Boss SP-202

Very easy to use. Big fat backlit buttons tell you what sample is playing. If you've never used a sampler before, just download the
SP-02 Turbostart Acrobat file from http://www.rolandgroove.com/sp202ts.pdf and you're on your way.

MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE SMARTMEDIA CARDS. You can ge the 2 & 4 MB cards at your local camera ship - just make sure that they are the 5 volt version, not the 3.3 volt version. Without a Smartmedia card, you only have 32 seconds of 32,000 Hz, mono sound and you can't access banks C & meaning you only have 8 banks to work with. With a 2MB card you get 5, and 9 with a 4MB.

Otherwise, you've probably already read about all the features - I'll just provide a little insight in the expressiveness/sounds section.

'Pitch' can run with any other effect and does not affect the polyphony. Unfortunately you can only pitch everything, or nothing. If you want to beatmatch samples, you either have to compress/expand it on your computer or use the 'Time' feature. The 'Time' compress/expand algorithm isn't that impressive. It works, but it's better to do it on your computer. 'Delay' is great. What more can I say? 'Filter 1' seems to be just a straight cutoff filter, 'cuz every sampler's gotta have one. 'Filter 2' is a cutoff filter with the resonance set way up for a steeper sound. 'Ring Mod' you just can't explain. Run your voice through it, and you sound like a robot. Run anything else through it, well, it's different every time.
It's too bad the effects cut down on the polyphony, although I HAVE noticed that if you have samples sampled at different rates, you can run 1 pad with an effect, as well as 2 pads with no effect, as compared to the usual 1 pad with effect, 1 pad without.
The 4 note polyphony is a drag, but if you're smart you can get around it quite easily. It is no longer a major concern for me.
You can also run a line in, mic in, or the built in mic through the box and allpy 'Filter 1', 'Filter 2', and 'Ring Mod' in realtime. Very impressive. This little box is packed with great features.

I have used this thing on countless gigs without a backup. My favourite, smallest, most lightweight, reliable piece of gear. Although I think it may have crashed on me once, so I can't give it a perfect 10 - but I didn't lose any samples.

Never had to use customer support. The Roland Groovezone has some neat stuff on it though, check it out at: http://www.rolandgroove.com/

I find this little box invaluable - not a studio sampler in the least, but the most fun I've had in years. I'm never selling this one.

This is my first sampler and without any experience I was jammin' in five seconds. Just push buttons and you're there.

Polyphony of four but if u use effects then the polyphony is reduced.
The effects are very cool - ring modulator, two filters, pitch, time stretch and delay. U can get gate or trigger playback, reverse or normal, plus u can record in stereo (which most other samplers this level don't have). It can be triggered by any MIDI compatible device but there's only MIDI in not MIDI out so u can't get the SP-202 to "talk to" other instruments. There's two banks onboard plus u it takes 2Mb and 4Mb Smart Media cards. I would prefer the 8Mb ones cuz i have tons of these shitty little 4Mb cards that don't really hold enough. During performances it's a complete bitch when I have to fiddle about with cards between songs. This is the only thing that's annoying.

There are several different recording qualities - hi-fi (which is not quite CD standard), standard, Lo-fi1, Lo-f2. Lo-fi2 is kinda unusable becuase it's mega distorted. Lofi1 is great for hip-hop stuff. Very much the boom box type sound. The onboard effects are good but, like the different recording qualities, it really depends on how u use them and how good u are at sampling.

It feels pretty damn solid. I've used it a thousand times playing live and it has yet to fail me. One thing - get an adaptor (doesn't come with one) cuz this thing is a battery sucker.

Great. Ilove it. This was the first sampler i have ever had and it still does the job better than many "high quality" samplers. The only bad thing is the small memory cuz with more memory this would be THE sampler to have. Pretty damn classic. Definite value for money.

The 202 is very easy to use, you have to press record at the right time to get the sample to sound correct. A little practice makes perfect.

It comes w/ 32 seconds of hi-fi sampling time, and something like 4 min 20 secs of lo-fi 2. 6 effects, loop, reverse, trigger & gate, not too bad.

