I actually find it quite easy to chop samples. The autochopper does not work that well with other than percussive samples.

I just resample the whole sample on to as many pads as i need.
Scrolling with the jog-wheel and zooming both horizontally and vertically with the cursors makes setting start and endpoints a breeze.

The only thing i really miss is a function for automaticly cutting at zero, now i have to zoom quite hard to set start at end points at zero, to avoid clipping at the start and end of samples.

I hope you mean copying the pads using the Clipboard function here, as that's even faster.

Resampling is fine too of course.

I totally agree with you though. Chopping samples manually on the SP-606 works excellent.

Could you please explain me what's that? I also use Resample function, and it is a bit tedious.

Hey, I forgot the about the clipboard, thanx mate, this will definitely speed up the workflow and ill finally be able to copy samples on to other banks, didnt find a way to do that with resample, i thought it was a bit odd, but now it all makes sense.

its quite easy. when playing a sample from a pad, push the button labeled "clipboard", its located just above the sampling button. the clipboard button will light up, and when you push it, it will play back the sample. Then hold down the pad you want to copy the file to and simultaniously push "clipboard".

read the manual from start to end, found the resample multiple pads and resample pad performance especially useful. Both are great ways to free up polyphony, and even to improve live pad performances

I'm glad you've figured that one out. I use that very same Clipboard function on my MV the same way like aaaaaall the time.

speaking of mv, is there any sp or mv rumors out, none of the current line-up is exactly new, neither is the mc series grooveboxes.

ive only seen the mv on youtube, but it sure seems to be a great machine. i would really like to get my hands on a mv-808 or something sampler, like the sp-606 but with enhanced sequencing capabilities, and maybe the pads of the mv.

Currently there are no serious rumors about a new MV nor SP.

I'm thinking Roland decided to take it easy because of the economic crisis. They still continue to make and release new products, but don't forget that their samplers tend to be somewhat of a niche products compared to some of their other stuff, like their high-end synths.

Roland isn't a company that will easily disappear though, so I am sure that at some point they will start investing in new sampler related gear again!

What surprised me lately was that Roland changed the price of the SP-555 to about a hundred bucks more than it used to be and they seemed to have not really discontinued the MC-808 yet, even though they first very much wanted to. Perhaps there's still a lot of stock left when it comes to the MC-808.

In case of the SP series, there's still a lot they could come up with for a new machine, but I doubt we're ever going to see a machine that has the best of both worlds. A mix between an MV and SP that is.

Currently the MV8800 is still great and not a product Roland is going to give up on very quickly. They've recently finally made the update 'official', which also can be seen as they're still backing the machine, apart from the usual promo stuff.

Being released in 2007, it will really most likely still be their flagship high-end sampler till at least 2011. With the current economic crisis estimated to have it's impact till at least the end of 2010, now isn't really the time to start investing and doing research.

Unless... the economic crisis means you can get bargain deals on all that. But it's a risky business, as they say the bigger the fish the harder they fall.

Man, I hope a new SP comes out. They've always been economical ranging from $300 to $700 in the sampler market. And they always come out in different shapes and sizes which got me wondering ''what will they come up with next''.

And with technology today I think they can build a pint size SP-101 like the MicroBR and have the same power of a 555 and sell it for $300. I know I'm dreaming, but you never know.

Yeah, I've played with the SP-808 last week and must say it would be neat to see an updated SP-808 / SP-606 machine. There's enough room to improve on the SPs too, when it comes to the usual 4 track limit for example. Even expanding it to 16 would make a world a difference.

Add three MFX and I'd be happy for 500 bucks.