Roland SP-808 Groove Sampler

The Roland 808 is very easy to operate. I wish Roland had a digital version to install on my MAC! I've owned my 808 for at least ten years and will NEVER let it go! I also own the original users manual and the VHS video manual.
(if ROLAND is willing to make an offer, I can make a fully digital DVD version of this video)....hint, hint
ultraimageinc@Gmail.com
I'm Tony
...holla at your boy!

I have upgraded from a 100mb to 250mb internal drive. Operation still is the same. But finding new ZIP drives these days is crazy.
(The kid at Best Buy laughed at me when I asked him if they were in stock...I would've too!)
The 808 sequencing is great. For me it's a breeze to compose and bounce trax.
I also love how I can scrub to make perfect samples and loops, as well as the different ways to execute a sample.

The on-board effects are usable, and I love the dirty synth sound! But I usually run a midi keyboard patched thru a drum machine/synth box.
(ex. ROLAND 505, or kick it back to the old school-BOSS DR-5)

Ummmm....it's old now, many disks have somehow erased while in use. I lost a lot of kick-*** songs that I've spent days on-it's ok tho, I still love my 808
now I run my master output thru my Lexicon USB interface and record into computer software....I use Logic.
If you still tour with it....back up your disks.

I have always referred to my manuals for support, but ROLAND usually has a stellar support team!

The ROLAND 808 is a great tool in my studio, actually now I am a video producer and I use it to create custom samples for scoring.....but I still write some sik *** jamz with it tho
I still want to see it completely digital to add to my software collection

have an early version i think. have 100mb disks and afraid they might not work if i upgrade OS, anyway happy with as is. i like the manual, i studied and underlined and used and helped me get the most out of its many features.

my major gripe is you can only play 4 tracks at a time, so i run two beside each other. heres how i work. i use various synths and sequencers and sample loops into sp808. eject zip and transfer to my pc and turn in wav file. using ableton live i build up a song. chop it up into more loops and back onto zip, turn back into roland file and into sp808. i play out with the two sp808, the on board effects are great, really top stuff. a simple set up that never fails me and not a laptop in sight.

i love the effects. these were not just some after thought, some real classsic effects, real pro stuff, compressor etc. sound seems good and clear.

very, beats my laptop hands down, has only crashed once or twice.

have never used.

wanted one the day they came out, looks really cool. its only since 1998 that i have truely started to use these great little machines, maybe my favourite bit of kit. perfect for my underground type house/dance sound and style.

The Sp-808ex has been the cornerstone of my home studio since I got it back in 2001. I was using it somewhat effectively by like 2 months, but I still learn a little here and there about the extensive effects on board, diagnostic tests, etc. I actually like editin' better on the 808 then my other recorder, Yamaha AW16g (fx and audio) simply because it's easier. The manual was somewhat helpful, but only after I had been messing with it for a few months. One thing is there are so many features I have yet to utilize them all so.

This thing is a monster when it comes to effects! I think this can do just about whatever you want it to do in this realm. Sure some of the fx might not sound as clean as some outboard shit, but you can't really complain for a product bought new ($1100, cheaper than MPC) that has a four track digital recorder, sampling, sequencing (not even sure how to use it effectively!), MIDI, vocoder, the aforementioned effects and the capability of being part of your live show arsenal! Sure, the MPC has the most extensive sequencing abilities and it has the pressure sensitive keys, 16 tone resampling features, and bpm changing function, but the 808's fx alone are something that is hard to deny. The two together is like holy matrimony I am certain (drooling...). It can be expanded with the op-1 and op-2 expansions offering more rca outputs or xlr inputs/outputs, digital and optical outputs, and a scsi to connect an external zip to it, however, these are rare now that the 808 is discontinued. So finding a new one (running about $300) is a bitch.

The 808 is great for my hip hop endeavors. The sampling and resampling abilities make it ideal for choppin' up some jazz piano, cuttin' up a break, flippin' a phat bassline from a synth and gettin' peoples' heads noddin'. It does tend to add a little bit of noise into the mix when you start bumpin' the sounds at 0dbs, but I like that, others might not. Definitely has its own sound and feel. People actually tell me that all the time; I'd have to agree.

Zip Drive... This may be the achillies heel of the 808. I have read about numerous, and have experienced numerous major problems with mine. I have actually had to replace mine and as I have said, I have only had it for five years. It has led to at least two discs of info being lost to the abyss. Gut-wrenching to say the least. May be due in part to my excessive use of the machine, as I often spend whole days banging out joints on it. I am sure if you keep your need for beats in check it might work better (zip drives are meant for storage not operation). Another thing is that "disk busy" error occurs frequently when the 808 is performing multiple task. This can be quite annoying, and may not be conducive to a great live set, but there are ways around it. So overall, I use this machine like it was built like a airplane blackbox, but at the same time I am always dreading that it may fail me again.

