I didn't want to hijack noiserock's thread so here's mine: If I have a 505 and I have a piece all worked out, one that has another MIDI device involved, an Evolver, say, and I want the both to start at the exact same time to record into a Portastudio 4-track cassette recorder, say, how do I do this via MIDI? I don't want to do it manually because my timing will probably be off a little. I know this is a really basic question but some input would really help. I don't know a thing about slaving devices together or if that would even be a solution.

got the evolver got a sequencer?
1)if it is, put sp505 midi out (master) to evolver midi in (slave), then put the 2 machines on the same midi channel and when you press play on the 505 the evolver wiil follow and you're ok.
the master/slave therms, i agree, aren't elegant at all, i don't who invented them...
2)if evolver don't have a sequencer, and then you want to play it via sp505 pads i say: midi out on sp505 in this case is very weird and playing notes through it it's a pain in the a*s...

what is the evolver, a synth?

Don't have the synth yet, just the 505, but I'm looking at maybe an old Electribe EA-1, something that has it's own sequencer. The Dave Smith Evolver would be ideal(4 osc, real analog, great sequencer) but it's a bit beyond my price league just now. Here's a great look at one, though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3pmbFASgj4


btw, thanks for the MIDI tip!

cool.
it has a bult in sequencer so it's able to receive the midi clock from the 505: they can start in sync. but, i repeat, playing midi notes via 505 midi it's very very difficult (and almost impossible, let's say it)