The effects are alright, the pitch and time are definetly cool, and they delay comes in handy at times. The ring modulator adds a sort of robotic voices, and FIlter 1 & 2 just add a sort of air sound. Not bad for a cheap sampler, IMO.

Definetely dependable, just dont throw it around- its plastic, after all.
THe only time its caused me a problem was one time when all of my saved samples sounded like fuzz- but that was because it was shut off while recording, my fault.

Ive never tried to contact the company, so no opinion.

I think its great for a beginner, like myself. It has definetely opened a new world of music to me, it can do about anything If you have the imigination to do it. I wish it came w/ more sampling time, though it isnt hard to get more memory on it. Id like to buy a roland 303 to go with this in the future, a 202 and a 303 together could allow the user to do alot.

This is my first sampler and without reading the manual i was able to get around with it. For about a month after i got it, i kept learning all these extra abilities which made me like it more.

The 202 has 6 built in effects although some are pretty bunk. I like the ring mod and filter 2. The pitch control is ok but it makes your samples sound like alvin and the chipmunks playing techno. It accepts 2 and 4mb smartmedia cards. (the most hard to find) I wish it took 8mb because they're everywhere and they cost much less. I've never used midi and have no idea how to but i'm sure it's adequate. The sample editing is ok but can be difficult depending on your samples. I wish this unit had resampling capabilities but that would boost it out of my price range for sure. The polyphony is four if you use standard grade sampling. Using effects will make the polyphony 2. THis is my major gripe because that sucks! There are 4 different recording qualities. hi fi, standard, lo fi1 and lo fi 2.
If you use the lofis, you can sneak in some effects. But lo fi2 is really bad. I sampled a analog drum beat and it sounded like someone was dropping a pile of laundry on the floor. I dig lo fi but, it's a bit too ghetto on this setting. Also you can tap in the beat and it has a bpm display which is cool.

It's hard at times to make songs because you have to record your samples at close to the same level. This is quite time consuming. I like the sounds for the most part and the effects are likable

I depend on this. I take good care of it and it takes care of me. I've only had it 2 months but it seems well built

I really like this thing i wish i had a yamaha su-10 though. I doubt i'll ever sell it. I have my gripes but everything has a downside. I'd love resampling on this thing. A larger memory would be kosher, and larger banks to store samples in. It sucks that you have to buy a 60+card to store a decent number of samples. Anyway, i would recommend it especially as it's price seems to decrease. It's well built so i'd recommend buying it used (you could get it for about 150-200 dollars) I'm into gabba and hardcore techno so the lo fi is cool and is recommended for anyone into this type music. Also using lofi gives you much more sampling time. If you like clean sounding samples, this isn't really for you. You get about 18seconds sampling time in hi fi and the polyphony isn't good on the higher quality settings. 18 seconds i think is weak and they're probably keyboards with more sampling time.
I believe this to be a good entry level sampler (from my expierience) I would recommend it to people i know. I wonder sometimes if i should have bought the zoom 224 (it had lots of effects built in) But, i decided to go with a brand i knew i could trust. I think boss came through with this one. {i don't work for boss or any other place i'd like to be working}

Manual is good....

Put it this way....I've started thinking about this as an effects box with sampling capabilities... the ring modulator and filters...might not be as versatile as a moogerfooger, but for the same amount of money you get a ring-modulator, two filters, and a sampler....for as low as $250 new....this is the best buy in the world... definetly a classic....I'm gonna buy another for the future!!!

it's a plastic box that you put sounds into. effects are great!!

Hell yeah, I'd rely on it...buy like three of em and if one breaks....just hand it out to a lucky fan... disposable, virtually,...for $200 used. Yeah, I don't have that kind of money either...but it sounds fun.

they are good enough

I want to own an army of SP-202's....I used to use all Boss products...like 7 different drum machines, this sampler, effects...etc...but I sold everything: I'm moving to a Ensoniq ASR-X pro and an Akai MPC2000...but I kept the SP-202...this thing is the coolest... I can bring it with me everywhere and sample...then bring back the samples and transfer them to the forementioned machines...I can plug a bass into it and use all the effects: ditto for guitar or synth... I can run a mic through it and sound like a robot...I'm telling you...THIS IS GOING TO BE A CLASSIC!!!!