FUCK ROLAND! what kinda shit is that to discontinue the product and its expansions just about 2 years after it hits the market. Especially with such a big user base! There is such a huge demand for this still and they don't offer the buyers any real support by discontinuing it. It just inflates the price of the rare products, cool if you want to sell yours lousy if your trying to find parts for it.

It's like an abusive, destructive relationship that has the best sex (weird analog). Love and hate. I wish it was more reliable for my use, had better sequencing abilities and expandable internal memory so you wouldn't have to wait to load other discs. I wish i had an MPC to compliment it. BUT, I can't deny that this machine is a god sent. I have spent a large chunk of the last 5 years standing/sitting behind it gaining fulfillment unparalleled by my other activities. It also has expanded my taste in music (how many of ya know about crate diggin') and indirectly allowed me to strive toward all kinds of inspirations of mine. If this were stolen would I replace it? If it were stolen I would probably go on a murderous pillaging of the earth until it was returned to me just as it was. Definitely a good piece for any digital artist to develop skills with.

The Sp808 is very easy to use once you read the manual and learn all the tricks this thing has got up its sleeve. FX are well rounded and very simple to apply in realtime. As most have said, the manual can be a bit awkward in the way it words things but its layout is basic and easy to browse. Creating songs is simple, since you can sequence single hits, and full sample loops, very easy to bounce tracks.

This sampler has amazing features, its best probably being the realtime effects and user editable effects patches. I was blown away by how much you could tweak the FX on this unit.
However the polyphony on this is very small, only 4 samples at once. The
sample banks are easily accesible, 16 pads per bank and 64 banks total. 23 minutes of stereo sampling (46 min. mono) per zip disk. Disks can quickly be changed at the drive on the front. Pads are NOT touch sensitive but can be controlled by midi and become touch sensitive.
Onboard analog synth can be programmed or controlled via midi. could be useful in some circumstances...
drums can be sequenced using recorded samples...however the sequencer will not finish the sample from the beat you are sequencing , so this causes it to sound chopped up.. but a way to get around this is sequence each hit to a seperate track and just keep bouncing.
Onboard mixer is useful but a bit limiting, since every thing is controlled by using arrows and a jog wheel...it would be nice to have individual aux and panning knobs for each track but this can also be done if you have the expansion unit which you can output each of the 4 tracks seperately to an external mixer.
Overall, all the FX alone were worth the money I paid for this unit.

Once again the FX sounds are incredible. I use it to make Dub, reggae tracks, and also hip hop. It is obviously geared to Dance and remix music but seems to work great for anything, because it is also a baisc 4 track digital recorder. The FX on this thing make it an instrument itself...they can all be tweaked in realtime with the 3 assinable knobs...this is the best feature for what I use this for which is Dub music, where the essence of it is in the "playing" of the FX. another amazing feature of this is the D Beam controller, which is an infrared sensor on the upper right of the machine...depending on the position of your hand the FX parameters change..FX can be accurately controlled with this with some practice.

This is a pretty reliable machine, its only running off a zip disk so you cant expect too much from it. Sometimes it skips when maxxing the polyphony of samples, which can be annoying. but if all your samples are recorded live to tracks it isnt a problem at all. Other than that this machine is very reliable and would definetley use it as the heart of a gig with out a bacckup

never dealt with Roland, I want to try an find the expansion unit and maybe a larger zip drive...

Overall this machine is a steal for the money i paid for it. Of course there is now much more sophiticated digital machines on the market, but I like this one beacuse its so easy to use and friendly to my budget.mif it lost, I would probably end up saving up for a more advanced machine, and then buy another one of these later on, just to use as a sample bank and FX unit.

