#62

I actually took receipt of a DigDugDIY Purple Rain to emulate classic SP sampler lo-fi compression. It does what it claims and rules pretty hard. This is not my video:

16 Likes
#63

Whoa this is bliss right there!!!

#64

I still have my SP202, first piece of real gear I ever bought when it first came out. Gotta replace the pots or output though since its basically dead at the moment.

Question for the later SP series though- can you loop super short samples fast enough to use them like a wavetable the way you can with with the volca sample?

#65

Not remotely necessary - that was thoroughly appreciated!

This looks great!

#66

So how does the SP-808 fit into this world? No mention of it - Iā€™m guessing that the later models had something more about them?

I have a SP808 in storage - no idea if it still works, the Zip drive was a pain in the ā€¦ and I presume the disks are hard to come by. I did use it a fair bit years ago - seem to remember it being ok

2 Likes
#67

I very good friend of mine is an SP fanatic and he swears by the 808, but also frequently swears at it (thanks to the Zip drive). You can switch it out for a card reader, though, but finding a unit that works isnā€™t easy. I did the same thing with my MPC2000XL years ago and it made a huge difference to how usable it was. Definitely worth doing if you can find the right reader.

2 Likes
#68

hmm might give it a go. How do you mean ā€œfinding a unit that works?ā€ - a card reader unit or the whole Sp808? Mine worked last time I turned it on a few years ago

#69

The card reader. Last time I looked the only reader that definitely worked was the Amtron IISDMC - that could have changed now, but they were holy grail items for SP808 owners with no shortage of people hunting for them.

1 Like
#70

ugh - Iā€™m in no hurry though so I guess I can just setup an eBay search.

Thank you for the information!

#71

Apparently this one works too, but I donā€™t imagine itā€™s much easier to get hold of than the IISDMC (itā€™s the drive that shipped with the blue MPC2000XL)

1 Like
#72

This might be of interest:

Obviously you donā€™t need a buyers guide per se but the diagnostics could come in handy as might the process of turning it into the EX e-mix model (which allows you to boot etc without a functional Zip drive)

2 Likes
#73

cheers for all the info. Time to do a bit of investigation!

1 Like
#74

Haha, used to do mastering, but didnā€™t use the 303 on other peopleā€™s stuff. I used to run all my mixes through the 303, wtf did I sell mine. Might be the only piece of gear I really regret selling. I still use Vulf comp for Mastering though and itā€™s gorgeous, way deeper, but the actually 303 has some extra pixie dust that canā€™t be replicated.

2 Likes
#75

The Purple Rain is awesome, itā€™s literally an 8 bit version of the SP tho, so itā€™s VERY crunchy. One of the most unique FX Iā€™ve seen, only 8 bit compressor Iā€™ve known, but not quite the instant magic warmth of the 303.

2 Likes
#76

Youā€™re gonna dig it pete

3 Likes
#77

I canā€™t wait for it to arrive!

#78

What a beautiful little thing! Love this kind of idea. Want one now, probably the only thing preventing me getting it is that my Gieskes DEP-2a does a lot of the same sound and much more, lacks the compressor tho

1 Like
#79

i just stumbled upon the Koala sampler for iOS which seems to be inspired by the 303 layout and workflow (though with a much better sequencer)

interesting quick read on its development:

6 Likes
#80

Man, you are on TOP of the iOS app scene!

#81

Agreed - itā€™s superb and Marek is doing even more incredible things with it for the next update!