SP202 WORKFLOW?

[OL'SAMA]

I finalized a mix/mastering chain in Ableton last night, and I’m now wondering if this workflow makes sense:
MPC2000 → chopping/sequencing → Ableton for mixing → SP-202 for some coloration/resampling → back into Ableton for the final mastering chain.

I’m thinking of using the SP-202 just before the final mastering stage, but I’m wondering if there’s actually a technically preferable approach here, because ultimately i usually just go for what sounds best to me at a specific time. probably not very consistent

I have 4 options in mind
. Run the whole mixed project through the SP-202 in Standard mode -> extra bit of coloration across the whole project and getting a more cohesive sound.

. Bass + drums → SP-202
Mainly to glue the low end and drums together. I really like that kind of sound when there’s no sub-bass more of that old-school, punchy low-end character.

. Drums only → SP-202
Just to give the drums some extra punch and character. I’m thinking of that Temple of Boom kind of vibe.

. Drums in Standard mode + everything else in Hi-Fi mode
Is there actually any benefit to doing this, or is my mind playing tricks on me

For those of you who use the 202 in a mixing/mastering workflow: which approach would you go for, and why? I can already feel the “Lo-Fi 2 on everything” answers coming

Does the overall workflow make sense?
Any advice/remarks from 202 or mixing experts in this ghosttown would be much appreciated...

[Girru]

I dunno. I think a lot of this stuff is a "vanity of small differences". I can only imagine the pain in the arse that it'd be to mix on a DAW with plug-ins and all dat sheeeat and thinking that any of the minuscule differences I spent hours fretting over mattered ultimately.

Saying all that, for the first time I've been able to directly compare a 202, 303 and 404sx and the 202 sounds best to me. Best low-end, full mid-range with the just the right amount of crunch (even on Hi-Fi) and the most punch, so it might be worth it.

Have you got a 4mb memory card? If the track is less than 4 and a half minutes, you could try recording it in stereo on Standard onto the 202 and bounce it back? Or, if < 2 and a 1/4 minutes, stereo on Hi-Fi.

[Girru]

PS - a trick learned on the 202 was to use triggered sampling and make two recordings of something, but sample one on Lo-Fi 2 and use the Filter 1 and turn it right down. HUGE low-end.

[KUDOS]

OK let me add the caveat that I am not a mixing expert or even intermediate yet. but I am one sick fuck when it comes to my 202 addiction (I sense Girru is finally ready to join the club!)

I like all of your proposed options except the last one. I find that the 202 sounds better with the drums at a cleaner sample rate than melodic material. the preserved high frequencies help the drums cut through the mix. don't just take my word for it: the don goldman method is drums on hi-fi and melodic samples on standard. I prefer slightly grittier so my own go-to is drums on standard and melody on lo-fi 1. but not all melodic material sounds good on lo-fi 1, so I'll sometimes have both on standard. I don't think I've ever used hi-fi but that's my preference.

lately I've been doing exactly what you describe in option 1 and really enjoying the results. to make it work I have to make my songs a little cleaner than I normally do, but the extra coloration and "gluing" effect is so worth it. this is my favorite option but it is not foolproof.

I also think filter 1 can be used in a "set it and forget it" manner in addition to functioning as a live effect. so let's say your melodic material has some saxophone that sounds painful on lo-fi 1, you can sample it and your drums in standard, but then throw filter 1 on the melody so that the drums still cut through nicely. I used to throw filter 1 on drums a lot and it sounds great in isolation, but not as much in the context of an overall mix.

tl;dr almost anything will work with this truly magical machine, but I'd keep the drums cleaner and stick to standard/lo-fi 1 for the vast majority of samples

PS: I used the drums in standard and melodic samples in lo-fi 1 method for almost this entire project (see track 9 for some lo-fi 2!) if you want to get a sense of the sound: https://kudosforsound.bandcamp.com/album/detours

and here is an example of a koala -> ableton -> full track sampled on 202 standard beat: https://soundcloud.com/kudosforsound/29-today

[Girru]

I am one sick fuck.

I sense Girru is finally ready to join the club!

I've been a member on and off since 1999, lol. But, no - even tho it sounds the best to me (and I'm not talking no microwave destruction nonsense - I'm talking plain sample on Hi-Fi or Standard vs plain sample on 303 or SX) and has, I reckon, a proper analogue filter (compared to the other SPs' digital ones), the lack of sequencer kills it for me. And the pitch being playback-only AND global is retarded. And no resample. Oh, and the limited triggering options. The MS-1 is superior, functionally in pitch (if only it had been a knob and not a menu item) and mute group and triggering, if not in sound. Therefore, I'm still 3034life.