?f=13&t=13890

like this:

You kind of cracked my head open with the battery option. If I find another cheap 303 or a 555, I might have to try it out.

i had a 404 and, except for the fact that the 555 is also a soundcard (and the roll and the loop capture), i think they're essentially the same machine: same sequencer, same fx...no noticeable differences...i feel like the 555 is a repackeaged 404 for the pc users...
...or not?

No, IMO I actually think it is just expanded "deluxe" 404 and the PC interface option is just an added feature like the rest. I have yet to connect to a PC. To me the loop cature, roll, XLR/1/4" input, fx memory, larger velocity sensitive pads, d-beam, etc. are what set it apart. Maybe there will be some "a-ha!" moment for me if I ever connect it to a computer but so far on all my SP a card reader and putting files and importing has been magic enough.

for "fx memory", you mean fx automation? if it's so, that's cool.
for the rest , the dbeam is the same as for the 606, except the filter, the other parameters aren't that useful...i thought the 404 and the 555 shared the same pads...seeing frome here they seem the same...
what i believe is the 555 isn't a real step forward from the 404, i mean, it doesn't even got a step sequencer, a microedit mode or a song mode (like on 505 or 606, wich came before this machine)...i don't know, it always (the 555) left me a bit dispponited, like something not totally accomplished...maybe i'm wrong but...

No I actually agree with you on the "disappointed" tip. I feel like it is just an expanded 404 and by fx memory you can assign shortcuts to certain effects to the pads so you can call them up quickly. I have never really used it but I get the idea. I rarely use d-beam, polyphony is the same, sequencer still sucks- step sequencing would have been dope, etc. The more I think about what you said the more I agree- repackaged 404 for PC users (considering 555 came out during transition to computers). I just remember a track I did all on 555 and appreciated the added features a lot- the XLR, loop capture was a time saver, etc. It was a different experience than working on a 404.


Re FX memory- From SoS:
"Then there's the Effect Memory mode, where each of the 16 pads stores settings for an effects algorithm, allowing you to switch between wildly different effects settings rhythmically and without drop-outs. Where do I start in telling you how much fun this is? How about playing 16 different pitch-shift amounts? Or creating manual 16-level step-filtering? Or just choosing 16 different algorithms and locking yourself in some kind of audio asylum? Not since the Korg Kaoss Pad have I had such fun with an effects unit — pure inspiration!"
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb08/a ... dsp555.htm

that fx automation is a cool feature indeed...

Ya I am going to have to try some of those techniques and see if you can utilize while rec to loop sampler at same time...

Is this the cable I need to Reverse Polarity on the 303? I think I'm going to try the battery option on there and see how it works for me. Thanks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Godlyke-Power-A ... 23151e6150

No idea, I used the one listed in the thread I gave you- http://www.ebay.com/itm/160666650148
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Yeah, I saw that. That cable is no longer for sale anymore. This was the most similar cable I found, but I just want to make sure it's right. I don't want to end up frying my 303. I'll email the seller and see if he knows for certain if they work the same. Thanks.

Ya get the exact same one- you can get model number from Godlyke.
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