Using OS 1.1 i think. A lot of the features need to be accessed through pushing buttons and scrolling through menus, but hey - if you read the manual, no problem! the manual is a bit funny as it is obviously translated from a language other than english so sometimes you have to figure out what its trying to say, but in general, once you get to know this machine and all it can do, its a beauty! only drawback i have found is that you can't cut samples real close like drum fills and such. the machine can't read the zips fast enough. so it can't replace a more sophisticated sequencer. but its the best 650 bucks i have ever spent on a piece of equipment, hands down.

amazing range of effects. i bought this thing for the sampler mostly. but not only is it a sampler - its a digital 4 track with awesome effects. PLUS the virtual analog synth. not bad for a medium-sized machine. at home i run a mac G4 with cubase and reason so when i first bought this thing, it mostly sat around until i wanted something hands-on to play with and loop samples etc. not until i left the country for 7 months with only my sp-808, my guitar, bass and cd collection did i discover all you can do with this thing. i wrote an album on it. a mix of electro, sample-based indie stuff.

i use the machine for layering live instruments over sampled beats, as well as programming the virtual synth. the synth is limited, but given some tweaking, i really enjoy what i've been able to do.
i haven't tried to control the sp 808 from an external controller, that's next on my list.
again, amazing range of effects. playing my album for people, most are surprised at how clean it sounds, as well as how good my guitar and bass came out in the mix, given the quality of the effects used...hey i just plugged in to the 1/4 inch jack...sounds much better than what i was doing in cubase and reason.

i bought it used. in the year i've had it the jogwheel has gotten a bit looser, although no big deal. once it fucked up on me and resaved over all my user patches. i'm a calm guy so i didn't freak out but i guess when you smoke and play you can't just blame the machine!
i'd use it on a gig without backup i think, though i haven't yet. haven't had any major problems yet. i'm going to try and update the os and install a 250 zip.

i've called roland a couple times for various reasons - asking about backing up the zips, power supply switches etc. they've been friendly and helpful.

if somehow i lost this thing, i think i'd get another. like i said, its the best money i've spent on equipment ever. i love all the features packed into the size of the machine...for the effects and sampler unit alone it was worth the money. add the digital 4-track and you're laughing! i pity the fools who spent all their hard-earned money on the VS digital recorders. these machines are jam-packed full of juicy usability! the only gripe i have is the inability to slice samples really closely. for dance beats and hip hop i like to play my own hi-hats and kick beats. sometimes the machine can't handle it. that's why i've just picked up a yamaha rd 7000. with the sp-808 and another sound engine/sequencer you can do anything!

I bought mine with the old OS and updated it to the "EX" OS by contacting Roland (which--if you're wondering how easy or hard it is to contact them--I rated that seperately in the "Customer Service" area).

Presets? We don't need no stinkin' presets! It's a groove sampler--sample your own presets. Sure--Roland gives you a disk with some loops on it--but don't expect to make any "original" music using that disk alone.

As for editing stuff goes--I would say that this is one of the more complex pieces of gear that I own. You can NOT survive without a manual unless you're already well versed with Roland's other groove sampling products (and even then--it's still a little hairy). There are many many many many MANY key combinations and sequences to memorize if you ever want to get fluent with it. I've owned this for 2 years now and I STILL need the manual to guide me through some of the more more complex and less used options and features within. There are still times that I get sick of reading the manual and I just start changing options until I get the sound that I want.

The manual must have been written in Japanese and translated to English using Google's on-line translater. I think that they could have done a better job on the manual by just drawing cave-man pictures instead of trying to actaully write anything.

The one HUGE gripe that I have about this is the polyphony. I can't stand the fact that only 4 samples can go at the same time. Sure--you can resample all you want--but when you're in a creative mood trying to get a quick idea out--it sucks having to go through all of the menus to get something re-sampled right.

The FX on this are what make this box really cool. I use this sometimes as an outboard FX unit, alone (on my DJ sets). The D-Beam kicks arse on DJ sets (one hand on the fader, the other on the vinyl, and your head going up and down with the music--controling the D-Beam)... People are always tripped out when I tell them how it works... In fact--once I tell them--they won't stop playing with it until I tell them that it uses "invisible UV lazer technology" and that if they keep their body parts over the beam for too long--that they'll go blind or impotent.

The ability to expand is there--but costly (the expansion boards are rare and thus--end up going for about the same price as the unit themselves!)

I have a huge gripe about the 808's MIDI implementation... I was hoping that I could somehow use this as a DAW controller for Cakewalk or something... Not so. The MIDI implementation is very complex and doesn't make much sense. I like the fact that you can control stuff using MIDI--but unfortunately--it always seems just a dollar short of doing exactly what I want it to do.

Don't be fooled about the "sequencer" in here... It's not really a "MIDI Sequencer"--it's just something to arrange the timing of when samples should be played. I don't like the sequencer in here and really end up just using this as an FX unit and phrase sampler. The only time I would use the sequencer in here is if I were to play a live show and don't want to bring an un-reliable computer with me.

