Audio interfacing with the sp555?

jair1970 · Post by **jair1970** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:01 am

Ok got a Microkorg and Sp505 and was gonna spend £200ish on an audio interface, then realised that the SP555 could help out here for not much more money. Obviously a more fun way to spend yer cash too.

Thing is, is it any good as an audio interface and could I hook up my other gear easily?

I'm not looking to create the world's best studio, merely one that works for me and is good fun. Nor am I aiming to play live (something that tempers enthusiasm for the 555)

You guys obviously love yer 555's, but will this potential arrangement work well?

Thanks

drewzle · Post by **drewzle** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:45 am

i use the 404 so i can't answer your questions, but i thought i'd mention that the SP-606 also works as an audio interface....so that could be another option for you

606man · Post by **606man** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:00 am

The 606 has 1/4" connections, which makes connecting instruments easier

either machine makes an awesome audio interface, way better than most of the basic ones in the price range

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:24 pm

Its actually a really good low lantency interface. Its got a guitar input and a mic input with 48v power for condensor mics. You would have to connect your microkorg in thru the RCA jacks but thats no big deal.

gotra · Post by **gotra** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:37 pm

But it is good to mention that while you turn the knobs of the SP 555 (filtering or else) all the sound which goes throug your audio interface gets affected.

606man · Post by **606man** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:14 pm

Yes, that is good to mention, and through digital recording you can record with or without FX applied!

jair1970 · Post by **jair1970** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:20 pm

Cheers for the replies.

Since i'm primarily after an interface, that last issue shouldn't be too much of a problem, but appreciate it being pointed out as these are the things that pass us by at times!

Anyone got any thoughts on effective midi set-ups between combinations of the sp505, microkorg and 555?

Also regards the 606, it looks to me to be more like the 505 than the 555. Hence my regard of the 555 over the 606. I await to be corrected if not!
Loop capture intrigues me, pitch control (or lack of decent pitch control) worries me...

Any thoughts would be great...Thanks

606man · Post by **606man** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:54 pm

No, the 555 and 606 are a lot closer than the 505 and 606. The 606 is basically a more advanced (in most respects) version of the 555 (minus loop capture but plus other features)

Pitch control is not really part of the SP ethos lol

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:22 am

gotra wrote:But it is good to mention that while you turn the knobs of the SP 555 (filtering or else) all the sound which goes throug your audio interface gets affected.

I dont think thats correct. Im fairly certain that you can actually turn that off. I have to look at the manual again but im pretty sure.

JayLost · Post by **JayLost** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:57 am

Dj Frantic wrote:
gotra wrote:But it is good to mention that while you turn the knobs of the SP 555 (filtering or else) all the sound which goes throug your audio interface gets affected.

I dont think thats correct. Im fairly certain that you can actually turn that off. I have to look at the manual again but im pretty sure.

i think your right but im not at home atm but i think this is correct.

606man · Post by **606man** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:21 am

On the 606 (I'm sure the 555 is the same) you can apply none, one, two or three effects to the line-in. You can record clean if you want, or add effects to the recording. The master compressor is the most useful.

Some people argue that you should always record dry and add effects later. Others say that you should always compress recordings to ensure easy mixing later on. Depends on the sound source, but for things like acoustic instruments and vocals, compressing on the way in makes a lot of sense, as the signal has a massive dynamic range.

Filtering is a good one too - applying a highpass to an incoming pad for example, so that it doesn't cloud the bottom end of the mix.

There are many others, too, but these are the most common effects I apply to recording

gotra · Post by **gotra** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:28 am

You're right Frentic.

On page 42 0f the manual you can find the way how to turn on\of effect processing of the incoming USB audio:

"Apply or bypass the
effect for the USB audio
input from the
computer:
While holding down
[EFFECT ASSIGN]
and [CANCEL],
press [MIC (or [LINE IN)]"

Sorry for making confusion.

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:18 pm

ya... I thought so.

I always compress while im recording unless its something that uses line in like a keyboard or sampler. I dont recomend using the compressor on the 555 for recording tho unless you just want to experiment with crazy sounds

606man · Post by **606man** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:37 pm

Another aspect of this is applying effects to outgoing audio. You can run your DAW through the FX engine to experiment with how things will sound in a live environment. Handy. Add a second computer/interface and you can even do 'live edits' like the old days...