So i know this question has been asked alot. I've used the search and found the many differences. I just had a few questions regarding them. Most of the differences were:
-sounds quality of the 303 is a bit more raw than the 404.
-the 404 has more effects
-the 404 has more space
-the 303 can quantize in real time ( can anyone explain what this means?)
-the memory cards for the 303 are difficult to obtain.
I mainly want to use this sampler to chops records and to record instrumentsto chop as well. I'm low on money so I want to make sure I make the right decision. I was wondering what your guys current view on which machine is best all around. please?

Go for the 404, it'll cost less in the long run. The 303 sounds a little better in my opinion. The 404 however, can do everything it can do, plus more and do it faster. Also you want to bother fuckin around lookin for the correct size and voltage smartmedia cards only to pay more for it than you would for cf card that'll hold almost 20 times as much audio.

404 man, some say the 303 sounds better..but I can't tell? you want a drum machine that sounds good, adds character, sp12, sp1200, mpc 60, mpc 3K, S950, ASR, EPS+...other than that, a turntable with a nice cartridge/needle, quality AD converters, quality plug ins, nice preamps, nice compressors, nice cables will all matter more than the little difference between the two.

IMO both of these are what goes in comes out type machines (minus the fx and resampling of course )

can anyone explain what quantize in real time means? i know what quantizing is but not real time?[/u]

if im not mistaken it mean rather than just placing your beats till you stop.. you can place your bass.. have it loop around then put in your snare.. then have it loop around and do hi hats.. all the while changing up your quantize without stopping and restarting.... i could be MAD wrong though... but the 404 can do that though..

nope...not wrong and yup...can do