The only instrument on here is the on-board virtual analog synth... It's all right--nothing to rant and rave about. Definitely fun to play with. I've used it in a few songs... Check out http://www.soundclick.com/thesilencexperiment in my song "Deleto"--I used it to make that 70's-ish retro synth sound which goes on throughout the whole song. I like the step sequencer control--reminds me of the old days.

This unit is good for all types of music (Rock, Dance, Rap, Pop)... It's got FX in it for all sorts of different purposes. I love the FX on this box. I keep it around for that alone.

I did notice, however, that the knobs for the parameters seem to be a little "jerky" at times... When I'm trying to do a really slow filter sweep--it seems that the values are working in kind of large steps rather than moving smooth.

This has crashed on me a few times--but ussually when I'm trying to do something stupid (and I'm not sure what the outcome is really going to be).... Using it for normal operation (and things that I know will work)--it works great. I take it on gigs all of the time.

Ha!

Do the words "your call will be ignored in the order in which it was recieved" mean anything to you?

I had to contact Roland for the update to the EX version... I gave them my information and credit card data (because they wanted to charge about $50 for the upgrade--I think). Several months went by and I got nothing. I called them back and asked what had happened. They said that they couldn't get payment because my credit card had expired! Well--sure--it expired! They didn't even try to run the payment for over 2 months! And then they didn't even call me to say that it didn't go through! After clearing it all up--I finally got my long awaited package in the mail. To my suprise--they couldn't even find an original manual for the 808EX (which was supposed to come with the disk--becuase the OS is quite different)... Instead--it looked like some intern at Roland had the "important" job of photocopying the EX manuals and binding them with cheap staples so that people that ordered the upgrades could have crappy versions of the manual. Sometimes I wonder if Roland runs their company out of the garage of some dude's house or something.

If it got lost or stolen... I would try to get a Fantom X series keyboard instead. If I couldn't afford a Fantom X, I would try to get another 808, then. The Fantom X (and S as well) is bascially a keyboard with the XV engine mixed with an 808 sampler. I haven't had the chance to see if every single feature exists the same way in the X as in the 808--but when I sat down in front of a Fantom at my local guitar center--using it's sampling functions was almost exactly like using the 808.

I love the FX on this the most--and I hate the polyphony the most.

I would compare this to an AKAI MPC. I haven't had the actual luxury of using an MPC--but from what I've heard and read about them--the 808 is a cheaper version of the MPC.

I wish that it had a better MIDI implementation and that it had more controls for editing things (rather than needing to use complex key combinations and sequences).

Overall, this tool helps me create music. Sometimes I can get stuck on it (trying to get something to work the way I want)--but overall, it's proven it's usefulness.

Took me a few nights with the manual and the machine to get my head around it, but before this all I'd used before was the old DR Sample, and a tape 4 track with a bunch of effects peddles. Once you figure out the machines strengths you can get the sounds and set ups you're looking for very easily. The only bummer about this is while laying phrases onto the multitrack there tends to be clicks and pops at the end of each phrase. It can be hard to get rid of these especially if you've sampled a continous sound (a swell or wash in the background). Other than that this machine rips it up.

Built in effects: Numerous. I have the original SP-808 (black one) but after readin some reviews above it sounds like upgrading the OS might be the way to go. Stacked with options, sample size, pitch, stretch, resampling (which is the basis for all sound making on this)... the list goes on. Looks like there's plenty of options for data transfer but for some reason I prefer to do everything through bald old audio.

GREAT sound quality!!! Have used mine for HipHop and downbeat mostly, but has built in synths and pretty basic syth sequencer that could be good for techno-house style stuff. No velocity aor aftertouch, but when I play live use use the pad volume almost like a fader which makes for some good sounds. I find myself playing this like a live intrument.

Once I switched the machine off halfway through closing it down (mid-save on the zip disk) DON'T DO THIS. all my samples on that disk got completely scrambled. Other that that I've had mine for almost 3 years and not a single problem.

N/A

Great great great machine. Haven't used an MPC but heard they're more about beat sequencing. Have FruityLoops on my PC so no need for that anyway. Found the digital 4-track really great for playing live instruments into the sampler to a beat, then choosing a section to sample and phrase. Easy to use a good mix a processed and organic type sounds.

Well This is my third review of this piece.. The SP-808 is the most user upgradable piece that I've ever seen in my life.. The drive went out on me.. That's not becuase of the drive, but because of the cheap Fujifilm disks that I had..

I replaced the zip drive.. for $75 and bought some IOMEGA brand disks.
It works perfectly...

Same as the rest..

