I am pretty much an Ableton guy some 303 use but I decided to add to my collection. I've been reading on the 1200 for a few months now and I decided I must get one. I will be ridding myself of my mpc and nikon camera to do it but it seems like the right thing to do. Anyone out there know what I should expect?

some purrrrty sounds, but other than that, I don't know

expect:
- no features
- crunchy sound

I'd go for it too

I guess I kinda know what to expect already..I'm just excited like an 8 year old waiting for christmas so I wanted to get a lil' conversation goin about it. Ima dork like that.

awesome! please report back once you get it!

Midi your SP-303 to the 1200 and you'll be making some sick ass tracks!! I've been lusting for an SP-1200 for years and have been thinking about selling my ASR-10 to get one.

Its pretty dope but I wouldn't give up an MPC for it. At least save up for it. You can use the sound of the SP and sequence it in the MPC.

The sound is the only selling point, you'll be frustrated at the few seconds of sample time. With an MPC or 404SX you can sample the 1200 in wav form.

If he only had the MPC that might be true, but I think Live + a 303 shuold be plenty extra

Nah, my MPC just collects dust, I like the sequencer on Ableton way more. I already know that it only has 10 seconds of sampling time but there are work arounds like sampling in from the turntable at 45 then pitching it down on the sp. I look at these limitations as a good thing as it will force me to use what I have instead of unlimited sampling time on my MPC or Ableton where I sometimes get sidetracked collecting samples. I gotta have one since I know a guy who owns a pawn shop in NY who usually has at least two of them in his shop but he says that he doesn't see as many as he did a few years ago he says they will be even harder to finds a few years from now.

my boy phd uses one, he loves it. i've made beats on it a couple times its pretty cool. its got 16 levels (or 8 not sure) for basslines and stuff.

he usually starts beats in his 1000 then samples the chops into the sp1200 and finishes up in there. dunno sounds kinda tedious to me.

i don't think i will ever want anything besides a 404 (or 303) + garageband

I know I don't really need one, but I do want one. Pretty much for a collectors item since I don't think they'll be easy to find for much longer but at the same time I plan on using it quite a bit.

Trust me, you won´t regret it.

I have a SP-12 since 4 weeks now and I love it. The sound is dope and although I´m even more limited with only 5 seconds of sample time I´m just amazed how easy it is to use this machine....especially the Step Editor.

My MPC 2000 is collecting dust right now...

i got both machines (MPC2000 classic and SP1200) and i love both.
i agree with the fact that the mpc sequencer is a more powerful tool. i would like to keep the MPC for the pads also. the SP1200 pads are a bit fragile and sometimes it can cause problems. you can use the MPC pads to trigger the SP1200 samples.
the sound of the SP12/SP1200 can be reproduced in other machines (see here: http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php ... lit=sp1200 ) but the 12bit crunch and the sound of the SSM2044 analog filters chip is unique.
the SP sequencer is dope too.
another problem: floppy disks are not easy to find here in my town.

murder ten seconds in a minute, peers couldn't get it

The classic MPC 2000 is definitely dope but chopping a drum break takes years compared to the SP-12 or the SP-404. Also the Note Repeat function is just as it should be on the SP.

I don´t know where you are living but you should be able to get HD-Disks and then you can tape the upper right hole so that the SP treats them like DDs.