Roland SP-555 Sampler with Effects

zZounds' Take on Roland SP-555

Any electronic musician worth his (or her) salt has a sampler as an integral part of the rig, but what if that one sampler could replace your entire rig altogether? The incredible SP-555 builds off Roland's indelible line of SP samplers, adding so many practical, useful, performance-oriented features, it might just be the only machine you bring to your next gig.

Sampling And Looping For Live Performance

The core of the SP-555 is straightforward, smart, and fun sampling and looping. It was designed to inspire amazing live performance, and so Roland has made live sampling easier than ever with a built-in "combi" mic/line/instrument input and stereo RCA inputs. Sample from absolutely any source, quickly assign samples to one of the sixteen trigger pads, and play them live. Making fine adjustments to tempo, volume, and more are easy to perform on stage thanks to dedicated edit controls. Perhaps most exciting of all is an on-the-fly looper with infinite sound-on-sound record capabilities. Even without external audio input, this looper can record any of the generated sounds--including its built-in synth (we'll get to that in a second)--and even assign the created loops to trigger pads. The unit's built-in 32MB of sampling memory can be easily expanded to save hours of CD-quality sounds, thanks to support for Compact Flash memory cards up to 2GB in capacity.

Audio Mangling Effects

With its sampling and looping capabilities alone you can already see how the Roland SP-555 makes an inspiring instrument for performance and production, but that's not all this little unit delivers. A dedicated control area on the front panel grants access to dramatic sound-shaping effects including a bit crusher, extreme frequency filters, and DJ-style reverse and scratch effects. These effects can be applied to both the internal generated sounds but also to any incoming audio, and the effects can be manipulated in real-time using either the top-mounted rotary controls or Roland's signature, hands-free, proximity-controlled D-Beam. Speaking of which. . .

D-Beam Controlled, Monophonic Synth

The SP-555 is really three instruments in one: a sampler-sequencer, a DJ effects processor, and a monophonic synth. The synth has a bunch of club-ready preset sounds and can be locked to selectable scales for foolproof free form solos over your kickin' loops. Go ahead, show off. Wave your hand in the air. Wave it like you just don't care. The D-Beam senses your hand position and effects the output as you change it up.

Beyond The Box

While the SP-555 is an utterly capable stand-alone performance instrument, its power grows exponentially when connected to additional units. Full MIDI I/O synchs with other MIDI-capable modules, and the unit even provides control over other units via the trigger pads and rotary controls. You can also hook it up to computer DJ software and use it as a control surface. Best of all, it sports V-Link control for compatible VJ units--like those designed by sister company Edirol. Synch samples, loops, and effects changes to trigger video clips and effects for breathtaking multimedia performances.

By itself or as part of a sophisticated setup, as a performance instrument or an idea generator, the Roland SP-555 is an asset to any musician's toolkit. Get yours at an unbeatable price from zZounds today.

Manufacturer's Description for Roland SP555 Sampler with Effects

The newest member of the SP-sampler family breaks ground with innovative features such as Loop Capture, and Super Filter. The SP-555 is fast and powerful, but one thing has been preserved from previous SP models: fun! It's the ultimate toolkit for DJs, producers, sample-based musicians, or performers who want to take their act to the next level.

Features

- Ultra-easy sampling with innovative Loop Capture feature
- Versatile sampling through Line input, phantom-powered Mic input,USB audio streaming, and WAV/AIFF import
- Dozens of killer performance effects, including Super Filter and DJFX Looper
- Audio interface capability with any DAW or DJ audio application (Cakewalk SONAR LE included)
- Large Sample Memory via CompactFlash (up to 2GB)
- Bundled Wave Converter software (Mac and PC) for importing and exporting WAV/AIFF files
- Infrared D-BEAM controller and V-LINK compatibility for high-impact performance

Quick, EZ, Versatile Sampling

You can capture sounds instantly onstage using the Line or Mic Inputs, or through USB audio streaming - perfect for DJs or live performers who want to grab sounds and drop them in the mix on the fly. The SP-555 supports up to 2GB CompactFlash for over 12 hours of recording with no-load playback!

Live Loop Capture

This innovative new feature lets you quickly grab a piece of incoming audio or a loop of your live performance and instantly play it back in perfect time with your other tracks. The loops can also be captured through the effects in real time and assigned to a pad for later use. You can even perform sound-on-sound layering with your loops.

Killer Performance FX

From silky gloss to complete audio annihilation, the SP-555 provides 37 types of powerful DSP effects to alter your sounds. Included in the lineup are Voice Transformer, Delay, Isolator, and the unique Super Filter and DJFX Looper, The Effect Memory allows for instant recall of your favorite settings using the pads with no glitching while switching effects.

Visual Magic

Amaze your audience with the SP-555's D BEAM and V-LINK features. Wave your hands over the invisible D BEAM to tweak the filter, to trigger samples, or to play synth solos. Connect V-LINK compatible video equipment and sync the music to the visuals.

Computer Companion

The SP-555 can be used by itself or with a PC. It can be used as an audio interface for the bundled Cakewalk SONAR LE software or any other DAW or DJ application on your computer! With the bundled Wave Converter software, WAV and AIFF files can be imported and assigned to a CF card (CF reader needed). zZounds is an authorized dealer of Roland products.

Accessories Included

CD-ROM x2 (SONAR LE, WAVE CONVERTER/USB DRIVER)

AC Adaptor

Owner's Manual

Quick Start Guide

Size and Weight
Width: 280 mm, 11-1/16 inches

Depth: 264 mm, 10-7/16 inches

Height: 74 mm, 2-15/16 inches

Weight: 1.8 kg, 4 lbs.

Power Supply: DC 9V AC Adapter (Included)

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 7 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 8 in