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SP-808 SPECIAL USERS TIPS AND TRICKS MANUAL
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A patch in the SP-808 is an effect, i.e. reverb, compressors, etc.
Yes, the D-Beam can be shut off and assigned to any sound or effect parameter.
You really don't lose anything to resampling.
The SP-808 like any other digital hard disk recorder has limitless tracks because of resample and/or
bounce that is performed in the digital domain!
HINT: The step modulator hooked to the Virtual analogue synth effects patch makes for a 5th
sound... It can be played at the same time as 4 (8) voices... Here's what I do:
- I loop my beat on Track A.
- I add background pads or noise on B.
- I program the synth to play my bass line.
- I leave 2 voices open for live triggering.
Here are some tasty titbits on the SP-808 that they don't tell you:
I can pull off a resample or bounce more than 15 times without an unprofessional sound... But the
enhancer in one of the effects parameters restores the loss no prob!!! Stomper like drum creation
has already been simulated on the effects patches of the SP-808!!! Imagine 6 realtime controllers
all at once completely desecrating a sound... then you resample this and set up a new patch and do
it again... and again. The EQ, the centre canceller, the filter, and resample allows anything to be
extracted... Then rebuilt using a compressor, EQ, enhancer... POWER!! RSS... what other sampler
has 3-d with 2 speakers... Um... None!! The step modulator, the 6 knobs (a & b), the tempo, and
the D-BEAM all modulate any parameter in the box, can we say please pass me clean underwear
and a towel... Oh yeah all at once! Oh excuse me. Try this: stretch a beat loop sample to a low
tempo, resample it, then stretch it again... This will clear up some of the extreme choppiness at
high change of speed... (buys you about 10 BPM more) add a slicer effect and chop the beat loop
into 16ths... Resample, set your auto trim for .5 seconds... VOILA!
Sounds time consuming but it only takes about 5 minutes!!!
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I use the SP-808 in the studio to produce Hip Hop records. Here are some
things that keyboard Magazine failed to mention before bombing the SP in the cons
section of their review:
- It has an envelope workaround... using the virtual synth effect!
- It has graphic waveform editing... push Scrub on the waveform edit page on the start, loop, or
endpoint numbers!
- Polyphony restrictions are taken care of by resampling!
- Velocity sensitivity is available if the machine is played from a MIDI keyboard or drum machine
that is capable! Also a mis-researched bit of info for loopers.
It can play back while sampling, or loop while sampling from the inputs! I have done this on many
live setups and in all studio sessions with live drummers and bass players.
This machine is only limited by imagination and poor song planning...
Thank you Roland for a new classic!
General Tips
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