I'm interested in buying a new sampler (I've had to sell all of my music equipment except my guitar). Ideally I want an SP 555, but it's a little too expensive so I'm looking at the SP 505. To be honest, I don't need anything more than the SP 303 or 404, but I'd really like to have MIDI OUT.

I've browsed through most of the posts in these forums, and a lot of people point out slow load times on the 505. I don't plan to do anything except sampling and applying FX to my sequences on the 505. Can I do this all as quickly as I would on the 404? I used to have the 606 but my workflow on that sampler was terrible because of all of the processing and going through menus.

hi
i had the sp404 the sp606, now i got the sp505.
well, the workflow of this machine is similar to the one of the 606, but the fx thing is more immediate: you have the process tweaking (fx info, fx select, fx assign and fxon/off) just in front of you. and, also, the first 16 fx you can select directly from the 16 pads...every corresponding fx it's written down to every pads...
other things:
you have the phrase control in the face too (the bpm sync is a good feature), and , above all, you have the pitch function wich is unique in all (and more) the SP, just push the button...also, you have 2 different buttons for sampling and resampling...
other editng thing: sp606 and sp505 got the same autochop feature, but the one of the 505 is valid for 32 pads(!!) and the one of the 606 it is only for 16 pads (like mpc and other); the editing of the 505 is more conplete: if your not satisfied of the autochop, you can edit directly every chop without exit from this process...this is not possible with the 606.

processing times on the 505 can be slow. i've found that smaller smart media cards increase the processing speed (so stuff from a 64 meg will be faster than a 128 meg). some dudes move on from the 505 because of the processing slowness, but its never been that big an issue for me.

also, if you are using it simply for FX (ie: fx thru) that would be immediate (until you get into resampling it, which could take a few moments).

hope that helps!

Thanks for the responses. I'm still a little weary. This SP seems like the best feature-wise for what I need, but the processing speeds and largely mediocre reviews about FX and sound quality is turning me off.

Is the sound significantly worse than the SP 303? I'm going to be playing shows so sound is fairly important to me.

i have both, the sp303 got a more warm and a bit lo-fi sound, the 505 got a more professional sound, more "clear". this is what personally i think.

the sound engine is the same as the 303, i think - A/D converters are, to my ears, warmer than the 404 and 555. i'm a fan of its sound.

check out my myspace url (below). all the pieces here are done with the 505, and may give you an idea of the sound.

i fink the fx are as good as others in the sp- series, and actually think the bit reduction effect is better than others. i recommend the 505 to everyone that will listen but it may not be to everyone's needs.

fauna, i thougth the same before buying the 505, but even if the engine is effectively the same, the 505 is less warmer than the 303 and more clear/direct/clean, but this is not absolutely a bad thing...

I'll check yr myspace's when I'm not at work. This unit sounds pretty cool. I'm debating between getting it and a 404SX with a KP3. Or maybe a 505 with a KP3.

I don't really need autochop or pitching or anything so those selling points aren't really useful. I was mainly looking at the SP 505 because of it's price. I'm just going to be sampling synth lines I make on the computer and triggering sound effects and manipulating vocals maybe. So many SP's, each with their own strengths.

I wish the SP 555 was a little cheaper and a little cooler looking. I like the look of the SP 303 and SP 505 the best. The 404SX is definitely an improvement.

@ ella - totally cool, bro. i haven't done a side-by-side, and good to hear from a user of both.

@ mbillings - good luck with it all. as you say, there's an sp- for every need, but even as a fan i have to acknowledge there's a need with every sp- too.

scroll thru the trix and tips for more 505 goodness, or you can PM peeps.