Manual is good....everyone says rolands manuals suck...I've never had a problem figuring anything out...but in all fairness, I do get alot of people e-mailing me for help... The editing is a pain at first....for loops....no visual...all by ear...press a button to set the first mark, then press the button to set the other mark...if it don't match up...try again...tricky, but there are tricks...if you need help, e-mail>>>

Its polyphony is 4...but 2 in typical use...the button are hard and fat, but since all you have to do is push them to hear your sample...they do the job...comes with the following effects: ring modulator, 2 filters, pitch control, delay, and a time adjustment... the effects are as easy as pushing a well marked button and turning one knob...It can be expanded with 2mb and 4mb smart media cards...with are kind of needed unless you are doing very small, low-fi samples... people usually bitch and say they only use the hi-fi setting (31.25 kHz...not cd quality, but close), but there are reasons for using the other sampling frequencies...for instance, I use the built in microphone and sample at low-fi 1 (7.81 kHz)...I get behind my drum set and play a beat or two... I then edit it and get some amazing sounding loops...and put filter #1 on and it does a little something extra to it...sometimes good, sometimes bad...but just experiment...if you are looking for a professional sampler...spend three times the money and get an Akai or something....if you want something to experiment with...this is the best at the low end... I've seen alot of established band use this machine...it is almost disposable if it breaks....just go to the classifieds and get another for $200...yeah, I know...I'm poor too! I feel people are too hard on these low-end machines....they want top-o-the line equipment for bottom of the barrel prices...be real...this kills the Yamaha SU-10 (another great low-end sampler for totally different reasons)....this thing is the best piece of equipment for the money...find it used as low as $175...you think this is limited...try the vestax dsg-05...that's limited...but anyway, in all seriousness...this is a limited machine...it isn't an all in one workstation, but it is cheap and I think it will be looked at as a classic later on down the road.
note: I love low-end equipment and like to work with limitations...I tend to think of equipment in terms of what it can do and not what it CAN'T do....plus it is always nice when you squeeze something great from what other people consider garbage.

Works well for hip-hop...and dj applications...I've seen it used in "Rock" bands...but everybody wants to use all the same equipment (TR-909 and TB-303)...instead of figuring it out for yourself... fuck that analog shit (just kidding)....go digital...and create some new sounds....just remember, all those dance sounds were made by specific equipment, but it is the person behind the equipment that innovates a style of music...do your own thing. The on-board effects are ok...ring modulator is cool...filter one is good...filter two is a bit much...

yeah, I would depend on it...I would use it in gig without back-up...but if you can't handle your equipment crapping out on you...go spend real money on real equipment...this shit is a toy compared to an Akai MPC or a Ensoniq.....it is plastic and light...just don't drop it...aaaaahh, if you do...throw it in the gutter and go buy another...I saw Trans-Am, Cibo Matto, Takako Minekawa, and Add N to X.. all use it in live shows...

rolands cool...I guess...they always have manuals...they don't answer the phone sometimes... but hey boss products are cheap...so you get what you pay for...

I would definetly buy it again...I would sell my dads beer can collection to get another...I would sell all my moms hummles...shit I might buy another for back-up tommorrow... I've been making music for 6 years or so...I use mostly boss products because I want the very worst... I use: Boss VT-1, Boss SYB-3, Boss DR-5, Boss DR-55, Boss DR-660, Boss DR-110, Boss DR-202, Roland MC-303, Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha SU-10, Vestax DSG-05, Boss PC-2, Boss HC-2, Paia Gnome, Casio SK-200, Casio SA-38, Alesis Nanoverb, Harmoniphone, a Bass, an acoustic guitar and a Drum Set....The SP-202 is my favorite piece of equipment..for fun anyway...and link it up with the other plastic wonder, the DR-202 and forget it...the cheapest work station out... I love everything about it...I got what I payed for...I do wish it had some sort of visual aid for editing...but I can live without it...and I can't live without the SP-202.