SP Series History

[vingthorthehurler]

IDK if this was posted before but I was checking some ish on the Roland site and I found it, it is really nice to me they created this, check the comic art they make for the 202 and 404.


http://www.roland.com/sampler/sp_gallery.html

[vingthorthehurler]

What I was surprised it is the fact that they are celebrating 300,000 units sold, honestly I believed they sold millions of this... or at least half million of each model LOL

[sharpmotif]

SP-666 on the way.

The SPD-SX just came out and the SP-404SX adresses some of the original SP-404's problems (mainly updated audio quality and SD/SDHC card slot). I think there will be an updated SP-606 or revamped SP-555 on the way, once they can frankenstein bits and pieces of the SPD/SP/RC lines that is.

MVs aside, the thing is quite simple: they sell effects, synths, loopers and samplers, so it's not to their benefit to have too many overlaps.

While I do like the 404-like workflow of the 555, I do think some of the 606 functionality could be there: synth, midi, sequencer, effects, autochop, screen, panning, mute...

Once they figure how the SPD-SX works in the wild, then we'll probably see the SP-606SX/SP-555SX/SP-777. We can hope they can cram some of the stuff we want into that one - the SPD-SX is a good start though.

I think there's a greater number of SP units being sold in the used market and software has been taking over in the past decade, plus Korg's probably outselling Roland with their offerings. MPCs are still the norm, music is a niche market (musical instruments/equipment) - let alone samplers - but I'm surprised too at how little they've sold compared to Boss pedals, for example (10 million).

[lo-fi chris]

i feel new school since i got a 404sx

[Rabot]

i feel new school since i got a 404sx

ahaha same.

[djmellow]

still rockin' my 505, imho it's the best, besides the 606, which is just a fancier 505.

[thx]

http://www.roland.com/sampler/sp_gallery.html

interesting page
thanks for the link


i like the 202 artwork:

[Rabot]

still rockin' my 505, imho it's the best, besides the 606, which is just a fancier 505.

got one, hated it. WHERE IS MY MARK BUTTON.
traded for a zoom sampletrak within a week.

[balazs]

wow -time goes by fast

[formal]

Juxt is still alive living under a different alias!

[PHeMoX]

wow -time goes by fast

Hey juxt man how have you been?? Haven't seen you in a while here.

What I was surprised it is the fact that they are celebrating 300,000 units sold, honestly I believed they sold millions of this... or at least half million of each model LOL

Yeah, but bear in mind that 300,000 units has been worth over 100 million for Roland. Seeing how they've recently released the SP-404SX it's probably a very important unit for them.

It's unfortunate that it doesn't state a year or date when it passed the 300,000 unit mark though.

[ellaguru]

While I do like the 404-like workflow of the 555, I do think some of the 606 functionality could be there: synth, midi, sequencer, effects, autochop, screen, panning, mute...

well, the midi side of the 606 is not cool at all, it works ok with softwares but i don't think the machine sends midi notes for the hardwares (damn)...
the synth is ok to write/resample some ideas on the fly, but is not that kind of potential beast...
from what i've heard the sp808 synth is more punchful and strong...

[fauna]

juxt has clearly been busy wearing wrap-around shades and battling giant alien robots with his 202!

sooooooo weird that this is how boss pictured the people who'd use their sampler, and weirder still that they were pretty much right.

[sharpmotif]

well, the midi side of the 606 is not cool at all, it works ok with softwares but i don't think the machine sends midi notes for the hardwares (damn)...
the synth is ok to write/resample some ideas on the fly, but is not that kind of potential beast...
from what i've heard the sp808 synth is more punchful and strong...

Didn't get that from the midi specs but I have never played one - which is like the only way to fully understand the shortcomings.

I might be wrong on this but since it's possible to sequence/automate FX parameters' changes, it's probably possible to do the same with the Synth effect (thus freeing the pads for other stuff). This would be really useful on the SP-555, since the synth is stuck to the D-Beam and I haven't found a way to sequence that (I know it's possible to control stuff with it, not the other way around).

[boombapp28]

The SP-202 and I have had a love affair since it came in the mail for me that temperate spring day in 1998. It was a big deal for me being 15 at the time and having the money to buy my first sampler. I paid $150 for the 202 that came fully loaded with the Smart Media card. As limited as it is/was, I spent hours cutting up samples, looping drums, and making my own instrumentals. I know this box inside out and can work within the limitations to cook up something crispy!

I still own my original SP-202 and have two to keep it company. No other sampler past or present can add character, warmth, and dirt to audio like the SP-202.