Roland SP-808 Groove Sampler

Release date: 1998
Type: Sampler/sequencer/hard disk recorder/virtual analogue synth/effects processor ALL IN ONE!

About:

This is one of the many gifts from Roland to Liam. I don't know if Liam has really used this in his productions since he prefers his Akais and other tools, but this is anyway a really cool toy for anyone, so maybe he has at least played with it in his studio.

Gear info:

The SP-808 Groove Sampler is the first product of its kind a sampling and recording workstation which is one part professional-quality phrase sampler; one part hard disk audio recorder. Developed to meet the needs of a growing "remix" and sampling-based music market, the SP-808 provides everything DJ's, sampling musicians and remix artists need. Remix-orientated phrase sampler/hard disk audio recorder w/8-tracks (4 stereo) digital multitracker -16 assignable sample pads per bank (64 banks total) -Internal zip drive records all audio tracks & stores all samples on removable 100 mb zip disks. 64 minutes/1024 samples can be stored on a single disk. -Automatic tempo calculation and display plus resampling time stretch functions. -On-board effects (reverb,chorus & delay effects plus "Lo-fi","Wah","Isolator", & synth effects -D-Beam controller -Realtime effects control (3 assignable knobs) -Can also be used as a digital multi tracker recorder.

Features:

Professional remix-oriented phrase sampler/hard disk audio recorder with 8 tracks (4 stereo audio tracks) and 16 assignable sample pads per bank (64 banks total)
Built-in ZipT drive records all audio tracks and stores all samples on removable 100MB Zip disks; 64 minutes/1024 samples can be stored on a single disk for instant access
Automatic tempo calculation and display, resampling functions and time stretch functions
Onboard Roland reverb, chorus and delay effects including Delay RSS, Space Echo and Flanger, as well as Distortion, "Lo-fi," "Wah," "Band Isolator" and analog synth processing
Onboard Step Modulator effect simulates a classic Roland analog synth, modulating pitch, LFO, etc. in sequential steps
Revolutionary dual D-Beam* Controller allows for effects and sample control via hand and body movement over infrared light beam
Three assignable real-time control knobs for effects control
Can be used as a basic digital multi-track recorder
Four analog outputs standard; optional I/O board transfers all audio in the digital domain and provides 6 additional analog outputs
Backlit LCD, buttons and LED for use in low-light settings