Ok so I need to make some backing tracks to play with a live band while I play drums. I have an sp-555 but the problem with that is I can't tell it to play this pattern for x-measures and then switch to something else automatically. I could do it manually but this would be hard while playing drums. There are multiple sections in this song so I'd have to go through a lot of patterns.

So would the sp-505 be a logical solution? I might pick one up since there's one available locally on craigslist at a good price.

Also, I'd have to load samples on to it and I heard this can be unbearably slow via SmartMedia cards. Is this true?

It's a good solution I think. You can make songs with it and let it play the patterns like you want. If all fails you could also pre-record the song and load it back into the SP-555 as a single sample that you trigger at the start of the song. Something like that.. There are many ways to 'solve' your problem.



You mean Compact Flash cards, well in my opinion is quite quick. Problem lies more so in the fact that you have to import each sample individually to each pad. That takes time, still you have that problem with other SPs as well.