I am using the original sp-808.. I submitted a review before, but now that I've gotten into this. This has proven to be one of the best pieces of live/studio gear I've purchased, YOU DO NOT NEED AN MPC. Just load all your drumkits from your pc to the sp-808 via the conversion utility. The manual is very comprehensive, but you can easily learn this box on your own

This thing is tight. It has a step sequencer, however I do not use mine. I use drive it as a sample module with the XP-60. This thing is NO JOKE. It's not multitimbral, but it can respond on one selectable midi channel (1-10) It's very flexible. Drop live drum loops into it for live gigs, use it as a loop sampler with efx for between sets.. Trigger SFX.. This thing is the bomb in the live set..

This can be used for any loop or sample based production. The quality of the sounds are based totally on what you put into this thing. Drum loops, vocal samples, percussion, one shots, anything. The pads do not react to velocity or aftertouch, but you can connect a midi keyboard and volia

Totally dependable. You have to be organized with it, and it will love you back. I've dropped it, and it's still kicks @#$

Never needed em'

This is the BOMB PIECE.. MUST HAVE

I "EX"-ed my 808. This was done by copying the OS from an 808 EX and loading it onto my standard 808. It makes a hellova difference!! I highly recommend it!! The new effects (including the vocoder) alone are worth it! This thing is very simple out of the box! But read the manual and you learn a ton more! Watch the video manual and it all clicks home! This thing couldn't be any simpler!! And with the 808 to Wav converter (available on rolands' web site), you can transfer the samples to wavs or vice-versa!! This means no generation loss when you want to record your entire sequence to a CD! Just take your recording, save it to a sample, convert the sample to WAV, then burn your disk!!

It has a 4 channel digital recorder but you can only utilize one effect at a time. You can assign that effect to all 4 channels at once if you are so inclined. I prefer to effect one channel at a time and record it to a sample. You can get the most out of this beast by routing and re-routing. It takes a little rethinking, but this thing is so versital that it doesn't matter. You can find your own way to get the job done!

The samples sound great!! Recorded from a source or transferred from a WAV, you can't tell the difference. Pitch or time stretch functions are pretty good. They aren't even in the same ballpark with the VP9000, but you'd be paying $3500 for the entire unit then!! The D-beam is fun especially when using this in a DJ setup. The drunks really think you're performing magic!!

It can play 4 samples at a time. No velocity or aftertouch with the pads, but it will recieve both from an external midi keyboard. The "EX"-ed 808 has over 300 effects, and they are supurb!! The voice effects are really fun for live or studio (or prank calls!) The distortion types are gold! The original effects were phenominal, but the added are unbelievable!! There's actually a mono analog synth based from the JP engine in there!! You can program sounds if you're patient enough to wade through the effects menus!! The step modulator is fun to program patterns into the synth or to use as a chopping tool for your samples! (too bad you can't make it start or sync to the beginning of a sample or a sequence!)

The sequencer is really nice! Especially the step sequencer! You can sequence the samples into very nice-short or choppy patterns! Watch out for overlaps or you will get a Drive Busy error. This can easily be avoided if you know what to look for.

Your samples sound as good as your source!! The resampling is great as well! This will work well with just about any type of music you're trying to create!! And with the 808 Sample to Wav converter, you can plug your tweaked samples into Acid or Cubase with no generation loss.

I have used this thing on the road and in the studio without any problems!! It fits prefectly into a Toshiba laptop bag which I have used for about a hundred DJ gigs. Although I've always been careful with it and have never dropped it, there have been some rough times and it's working fine! I haven't worried about backing up disks because of the wav converter program.

I've never had to deal with customer support so I really wouldn't know. It was very easy to upgrade to the EX and I found the info on a web site. The zip will eventually be upgraded as soon as I buy two 250 MB internal IDE drives! (One for inside the 808 and one for my PC). I totally recommend the upgrade!!

If it were lost or stolen, I would probably buy a multi effects box and a true digital multitrack recorder. I'd miss all the fun effects though!! I love how versital this box is! I don't particularly like the limited poliphony, but what do you expect with sample lengths limited to disk space? I wish this would send midi externally and perform the roll of a true sequencer. I also wish this would map to a keyboard like other sequencers. (I bought a Yamaha a3000 for that task). I'm using it along with a Nord Lead II, a Waldorf Q, a Korg Prophecy, a Roland 303, a Korg X5DR, a dual PIII 1000 MHz PC running Cubase, Acid and Reason. The effects sends and returns on my Mackie mixer use the effects of this baby most of the time! If you're shopping for one of these on Ebay, BUY IT!!! You can find one for under $600 and that's a STEAL!! Spend the $30 for the video manual and buy a ton of Zip disks!! You won't regret it!!